The researchers studied how the Yellow River in the Tibetan Plateau formed terraces due to changes in fault activity and climate. They found that as the land uplifted, the river created multiple terraces over time, with the top terrace forming during a cold period around 14.6–9.5 thousand years ago. The terraces downstream formed in phases as the river eroded the landscape, moving upstream. This process was influenced by fault activity and tectonic uplift in the region. The study shows that the river's incision and terrace formation were not only due to surface uplift and climate change but also fault activity and the integration of the river from downstream.