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Incision into the eastern Andean Plateau during Pliocene cooling
Richard O Lease1, Todd A Ehlers
1Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. rlease@usgs.gov
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 17, 2013
Summary
Canyon incision in the Andes was driven by climate shifts, not just tectonic uplift. Cooling global temperatures enhanced moisture transport, triggering Pliocene canyon formation across the plateau.
Area of Science:
- Earth Science
- Geology
- Climatology
Background:
- Canyon incision is often linked to tectonic surface uplift.
- However, climatic changes can also drive canyon formation.
- The eastern Andean Plateau features deep canyons crossing major deformation zones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the drivers of canyon incision along the eastern Andean Plateau margin.
- To differentiate between tectonic and climatic influences on canyon development.
- To establish a timeline for geological and climatic events in the region.
Main Methods:
- Utilized (U-Th)/He thermochronology to date geological events.
- Analyzed the spatial and temporal relationship between faulting and canyon incision.
- Correlated geological findings with paleoclimate data, specifically sea surface temperatures.
Main Results:
- Documented a shift from Miocene faulting to Pliocene canyon incision on the northeastern plateau margin.
- Observed widespread Pliocene canyon incision coinciding with a global climate shift from warmth to cooling.
- Identified enhanced moisture transport onto the plateau during late Pliocene cooling.
Conclusions:
- Climatic changes, specifically late Pliocene cooling, were the primary drivers of canyon incision.
- Sea surface temperature fluctuations influenced moisture transport, pacing canyon development.
- Tectonic activity played a lesser role in the Pliocene canyon incision compared to climate.
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