Shifting of climatic-vegetation belts in Eurasian mountains and their expression in slope evolution

Abstract

Climatic, vegetation vertical zones controlled mainly by changes in the temperature, shifting in the Quaternary, decide on the rate and direction of slope evolution. In the Eurasian Mountains beside vertical displacement of geomorphic processes during cold stages a pronounced role was played by expansion of permafrost in western direction. The limits of vertical zones of geomorphic processes are frequently adapted to inherited features of relief and especially to relief energy. High rate of uplift cause accelerated incision of valleys and large slope failures, it may be more important than the secular processes acting in various climatic vertical zones. The mountain glaciers during advances separate valley sides into supraglacial, paraglacial and subglacial sectors.