The Alps have been intensely studied by geologists for more than a century, and they provide a unique natural laboratory to deepen our understanding of orogenic processes and their relationship to mantle dynamics. While most concepts that underlie current studies of mountain belts and convergence dynamics were born in the Alps, the belt has not yet been given the attention it deserves by geophysical studies using the most recent techniques. Moreover, the 3D structure of the Alps is not known to a sufficient level, which leaves numerous geodynamic, geological and (de)formation questions open.

This assessment led a large number of European laboratories and institutes to initiate and join the AlpArray project that was launched in 2015. The AlpArray seismic network is providing (and will provide) homogeneous seismological land-sea coverage of the greater Alpine area at an unprecedented scale and station density within Europe. The preparation of the AlpArray project has strengthened the interest for geophysical investigations of the Alpine belt and new data is being recorded which will serve as the basis for future, multidisciplinary research projects. Similar projects have also been organized in neighbouring orogens (e.g. the Pyrenees), providing a wealth of new results on their structure and dynamics.

Within this context, we invite contributions that provide new results and that identify and solve the remaining open questions on the present and past dynamics of the Alps and neighbouring orogens. Both mono- and multi-disciplinary contributions are welcome from geophysical imaging, seismotectonics, geodesy, geodynamics, gravimetry, tectonics, structural geology, petrology, geochronology and closely related field. Scales of interest range from crustal to upper mantle depths, on European mountain belts such as the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Dinarides and the Carpathians.