Research project

Subduction and exhumation of continental lithosphere: implications on orogenic architecture, environment and climate

Brief summary of the project

The better comprehension of the mechanisms and effects of the events related to subduction and exhumation of continental lithosphere requires multidisciplinary studies integrating data coming from structural geology, petrology, geochemistry, geophysics and sedimentology. These processes are closely related to metamorphism and magmatism, production and release of CO2-rich fluids reaching the upper crust and even the atmosphere by the main faults and shear zones. The contribution from different disciplines is very useful to go deeply into collisional processes leading to production and transport of CO2 to the surface. In this framework seven Research Units are included in the project contributing to all the necessary and complementary research aspects. Structural geology and geodynamic expertises are among the researchers of RU of Roma 1, Torino and Pisa, the petrological ones in RU of Siena, Pisa and Turin, geochemistry in RU of Siena and Napoli, geophysics in RU of Trieste and the sedimentological ones in UR of Milano-Bicocca. The research collaboration among the researchers of the involved Research Units exists since long time leading to important results in the study of highly complex geodynamics such as the Mediterranean area (e.g.: Panza et al., 2007) or the Alps and the Himalayas. The results of the various collaborations are testified by many publications on international journals.

Aim of the project

Mutlidisciplinary researches by the Research Units on the different processes related to the evolution of still active collisional orogens, such as the Alpine-Appenninic-Himalayan belt, from subduction to exhumation, till uplift and erosion, will allow to collect a huge amount of new data. Their integration and interpretation will allow to better understand plate tectonics processess, at least in the less known aspects, such as the subduction of continental lithosphere and its fast exhumation when convergence is still active and the role that plate tectonics plays regarding life on our planet. This research project can reach many results spanning from several topics, the main expected results are: understanding the role of metamorphic, metasomatic and magmatic CO2 within the carbon cycle, with possible consequences on medium- to long-term climate changes; distribution of the state of stress within the lithosphere; understanding of subsidence phenomena, finalize also at the individuation of areas subjected to natural risks such as volcanic, earthquake and tsunami risks.