A preliminary study on the development of dammed paleolakes in the Yarlung Tsangpo River basin, southeastern Tibet

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2020.9.18

Abstract

Abstract:

Lacustrine sediments of dammed paleolakes are widely distributed along the valley of the Yarlung Tsangpo River basin across the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. The development of paleolakes is closely related to tectonics, climate change, and surface processes. Through extensive geological investigation, we identified more than 10 dammed paleolakes in the Yarlung Tsangpo River basin and, combined with previous research, established the preliminary stratigraphic chronological framework of these paleolakes through sedimentological, geomorphological and geochronological studies. The remaining lacustrine sediments occurred mostly in the Last Glacial Maximum and the early Holocene, lasting from several to ten thousand years. We summarize the research results on the Dazhuka, Gega and Yigong paleolakes with a focus on their basic developmental characteristics, and discuss the significance, current challenges and research directions for studying dammed paleolakes influenced by tectonics-climate-erosion interactions. We suggest that the extreme climatic change and natural disasters, triggered by the glacial (debris flow) river damming and outburst flooding events since the Last Glacial Period, have had an significant impact on the Yarlung Tsangpo River landform and paleogeographic environment.

Key words: Yarlung Tsangpo River basin, dammed paleolake, active tectonics, Last Glacial Maximum, knickpoint

CLC Number:

P642.2
P531

WANG Ping, WANG Huiying, HU Gang, QIN Jintang, LI Cuiping. A preliminary study on the development of dammed paleolakes in the Yarlung Tsangpo River basin, southeastern Tibet[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2021, 28(2): 35-45.

Figures/Tables 7

Fig.1 A simplified tectonic map showing the geographic location, principal faults and historic earthquake events in the Yarlung Tsangpo River basin. Modified after [29].

Fig.2 DEM map based on 30-meter SRTM data released by NASA, showing the valley morphology in the middle and lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River

Fig.3 Distribution of dammed paleolakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River

Fig.4 Photos of the Dazhuka dammed paleolake and dams

Fig.5 Sedimentary and geomorphologic features of the Gaga paleolakes

Fig.6 Paleoseismic deformation structure recorded in the sediments of dammed paleolake

Fig.7 Environmental archaeological investigation of the Yarlung Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River

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