Temporally and spatially uniform rates of erosion in the southern Appalachian Great Smoky Mountains

Abstract

Research Article| February 01, 2003 Temporally and spatially uniform rates of erosion in the southern Appalachian Great Smoky Mountains A. Matmon; A. Matmon 1Geology Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar P.R. Bierman; P.R. Bierman 1Geology Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. Larsen; J. Larsen 1Geology Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S. Southworth; S. Southworth 2U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 20192, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. Pavich; M. Pavich 2U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 20192, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. Caffee M. Caffee 3Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information A. Matmon 1Geology Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA P.R. Bierman 1Geology Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA J. Larsen 1Geology Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA S. Southworth 2U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 20192, USA M. Pavich 2U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 20192, USA M. Caffee 3Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 11 Jun 2002 Revision Received: 09 Oct 2002 Accepted: 12 Oct 2002 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2003) 31 (2): 155–158. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0155:TASURO>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 11 Jun 2002 Revision Received: 09 Oct 2002 Accepted: 12 Oct 2002 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation A. Matmon, P.R. Bierman, J. Larsen, S. Southworth, M. Pavich, M. Caffee; Temporally and spatially uniform rates of erosion in the southern Appalachian Great Smoky Mountains. Geology 2003;; 31 (2): 155–158. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0155:TASURO>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract We measured 10Be in fluvial sediment samples (n = 27) from eight Great Smoky Mountain drainages (1–330 km2). Results suggest spatially homogeneous sediment generation (on the 104–105 yr time scale and >100 km2 spatial scale) at 73 ± 11 t km−2 yr−1, equivalent to 27 ± 4 m/m.y. of bedrock erosion. This rate is consistent with rates derived from fission-track, long-term sediment budget, and sediment yield data, all of which indicate that the Great Smoky Mountains and the southern Appalachians eroded during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic at ∼30 m/m.y. In contrast, unroofing rates during the Paleozoic orogenic events that formed the Appalachian Mountains were higher (≥102 m/m.y.). Erosion rates decreased after termination of tectonically driven uplift, enabling the survival of this ancient mountain belt with its deep crustal root as an isostatically maintained feature in the contemporary landscape. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.