How does crustal shortening create high plateaus such as the Plateau of Tibet?

Crustal shortening is a primary tectonic process that creates high plateaus, such as the Plateau of Tibet, by thickening the Earth’s crust. This process occurs through the folding of rock layers or the thrusting of one crustal block over another, which effectively increases the vertical thickness of the crust.1

In the case of the Tibetan Plateau, the northward collision of the Indian subcontinent with the Eurasian Plate has driven this intense crustal shortening for millions of years. As the crust thickens, it creates deep crustal roots that buoy the surface upward in accordance with the principles of isostasy.2345

Furthermore, plateaus formed by crustal shortening often function as mountain ranges buried in their own debris. Because these regions frequently feature internal drainage, eroded material from surrounding mountains is deposited into the basins between them, creating broad, flat-bottomed valleys that define the plateau's surface. While crustal shortening is the primary driver, other factors such as volcanism and thermal expansion may also contribute to the high elevations of such plateaus.1