Long-term glacial erosion of active mountain belts: Example of the Chugach–St. Elias Range, Alaska

Abstract

Research Article| June 01, 2004 Long-term glacial erosion of active mountain belts: Example of the Chugach–St. Elias Range, Alaska James A. Spotila; James A. Spotila 1Department of Geosciences, 4044 Derring Hall, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jamie T. Buscher; Jamie T. Buscher 1Department of Geosciences, 4044 Derring Hall, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Andrew J. Meigs; Andrew J. Meigs 2Department of Geosciences, 104 Wilkinson Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Peter W. Reiners Peter W. Reiners 3Department of Geology and Geophysics, P.O. Box 208109, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information James A. Spotila 1Department of Geosciences, 4044 Derring Hall, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA Jamie T. Buscher 1Department of Geosciences, 4044 Derring Hall, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA Andrew J. Meigs 2Department of Geosciences, 104 Wilkinson Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA Peter W. Reiners 3Department of Geology and Geophysics, P.O. Box 208109, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 02 Dec 2003 Revision Received: 04 Feb 2004 Accepted: 09 Feb 2004 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2004) 32 (6): 501–504. https://doi.org/10.1130/G20343.1 Article history Received: 02 Dec 2003 Revision Received: 04 Feb 2004 Accepted: 09 Feb 2004 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation James A. Spotila, Jamie T. Buscher, Andrew J. Meigs, Peter W. Reiners; Long-term glacial erosion of active mountain belts: Example of the Chugach–St. Elias Range, Alaska. Geology 2004;; 32 (6): 501–504. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G20343.1 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 An emerging paradigm that equates glaciers to "buzz saws" of exceptional erosional efficiency has been strengthened by short-term (<102 yr) sediment yields from southern Alaska. New low-temperature cooling ages from this area, the glaciated Chugach– St. Elias Mountains, constrain long-term (106 yr) exhumation rates. Vertically averaged exhumation rates reach ∼3 mm/yr, but are an order of magnitude lower than rates based on short-term sediment yields. Whereas these exhumation rates are not exceptional for orogenic belts, denudation patterns are strongly correlated with the distribution of glaciers, and erosion appears to keep pace with convergence and uplift. These findings imply a coupling between glacially dominated erosion and tectonics. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.