Geomorphic and tectonic forcing of late Cenozoic warping of the Colorado piedmont

Research Article| July 01, 2002 Geomorphic and tectonic forcing of late Cenozoic warping of the Colorado piedmont Eric M. Leonard Eric M. Leonard 1Department of Geology, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Eric M. Leonard 1Department of Geology, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 10 Jan 2002 Revision Received: 13 Mar 2002 Accepted: 09 Apr 2002 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2002) 30 (7): 595–598. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0595:GATFOL>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 10 Jan 2002 Revision Received: 13 Mar 2002 Accepted: 09 Apr 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 Eric M. Leonard; Geomorphic and tectonic forcing of late Cenozoic warping of the Colorado piedmont. Geology 2002;; 30 (7): 595–598. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0595:GATFOL>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 Late Cenozoic warping of the Colorado piedmont involved interplay of tectonic forcing, river erosion, and isostatic response to erosion. Modeled erosional isostasy closely replicates the observed pattern of deformation, but accounts for only about half its magnitude. The remainder reflects tectonic rock uplift that increases southward across the piedmont, likely reflecting proximity to the northward-propagating Rio Grande Rift. This differential uplift triggered differential erosion, concentrated on southern piedmont river systems, particularly the Arkansas River, which led in turn to differential isostatic rock uplift focused on the Arkansas drainage. Covariation of tectonic uplift, erosion, and isostatic compensation across the piedmont reflects a positive feedback between uplift-induced erosion and erosion-induced isostasy, which has progressed to the point that isostatic uplift is approximately equal to the initial tectonic forcing. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.