THE TIME SCALES OF MAGMATIC AND EROSIONAL CYCLES

关于时间尺度和变化率的精确信息对于理解自然过程以及开发和测试地球科学中的定量物理模型至关重要。铀衰变系列同位素研究通过提供100-100000年范围内的时间信息，类似于许多重要的地球过程，正在彻底改变这一领域。该项目将建立一个专门的铀系列研究实验室，并研究(1)西太平洋岛弧火山下岩浆形成、运输和分化的过程和时间尺度；(2)澳大利亚河流流域物理和化学侵蚀的时间尺度和相对作用。

Precise information on time scales and rates of change is fundamental to understanding natural processes and the development and testing of quantitative physical models in the Earth Sciences. Uranium decay-series isotope studies are revolutionising this field by providing time information in the range 100-100000 years, similar to that of many important Earth processes. This project will establish a dedicated Uranium-series research laboratory and investigate (1) the processes and time scales of magma formation, transport and differentiation beneath western Pacific island arc volcanoes, (2) the time scales and relative roles of physical and chemical erosion in Australian river basins.