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Journal Article

Können Kontinente untertauchen? Kontinentkollision und -subduktion – Tektonik, Tiefenstruktur und geodynamische Prozesse unter dem Pamir, Tien Shan und Hindukusch

Authors
/persons/resource/schurr

Schurr,  Bernd
Vol. 3, Issue 2 (2013), GFZ Journal 2013, System Erde : GFZ Journal, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;
3.1 Lithosphere Dynamics, 3.0 Geodynamics and Geomaterials, Departments, GFZ Publication Database, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;

/persons/resource/jimmy

Mechie,  James
Vol. 3, Issue 2 (2013), GFZ Journal 2013, System Erde : GFZ Journal, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;
2.2 Geophysical Deep Sounding, 2.0 Physics of the Earth, Departments, GFZ Publication Database, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;

/persons/resource/yuan

Yuan,  Xiaohui
Vol. 3, Issue 2 (2013), GFZ Journal 2013, System Erde : GFZ Journal, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;
2.4 Seismology, 2.0 Physics of the Earth, Departments, GFZ Publication Database, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;

/persons/resource/felix

Schneider,  Felix M.
Vol. 3, Issue 2 (2013), GFZ Journal 2013, System Erde : GFZ Journal, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;
2.4 Seismology, 2.0 Physics of the Earth, Departments, GFZ Publication Database, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;

/persons/resource/sippl

Sippl,  Christian
Vol. 3, Issue 2 (2013), GFZ Journal 2013, System Erde : GFZ Journal, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;
3.1 Lithosphere Dynamics, 3.0 Geodynamics and Geomaterials, Departments, GFZ Publication Database, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;

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GFZ_syserde.03.02.01.pdf
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Citation

Schurr, B., Mechie, J., Yuan, X., Schneider, F. M., Sippl, C. (2013): Können Kontinente untertauchen? Kontinentkollision und -subduktion – Tektonik, Tiefenstruktur und geodynamische Prozesse unter dem Pamir, Tien Shan und Hindukusch. - System Erde, 3, 2, 6-11.
https://doi.org/10.2312/GFZ.syserde.03.02.1


Cite as: https://gfzpublic.gfz-potsdam.de/pubman/item/item_292325
Abstract
The Pamir and Hindu Kush seismic zones, at the northwest corner of the India-Asia collision zone, are unique in that they are the only seismic zones in the heart of a continent with deep earthquakes at 90 to 250 km depth. Since 2008, the GFZ has operated several temporary seismological networks in the central Asian region in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and most recently Afghanistan, together with local partners. The aims of these experiments have been to try to understand these deep seismic zones and to elucidate the crustal and mantle structure beneath the region. To date, the analysis of the seismological data shows that under the Pamir, the cold Asian mantle lithosphere descends (subducts), together with the lower crust and a part of the overlying middle crust, in a strongly curved, cone-shaped arc. At about 90 to 100 km depth, the middle crust detaches from the lower crust, pools and subsequently either stays there or rises back towards the surface due to its buoyancy. Only the lower crust descends completely to greater depths. Mineral reactions within the lower crust are most probably responsible for the deep earthquakes. Thus, in answer to the question posed by the title, only the lower continental crust seems able to descend (subduct), together with the continental lithospheric mantle, back deep into the Earth. The bulk of the crust (i.e. the upper and middle crust) remains at crustal levels and contributes to crustal thickening and mountain building.