Theory 29/Competing Rates/Tectonics
Mountain Height Is a Ratio
The claim
The steady-state height of a mountain range is set by the ratio of uplift to erosion rate rather than by uplift alone.
01Mechanism
Ranges rise until erosion matches uplift; a fast-uplifting range in a wet climate can be lower than a slow one in a dry climate.
02Prediction
Height should track the ratio across climates.
03Refutation
Height tracking uplift would remove erosion.