How do Continental Plateaus Grow? Mantle to Surface Dynamics of the Anatolian and Andean Plateaus

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My research group will investigate the formation of continental plateaus - regions where mountain ranges swell to great widths, with relatively flat tops. We focus on two key locations: (1) the Central Anatolian Plateau in Turkey; and (2) the southern part of the Central Andean Plateau, the Puna Plateau, in northwest Argentina. We are interested in the processes that shape the plateau from the deepest levels to the surface, including: detachment and formation of tears in the subducting oceanic plate; loss of the lower part of the tectonic plate to delamination or dripping; flow of the weak lower crust; shortening of the crust in an organized or disorganized manner; and the influence of climate and erosion on the redistribution of mass. My team uses a combination of field and GIS (computer) based mapping and dating to measure deformation, subsidence and uplift of the plateau in order to constrain the various influences on plateau growth. Specifically, in Argentina, a PhD student will map the interior of the southern Puna Plateau, three Master's students will map key basins around the margins of the plateau, and five undergraduates will measure features of mountain ranges on and around the plateau to constrain the history of deformation. In Turkey, a PhD student will map and measure movement rates along the Central Anatolian fault zone and other active faults, and two Master's students will constrain uplift by measuring the incision of a major river into the plateau. ******We anticipate making important advances in: (1) linking events unfolding in the bottom of the tectonic plate and below to the deformation we observe at the surface; (2) understanding the interplay of tectonic deformation and climate-controlled erosion in hindering or augmenting growth of plateaus; (3) building a deeper understanding of the nature and complexity of continental tectonics; and (4) assessing seismic hazards in central Turkey. Canada will benefit through the training of Highly Qualified Personnel in field mapping and GIS, highly desired qualifications in the growing employment area of industry and environmental consulting. They will benefit from exposure to international research collaborations as well. Many of the research questions are applicable to Canada, with its long history of tectonic deformation and ancient plateaus, the roots of which are now exposed in the Canadian Shield. **