Structural and geomorphic origin of anomalous topographic culminations in the Chinese Pamir: Muztagh Ata and Kongur Shan

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This proposal outlines a research plan to explore tectonic-geomorphic interactions in the Pamir region of far western China. In the region of the high peaks Kongur Shan (7719 m) and Muztagh Ata (7546 m), the correlation between areas of high relief and deep, rapid exhumation with areas of presumed rapid glacial and fluvial erosion suggests a positive feedback loop, in which rapid erosion causes thermal and mechanical weakening of the crust, flow of material toward the site of rapid glacial and fluvial erosion suggests a positive feedback loop, in which rapid erosion causes thermal and mechanical weakening of the crust, flow of material toward the site of rapid erosion, and deep exhumation. Exhumation of these peaks is also partly tectonic in origin, related to movement along the extensional Kongur detachment. The goal of this project is to understand the relative contributions of tectonic, erosion and climate to both the spatial and temporal exhumation pattern observed in the Kongur-Shan-Muztagh Ata region. For this, we will use a combination of thermochronologic work, thermal modeling, surface exposure dating, structural and geomorphic mapping, landscape analysis, digital elevation model interpretation, and satellite image interpretation.