Contact information

School of Earth Sciences

China University of Geosciences, Wuhan

388 Lumo Rd, Hongshan, 430074, Wuhan, Hubei, China

xpyuan1@hotmail.com, yuanxiaoping@cug.edu.cn

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Xiaoping-Yuan

Research interests

Tectonic Geomorphology

•Modeling of coupled tectonics, climate, and surface processes; Earth surface process modelling; Fluvial erosion and sediment deposition; Predicting and inverting basin stratigraphy; Geomorphologic response of the Tibetan Plateau uplift

Structural Geology

• Geodynamic modelling; Deformation of the upper crust; Deformation pattern of faulting; Mechanics of low-angle and listric normal faults

Geomechanics

•Limit analysis; Rock mechanics; Fracture mechanics; Elastic-plastic-damage modelling

Master, doctoral and post-doctoral recruitment topics

Modeling of coupled tectonics, climate, and surface processes; Surface process modeling; Continent-ocean combination (source-sink system); Inversion of tectonic uplift and climate change (e.g., the Tibetan Plateau uplift and Asian climate change); Evolution of planetary geomorphology; Orogenic uplift and basin formation; Mechanics of low-angle and listric faults

Current position

China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)     

Professor (CUG Hundred Talents Program, Hubei Hundred Talents Program, NSFC Excellent Young Scientists (Oversea) Program)       2021–present

Research experience

Postdoctoral Fellow    German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), Potsdam, Germany  2016–2020

Education

PhD     Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris (PSL Research University)                                        2012–2016

MSc     China University of Geosciences, Beijing                                                                     2009–2012

BSc      China University of Geosciences, Beijing                                                                     2005–2009

Serve for journals

Terra Nova, Associate Editor

Frontiers in Earth Science, Special Issue Guest Editor

Conference convener

2022 AGU Fall Meeting. Convener, Session: Tectonic and Climatic Controls on the Evolution of Mountain Belts

2021 AGU Fall Meeting. Convener, Session: Reconstructing Mountain Belt Tectonics and Climate

2020 AGU Fall Meeting. Convener, Session: Closing Earth’s Sediment Mass Balance by Linking Continental and Marine Sediment Dynamics

Selected research funding

NSF-China: Excellent Young Scientists (Oversea) Program                                                          2023–2025

National Natural Science Foundation of China                                                 RMB580,000      2023–2026

Hundred Talents Program of China University of Geosciences             RMB2,000,000      2021–2026

Total COLORS: Coupling Lithosphere Deformation and Stratigraphy           €502,000      2016–2020

Publications

Yuan XP^*, Li Y, Brune S, Li K, Pons M, Wolf SG. Coordination between deformation, precipitation, and erosion during orogenic growth. Nature Communications, 2024, 15, 10362. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54690-4

Li Y, Yuan XP^*. Coupled surface process and orographic precipitation model for the landscape evolution of the Himalayas. Journal of Earth Science, 2024, 35(3), 1063-1068.

Yuan XP^*, Jiao R, Liu-Zeng J, Dupont-Nivet G, Wolf SG, Shen X. Downstream propagation of fluvial erosion in Eastern Tibet. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2023, 605, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118017.

Yuan XP^*, Jiao R, Dupont-Nivet G, Shen X. Southeastern Tibetan Plateau growth revealed by inverse analysis of landscape evolution model. Geophysical Research Letters, 2022, 49, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL097623.

Yuan XP^*, Guerit L, Braun J, Rouby D, Shobe CM. Thickness of fluvial deposits records climate oscillations. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 2022, 127, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JB023510.

Yuan XP^*, Huppert KL, Braun J, Shen X, Liu-Zeng J, Guerit L, Wolf SG, Zhang JF, Jolivet M. Propagating uplift controls on high-elevation, low-relief landscape formation in Southeast Tibetan Plateau. Geology, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1130/G49022.1.

Yuan XP^*, Olive J-A, Braun J. Partially locked low-angle normal faults in cohesive upper crust. Tectonics, 2020, 39, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019TC005753.

Yuan XP^*, Leroy YM, Maillot B. Control of fluid pressures on the formation of listric normal faults. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2020, 529, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2019.115849.

Yuan XP^*, Braun J, Guerit L, Simon B, Bovy B, Rouby D, Robin C, Jiao R. Linking continental erosion to marine sediment transport and deposition: A new implicit and O(N) method for inverse analysis. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2019, 524, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2019.115728.

Yuan XP^*, Braun J, Guerit L, Rouby D, Cordonnier G. A new efficient method to solve the stream power law model taking into account sediment deposition. Journal of Geophysical Research-Earth Surface, 2019, 124, 1346–1365, doi:10.1029/2018JF004867.

Yuan XP^*, Christie-Blick N, Braun J. Mechanical properties of the Sevier Desert detachment: An application of critical Coulomb wedge theory. Geophysical Research Letters, 2018, 45, 7417–7424, doi:10.1029/2017GL076854.

Yuan XP^*, Maillot B, Leroy YM. Deformation pattern during normal faulting: A sequential limit analysis. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 2017, 122, 1496–1516, doi:10.1002/2016JB013430.

Yuan XP^*, Leroy YM, Maillot B. Reappraisal of gravity instability conditions for offshore wedges: consequences for fluid overpressures in the Niger Delta. Geophysical Journal International, 2017, 208, 1655–1671, doi:10.1093/gji/ggw474.

Yuan XP^*, Leroy YM, Maillot B. Tectonic and gravity extensional collapses in overpressured cohesive and frictional wedges. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 2015, 120, 1833–1854, doi:10.1002/2014JB011612.

Yuan XP^*, Liu HY, Wang ZQ. An interacting crack-mechanics based model for elastoplastic damage model of rock-like materials under compression. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 2013, 58, 92–102.

Berthelon J^*, Yuan XP^*, Bouziat A, Souloumiac P, Pubellier M, Cornu T, Maillot B. Mechanical restoration of gravity instabilities in the Brunei margin, N.W. Borneo. Journal of Structural Geology, 2018, 117, 148–162, doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2018.08.003.

He C^*, Yang CJ, Turowski JM, Ott RF, Braun J, Tang H, Ghantous S, Yuan XP, Stucky de Quay G. A global dataset of the shape of drainage systems. Earth System Science Data, 2024, 16(2), 1151-1166.

He C^*, Braun J, Tang H, Yuan XP, Acevedo-Trejos E, Ott RF, Stucky de Quay G. Drainage divide migration and implications for climate and biodiversity. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 2024, 5(3), 177-192.

Pan X, Shen X^*, He Z, Yuan XP, Ge Y, Wu X, Jia Y, Zhao Y, Tang X. Responses of geomorphic indices to the northward migration of the Eastern Himalayan syntaxis. Geomorphology, 2024, 465, 109396.

Wu X, Shen X^*, He Z, Yuan XP, Ge Y, Pan X, Jia Y, Tang X, Zhao Y. Constraints of geomorphic indices on the expansion mode of the southeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 2024, 273, 106263.

Zhao Y, Shen X^*, He Z, Yuan XP, Ge Y, Wang S, Wu L, Jia Y, Tang X. Episodic magmatism of the Gongga batholith (eastern Tibet) revealed by detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology: Insights into phased Xianshuihe fault activity and plateau growth. Geosphere, 2024, 20(3), 895-909.

Wang A^*, Yuan XP, Wang G, Lyu G, Wei J, Li H. A non-critical hillslope model: Evidence and topographic implications. Geomorphology, 2024, 453, 109155.

Li B^*, Massonne H-J^*, Zhang J, Yuan XP, Luo T. Monazite beats zircon regarding dating of young metamorphic events—An example from polycyclic granitic gneiss of the Pohorje mountains, Slovenia. Terra Nova, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12755

Yang J^*, Cawood PA, Yuan XP, Yuan D, Zhou Y, Liu A, Liu J, Du Y. Enhanced denudation of the Emeishan large igneous province and precipitation forcing in the late Permian. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 2023, 128(12), e2023JB027430.

Yang J^*, Cao W^*, Yuan XP, Yang J. Erosion-driven isostatic flow and crustal diapirism: Analytical and numerical models with implications for the evolution of the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis, southern Tibet. Tectonics, 2023, 42, doi:10.1029/2022TC007717.

Chen J, Cao K^*, Zhang D, Wang X, Chapman JB, Yuan XP. River inverse modeling of the late Cenozoic uplift history of the Pamir-Tian Shan orogens: Implications for aridification of Central Asia. Geomorphology, 2023, 442, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2023.108922.

Li B^*, Massonne H-J, Yuan XP. A wealth of P‐T‐t information from metasediments in the HP‐UHP terrane of the Pohorje Mountains, Slovenia, elucidates the evolution of the Eastern Alps. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 2023, doi:10.1111/jmg.12740. 

Gao L, He C, Rao G^*, Yang C-J, Yuan XP, Lai J, Tang P, Wu L. Numerical examination of the geomorphic indicators for lateral fold growth, Geomorphology, 2023, 432, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2023.108702.

Wolf SG^*, Huismans RS, Braun J, Yuan XP. Topography of mountain belts controlled by rheology and surface processes. Nature, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04700-6.

Lei H, Shen X*, Liu X*, Tian Y, Yuan XP, Liu J, Jia Y, Tang X, Wang S. Oligocene-early Miocene rapid exhumation along the Xianshuihe fault system: Implications for the growth of the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 2022, 240, 105443.

Shobe CM^*, Braun J, Yuan XP, Campforts B, Gailleton B, Baby G, Guillocheau F, Robin C. Inverting passive margin stratigraphy for marine sediment transport dynamics over geologic time. Basin Research, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12698.

Wang X^*, Hu G^*, Saito Y, Ni G, Hu H, Yu Z, Chen J, Wang M, Yuan XP, Wang L, Hu Z, Nie J, Pan B. Did the modern Yellow River form at the Mid-Pleistocene transition? Science Bulletin, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2022.06.003.

Shi X^*, Chen H^*, Yang R, Zhang H, Yuan XP. Editorial: Continental Basin and Orogenic Processes: Tectonic Deformation and Associated Landscape and Environmental Evolution. Frontiers in Earth Science, 2022, 957558.

Zhang D, Cao K^*, Yuan XP, Wang G, van der Beek P. Late Oligocene-early Miocene Origin of the First Bend of the Yangtze River explained by thrusting-induced river reorganization. Geomorphology, 2022, 108303.

Shen X^*, Braun J, Yuan XP. Southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau stopped expanding in the late Miocene. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2022, 583, 117446.

Neuharth D^*, Brune S, Wrona T, Glerum A, Braun J, Yuan XP. Evolution of rift systems and their fault networks in response to surface processes. Tectonics, 2022, e2021TC007166.

Neuharth D^*, Brune S, Glerum AC, Morley CK, Yuan XP, Braun J. Flexural strike-slip basins. Geology, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1130/G49351.1.

Jiao R^*, Yuan XP, Braun J, Wang Z. Thermo-kinematic modeling of the Cenozoic uplift of the Bogda Shan, Northwest China. Tectonophysics, 2021, 229031, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2021.229031.

Wang A^*, Wang G, Cao K, Yuan XP, Shen T, Wei J. Tectonically dominant surface denudation and topography in the Himalaya: Evidence from coupling between bedrock channel and valley hillslope topographies. Terra Nova, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12552.

Shen X^*, Tian Y, Wang Y, Wu L, Jia Y, Tang X, Lei H, Yuan XP, Ge Y, Liu-Zeng J. Enhanced Quaternary exhumation in the central Three Rivers Region, southeastern Tibet. Frontiers in Earth Science, 2021, doi: 10.3389/feart.2021.741491.

Jiao R^*, Yang R, Yuan XP. Incision history of the Three Gorges, Yangtze River constrained from inversion of river profiles and low-temperature thermochronological data. Journal of Geophysical Research-Earth Surface, 2021, 126, doi:10.1029/2020JF005767.

He C, Yang CJ, Rao G^*, Roda-Boluda DC, Yuan XP, Yang R, Gao L, Zhang L. Landscape response to normal fault linkage: Insights from numerical modeling. Geomorphology, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2021.107796.

He C, Yang CJ, Turowski JM, Rao G^*, Roda-Boluda DC, Yuan XP. Constraining tectonic uplift from the main drainage divide of mountain belts. Nature Communications, 2021, 12, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20748-2.

Li B^*, Massonne H-J, Yuan XP. Pessure-temperature evolution of a mylonitic gneiss from the Lower Seve Nappe in the Handöl area, central Sweden. Journal of Earth Science, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-021-1466-3.

He C, Yang CJ, Rao G^*, Yuan XP, Roda-Boluda DC, Chen Y, Yang R, Zhang L, Yao Q. Seismic assessment of the Weihe Graben, central China: Insights from geomorphological analyses and ¹⁰Be-derived catchment denudation rates. Geomorphology, 2020, 359, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107151

Guerit L^*, Yuan XP, Bonnet S, Rohais S, Carretier S, Braun J, Rouby D. Fluvial landscape evolution controlled by the sediment deposition coefficient: Estimation from experimental and natural landscapes. Geology, 2019, 47(9), 853–856.

Liu HY^*, Yuan XP, Xie T. A damage model for frost heaving pressure in circular rock tunnel under freezing-thawing cycles. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2019, 83, 401–408.

Nirrengarten M^*, Manatschal G, Yuan XP, Kusznir N, Maillot B. Application of the critical Coulomb wedge theory to hyper-extended, magma-poor rifted margins. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2016, 442, 121–132.

Liu HY^*, Lv SR, Zhang LM, Yuan XP. A dynamic damage constitutive model for a rock mass with persistent joints. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 2015, 75, 132–139.

Liu HY^*, Yuan XP. A damage constitutive model for rock mass with persistent joints considering joint shear strength. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 2015, 52, 1136–1143.

Liu HY^*, Yuan XP. A compressive damage constitutive model for rock mass with a set of nonpersistently closed joints under biaxial conditions. Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/136971.

Conference Presentations and Invited Seminars:

...... ...... ...... ...... ......

2019

20. Nanjing University, China, Invited Seminar

Yuan et al. A new efficient method linking continental erosion to marine sedimentation: Application to the SE Tibetan Plateau and the South China Sea

19. China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China, Invited Seminar

Yuan et al. A new efficient method linking continental erosion to marine sediment deposition: Application to the SE Tibetan Plateau and the South China Sea

18. EGU General Assembly 2019, Vienna, Austria, oral

Yuan et al. Inverse analysis of Pearl River source-to-sink system, South China Sea: Implications for SE Tibetan uplift and monsoon intensification

2018

17. AGU Fall Meeting 2018, Washington D.C., U.S., oral

Yuan et al. A new efficient, O(n) and implicit method to solve the Stream Power Law taking into account sediment transport and deposition

16. TOTAL, Pau, France, Invited Seminar

Yuan et al. Inversion of source to sink processes: Model development

15. GeoMod2018, Barcelona, Spain, oral

Yuan et al. A new efficient, O(n) and implicit method to solve the Stream Power Law taking into account sediment transport and deposition

14. Wuhan University, China, Invited Seminar

Yuan et al. Linking river erosion to sediment transport and deposition for ocean, and for continent

13. GFZ Potsdam, Germany, Invited Seminar

Yuan et al. Linking river incision to deposition for ocean, and for continent: An implicit and O(n) method

12. EGU General Assembly 2018, Vienna, Austria, poster

Yuan et al. A new efficient, O(n) and implicit method to solve the Stream Power Law taking into account sediment transport and deposition

2017

11. AGU Fall Meeting 2017, New Orleans, U.S., poster

Yuan et al. Source-to-Sink: An implicit and O(n) landscape evolution model and its application to the Ogooue Delta, Gabon

10. Free University of Berlin, Germany, Invited Seminar

Yuan et al. Linking continental erosion to marine sediment transport and deposition

9. EGU General Assembly 2017, Vienna, Austria, poster

Yuan et al. Linking continental erosion and marine transport and sedimentation

2016

8. AGU Fall Meeting 2016, San Francisco, U.S., poster

Yuan et al. Mechanical properties of the Sevier Desert detachment: an application of Critical Coulomb Wedge theory

7. University of Bremen, Germany, Invited Seminar

Yuan et al. Extensional collapses in the overpressured sedimentary upper crust based on limit analysis

2015

6. EGU General Assembly 2015, Vienna, Austria, oral

Yuan et al. Hanging-wall deformation above a normal fault: sequential limit analyses

5. TOTAL, Paris, France, Invited Seminar

Yuan et al. Sequential Limit Analysis: Extensional deformation above a pre-existing fault

2014

4. GeoMod2014, Potsdam, Germany, poster

Yuan et al. Stability of over-pressured cohesive and frictional materials based on Sequential Limit Analysis

3. TOTAL, Pau, France, Invited Seminar

Yuan et al. Sequential Limit Analysis: Gravitational collapse in over-pressured Coulomb wedge

2. TectonoMechanics2014, Zurich, Switzerland, oral

Yuan et al. Tectonic and gravity extensional collapses in over-pressured Coulomb wedges by limit analysis, with application to the active margin off Antofagasta (Northern Chile)

1. EGU General Assembly 2014, Vienna, Austria, oral

Yuan et al. Tectonic and gravity extensional collapses in over-pressured Coulomb wedges by limit analysis, with application to the active margin off Antofagasta (Northern Chile)

Awards (selected from >20 awards)

2021: Hubei Hundred Talents Program

2020: CUG Hundred Talents Program

2014: Outstanding contribution in reviewing “International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences”

2012: Beijing Excellent Graduates Award

2012: China University of Geosciences (Beijing) Excellent Graduates Award

2012: Excellent Master Thesis Award, China University of Geosciences (Beijing)

2011: Beijing Excellent Student Award (17/~15000)

2011: Top-10 Talented Graduate Students Award, China University of Geosciences (Beijing) (10/~8000)

2008: Beijing Undergraduate Mathematics Competition, Third prize

2006-2008: China University of Geosciences (Beijing) Mathematics Competition, First prize and #1 (3 times)