Effect of tectonic-climatic controllers on the transition of Endorheic to Exorheic Basins in the Zagros mountain range
Vol20 No.12:3500-3524
【Title】Effect of tectonic-climatic controllers on the transition of Endorheic to Exorheic Basins in the Zagros mountain range
【Author】Gholam HASSAN JAFARI1; Peyman MOHAMMADI-AHMADMAHMOUDI2; Mohsen EHTESHAMI-MOINABADI3*
【Addresses】1 Department of Geomorphology, University of Zanjan, Zanjan 4537138791, Iran; 2 Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 1983969411, Iran; 3 Department of Sedimentary Basins and Petroleum, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 1983969411, Iran
【Corresponding author】Mohsen EHTESHAMI-MOINABADI
【Citation】Hassan Jafari G,Mohammadi-AhmadiP, Ehteshami-Moinabadi M (2023) Effect of tectonic-climatic controllers on the transition of Endorheic to Exorheic Basins in the Zagros mountain range. Journal of Mountain Science 20(12).https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-023-8328-7
【DOI】https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-023-8328-7
【Abstract】Endorheic basins (ENBs) are inland drainage basins allowing no outflow to oceans. These basins in the active mountain chains of the convergence zones are under the influence of compressional tectonic activity and climate condition. The Zagros Mountains of Iran is one of the youngest convergence zones in which continental-continental collision has occurred. In this paper we hypothesize the formation of ENBs among the Zagros range after the epeirogenic stage in the Late Paleogene-Early Neogene. Due to tectonic activity and Quaternary climatic conditions, the ENBs pass the transition stage to exorheic, and still, some tectonic depressions are not linked to the evolutionary process of exorheic drainage of Zagros. The geometry of the drainage network of Kul and Mond basins in Fars arch shows that 67% of their water gaps are located along the thrusts and transverse basement faults in the east and west of the Fars arch. Geometrically, the Kul and Mond basins form triangles with their sides matching with the edges of the Arabian Plate where the major inherited faults of Arabian plate controls the shape of the Zagros basin and a low strain zone along the Razak fault with lower salt tectonic activity, where the wind gaps are created. The ENBs are located in the rainshadow slopes, but the Kul and Mond basins are located in the upwind slopes of rain waves. This factor and the heavy rains of the basin lead to increase of the erosion potential, destruction of depressions, and floods and consequently, the funnel-shaped gaps have a significant impact on the flood flow.
【Keywords】Transition of landforms; Controllers of lakes; Basement faults; Sedimentary basins; Zagros