Articles | Volume 16, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-1289-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-1289-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
11 Nov 2025
Research article |
| 11 Nov 2025
| 11 Nov 2025
Deformation and exhumation in thick continental crusts induced by valley incision of elevated plateaux
Thomas Geffroy
Univ.Rennes, CNRS, Géosciences Rennes UMR 6118, 35000 Rennes, France
Philippe Yamato
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Univ.Rennes, CNRS, Géosciences Rennes UMR 6118, 35000 Rennes, France
Institut universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
Philippe Steer
Univ.Rennes, CNRS, Géosciences Rennes UMR 6118, 35000 Rennes, France
Institut universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
Benjamin Guillaume
Univ.Rennes, CNRS, Géosciences Rennes UMR 6118, 35000 Rennes, France
Thibault Duretz
Institut für Geowissenschaften, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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Short summary
While erosion's role in mountain building is well known, deformation from valley incision in inactive regions is less understood. Using our numerical models, we show that incision alone can cause significant crustal deformation and drive lower crust exhumation. This is favored in areas with thick crust, weak lower crust, and high plateaux. Our results show surface processes can reshape Earth's surface over time.
While erosion's role in mountain building is well known, deformation from valley incision in...
