Predicting paleoelevation of Tibet and the Himalaya from δ18O vs. altitude gradients in meteoric water across the Nepal Himalaya

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

304 Scopus citations

Abstract

The δ18O value of meteoric water varies with elevation, providing a means to reconstruct paleoelevation if the δ18O values of paleowater are known. In this study, we determined the δ18O values of water (δ18O(mw)) from small tributaries along the Seti River and Kali Gandaki in the Nepal Himalaya. We found that δ18O(mw) values decrease with increasing altitude for both transects. δ18O(mw) vs. altitude along the Kali Gandaki in west-central Nepal fit a second order polynomial curve, consistent with increasing depletion of 18O with increasing elevation, as predicted by a Rayleigh-type fractionation process. This modern δ18O(mw) vs. altitude relationship can be used to constrain paleoelevation from the δ18O values of Miocene-Pliocene carbonate (δ18O(c)) deposited in the Thakkhola graben in the southern Tibetan Plateau. Paleoelevations of 3800±480 m to 5900±350 are predicted for the older Tetang Formation and 4500±430 m to 6300±330 m for the younger Thakkhola Formation. These paleoelevation estimates suggest that by ~ 11 Ma the southern Tibetan Plateau was at a similar elevation to modern. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)215-229
Number of pages15
JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters
Volume183
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000

Keywords

  • Altitude
  • Himalayas
  • Nepal
  • O-18/O-16
  • Streams
  • Surface water

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Space and Planetary Science
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Predicting paleoelevation of Tibet and the Himalaya from δ18O vs. altitude gradients in meteoric water across the Nepal Himalaya'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this