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Geosciences
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Interactions between Surface Processes, Tectonics and Mantle Dynamics in the...
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Interactions between Surface Processes, Tectonics and Mantle Dynamics in the Evolution of Topography

A special issue of Geosciences (ISSN 2076-3263).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2019) | Viewed by 8453

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Paola Molin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Sciences Department, Roma Tre University, Largo San Leonardo Murialdo, 1, 00146 Rome, Italy
Interests: tectonic geomorphology; topography; rivers; mountain chains; continental rift; landscape evolution

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Topography is the integrated result of processes that operate from the depths of the Earth up to its surface, at different time and at different spatial scales. Its "life cycle" starts with tectonics that generate topographic contrasts and set up the boundary conditions for geomorphological processes. Ruled by climate, these latter respond to the tectonic input redistributing rocks via erosion, transport, and sedimentation. These processes load and unload the underlying crust and mantle lithosphere, becoming a forcing factor of tectonics.

In different geodynamic contests, in addition to crustal and subcrustal processes, density variations in the mantle produce flows that generate the so-called dynamic topography. Downward, convergent flows induce the formation of a surface depression (negative dynamic topography), while an upward, divergent flow a positive dynamic topography. The wavelength and height of this peculiar topographic signal is proportional to the intensity, depth and scale of the flow.

In synthesis, to investigate the generation and the evolution of the Earth's topography, and to discern/quantify the different components that contribute to its geometry, is a task that needs many expertises: Geomorphology and Quaternary Geology, Structural Geology, Geophysics, Analogue and Numerical Modeling of processes.

Therefore, I would like to invite you to submit papers about your recent work on topography from local to regional scales, as a result of the interaction of exogenic and endogenic processes, acting from the surface down to the mantle. This Special Issue is an opportunity to combine different approaches in the research of topography generation and evolution.

Prof. Paola Molin
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Geosciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • topography
  • geomorphology
  • surface processes
  • tectonics
  • crustal and subcrustal processes
  • mantle flows and dynamic topography
  • geophysics
  • analogue and numerical modeling

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 4788 KiB  
Article
Evidence of Segmentation in the Iberia–Africa Plate Boundary: A Jurassic Heritage?
by Manel Fernàndez, Montserrat Torne, Jaume Vergés, Emilio Casciello and Chiara Macchiavelli
Geosciences 2019, 9(8), 343; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences9080343 - 07 Aug 2019
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4290
Abstract
The present structure of the Iberia–Africa plate boundary between the Gorringe Bank and the Algerian Basin is characterized by a highly segmented geometry and diffused seismicity. Filtered Bouguer gravity data show conspicuous highs coinciding with the Gorringe Bank, the Guadalquivir–Portimao Bank, and the [...] Read more.
The present structure of the Iberia–Africa plate boundary between the Gorringe Bank and the Algerian Basin is characterized by a highly segmented geometry and diffused seismicity. Filtered Bouguer gravity data show conspicuous highs coinciding with the Gorringe Bank, the Guadalquivir–Portimao Bank, and the Ronda/Beni–Bousera massifs, reflecting the current geometry of the plate boundary segments. The Africa–Eurasia Alpine convergence produced crustal-scale thrusting in the Atlantic segments and roll-back subduction in the Ligurian–Tethys segments. Despite the growing consensus that the Gorringe and the Guadalquivir–Portimao Banks resulted from tectonic inversion of hyperextended margin structures inherited from the Early Jurassic, this heritage is more debatable for the Ronda/Beni–Bousera massifs lacking models linking the Atlantic and Mediterranean realms. On the basis of gravity analysis combined with plate reconstruction models, geological cross-sections, and recent local tomography, we infer a strong Jurassic heritage of the present-day segmentation and substantiate a comprehensive tectonic evolution model of the Iberia–Africa plate boundary since the Early Jurassic to Recent that includes the Atlantic and the Mediterranean domains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions between Surface Processes, Tectonics and Mantle Dynamics in the Evolution of Topography)
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14 pages, 2276 KiB  
Article
Eocene Origin of Owens Valley, California
by Francis J. Sousa
Geosciences 2019, 9(5), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences9050194 - 28 Apr 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3733
Abstract
Bedrock (U-Th)/He data reveal an Eocene exhumation difference greater than four kilometers athwart Owens Valley, California near the Alabama Hills. This difference is localized at the eastern fault-bound edge of the valley between the Owens Valley Fault and the Inyo-White Mountains Fault. Time-temperature [...] Read more.
Bedrock (U-Th)/He data reveal an Eocene exhumation difference greater than four kilometers athwart Owens Valley, California near the Alabama Hills. This difference is localized at the eastern fault-bound edge of the valley between the Owens Valley Fault and the Inyo-White Mountains Fault. Time-temperature modeling of published data reveal a major phase of tectonic activity from 55 to 50 Ma that was of a magnitude equivalent to the total modern bedrock relief of Owens Valley. Exhumation was likely accommodated by one or both of the Owens Valley and Inyo-White Mountains faults, requiring an Eocene structural origin of Owens Valley 30 to 40 million years earlier than previously estimated. This analysis highlights the importance of constraining the initial and boundary conditions of geologic models and exemplifies that this task becomes increasingly difficult deeper in geologic time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions between Surface Processes, Tectonics and Mantle Dynamics in the Evolution of Topography)
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