Research Article| December 01, 2002 Pattern and tempo of great escarpment erosion Ari Matmon; Ari Matmon 1Geology Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Paul Bierman; Paul Bierman 2Geology Department and School of Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Yehouda Enzel Yehouda Enzel 3Institute of Earth Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2002) 30 (12): 1135–1138. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<1135:PATOGE>2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 12 Mar 2002 rev-recd: 29 Jul 2002 accepted: 01 Aug 2002 first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Ari Matmon, Paul Bierman, Yehouda Enzel; Pattern and tempo of great escarpment erosion. Geology 2002;; 30 (12): 1135–1138. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<1135:PATOGE>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Extensive geological, geophysical, structural, and geochronological data suggest that the locations of great escarpments bordering passive margins are exceptionally stable and are probably determined by crustal structure. Together, the data do not support the established paradigm of ongoing, significant, and parallel escarpment retreat. Rather, thermochronologic data and sedimentary sequences in ocean basins suggest that initial, tectonically controlled rift escarpments undergo rapid and significant erosion only during the earliest stages of seafloor spreading. Development of stable passive margin escarpments follows this period of intense erosion. Escarpments increase in sinuosity as embayments retreat more rapidly than interfluves. Measurements of 24 escarpments suggest that sinuosity, and the rate at which it increases, depends upon the location of maximum uplift, the geometry of the preescarpment drainage system, and margin age. All data suggest that the location of passive margin escarpments does not change significantly over time. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.