Tectonic Aneurysm: A Culmination of Tectonic and Geomorphic Cooperation in Mountain Building

Some of Earth's greatest topographic relief and dynamic geology arise from exceptionally strong interactions between tectonics, climate, and erosion. We focus on three regions in the Himalaya and Alaska where characteristic spatiotemporal patterns of extremely rapid exhumation stand out from the variability inherent in large mountain ranges. The patterns are a signal of emergent behavior in regions with persistent co-localization of rapid tectonic and surface processes that we define as “tectonic aneurysms.” They develop where tectonic strain couples to strong forcing from rapid erosion, altering the thermo-mechanical state of the crust and revealing deep connections between solid Earth and surface processes.