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Glacial effects limiting mountain height

Author

Listed:
  • D. L. Egholm

    (Aarhus University)

  • S. B. Nielsen

    (Aarhus University)

  • V. K. Pedersen

    (Aarhus University)

  • J.-E. Lesemann

    (Aarhus University)

Abstract

Putting a cap on mountains A 'glacial buzzsaw' erosional mechanism has been hypothesized to explain the observation that the general height of mountain ranges can be influenced by the extent of glaciation. A systematic analysis of the role of glacial erosion in limiting topography of mountains on a global scale now shows that variations in maximum mountain height correlate closely with climate-controlled gradients in snowline altitude for many high mountain ranges. Numerical modelling reveals that a combination of erosional destruction of topography above the snowline by glacier-sliding and landscape uplift caused by erosional unloading can explain the observed maximum mountain heights. The model suggests that differences in the height of mountain ranges generally reflect variations in local climate rather than tectonic forces.

Suggested Citation

  • D. L. Egholm & S. B. Nielsen & V. K. Pedersen & J.-E. Lesemann, 2009. "Glacial effects limiting mountain height," Nature, Nature, vol. 460(7257), pages 884-887, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:460:y:2009:i:7257:d:10.1038_nature08263
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08263
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    Cited by:

    1. Stanisław Szombara & Marta Róg & Krystian Kozioł & Kamil Maciuk & Bogdan Skorupa & Jacek Kudrys & Tomáš Lepeška & Michal Apollo, 2021. "The Highest Peaks of the Mountains: Comparing the Use of GNSS, LiDAR Point Clouds, DTMs, Databases, Maps, and Historical Sources," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-29, September.
    2. H. Patton & A. Hubbard & J. Heyman & N. Alexandropoulou & A. P. E. Lasabuda & A. P. Stroeven & A. M. Hall & M. Winsborrow & D. E. Sugden & J. Kleman & K. Andreassen, 2022. "The extreme yet transient nature of glacial erosion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Jiao Wang & Hao Wang & Yao Jiang & Guotao Zhang & Bo Zhao & Yu Lei, 2023. "Geomorphic controls on debris flow activity in the paraglacial zone of the Southeast Tibetan Plateau," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 117(1), pages 917-937, May.

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