Determining when India collided with Asia to form the Himalayan mountains
Monday, April 3, 2017 - 09:01
in Earth & Climate
The collision between the Indian subcontinent and the Asian landmass resulted in the formation of the Himalayan Mountains and the rise of the Tibetan Plateau, with consequent major climatic and environmental changes around our planet. Placing precise constraints on the timing of the India-Asia continental collision is essential to understanding the subsequent geological and topographic evolution of the orogenic belt as well as the tectonic uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and their effects on climate, environment and life. A recent study has precisely constrained the timing of the initial India-Asia continental collision via the accurate analysis of the sedimentary record preserved along the collision zone.