Abstract: Study of the differential uplifting in the Palongzangbu region is crucial to understanding tectonic deformation mechanism and establishing faulted blocks model in the east structural knot. Based on GIS, we used the ASTER-30 m DEM to calculate the hypsometry index (HI) of 19 watersheds in the Palongzangbu region, and studied the differential uplifting in this region combining seismic data, ground deposition and erosion process. The results show that the spatial distribution of HI values can reflect the differential uplifting in the study area. Differential tectonic uplifting lies in different zones, and there are two relative strong uplifting centers. One center is near the east structural knot, another center lies at the intersection between the Jiali fault and Nujiang fault. Moreover, the watershed evolution is closely related to seismic activity, ground deposition and erosion process, which constitutes the evidence chain to reveal the whole process from the underground tectonic movement to the landform evolution on the surface.

Key words: Differential Tectonic Uplifting, Watershed, Hypsometry Index, East Structural Knot