Using Three-dimensional numerical models with varied material properties and erosion rates to analyze the existence of the Puli Topographic Embayment

Presenter: Ting-Hsuan Hsu
Date: 2012/10/4

Abstract
The existence of a relatively lower elevation region within the western Taiwanese thrust belt which is termed Puli Topographic Embayment (PTE) and has recognized as an anomalous portion of the thrust belt by the previous studies. The PTE is a 50-km-wide topographic low and about 1500 m lower in average elevation than the surrounding areas. Importantly, active compressive deformation within the PTE about 50 km east of the frontal thrust belt suggests shortening currently occurs across the whole PTE, further east from the active thrust front than in other adjacent regions of the thrust belt. In these papers, they investigate the overall topographic and structural architecture of a critical wedge and explore the boundary conditions that affect very rapid shortening and erosion at intermediate scales. By using the three-dimensional numerical model, they suggest the presence of the PTE may reflect the presence of weaker and more erodible sediments than those present along strike in the orogen.

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Reference

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• Wilcox T., K. Mueller, P. Upton, Y. G. Chen, S. T. Huang, B. J. Yanites, and G. Tucker , Linking Taiwan’s subcritical Hsuehshan Range topography and foreland basin architecture, TECTONICS, VOL. 30, TC4011, doi:10.1029/2010TC002825, 2011