Endorheic or exorheic: differential isostatic effects of Cenozoic sediments on the elevations of the cratonic basins around the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract Based on isostasy, this paper elegantly explains the differential modern elevations of the large‐scale cratonic basins around the Tibetan Plateau. The Qaidam and Tarim basins are endorheic regions with thick Cenozoic deposits, and they uplifted dramatically during the Cenozoic. In contrast, the Sichuan basin is exorheic and most Cenozoic sediments flowed out of the basin; no visible Cenozoic uplift is observed. We suggest that whether a basin is endorheic or exorheic significantly influences its modern elevation, illustrating how exogenic geological processes impact endogenic geological processes. In addition, a new method of estimating paleoelevation is proposed, which predicts successively accelerating uplift of the Qaidam basin during the Cenozoic and provides good constraints on the geological evolution of the northern Tibetan Plateau.