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Interaction between tectonics and climate encoded in the planform geometry of stream networks on the eastern Tibetan Plateau
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  • Minhui Li,
  • Hansjoerg Seybold,
  • Baosheng Wu,
  • Yi Chen,
  • James W. Kirchner
Minhui Li
State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University
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Hansjoerg Seybold
ETH
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Baosheng Wu
Tsinghua University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Yi Chen
State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Department of Hydraulic Engineering
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James W. Kirchner
ETH Zurich
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Abstract

Stream networks are highly abundant across Earth’s surface, reflecting the tectonic and climatic history under which they have developed. Recent studies suggest that branching angles are strongly correlated with climatic aridity. However, the impact of tectonic forcing, especially in tectonically active regions, remains ambiguous. Here we analyze the branching angles of major stream networks on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, a region with complex tectonics, variable climate, and diverse landscapes. We find that spatial variations in tectonic uplift (as reflected in channel gradients) shape the branching geometry of stream networks on the steep eastern margin while in the flat interior of the eastern Tibetan Plateau, branching angles are mainly controlled by climatic aridity. This leads to the conclusion that, in the steep margin of the eastern Tibetan Plateau, climatic impacts on branching angles are overprinted by stronger tectonic controls.