Summary and Current Status of the Research Models for the Tibetan Plateau Uplift

Abstract The Tibetan Plateau (TP) and Himalayas have been treated as an essential external factor in shaping Asian monsoon and mid-latitude atmospheric circulation. In this study we perform numerical experiments with different uplift altitudes using the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology Earth System Model to examine potential impacts of uplift of the TP and Himalayas on eastward propagation of the MJO and the associated mechanisms. Analysis of experimental results with dynamics-based MJO diagnostics indicates two potential mechanisms. First, the uplift considerably enhances low-level mean westerlies in the Indian Ocean and convection in the Maritime Continent, which in turn strengthens boundary layer moisture convergence (BLMC) to the east of the MJO convective center. The increased BLMC reinforces upward transport of moisture and heat from BL to free atmosphere and increases lower tropospheric diabatic heating by shallow and congestus clouds ahead of the MJO center, enhancing the Kelvin-Rossby wave feedback. Second, the uplift increases upper tropospheric mean easterlies and stratiform heating at the west of the MJO center, which contributes to eastward propagation of MJO by generating positive moist static energy at the east of MJO center. This study will contribute to a better understanding of the origin of the MJO and improvement in simulation of MJO propagation.

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Apatite Fission Track Evidence of Uplift Cooling in the Qiangtang Basin and Constraints on the Tibetan Plateau Uplift

Acta Geologica Sinica - English Edition ◽

10.1111/1755-6724.12441 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 89 (2) ◽

pp. 467-484 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

REN Zhanli ◽

CUI Junping ◽

LIU Chiyang ◽

LI Tiejun ◽

CHEN Gang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tibetan Plateau ◽

Fission Track ◽

The Tibetan Plateau ◽

Apatite Fission Track ◽

Qiangtang Basin ◽

Plateau Uplift ◽

Tibetan Plateau Uplift

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Influence of the Tibetan Plateau uplift on the Asian monsoon-arid environment evolution

Chinese Science Bulletin ◽

10.1007/s11434-013-5987-8 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 58 (34) ◽

pp. 4277-4291 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

XiaoDong Liu ◽

BuWen Dong

Keyword(s):

Tibetan Plateau ◽

Asian Monsoon ◽

Arid Environment ◽

The Tibetan Plateau ◽

Plateau Uplift ◽

Tibetan Plateau Uplift ◽

Environment Evolution

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Late Cenozoic continuous aridification in the western Qaidam Basin: evidence from sporopollen records

Climate of the Past Discussions ◽

10.5194/cpd-9-1485-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 1485-1508 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Y. F. Miao ◽

X. M. Fang ◽

F. L. Wu ◽

M. T. Cai ◽

C. H. Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tibetan Plateau ◽

Middle Miocene ◽

Qaidam Basin ◽

East Asian ◽

The Tibetan Plateau ◽

Late Cenozoic ◽

Plateau Uplift ◽

Western Qaidam Basin ◽

Global Cooling ◽

Tibetan Plateau Uplift

Abstract. Cenozoic climate changes in inner Asia provide a basis for understanding linkages between global cooling, the Tibetan Plateau uplift, and possibly the development of the East Asian monsoon. Based on the compiled palynological results from the western Qaidam Basin, this study reconstructed an 18 Ma record of changing vegetation and paleoclimates since the middle Miocene. Thermophilic taxa percentages were highest between 18 and 14 Ma and decreased after 14 Ma, corresponding closely with the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO) between 18 and 14 Ma and the following global climatic cooling. After 3.6 Ma, the thermophilic taxa percentages further decreased, showing the inevitable relations with the ice-sheets enlargement in the North Hemisphere. During the same period of time, the increase in xerophytic taxa percentages and decrease in conifers percentages imply aridification in both the basin and surrounding mountains since 18 Ma. These results indicate that global cooling mainly controlled the climate change from a relative warm-wet stage to a cold-dry stage during the late Cenozoic at the western Qaidam Basin, and that the Tibetan Plateau uplift also contributed in contrast to the East Asian summer monsoon.

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Where were the monsoon regions and arid zones in Asia prior to the Tibetan Plateau uplift?

National Science Review ◽

10.1093/nsr/nwv068 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 403-416 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Xiaodong Liu ◽

Qingchun Guo ◽

Zhengtang Guo ◽

Zhi-Yong Yin ◽

Buwen Dong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tibetan Plateau ◽

Arid Regions ◽

Asian Monsoon ◽

Arid Zones ◽

The Tibetan Plateau ◽

Geological Evidence ◽

Plateau Uplift ◽

Tibetan Plateau Uplift ◽

Asian Monsoons ◽

The Impact

Abstract The impact of the Tibetan Plateau uplift on the Asian monsoons and inland arid climates is an important but also controversial question in studies of paleoenvironmental change during the Cenozoic. In order to achieve a good understanding of the background for the formation of the Asian monsoons and arid environments, it is necessary to know the characteristics of the distribution of monsoon regions and arid zones in Asia before the plateau uplift. In this study, we discuss in detail the patterns of distribution of the Asian monsoon and arid regions before the plateau uplift on the basis of modeling results without topography from a global coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation model, compare our results with previous simulation studies and available biogeological data, and review the uncertainties in the current knowledge. Based on what we know at the moment, tropical monsoon climates existed south of 20°N in South and Southeast Asia before the plateau uplift, while the East Asian monsoon was entirely absent in the extratropics. These tropical monsoons mainly resulted from the seasonal shifts of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone. There may have been a quasi-monsoon region in central-southern Siberia. Most of the arid regions in the Asian continent were limited to the latitudes of 20–40°N, corresponding to the range of the subtropical high pressure year-around. In the meantime, the present-day arid regions located in the relatively high latitudes in Central Asia were most likely absent before the plateau uplift. The main results from the above modeling analyses are qualitatively consistent with the available biogeological data. These results highlight the importance of the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau in the Cenozoic evolution of the Asian climate pattern of dry–wet conditions. Future studies should be focused on effects of the changes in land–sea distribution and atmospheric CO2 concentrations before and after the plateau uplift, and also on cross-comparisons between numerical simulations and geological evidence, so that a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of the Cenozoic paleoenvironments in Asia can be achieved.

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Three main stages in the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau during the Cenozoic period and its possible effects on Asian aridification: A review

10.5194/cp-2018-64 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zhixiang Wang ◽

Yongjin Shen ◽

Zhibin Pang

Keyword(s):

Tibetan Plateau ◽

East Asian Winter Monsoon ◽

East Asian ◽

Winter Monsoon ◽

The Tibetan Plateau ◽

Asian Winter Monsoon ◽

Plateau Uplift ◽

Global Cooling ◽

Tibetan Plateau Uplift ◽

Central Tibet

Abstract. The Tibetan Plateau uplift and its linkages with the evolution of the Asian climate during the Cenozoic are a research focus for numerous geologists. Here, a comprehensive review of tectonic activities across the Tibet shows that the development of the Tibetan Plateau has undergone mainly three stages of the uplift: the near-modern elevation of the central Tibet and significant uplift of the northern margins (~ 55–35 Ma), the further uplift of the plateau margins (30–20 Ma), and a rapid uplift of the plateau margins again (15–8 Ma). The first uplift of the plateau during ~ 55–35 Ma forced the long-term westward retreat of the Paratethys Sea. The high elevation of the central Tibet and/or the Himalayan would enhance rock weathering and erosion contributing to lowering of atmospheric CO2 content, resulting in global cooling. The global cooling, sea retreat coupled with the topographic barrier effect of the Tibetan Plateau could have caused the initial aridification in central Asia during the Eocene time. The second uplift of the northern Tibet could have resulted in the onset of the East Asian winter monsoon as well as intensive desertification of inland Asia, whereas the central-eastern in China became wet. The further strengthening of the East Asian winter monsoon and the inland Asian aridification during 15–8 Ma was probably associated with the Tibetan Plateau uplift and global cooling. Therefore, the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau plays a very important role in the Asian aridification.

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