The Alps and the quantitative evaluation of landscape evolution

The Alps form an exceptional natural laboratory for understanding the formation of mountain chains and topography. The geographic location and scientific positioning of ISTerre make this region a unique research subject, focusing on issues related to the formation of mountain chains in connection with deep processes, their erosion and evolution under tectonic and climatic forcing, and the relationship between seismicity and deformation. These research activities are not limited to the Alps and extend to subduction zones (South America) and intracontinental collisions (Himalaya). The scientific challenges addressed by ISTerre include understanding hydro-mechanical processes and the spatio-temporal distribution of Alpine seismicity, the relationships between deformation and relaxation including internal tectonic forcing (mantle) using imaging of lithospheric interfaces, the link between rapid or slow erosion processes and long-term climatic forcing, crust-ocean and crust-mantle transitions at the origin of the Alps’ formation, and processes of mineral resource concentration and distribution. Research in the Alps provides ISTerre with an exceptional platform for local and regional scientific outreach and training.