Progress in studies on crustal uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau based on GNSS and GRACE

Abstract

As the "Roof of the world", the current state of crustal uplift on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau is a significant focus in Earth sciences due to its complex geodynamic environment and profound implications for regional and global climate, hydrology, and seismic activity. Understanding the mechanisms behind its uplift involves observing crustal movements and analyzing their dynamic processes in great detail. With the rapid development of satellite geodesy, observation technologies centered on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) have demonstrated remarkable advantages and potential in the geodynamic studies of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. GNSS provides highly detailed three-dimensional measurements of crustal deformation, enabling precise tracking of horizontal and vertical movements. Meanwhile, GRACE offers comprehensive time-varying gravity data, which is crucial for understanding mass redistribution within the Earth's crust and mantle. Previous research has effectively combined these two datasets to study the intricate processes of crustal movements and solid mass migration on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. This integrated approach has yielded quantitative results of vertical crustal movement, allowing for a systematic evaluation of the current state of uplift. The combination of GNSS and GRACE data has enabled researchers to delve deeper into the mechanisms driving the uplift, providing insights into the interaction between tectonic forces and surface processes. Therefore, this paper aims to review the scientific progress made in studying plateau crustal uplift by integrating GNSS and GRACE data. It will cover various aspects such as the observation of the plateau's crustal displacement field and time-varying gravity field, the estimation of load deformation and the extraction of tectonic deformation, and the inversion of changes in crustal thickness and the depth of the Moho interface. These research findings offer a comprehensive understanding of the geodynamic processes. Furthermore, the paper will briefly discuss the environmental background and dynamic mechanisms underlying the current crustal uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

Keywords

• qinghai-xizang plateau
• crustal uplift
• gnss
• grace
• load deformation