The Caucasian-Arabian Syntaxis (CAS) is located within the Alpine-Himalayan convergence zone (AHCZ) underwent recent transverse shortening under the effect of collisional compression. The process is accompanied by rotation of separate microplates. The CAS is characterized by intensive endogenous and exogenous geodynamic processes, which manifest themselves in occurrence of powerful (with magnitude of up to 7-9) earthquakes accompanied by development of secondary catastrophic processes. Large landslides, rock falls, avalanches, mud flows, etc. cause human deaths and great material losses. The development of the aforesaid endogenous processes is set forth by peculiarities of the deep structure of the region and an impact of deep geological processes. Tectonic processes accompanied by manifestations of two types of magmatism – basaltic and andesitic-latitic – occur over the entire length of the CAS. Last GPS data analysis indicate that the west flanking of the Arabian Plate (eastern Anatolia) manifests strike-slip motion, when the East Caucasian block is converging and shortening.
The Caucasus is divided into several main tectonic terranes: platform (sub-platform, quasi-platform) and fold-thrust units. Existing data enable to perform a division of the Caucasian region into two large-scale geological provinces: southern Tethyan and northern Tethyan located to the south of and to the north of the Lesser Caucasian ophiolite suture, respectively. The recent investigations show that the assessments of the seismic hazard in these regions are not quite correct – for example in the West Caucasus the seismic hazard can be significantly underestimated, which affects the corresponding risk assessments. Undoubtedly, CAS' adjacent areas (first of all, Zagros) are also subject of integrated geophysical-geological analysis.
Integrated analysis of gravity, magnetic, seismic and thermal data enables to refine the assessment of the geodynamic peculiarities of the region, taking into account real rates of the tectonic movements. Important role can play the analysis of oceanic and continental lithosphere and paleomagnetic reconstructions. Without hesitation, petrological, rheological and paleobiogeographical examination will of unusual attentiveness.
In this session, we invite papers, suggested to geodynamic and tectonic applications of GPS data analysis, seismic, seismological, gravity, magnetic, paleomagnetic, thermal, magnetotelluric and other geophysical data examination. Presentations of integrated geophysical data analysis (comprising physical-geological models of deep structure) are of especial interest. Somewhat contributions containing novel data about magmatic processes, analysis of deep well sections, geochemical and mineralogical characteristics and any related data within the CAS are welcome.