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Thermo-Europe - Low temperature exhumation history of granitic massifs in the Central Alps (IP3)

English title Thermo-Europe - Low temperature exhumation history of granitic massifs in the Central Alps (IP3)
Applicant Willett Sean D.
Number 120537
Funding scheme Project funding (special)
Research institution Geologisches Institut ETH Zürich
Institution of higher education ETH Zurich - ETHZ
Main discipline Geology
Start/End 01.01.2009 - 31.12.2011
Approved amount 260'493.00
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Keywords (6)

(U-th)/He geochronology; exhumation; erosion; Alps; thermochronometry; glacial erosion

Lay Summary (English)

Lead
Lay summary
The primary aim of this IP is to establish high resolution low temperature geochronology and exhumation histories from the granitic massif of the Adamello complex using multiple mineral systems and methods, and to model these data using numerical methods to be developed during the course of this work. These data will provide important information regarding the relative effects of both tectonics and Pliocene to modern climate change governing the overall exhumation and erosion history of the European Alps. In particular, we hope to resolve open questions regarding the timing and importance of late tertiary glaciation of the Alps to their erosional history. The Tertiary Adamello complex is located just south of the Periadriatic Fault system and is the largest of the Periadriatic plutons and has an overall relief of nearly 2 km. The high relief and rock type make it an excellent study area for application of low-temperature dating methods. We propose construction of high resolution age-elevation plots obtained by 40Ar/39Ar, fission track, and (U-Th)/He apatite and zircon analyses. We will also make 4He/3He analyses on selected apatite samples. By making systematic sampling profiles at a range of elevations and across big glacial valleys, we hope to resolve when glacial morphology was established in the Adamello and throughout the Alps. We also hope to resolve changes in erosion rate associated with climate change marking the onset of glaciation, or other climate events.This project is part of the collaborative project THERMO-Europe funded through the TOPOEurope project and will be conducted in close collaboration with related projects in other regions but using similar method
Direct link to Lay Summary Last update: 21.02.2013

Responsible applicant and co-applicants

Employees

Publications

Publication
Climatically versus tectonically forced erosion in the Alps: Thermochronometric constraints from the Adamello Complex, Southern Alps, Italy
Reverman Rebecca L., Fellin Maria Giuditta, Herman Frédéric, Willett Sean D., Fitoussi Caroline (2012), Climatically versus tectonically forced erosion in the Alps: Thermochronometric constraints from the Adamello Complex, Southern Alps, Italy, in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 339-340, 127-138.

Scientific events

Active participation

Title Type of contribution Title of article or contribution Date Place Persons involved
AGU Conference Poster Miocene to Pleistocene Exhumation of the Southern European Alps 05.12.2011 San Fransisco, United States of America Willett Sean D.; Reverman Rebecca Lee;
EGU Conference Talk given at a conference Low-temperature thermochronological constraints on the Miocene exhumation of the Adamello Complex, Southern Alps, Italy 03.04.2011 Vienna, Austria Willett Sean D.; Reverman Rebecca Lee;
EGU Conference Talk given at a conference (U-Th-Sm)/He age-elevation profiles from the Adamello Complex (Southern Alps, Italy) 03.05.2010 Vienna, Austria Willett Sean D.; Reverman Rebecca Lee;


Associated projects

Number Title Start Funding scheme
138232 ThermoEurope: low temperature exhumation history of the Adamello 01.01.2012 Project funding

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