The evolving composition and tectonics of the continental crust

大陆是我们的家;它们决定了我们的生境和全球环境，并通过其财富和风险影响人类社会的各个方面。为了研究我们全球体系的基础，我们需要回答这样一个综合问题：“大陆是如何和何时形成的，它们是如何发展成今天的大陆的，以及什么过程支配着它们今天的行为？"。这个首要问题是人类努力理解我们周围世界的核心。同样，它为这一综合性地球科学研究确定了框架。 拟议的研究侧重于大陆发展的各个方面，从太古代（40 - 25亿年前）最早地壳的形成和演变到影响当今大陆边缘的构造过程。通过新的方法和数据，我们将研究早期大陆如何以及为什么与今天观察到的大陆不同，以及地壳变化如何与地球系统的关键变化联系在一起，例如全球板块构造的开始，以及我们的大气和生物圈的发展。此外，这项研究的结果将对大陆活动边缘的内部运作产生新的见解，这些边缘是地球上最高的山脉和最具破坏性的地震的所在地。为此目的，将分析来自世界各地（从格陵兰到南非，从加拿大到尼泊尔）和整个地质时期的岩石和矿物。 该计划的三个重要资产将构成其成功的基础，它们是：1）一套明确定义的，创新的和可测试的概念，2）来自世界各地的一支由非常熟练的国际研究人员组成的大型团队，以及3）处于创新前沿的分析方法。这项研究利用了太平洋同位素和地球化学研究中心最先进的分析基础设施，这是世界一流的地球化学分析设施，使这项研究所需的数据能够以绝对无与伦比的质量水平获得。 除了其科学影响外，该研究还将为高素质人才（HQP）的培训提供一个重要平台。HQP将被纳入研究的各个方面，从实地工作到获得回答关键研究问题所需的数据。在他们的培训过程中，HQP将发展自己作为现代地球科学家，每个人都清楚地认识到他们的领域在发展可持续社会中的重要性，以及新获得的技能，使他们能够为这一努力做出贡献。通过培养新的见解，国际研究合作和来自所有背景的HQP的卓越培训，该研究将有助于确保加拿大在全球创新中的领先地位。

The continents are our home; they define our habitat and the global environment, and, through their riches and risks, influence all aspects of human society. To study the foundations of our global system, we need to answer the composite question “how and when were the continents made, how did they develop into the continents of today, and what processes govern their behaviour today?”. This overarching question lies at the core of the human effort to understand the world around us. Likewise, it sets the framework for this integrated geoscientific study. The proposed research focuses on various aspects of continental development, from the formation and evolution of the earliest crust during the Archean (4.0-2.5 billion years ago) to the tectonic processes that affect continental margins in the present day. Through novel approaches and data, we will investigate how and why the early continents were different from those observed today, and how crustal change was linked to key changes in the Earth system, such as the start of global plate tectonics, and the development of our atmosphere and biosphere. In addition, the results from this study will yield new insight into the inner workings of continental active marginsthe sites of Earth's highest mountains and most devastating earthquakes. Rocks and minerals from across the world (from Greenland to South Africa, and from Canada to Nepal) and across geologic time will be analysed for this purpose. The three important assets of this program, which will form the foundation for its success, are: 1) a set of clearly defined, innovative and testable concepts, 2) a large team of extremely skilled international researchers from the world over, and 3) analytical methods that are at the cutting edge of innovation. The research capitalizes on the state-of-the-art analytical infrastructure at the Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Researcha world-class facility for geochemical analysis, which allows the data required in this study to be obtained at an absolutely unparalleled level of quality. In addition to its scientific impact, the research will provide a major platform for the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP). The HQP will be incorporated in every aspect of the research, from working in the field to obtaining the data necessary to answer key research questions. In the process of their training, the HQP will develop themselves as modern earth scientists, each with a clear vision of the importance of their field in developing a sustainable society, and a newly acquired skill set that will allow them to contribute to this effort. By fostering novel insights, international research collaboration, and excellence training of HQP from all backgrounds, the research will contribute to securing Canada's leading position in global innovation.