Articles | Volume 9, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-1301-2021
© Author(s) 2021. 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-9-1301-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
30 Sep 2021
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 30 Sep 2021
| 30 Sep 2021
Escarpment retreat rates derived from detrital cosmogenic nuclide concentrations
Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8092,
Switzerland
Sean D. Willett
Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8092,
Switzerland
Viewed
Total article views: 4,851 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 22 Apr 2021)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,533 | 1,224 | 94 | 4,851 | 78 | 87 |
- HTML: 3,533
- PDF: 1,224
- XML: 94
- Total: 4,851
- BibTeX: 78
- EndNote: 87
Total article views: 3,492 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 30 Sep 2021)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,685 | 733 | 74 | 3,492 | 71 | 76 |
- HTML: 2,685
- PDF: 733
- XML: 74
- Total: 3,492
- BibTeX: 71
- EndNote: 76
Total article views: 1,359 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 22 Apr 2021)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 848 | 491 | 20 | 1,359 | 7 | 11 |
- HTML: 848
- PDF: 491
- XML: 20
- Total: 1,359
- BibTeX: 7
- EndNote: 11
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 4,851 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 4,464 with geography defined
and 387 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 3,492 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 3,239 with geography defined
and 253 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 1,359 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 1,225 with geography defined
and 134 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
22 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Coevolution of craton margins and interiors during continental break-up T. Gernon et al. 10.1038/s41586-024-07717-1
- Evidence of slow millennial cliff retreat rates using cosmogenic nuclides in coastal colluvium R. Bossis et al. 10.5194/esurf-13-71-2025
- Characteristics of landscape and erosion in the Eastern Pamir and their implications for regional fault connections Y. Wu et al. 10.1016/j.geomorph.2023.108916
- Erosional dynamics and escarpment retreat at the southern end of the South American passive margin escarpment M. Haag et al. 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109885
- Plan‐Form Evolution of Drainage Basins in Response to Tectonic Changes: Insights From Experimental and Numerical Landscapes K. Habousha et al. 10.1029/2022JF006876
- Stream laws in analog tectonic-landscape models R. Reitano et al. 10.5194/esurf-11-731-2023
- Rock strength controls erosion in tectonically dead landscapes M. Haag et al. 10.1126/sciadv.adr2610
- The Erosional Signature of Drainage Divide Motion Along the Blue Ridge Escarpment M. Stokes et al. 10.1029/2022JF006757
- Is the Anti-Atlas of Morocco still uplifting? R. Lanari et al. 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2022.104481
- Denudation asymmetries and drainage divide migration: Insights into the evolution of the Devonian Escarpment in Paraná, Brazil W. Bortolini et al. 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109813
- Cliffs and ramparts: Persistent steep slopes in the landscape M. Kirkby 10.1016/j.geomorph.2023.108776
- Record of paleo water divide locations reveals intermittent divide migration and links to paleoclimate proxies E. Harel et al. 10.1073/pnas.2408426122
- Relationships between African landforms, regolith materials, and Cenozoic climate change: Implications for sedimentary source-to-sink systems D. Chardon et al. 10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105187
- Spatiotemporal denudation rates of the Swabian Alb escarpment (southwestern Germany) dominated by anthropogenic impact, lithology, and base-level lowering M. Schaller et al. 10.5194/esurf-13-571-2025
- Drainage network evolution and divide retreat along a passive margin: the permanence of disequilibrium under unfavorable natural conditions in eastern south america M. Vinicius de Sordi et al. 10.1080/02723646.2022.2080798
- The slow downwearing of Madagascar: Inferring patterns and controls on long‐term basin‐averaged erosion rates from in situ10Be at the catchment and regional level L. Brosens et al. 10.1002/esp.5586
- The southeast Brazilian rifted continental margin is not a single, continuous upwarp: Variations in morphology and denudation patterns along the continental drainage divide T. Fonte-Boa et al. 10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.104091
- Retreat of the Great Escarpment of Madagascar From Geomorphic Analysis and Cosmogenic 10Be Concentrations Y. Wang et al. 10.1029/2021GC009979
- The Role of Weathering on Morphology and Rates of Escarpment Retreat of the Rift Margin of Madagascar Y. Wang et al. 10.1029/2022JF007001
- Drainage divide migration and implications for climate and biodiversity C. He et al. 10.1038/s43017-023-00511-z
- Evolution of the Eastern Red Sea Rifted margin: morphology, uplift processes and source-to-sink dynamics A. Delaunay et al. 10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104698
- Escarpment retreat rates derived from detrital cosmogenic nuclide concentrations Y. Wang & S. Willett 10.5194/esurf-9-1301-2021
21 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Coevolution of craton margins and interiors during continental break-up T. Gernon et al. 10.1038/s41586-024-07717-1
- Evidence of slow millennial cliff retreat rates using cosmogenic nuclides in coastal colluvium R. Bossis et al. 10.5194/esurf-13-71-2025
- Characteristics of landscape and erosion in the Eastern Pamir and their implications for regional fault connections Y. Wu et al. 10.1016/j.geomorph.2023.108916
- Erosional dynamics and escarpment retreat at the southern end of the South American passive margin escarpment M. Haag et al. 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109885
- Plan‐Form Evolution of Drainage Basins in Response to Tectonic Changes: Insights From Experimental and Numerical Landscapes K. Habousha et al. 10.1029/2022JF006876
- Stream laws in analog tectonic-landscape models R. Reitano et al. 10.5194/esurf-11-731-2023
- Rock strength controls erosion in tectonically dead landscapes M. Haag et al. 10.1126/sciadv.adr2610
- The Erosional Signature of Drainage Divide Motion Along the Blue Ridge Escarpment M. Stokes et al. 10.1029/2022JF006757
- Is the Anti-Atlas of Morocco still uplifting? R. Lanari et al. 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2022.104481
- Denudation asymmetries and drainage divide migration: Insights into the evolution of the Devonian Escarpment in Paraná, Brazil W. Bortolini et al. 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109813
- Cliffs and ramparts: Persistent steep slopes in the landscape M. Kirkby 10.1016/j.geomorph.2023.108776
- Record of paleo water divide locations reveals intermittent divide migration and links to paleoclimate proxies E. Harel et al. 10.1073/pnas.2408426122
- Relationships between African landforms, regolith materials, and Cenozoic climate change: Implications for sedimentary source-to-sink systems D. Chardon et al. 10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105187
- Spatiotemporal denudation rates of the Swabian Alb escarpment (southwestern Germany) dominated by anthropogenic impact, lithology, and base-level lowering M. Schaller et al. 10.5194/esurf-13-571-2025
- Drainage network evolution and divide retreat along a passive margin: the permanence of disequilibrium under unfavorable natural conditions in eastern south america M. Vinicius de Sordi et al. 10.1080/02723646.2022.2080798
- The slow downwearing of Madagascar: Inferring patterns and controls on long‐term basin‐averaged erosion rates from in situ10Be at the catchment and regional level L. Brosens et al. 10.1002/esp.5586
- The southeast Brazilian rifted continental margin is not a single, continuous upwarp: Variations in morphology and denudation patterns along the continental drainage divide T. Fonte-Boa et al. 10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.104091
- Retreat of the Great Escarpment of Madagascar From Geomorphic Analysis and Cosmogenic 10Be Concentrations Y. Wang et al. 10.1029/2021GC009979
- The Role of Weathering on Morphology and Rates of Escarpment Retreat of the Rift Margin of Madagascar Y. Wang et al. 10.1029/2022JF007001
- Drainage divide migration and implications for climate and biodiversity C. He et al. 10.1038/s43017-023-00511-z
- Evolution of the Eastern Red Sea Rifted margin: morphology, uplift processes and source-to-sink dynamics A. Delaunay et al. 10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104698
1 citations as recorded by crossref.
Latest update: 26 Jul 2025
Short summary
Although great escarpment mountain ranges are characterized by high relief, modern erosion rates suggest slow rates of landscape change. We question this interpretation by presenting a new method for interpreting concentrations of cosmogenic isotopes. Our analysis shows that erosion has localized onto an escarpment face, driving retreat of the escarpment at high rates. Our quantification of this retreat rate rationalizes the high-relief, dramatic landscape with the rates of geomorphic change.
Although great escarpment mountain ranges are characterized by high relief, modern erosion rates...
