4.2 Using the rates of chemical and mechanical denudation in table 4.8, and assu

Question

4.2 Using the rates of chemical and mechanical denudation in table 4.8, and assuming that the Earth’s continental crust is in steady state, estimate the mean rate of uplift of the continental crust in cm per year.

and Mechanical denudation Per unit area (1014 g/yr) (kg ha yr) TABLE 4.8 Chemical l Chemical denudation" Ratio mechanical/ Total chemical 2.1 3.3 6.3 0.7 0.5 3.0 Per unit area Total (1014 g/yr) (kg ha 1yr 1) Continent N. America 7.0 S. America 5.5 Asia Africa Europe 4.6 Australia 0.2 Total 330 280 320 240 420 20 267 14.6 17.9 94.3 5.3 2.3 0.6 135.0 840 1000 3040 350 500 280 918 14.9 7.1 39.3 3.4 Source: From Garrels and MacKenzie (1971)

Explanation / Answer

total denudation= mechanical denudation + chemical denudation = 267+918 = 1186 kg /ha/yr= .1186 kg/m2/yr

now density of continental crust = 2.7 g/cubic cm = 2700 kg/cubic m

since continental crust is at steady state,

uplift = .1186/2700 = 4.39 * 10-5 m/yr = .0439 mm/yr

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