Abstract The stages of geomorphic development of mountains have sometimes been explained based on Strahler's diagram of hypsometric curves. Although the Japanese mountains are young, they do not follow his diagram. Hypsometric curves, simulated using empirical laws deduced from the Japanese mountains, indicate that mountain building resulting from concurrent tectonics and denudation does not produce convex curves but concave and/or s-shaped curves. The hypsometric curve of a mountain changes from a concave curve to an s-shaped curve in accordance with the increase in mountain altitude. The succession of the hypsometric curve during concurrent tectonics and denudation is the reverse of Strahler's diagram. The hypsometric integral increases with the advance in stage which is evaluated based on the change in mountain altitude. It has a relatively good correlation with the stage. However, the sequence of change in the hypsometric integral is different according to the extent of the terrain examined, whether the terrain is restricted to the interior of a mountain or pertains to the whole mountain, and whether it includes newly emerged land. The stage should be evaluated based on the course of change in the integral characteristics for the extent of the mountain examined.
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