There are indications that the general height of mountain ranges is directly influenced by the extent of glaciation through an efficient denudation mechanism known as the glacial buzzsaw. Here, a global analysis of topography shows that variations in maximum mountain height correlate closely with climate-controlled gradients in snowline altitude rather than with tectonic activity. Further, the use of a numerical model self-consistently produces the hypsometric signature of the glacial buzzsaw.
- D. L. Egholm
- S. B. Nielsen
- J.-E. Lesemann
