On the ancient mountain relief transformation by the quaternary glaciation

Abstract

The Tier Shan slopes reveal clearly steps which are fragments of orogenic surfaces of planation differing in ages and corresponding to erosion cuts which can be traces into mountains interior. Highest and oldest surfaces were repeatedly glaciated during Quaternary. The ancient relief was not however completely destroyed. It is accounted for by special features of the expiration process in mountains as well as by the fact that erosional dissection of each higher step is controlled by the base level position that is by lower step. Therefore the stepped structure of mountain slopes itself provides for conservation of the steps-the ancient topographic elements-everywhere, including heavily glaciated areas during Quaternary.