Neotectonic Subsidence Along the Cenozoic Kunlun Fault (Tibetan Plateau)

Many lake basins on the Tibetan Plateau are affected by tectonic activity. It is therefore important to consider seismotectonic influence on lake evolution when discussing climate impact on hydrology and sediment budgets. Lake Donggi Cona serves as an example to demonstrate the influence of the Kunlun left‐lateral strike‐slip fault on lake formation with subsidence in the pull‐apart basin. The results show that comparable fluvial sandy sediments generated at low lake levels during the Late Glacial and early Holocene occur at different water depths within a double lake‐internal pull‐apart structure, suggesting mean subsidence rates of 2.6–4.3 mm/a since 13.5 cal. ka BP. Such pulses prevailed throughout the Holocene, pointing to repeated seismic events and ongoing neotectonic activity. Sediment distribution and changing morphological shape by subsidence are important factors that affected other lakes on the Tibetan Plateau and enable us to distinguish between neotectonic and paleoclimatic impacts. Plain Language Summary Lake basins on the Tibetan Plateau are frequently affected by tectonic activity. Lake Donggi Cona basin serves as an example how such activities impact lake evolution throughout the last 13,500 years, apart from hydroclimatic influence. Sediment distribution in the lake basin indicates a shallow basin morphology during the Late Glacial and early Holocene that was successively influenced by subsidence toward a deep central part of the basin. Subsidence rates were calculated to about 2.6–4.3 mm/a, indicating frequent seismotectonic events within the double pull‐apart basin at the Kunlun left‐lateral slip fault. This basin serves as an example that neotectonic influence has to be considered when discussing hydroclimatic variability over time. Key Points Holocene mean subsidence rates of 2.6–4.3 mm/a in the Donggi Cona pull‐apart basin could be calculated Sediment composition and fossil remains indicate pond status in the lake basin during the Late Glacial Higher frequency of neotectonic activity can be differentiated from hydroclimatic impact