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

地球的地圈、大气圈、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。 喜马拉雅山是大陆碰撞形成的典型山脉，其南部的壁垒是一个特殊的天然实验室，以测试地球内部和表面过程之间的相互作用。 例如，印度夏季季风在沿着喜马拉雅山脉的侵蚀中起着至关重要的作用，自大约1 200万年前形成以来，其强度变化很大。 相反，喜马拉雅构造板块的运动自5500万年前印度和欧亚大陆开始碰撞以来一直保持相当稳定。 由于在整个2000公里宽的山脉中发现了相同的岩石类型，因此观测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。 喜马拉雅山的形成目前被解释为两种截然不同的构造模型，它们对沿着主要构造的变形顺序的预测不同。 这项调查的基本原理是提供一个全面的研究年龄的主要地质结构和侵蚀速率，作为一个基于实地的测试模型的预测。 这将提供关于中地壳和上地壳之间变形耦合的重要信息，并最终提供关于深部地壳变形与地表过程之间联系的重要信息。 洪水、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。 了解地球表面这种物质运输系统的速率和变化，了解地质时期地球对气候变化的反应，将有助于更好地预测灾害。 除了在这一学科中发挥领导作用外，加拿大还将受益于进一步了解地球主要演变步骤的基本过程，这些步骤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。

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.