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Stream-power incision model in non-steady-state mountain ranges: An empirical approach

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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

Stream-power incision model has always been applied to detecting the steady-state situation of ranges. Oblique arc-continent collision occurring during the period of Penglai Orogeny caused the Taiwan mountain belt to develop landscape of three evolution stages, namely stages of pre-steady-state (growing ranges in southern Taiwan), steady-state (ranges in central Taiwan) and post-steady-state (decaying ranges in northern Taiwan). In the analysis on streams of the Taiwan mountain belt made by exploring the relationship between the slope of bedrock channel (S) and the catchment area (A), the topographic features of the ranges at these three stages are acquired. The S-A plot of the steady-state ranges is in a linear form, revealing that the riverbed height of bedrock channel does not change over time (dz/dt = 0). The slope and intercept of the straight line S-A are related to evolution time of steady-state topography and tectonic uplift rate respectively. The S-A plots of the southern and northern ranges of Taiwan mountain belt appear to be in convex and concave forms respectively, implying that the riverbed height of bedrock channel at the two ranges rises (dz/dt > 0) and falls (dz/dt < 0) over time respectively. Their tangent intercept can still reflect the tectonic uplift rate. This study develops an empirical stream-power erosion model of pre-steady-state and post-steady-state topography.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Environmental Education and Safety Health, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Kaohsiung, 802, Taiwan, China

    Chen Yen-Chieh

  2. Institute of Civil Engineering and Disaster Reduction Technology, Chin Yun University, Jung-Li, 320, Taiwan, China

    Sung Quocheng

  3. Department of Leisure and Recreation, Toko University, Chia-Yi County, 613, Taiwan, China

    Chen Chao-Nan

Authors
  1. Chen Yen-Chieh
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  2. Sung Quocheng
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  3. Chen Chao-Nan
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Correspondence to Sung Quocheng.

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Chen, YC., Sung, Q. & Chen, CN. Stream-power incision model in non-steady-state mountain ranges: An empirical approach. CHINESE SCI BULL 51, 2789–2794 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-006-2194-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-006-2194-x

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