A New Perspective on Circum-Mediterranean Orogens: Insights from Seismic Imaging and Analog Models

The central Mediterranean serves as a natural laboratory for studying various geodynamic processes, including continental collision and oceanic subduction (Dewey et al., 1989; Royden and Faccenna, 2018). The orogenic belts in this unique region are exceptional examples of subduction-related systems, shaped by different processes, such as continental underplating, delamination, trench retreat, among others. Despite extensive research on the Alps-Apennines-Dinarides-Hellenides orogenic systems, several scientific debates remain unresolved, highlighting the complexity of this area. 

Previous studies using tomographic imaging have revealed the presence of high-velocity anomalies beneath these orogenic belts, which suggest the occurrence of a subduction process (e.g., Piromallo and Morelli, 2003;  Giacomuzzi et al., 2012; Paffrath et al., 2021). However, these findings often differ, leading to varying interpretations of slab dip directions, geometry and extension as resolved by tomographs. Additionally, features such as slab windows, gaps, and tears, imaged as low-velocity anomalies in various models, add further complexity to the geodynamic picture.

In this study, we integrate seismic imaging (Menichelli et al., 2023) with analogue modelling (Funiciello et al., 2003; Kiraly et al., 2018, 2020) to showcase the strengths of this combined approach. While tomographic models provide valuable insights into the lithospheric and mantle velocity structures, they only offer a static snapshot without revealing the deep dynamics—something that analogue modelling addresses. This approach has been specifically applied to the central Mediterranean to target ongoing questions about the subduction processes that have shaped the region. This method offers valuable insights into subduction, mantle dynamics, and plate interactions, providing a comprehensive understanding of the connections between shallow and deep geodynamic processes. 

This presentation will provide a brief overview of the results obtained from the computation of the 3D tomographic model of the central Mediterranean (Menichelli et al., 2023), with a specific focus on the Alps and the Apennines-Dinarides system. The tomographic images and related findings show how lithospheric composition, rheology and fluid content influence the geometry and kinematics of the slabs, including the Adriatic slab, that lie beneath these mountain ranges. Additionally, these aspects have been investigated through experimental models conducted at Roma Tre University (Laboratory of Experimental Tectonics), which offer critical insights into their role in shaping current deformation processes.