1.9 Recent Views on Mountain Building
Case Study 1: Recent Views on Mountain Building – Himalayas and Andes
Models/Theories/Laws:
- Plate Tectonics Theory – Collision of continental plates.
- Orogeny Process – Mountain formation through crustal deformation.
- Geosynclinal Theory – Sediment accumulation and uplift.
Recent Data:
- Himalayas: GNSS data confirms continued uplift at ~5 mm/year due to ongoing India-Eurasia collision.
- Andes: Seismic tomography reveals deep crustal melting contributing to uplift (Licchavi Lyceum, 2023).
- Satellite Gravimetry (GRACE, 2024): Mass redistribution observed in active orogenic zones.
Spatial Variation:
- Himalayas: Maximum uplift in Nepal and Tibet (~5–7 mm/year).
- Andes: Subduction-driven uplift along the Peru-Chile trench.
Temporal Variation:
- Himalayas: Collision began ~50 MYA, uplift continues.
- Andes: Subduction-driven uplift ongoing for ~100 MYA.
Source:
- Licchavi Lyceum: “Recent Views on Mountain Building”
- GRACE Mission Reports (2024)
Insight:
Modern mountain-building theories validate plate tectonics and geosynclinal models, with real-time uplift observed in the Himalayas and Andes.
