How flat is Tibet?

Abstract

Research Article| February 01, 1994 How flat is Tibet? Eric Fielding; Eric Fielding 1Institute for the Study of the Continents, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Bryan Isacks; Bryan Isacks 1Institute for the Study of the Continents, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Muawia Barazangi; Muawia Barazangi 1Institute for the Study of the Continents, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Christopher Duncan Christopher Duncan 1Institute for the Study of the Continents, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Eric Fielding 1Institute for the Study of the Continents, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Bryan Isacks 1Institute for the Study of the Continents, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Muawia Barazangi 1Institute for the Study of the Continents, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Christopher Duncan 1Institute for the Study of the Continents, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1994) 22 (2): 163–167. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022<0163:HFIT>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Eric Fielding, Bryan Isacks, Muawia Barazangi, Christopher Duncan; How flat is Tibet?. Geology 1994;; 22 (2): 163–167. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022<0163:HFIT>2.3.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 High-resolution digital topography (three arc-second grid) for most of Tibet provides new information to characterize the relief of the highest and largest plateau on Earth. The arid to semiarid central and northern part of the plateau interior has low relief (average slopes of ∼; over 250 m windows) and a mean elevation of 5023 m above sea level. At moderate wavelengths of ∼m, relief is ∼or less for most of Tibet, as opposed to the much higher relief of up to 6 km on the plateau edges, where glacial and fluvial dissection is greater because of higher levels of precipitation. The only faults manifesting significant topographic relief are the relatively small scale, generally north-trending graben systems, primarily in southern Tibet, and several large-scale fault systems near the edges of Tibet. The flatness of Tibet implies that (1) there has been little deformation (especially shortening) of the uppermost crust north of the graben systems during the late Cenozoic, and (2) shallow crustal isostatic compensation has been acting to level the surface of the plateau. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.