Drainage Divide Migration in Response to Asymmetric Uplift at Eastern Qinling, China

ABSTRACT Drainage divide migration shapes landscape, sediment patterns, and biodiversity, which is affected by a variety of factors. While geomorphic index and numerical simulations have been employed to investigate divide migration, previous studies ignore the present‐day vertical velocity field. The Eastern Qinling is characterised by differential tectonic uplift and dense river systems. This study examines the migration of the Eastern Qinling divide by analysing levelling observation with topographic swath. We used the χ ‐map and channel longitudinal profiles to measure drainage divide stability at three natural examples. We conclude that the drainage divide in the Eastern Qinling migrates northward to the higher uplift. The χ value could be misleading to indicate the divide migration, because the drainage divide in an active mountain‐building belt is mainly controlled by the ratio of uplift rates.By examining the geodetic vertical deformation, we offer new insights into the drainage divide mobility and landscape evolution.