Tectonic Geomorphology in Modern Orogenic Zones

A special issue of Geosciences (ISSN 2076-3263). This special issue belongs to the section "Structural Geology and Tectonics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 8028

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424, USA
Interests: coastal and shelf dynamics; geomorphology; sea-level change; geoarchaeology; geoinformatics; spatial modeling

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Guest Editor
Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete, Knossou Ave., P.O. Box 2208, GR-71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Interests: structural geology and tectonics; geomorphology; geoconservation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The present-day landscape, especially in tectonically active regions, is the result of the interaction between tectonic and atmospheric processes, climatic change, as well as depositional and erosional processes acting in different timescales, from days to millions of years. Today, tectonic geomorphology involves data and methods derived from geomorphological, neotectonics, paleo-seismological, geodetical, remote sensing and stratigraphical studies in combination with geochronological tools.

We invite papers exploring the relationship between landscape evolution and tectonics, potential topics including studies regarding the landscape evolution and response in tectonically active regions, morphotectonic studies using innovative techniques, paleo-seismological investigations in active faults, remote sensing analyses, morphometric studies and other multidisciplinary approaches contributing to better understanding the impact of active tectonics in both terrestrial as well as coastal environments.

Dr. M. Scott Harris
Prof. Dr. Niki Evelpidou
Dr. Charalampos Fassoulas
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • active tectonics
  • deformation
  • landforms
  • paleo-seismology
  • morphotectonics
  • morphometry
  • landscape evolution
  • paleo-climatology
  • modelling

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 29816 KiB  
Article
The Response of the Rivers of NW Greece to Late Quaternary Neotectonics, as Interpreted from Detrital Petrology
by David J. W. Piper and Georgia Pe-Piper
Geosciences 2022, 12(11), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12110392 - 25 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1817
Abstract
The modern drainage systems of the fold and thrust belt of the external Hellenide orogen of NW Greece are principally orogen-parallel. Late Quaternary changes in river courses have resulted from neotectonic deformation associated with the Katouna–Stamna fault and with footwall uplift in developing [...] Read more.
The modern drainage systems of the fold and thrust belt of the external Hellenide orogen of NW Greece are principally orogen-parallel. Late Quaternary changes in river courses have resulted from neotectonic deformation associated with the Katouna–Stamna fault and with footwall uplift in developing transverse grabens. This study assesses the impact of neotectonic deformation on river patterns and basin deposition. River sands show differences in modal abundance and varietal geochemistry of heavy minerals and fine sand lithic clasts, determined by scanning electron microscope, that allow identification of past river supply to raised fluvial terrace and beach deposits. In the past 200 ka, footwall uplift south of developing grabens at Lake Trichonis and the Amvrakikos Gulf promoted orogen-transverse flow, diverting the Arachthos-Louros rivers to the west, causing reversal of drainage to the north in the lower reach of the Acheloos River. A raised terrace gravel south of Preveza records the southwestward flow of a large paleo-Arachthos river, confirmed by sand petrology in beaches farther south on the Echinadon Sea coast. The use of varietal heavy minerals and lithic clasts is a rapid and powerful tool for tracking tectonically-induced changes in river patterns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tectonic Geomorphology in Modern Orogenic Zones)
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20 pages, 10372 KiB  
Article
Geomorphological and Morphometric Analyses of the Catanzaro Trough (Central Calabrian Arc, Southern Italy): Seismotectonic Implications
by Claudia Pirrotta, Nicolò Parrino, Fabrizio Pepe, Carlo Tansi and Carmelo Monaco
Geosciences 2022, 12(9), 324; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12090324 - 29 Aug 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3134
Abstract
In this work, we investigated the landscape response to the recent activity of the faults affecting the Catanzaro Trough, a seismically active structural basin that developed transversally to the Calabrian Arc (Southern Italy) during the Neogene–Quaternary. We carried out a geomorphological and morphometric [...] Read more.
In this work, we investigated the landscape response to the recent activity of the faults affecting the Catanzaro Trough, a seismically active structural basin that developed transversally to the Calabrian Arc (Southern Italy) during the Neogene–Quaternary. We carried out a geomorphological and morphometric study of the drainage networks and basins intercepted by the Quaternary faults that were previously mapped through remote and field analyses. The study confirms the occurrence north of the Catanzaro Trough of a WNW–ESE-oriented left-lateral strike-slip fault system (here named the South Sila Piccola Fault System), which accommodates the differential SE-ward migration of the upper crustal sectors of the Calabrian Arc, and of a south-dipping WNW–ESE-oriented oblique fault system (the Lamezia-Catanzaro Fault System), characterized by a predominant normal component of movement. The latter delimits the Catanzaro Trough and accommodates the transition from a strike-slip regime to an extensional regime in the south. Inside the Catanzaro Trough, we detected for the first time a NNE–SSW-trending, WNW-dipping fault system (here named the Caraffa Fault System). This system contributes to accommodate the extension that occurs orthogonally to the southern sector of the Calabrian Arc. The geomorphological and morphometric analysis revealed the recent activity of these fault systems. In particular, the activity of the Caraffa Fault System is evidenced by the differential uplift and tilting of discrete areas inside the basin. Given its location, geometry, and kinematics, the Caraffa Fault System could be responsible for the occurrence of large historical earthquakes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tectonic Geomorphology in Modern Orogenic Zones)
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Review

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16 pages, 2716 KiB  
Review
Bridging the Gap between Long–Term Orogenic Evolution (>10 Ma Scale) and Geomorphological Processes That Shape the Western Alps: Insights from Combined Dating Approaches
by Yann Rolland, Antonin Bilau, Thibaut Cardinal, Ahmed Nouibat, Dorian Bienveignant, Louise Boschetti, Stéphane Schwartz and Matthias Bernet
Geosciences 2022, 12(11), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12110393 - 25 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2068
Abstract
Constraining the relative roles of erosion and tectonics in the evolution of mountain belts is a challenging scientific goal. In this review article on the Western Alps, we show how it becomes possible to “bridge the gap” between the long–term (>Ma) orogenic evolution [...] Read more.
Constraining the relative roles of erosion and tectonics in the evolution of mountain belts is a challenging scientific goal. In this review article on the Western Alps, we show how it becomes possible to “bridge the gap” between the long–term (>Ma) orogenic evolution controlled by tectonics and exhumation processes and the recent geomorphological evolution that is accessible on an annual–decadal basis. Advances in mineral dating that have grown in relation to deformation in the ductile and brittle crustal fields have allowed us to constrain the evolution of deformation through time and depth. A drastic change from early collision, dominated by rapid underthrusting of the European plate, to a more stagnant syn–collisional tectonic context is documented since about 26–20 Ma by syn–kinematic phengites and vein–hosted monazites along the Alpine arc. The overall dextral kinematic context is accompanied by local extensional domains in the Simplon and High Durance Valley. Activation of the Simplon ductile fault is documented from 20 Ma, whereas the High Durance extensional system commenced after 10 Ma. The application of cosmogenic nuclide dating of incised river gorges demonstrates that the erosion pattern of the Western Alps follows a different evolution within the valleys dominated by upstream glacial erosion than in peripheral watersheds devoid of glaciers. The very low peripheral incision is found to be similar to the vertical GPS signal, suggesting equilibrium of tectonic uplift and incision, whereas the glacial–dominated valleys exhibit significantly increased and transient river incision during interglacials and a constant ongoing tectonic regime. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tectonic Geomorphology in Modern Orogenic Zones)
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