Collaborative Research: TransANdean Great Orogeny (TANGO)

山脉形成了地球最高的地形，从而影响到全球大气和海洋环流、海洋化学、生物进化和生态。然而，一个悬而未决的科学问题仍然存在：板块构造是如何产生山脉的？南美洲的安第斯山脉是地球上最大的山脉之一。安第斯山脉特别重要，因为它们横跨几个全球气候带，横跨约70°纬度，对海洋环流和气候施加一级控制。安第斯山脉还包括一些地球上海拔最高、地壳最厚的地区(我们居住的上层岩石)。然而，目前还没有一个全面的框架来理解安第斯山脉是如何形成的，以及它们与俯冲带的关系，在俯冲带中，大洋纳斯卡板块正在下降到南美板块西缘的下方。该项目将建立一个结合新的地质、地球化学和地震数据的框架，以了解安第斯山脉的现今结构，并结合高分辨率地震图像，通过地质研究评估安第斯山脉是如何形成的，以及建造大型山脉所需的条件。该项目将产生一个以安第斯山脉为基础的综合多样的地球子系统(地幔-岩石圈-地表)三维模型，并增进我们对科迪勒拉型造山系统动力学以及岩石圈、软流圈和下地幔的相对作用的理解。新收集的地质和地球物理数据将测试现有的地幔和岩石圈规模的科迪勒拉山脉建筑模型。这项研究将结合地球物理、地球动力学模拟、构造地质学、盆地分析、岩石学和地球化学来研究板块几何形状、板块穿透(进入下地幔)、弧前底侵以及克拉通的存在或不存在对地壳增厚和表面演化(沉降和隆起)的影响。该项目将评估对造山、地表隆起和古环境的不同控制，并对生物多样性、海洋环流、气候和地质灾害产生影响。这项研究的结果将有助于更深入地了解地球深部与中央安第斯山脉地壳结构的相互作用，以及南美洲地震最活跃地区之一的活动断裂的位置和行为，从而有助于更好地进行地震危险性评估。这项研究的结果将被用于在正在进行的将人工智能(AI)应用于地球科学的努力的基础上。UA和阿根廷之间的一个新的学生交换项目将加强国际合作，并为学生提供一个独特的机会来学习北美和南美洲科迪勒拉山脉的地质。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Mountain belts form Earth’s highest topography, thus affecting global atmospheric and oceanic circulation, ocean chemistry, biological evolution and ecology. Nevertheless, one of the outstanding scientific question remains: how does plate tectonics produce mountains? One of the largest mountain belts on Earth are the Andes of South America. The Andes are especially important because they span ~70° of latitude across several global climate zones and exert first-order controls on ocean circulation and climate. The Andes also contain some of the highest elevations and thickest crust (upper layer of rock that we live on) on Earth. Yet, there is not a comprehensive framework for understanding how the Andes are formed and how they relate to the subduction zone where the oceanic Nazca plate is descending beneath the western edge of the South America Plate. This project will build a framework incorporating new geologic, geochemical and seismic data to understand the present day structure of the Andes incorporating high resolution seismic images and to evaluate through geologic studies how the Andean Mountains formed and the conditions necessary to build large mountain belts.This project will produce an integrated diverse Earth subsystem (mantle-lithosphere-surface) 3D model based on the Andes and advance our understanding of the dynamics of cordilleran-type orogenic systems and the relative roles of the lithosphere, asthenosphere and lower mantle. The new geologic and geophysical data collected will test existing mantle- and lithosphere-scale models of cordillera mountain building. This research will integrate geophysics, geodynamic modeling, structural geology, basin analysis, petrology and geochemistry to investigate the effects of slab geometry, slab penetration (into the lower mantle), forearc underplating, and the presence or absence of a craton on crustal thickening and surface evolution (subsidence and uplift). This project will evaluate different controls on mountain building, surface uplift and paleo-environments with implications for biodiversity, ocean circulation, climate, and geohazards. Results from this study will aid in a deeper understanding of the interactions between deep Earth and the crustal structure of the Central Andes and the location and behavior of active faults in one of the most seismically active regions of South America, thereby contributing to better seismic hazard assessment. Results from this research will be used to build on an ongoing effort to apply artificial intelligence (AI) to Geosciences. A new student exchange program between the UA and Argentina will enhance international collaborations and provide a unique opportunity for students to learn the geology of the North and South American Cordilleras.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.