Transient basin as indicator of tectonic expressions in bedrock landscape: Approach based on MATLAB geomorphic tool (Transient-profiler)

摘要

The tectonic and erosional processes sculpture the Earth's surface, producing a landscape that preserves the evolutionary history of rock uplift and incision. The bedrock channels act as an efficient gradation agent where the river profile adjusts to changing tectonic, climatic, or topological (e.g., river capture) boundary conditions, and develops a transient basin. A suite of slope-break knickpoints at comparable elevations in the channel profiles of the transient basin act as important markers. We developed a set of comprehensive and interactive MATLAB tools, called a Transient-profiler, to extract the geomorphic indices from the digital elevation model for a basin characterization and landscape evolution period. The paleo-channel reconstruction from the relict reach in the three studied transient drainage basins (Palar, Umiam, and Dibang) suggest a varying surface uplift from 514, 1246, and 1981 m with a respective relief gain of 158%, 230%, and 95%, respectively. We found that the horizontal knickpoint retreat rate is faster in the Himalayan thrust system as compared to the Shillong pop-up system, whereas the vertical knickpoint retreat rate is faster in the latter. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.