A long-standing debate in the Earth Sciences bears on the question of whether top-down erosion processes govern mountain building processes, but how do we measure the topographic signature of the climate drivers independent of tectonics?  I’ll discuss two natural experiments to disentangle topographic signatures previously attributed to climate. I’ll demonstrate that tectonic drivers almost completely explain the heights of mountains and orogen asymmetry.  

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Jane Willenbring is an Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Earth System Science (by courtesy). Jane is a geologist who solves problems related to the nature and evolution Earth's surface - especially how landscapes are affected by tectonics, climate change, and life. She and her research group, “the Life and Landscape Lab” use geochemical techniques, high-resolution topographic data, lab experiments, field observations, and, when possible, couple these data to landscape evolution numerical models and ice sheet models. The geochemical tools she uses and develops often include cosmogenic nuclide systems, which provide powerful, novel methods to constrain rates of erosion and mineral weathering. She has a goal of her and her group’s research leading to the drawdown of 1 Gton of carbon from the atmosphere using natural climate solutions. Ask her about earthworms sometime!