New morphostructural subdivision of the Western Carpathians: An approach integrating geodynamics into targeted morphometric analysis

Abstract

A new quantitative method of morphostructure delimitation based on targeted morphometric analyses and multivariate statistical methods was applied to the Western Carpathians. Nine specific morphostructural regions and sixteen subregions were defined as an improvement on the preceding qualitative subdivision of the area. The integration of geodynamics into the targeted morphometric analysis represents a prerequisite for better interpretability of the delimited regions. The new subdivision of the Western Carpathians therefore reflects first of all the Pliocene–Quaternary geodynamics that controls the development of the present-day relief. The results also help to understand the timing of the basic dome-like morphostructural formation of the Western Carpathians (which began 4–6 million years ago, with the main stage continuing until the Late Pliocene and accelerated uplift taking place since the Middle Pleistocene), as well as the mechanism of its formation. The importance of the Middle Miocene extension for the development of the basin-and-mountain mosaic unique to the Western Carpathians is documented. The projection of the older structural boundaries into the new morphostructural regions and the increasing prevalence of the young morpholineament systems (N–S and W–E) on the southern and northern periphery of the Western Carpathians could be an indication of the gradual spreading of the Western Carpathians into the surrounding lowlands during the last stage of the morphotectonic development.