On steady states in mountain belts

Research Article| February 01, 2002 On steady states in mountain belts Sean D. Willett; Sean D. Willett 1Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mark T. Brandon Mark T. Brandon 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Sean D. Willett 1Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA Mark T. Brandon 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 04 Apr 2001 Revision Received: 18 Oct 2001 Accepted: 22 Oct 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2002) 30 (2): 175–178. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)0302.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 04 Apr 2001 Revision Received: 18 Oct 2001 Accepted: 22 Oct 2001 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 Sean D. Willett, Mark T. Brandon; On steady states in mountain belts. Geology 2002;; 30 (2): 175–178. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)0302.0.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 The dynamic system of tectonics and erosion contains important feedback mechanisms such that orogenic systems tend toward a steady state. This concept is often invoked, but the nature of the steady state is commonly not specified. We identify four types of steady state that characterize the orogenic system and illustrate these cases by using numerical-model results and natural examples. These types are (1) flux steady state, (2) topographic steady state, (3) thermal steady state, and (4) exhumational steady state: they refer to the erosional flux, the topography, the subsurface temperature field, and the spatial pattern of cooling ages, respectively. Models suggest that the topography will reach a steady mean form at the scale of an orogenic belt, but perfect topographic steady state is unlikely to be achieved at shorter length scales. Thermal steady state is a precondition for exhumational steady state and in the case of temperature-dependent deformation, topographic steady state. Exhumational steady state is characterized by reset age zones spatially nested according to closure temperature, as illustrated in natural systems from New Zealand, the Cascadia accretionary margin, and Taiwan. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.