Accretionary wedges and fold-and-thrust belts provide outstanding natural laboratories for investigating the dynamics of orogens and their adjacent foreland basins, as well as the interactions between deformation and surface or mantle processes. They are also prime targets for geothermal energy exploration, subsurface energy and gas storage, and the exploitation of critical raw materials, playing a strategic role in the transition toward low-carbon, sustainable, and renewable energy systems.
On short timescales, the pattern of deformation and erosion sheds light on crustal mechanics and its relation to earthquakes, the potential influence of climatically or tectonically driven erosion, as well as the importance of fluid flow. Over long time scales, the structure and dynamics of fold-and-thrust belts and accretionary prisms offer unique insights into the influence of structural and rheological inheritance and the interaction with foreland basin evolution, including, where present, the impact of salt tectonics on deformation styles.
This session aims to bridge the gap between spatial and temporal scales, from shallow depths to the full lithospheric scale, and from short-term to long-term- processes, to improve our understanding of the evolution of orogenic wedges. It will bring together researchers from all disciplines concerned with compressive wedges and associated sedimentary basins to meet, exchange ideas and discuss their perspectives.
We warmly welcome contributions focusing on topical works on these fascinating geological systems, including but not limited to seismology, mechanics, structural geology, dating of deformation, geomorphology, hydrogeology, and analogue or numerical modeling. We also encourage regional case studies of fold-and-thrust belts and accretionary wedges and their links to hinterland and foreland portions of mountain belts. In addition, we welcome applied studies focusing on subsurface low-carbon solutions such as geothermal energy, critical raw material exploration, subsurface gas storage systems, and challenges associated with exploration or geohazards.