Development features and original altitude of a karst planation surface: Preliminary review

Traditional theories of geographical cycle and pediplain cannot describe correctly the development of planation surfaces in karst regions. Authors, therefore, put forward conception of karst planation and karst planation surface, suggesting that karst planation is another type of planation process characterized by chemical erosion and transformation. To identify the distinction between evolution features of normal landforms and those of karst landforms developed in the South China, authors suggest karst planation surfaces under similar environmental conditions may reach a lower altitude and gradient ratio, in contrast with normal landform areas. This may be applied to researching on Tibetan Plateau uplift.