plateauvaiheen

Plateauvaiheen is a term used in geology and climate science to designate a plateau phase, an interval during which uplifted plateau regions may exhibit distinct geomorphological and climatic conditions. The concept is used primarily in Finnish-language geological writings to describe long-term landscape evolution in high-elevation terrains.

The word combines plateau with vaihe, the Finnish word for phase, and is used to name a plateau-phase interval rather than a fixed geologic age. It is most often applied in discussions of uplifted regions where tectonic quiescence and stable climatic conditions influence erosion, sedimentation, and surface development.

As a concept, Plateauvaiheen refers to a span that can encompass multiple climatic cycles and tectonic events, rather than a single epoch. It is commonly associated with elevated regions such as the Tibetan Plateau, the Central Andean Altiplano, and the Colorado Plateau, where broad, relatively stable phases have shaped planation surfaces, incised drainages, and distinctive lithologies.

In practice, the term aids interpretation of paleoclimate signals and tectonic histories by focusing on processes that produce long-lasting geomorphic stability. However, its usage is not universal; some researchers prefer standard stratigraphic or geochronological terminology, and definitions may vary between studies.

See also: plateau geomorphology, peneplain, tectonic uplift, paleoclimate records, long-term landscape evolution.