Articles | Volume 8, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-769-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-769-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
22 Sep 2020
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 22 Sep 2020
| 22 Sep 2020
Timing of exotic, far-traveled boulder emplacement and paleo-outburst flooding in the central Himalayas
Marius L. Huber
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Geological Institute, Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
current address: Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRPG,
54000 Nancy, France
Maarten Lupker
Geological Institute, Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
Sean F. Gallen
Department of Geosciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins,
Colorado 80523, USA
Marcus Christl
Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics (LIP), Department of Physics, ETH
Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
Ananta P. Gajurel
Department of Geology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu,
Nepal
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Cited
19 citations as recorded by crossref.
- The Erosional and Depositional Potential of Holocene Tibetan Megafloods Through the Yarlung Tsangpo Gorge, Eastern Himalaya: Insights From 2D Hydraulic Simulations S. Morey et al. 10.1029/2021JF006498
- The role of infrequently mobile boulders in modulating landscape evolution and geomorphic hazards C. Shobe et al. 10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103717
- Coupling tree-ring and geomorphic analyses to reconstruct the 1950s massive Glacier Lake Outburst Flood at Grosse Glacier, Chilean Patagonia S. Gorsic et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178368
- Trickling down the paleoslope: an empirical approach to paleohydrology D. Long 10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103740
- Perseverance rover reveals an ancient delta-lake system and flood deposits at Jezero crater, Mars N. Mangold et al. 10.1126/science.abl4051
- Development of smart boulders to monitor mass movements via the Internet of Things: a pilot study in Nepal B. Dini et al. 10.5194/esurf-9-295-2021
- GLOF hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and risk assessment of potentially dangerous glacial lakes in the Bhutan Himalaya S. Rinzin et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.129311
- Impact of climate change on future flood susceptibility projections under shared socioeconomic pathway scenarios in South Asia using artificial intelligence algorithms S. Janizadeh et al. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121764
- 喜马拉雅高海拔山区冰湖溃决时空分异特征 Q. Zou et al. 10.3799/dqkx.2024.083
- Hyperconcentrated floods cause extreme gravel transport through the sandy rivers of the Gangetic Plains L. Quick et al. 10.1038/s43247-023-00953-9
- Himalayan hazard cascades – modern and medieval outburst floods in Pokhara, Nepal M. Fischer et al. 10.1002/esp.5539
- Rock properties and sediment caliber govern bedrock river morphology across the Taiwan Central Range J. Carr et al. 10.1126/sciadv.adg6794
- Particle size dynamics in abrading pebble populations A. Sipos et al. 10.5194/esurf-9-235-2021
- Late Pleistocene–Holocene flood history, flood-sediment provenance and human imprints from the upper Indus River catchment, Ladakh Himalaya C. Sharma et al. 10.1130/B35976.1
- Suyya’s Flood: Numerical Models of Kashmir’s Medieval Megaflood and Ancient Lake Kerewa Drainage Events M. Urooj et al. 10.3389/esss.2021.10040
- How big is a boulder? The importance of boulder definition choice in earth science research and river management R. Mason & L. Polvi 10.1002/esp.5861
- Influence of Rarely Mobile Boulders on Channel Width and Slope: Theory and Field Application R. Nativ et al. 10.1029/2021JF006537
- Himalayan valley-floor widths controlled by tectonically driven exhumation F. Clubb et al. 10.1038/s41561-023-01238-8
- The imprint of erosion by glacial lake outburst floods in the topography of central Himalayan rivers M. Dahlquist & A. West 10.5194/esurf-10-705-2022
19 citations as recorded by crossref.
- The Erosional and Depositional Potential of Holocene Tibetan Megafloods Through the Yarlung Tsangpo Gorge, Eastern Himalaya: Insights From 2D Hydraulic Simulations S. Morey et al. 10.1029/2021JF006498
- The role of infrequently mobile boulders in modulating landscape evolution and geomorphic hazards C. Shobe et al. 10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103717
- Coupling tree-ring and geomorphic analyses to reconstruct the 1950s massive Glacier Lake Outburst Flood at Grosse Glacier, Chilean Patagonia S. Gorsic et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178368
- Trickling down the paleoslope: an empirical approach to paleohydrology D. Long 10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103740
- Perseverance rover reveals an ancient delta-lake system and flood deposits at Jezero crater, Mars N. Mangold et al. 10.1126/science.abl4051
- Development of smart boulders to monitor mass movements via the Internet of Things: a pilot study in Nepal B. Dini et al. 10.5194/esurf-9-295-2021
- GLOF hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and risk assessment of potentially dangerous glacial lakes in the Bhutan Himalaya S. Rinzin et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.129311
- Impact of climate change on future flood susceptibility projections under shared socioeconomic pathway scenarios in South Asia using artificial intelligence algorithms S. Janizadeh et al. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121764
- 喜马拉雅高海拔山区冰湖溃决时空分异特征 Q. Zou et al. 10.3799/dqkx.2024.083
- Hyperconcentrated floods cause extreme gravel transport through the sandy rivers of the Gangetic Plains L. Quick et al. 10.1038/s43247-023-00953-9
- Himalayan hazard cascades – modern and medieval outburst floods in Pokhara, Nepal M. Fischer et al. 10.1002/esp.5539
- Rock properties and sediment caliber govern bedrock river morphology across the Taiwan Central Range J. Carr et al. 10.1126/sciadv.adg6794
- Particle size dynamics in abrading pebble populations A. Sipos et al. 10.5194/esurf-9-235-2021
- Late Pleistocene–Holocene flood history, flood-sediment provenance and human imprints from the upper Indus River catchment, Ladakh Himalaya C. Sharma et al. 10.1130/B35976.1
- Suyya’s Flood: Numerical Models of Kashmir’s Medieval Megaflood and Ancient Lake Kerewa Drainage Events M. Urooj et al. 10.3389/esss.2021.10040
- How big is a boulder? The importance of boulder definition choice in earth science research and river management R. Mason & L. Polvi 10.1002/esp.5861
- Influence of Rarely Mobile Boulders on Channel Width and Slope: Theory and Field Application R. Nativ et al. 10.1029/2021JF006537
- Himalayan valley-floor widths controlled by tectonically driven exhumation F. Clubb et al. 10.1038/s41561-023-01238-8
- The imprint of erosion by glacial lake outburst floods in the topography of central Himalayan rivers M. Dahlquist & A. West 10.5194/esurf-10-705-2022
Latest update: 30 May 2025
Short summary
Large boulders found in two Himalayan valleys show signs of long fluvial transport (>10 km). Paleo-discharges required to mobilize these boulders exceed typical monsoon discharges. Exposure dating shows that a cluster of these boulders was emplaced ca. 5 kyr ago. This period is coeval with a weakening of the Indian monsoon and glacier retreat in the area. We, therefore, suggest that glacier lake outburst floods are likely mechanisms that can explain these exceptional transport processes.
Large boulders found in two Himalayan valleys show signs of long fluvial transport (>10 km)....
