Quaternary tectonics of the Yellowstone region

The Yellowstone region is a very dynamic area on the North American continent. It has seen striking tectonic changes that are linked to the passage of the North American Plate across a hot mantle plume. With collaborators at Utah State University, we study rivers along the flanks of the Yellowstone National Park. These rivers incise into the rocks that get lifted in response to the hot mantle underneath them. Studying the terraces and the stream profiles in the region can yield insights into the rates and the pattern of the surface response to the hot mantle.