Coupling between crustal superstructure, infrastructure and surface processes: test along the Himalayan orogenic front

地壳上层建筑、基础设施和地表过程之间的耦合：沿喜马拉雅造山锋的测试

• 批准号: 227475-2009
• 负责人: Grujic, Djordje
• 金额: $ 2.4万
• 依托单位: Dalhousie University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2009-01-01 至 2010-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=425150
• 关键词: Coupling; between; crustal; superstructure; infrastructure

The Earth's geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere interact in diverse ways at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. Studying the impacts of climate and erosion on tectonics (the study of the Earth's crust and the forces that influence it) is one of the most active research topics in the geological sciences. The Himalaya is the archetypal mountain range formed by the collision of continents, and its southern rampart is an exceptional natural laboratory to test the interactions between Earth's interior and surface processes. For example, the Indian summer monsoon plays an essential role in erosion along the Himalaya and its intensity has varied considerably since it was established some 12 million years ago. Conversely, the movement of Himalayan tectonic plates has remained fairly steady since collision between India and Eurasia began ~55 million years ago. As the same rock types are found along the entire 2000 km-wide mountain range, observed changes in surface geology are most likely due to the variation of erosion in space and time. The formation of the Himalaya is currently explained by two contrasting tectonic models that differ in their predictions for the sequence of deformation along the main structures. The rationale of this investigation is to provide a comprehensive study of the ages of the main geological structures and erosion rates, as a field-based test of the model predictions. This will provide crucial information about the coupling of deformation between middle and upper crustal levels and ultimately about the links between deep crustal deformation and surface processes. Floods, landslides, debris flows and even earthquakes are consequences of the processes that create dynamic landscapes in tectonically-active areas. Comprehending the rate and variability of such mass transport systems on the Earth's surface and understanding the Earth's response to climate changes over geologic time will lead to better hazard forecasting. In addition to taking a leadership role in the discipline, Canada will benefit from further understanding of the underlying processes responsible for the Earth's major evolutionary steps that can inform into policy development initiatives regarding geohazard, environmental protection and climate change.

地球的地圈、大气层、水圈和生物圈在不同的空间和时间尺度上以不同的方式相互作用。 研究气候和侵蚀对构造的影响（研究地壳及其影响力）是地质科学中最活跃的研究课题之一。 喜马拉雅山是由大陆碰撞形成的典型山脉，其南部城墙是测试地球内部和表面过程之间相互作用的特殊天然实验室。 例如，印度夏季季风对喜马拉雅山沿线的侵蚀起着至关重要的作用，其强度自大约 1200 万年前形成以来变化很大。 相反，自约 5500 万年前印度和欧亚大陆开始碰撞以来，喜马拉雅构造板块的运动一直保持相当稳定。 由于在整个 2000 公里宽的山脉中发现了相同的岩石类型，因此观察到的地表地质变化很可能是由于侵蚀在空间和时间上的变化造成的。 目前，喜马拉雅山的形成是通过两种截然不同的构造模型来解释的，这两种模型对沿主要构造的变形顺序的预测有所不同。 这项调查的基本原理是对主要地质结构的年龄和侵蚀率进行全面研究，作为模型预测的现场测试。 这将提供有关中地壳层和上地壳层之间变形耦合的重要信息，并最终提供有关深部地壳变形和地表过程之间联系的重要信息。 洪水、山体滑坡、泥石流甚至地震都是在构造活跃地区创造动态景观的过程的后果。 了解地球表面此类质量运输系统的速率和变异性，并了解地球在地质时期对气候变化的反应，将有助于更好地进行灾害预测。 除了在该学科中发挥领导作用外，加拿大还将受益于对地球主要演化步骤的基本过程的进一步了解，这些过程可以为有关地质灾害、环境保护和气候变化的政策制定举措提供信息。