How can cooling and thermal contraction cause a plateau to subside?

Plateaus are primarily formed through tectonic processes such as volcanism, crustal shortening, and thermal expansion. While thermal expansion of the Earth's outer 100 to 200 kilometers can uplift broad areas into plateaus, the reverse process—cooling and thermal contraction—can cause these landforms to subside.12

When the lithosphere, which may have been previously heated and expanded, undergoes cooling, the material contracts. This reduction in volume leads to a decrease in the elevation of the Earth's surface. As this tectonic landform subsides, the plateau may gradually lose its high elevation, potentially transforming into a large basin. This mechanism demonstrates that the same tectonic forces responsible for building major structures can also contribute to their eventual lowering or collapse.2