Project Details
Projekt
Thermal histroy, denudation, uplift, and log-term landscape evolution of the Rwenzori Montains, Uganda
Applicants
Dr. Andrea Förster; Professor Dr. Ulrich A. Glasmacher
Subject Area
Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
Term
from 2006 to 2014
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 18857975
The aim of the project is to quantify the thermal, uplift and denudation history of the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda. The Rwenzori Mountains are a key area for rift-flank uplift in the East African Rift. Because of their significant height of about 5000 m the Rwenzori Mountains influence regional atmospheric circulation and thereby have a significant impact on the climate in central Africa. The project will combine the results of apatite fission-track and apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronology to establish the thermal, uplift and denudation history of this region. In part, this aim will be achieved by 2-D and 3-D thermokinematic modelling, integrating surface processes by using/customizing existing computer codes. Testing model solutions (i.e. predictions) obtained for the multidimensional parameter space (thermal parameters, uplift-, erosion rate, tectonic boundaries/ relative movements) against the real thermochronolgical data set, the most likely combinations of parameter values can be constrained. Most relevant deliverables for the RJFLE-project will be the (i) timing of onset of rapid uplift and (ii) spatial and temporal evolution of uplift and denudation rates.
DFG Programme
Research Units
Participating Person
Professor Dr. Thilo Bechstädt
