How does/did the Tibetan Plateau grow? Geologic-geophysical research in NE-Tibet

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The India-Asia continent-continent collision is responsible for the highest mountain range (Himalaya) and the largest plateau (Pamir-Tibet) on Earth and deforms large regions of Central and Eastern Asia (e.g. Tien Shan). The NE part of the plateau is the archetype for studies of active collisional tectonics, crustal thickening, and lateral extrusion along large-scale fault/shear zones (e.g. Kunlun, Altyn Tagh); these zones accommodated Recent Ms <8.1 earthquakes. Surface uplift of the plateau as a response to crustal thickening influences the climate of Eurasia. Combining geologic-tectonic-thermochronologic and active and passive seismic observation tools, we will elucidate in detail the structure of the crust and upper mantle in NE-Tibet. Our aim is to evaluate along which of the large-scale deformation zones crustal thickening was/is accomplished, whether active intra-continental subduction occurs along the pre-existing sutures in NE-Tibet, and whether lower crustal flow is a significant thickening and uplift mechanism for the plateau. The project will be executed in close cooperation with US and Chinese scientists. Integrating other geophysical (e.g. US magnetotellurics) and geologic investigations, our work will push ahead the overall understanding of collisional tectonics.