Evolution of terraces I–III along the Anning River, western Sichuan, based on pollen records and terrace structure

Abstract

This study reconstructs the long-term evolution of river terraces over large spatial scales along the Anning River, western Sichuan, and identifies external factors controlling terrace formation. Pollen record analysis and terrace structure indicate that formation of the middle section of terraces I–III resulted from the interaction of changing climates and uplift of the margins of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The relative influence of climate and uplift in terrace formation changes in different periods. The terraces reveal multiple, gradual uplift events on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which is of great significance for determining uplift mechanisms across the entire plateau.