The rise and fall of mountain belts, like most of large scale topographic features, are fundamentally governed by the complex interaction of surface processes with intermediate and deep mantle processes. In early and late stages of subduction zones, this interplay between surface and thermomechanical processes strongly influences the topographic evolution and slab behavior.
Slab pull and mantle flow have long been thought to uniquely govern subduction dynamics; however, subduction patterns and associated surface characteristics vary all over the world and deep processes invocation appears to be insufficient to explain these variations. Elements such as the characteristics of subducting and overriding plates, back arc basin morphology or the amount and nature of subducted sediments seem to play a non negligeable role in subduction zone evolution.

This session aims to bring together scientists from a range of disciplines with diverse research areas and approaches (e.g. geodynamics, geology, geomorphology, geophysics, climatology). The goal is to unravel the role and interaction of individual processes in subduction dynamics: tectonics, climate and mantle convection. It is crucial to bridge the gap between model predictions and observables by quantifying the surface response to plate deformation and mantle dynamics and, vice versa, the influence of surface processes (erosion rates, sedimentation, etc…) on global subduction dynamics.

We invite contributions from numerical and physical modelling covering erosive and brittle processes as well as mantle dynamics. We particularly invite studies combining more than one approach, such as field work together with modelling, to elucidate the interaction of deep and surface processes.

With the contributions to this session, we aim to combine processes on various time and space scales to improve our understanding of the interplay of deep and surface processes on subduction topography.

We are delighted to announce our two key notes speakers for this session:

João C. Duarte (Lisbon University):
“Geodynamic physical models of subduction with an overriding plate and an interplate rheology “

Jeremy Caves (ETH Zurich):
“Tracking interactions of the westerly jet and topography: uplift of the Tian Shan and Altai “