3.1.3. Regional tectonics, basin evolution and modelling
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| Fig. 33. 3D geometry of Quaternary deposits and post-orogenic relationship with topography development in the foreland of the SE Carpathians (after Cloetingh et al., 2005a). |
Dynamic and kinematic modelling studies, constrained by integrated basin analysis, thermochronology and structural field studies in source areas, can shed light on the coupling between crustal shortening in the Carpathian arc and deformation of the Pannonian back-arc system of basins. Consequently, TOPO-EUROPE addresses the Miocene and Pliocene tectonic and sedimentary evolution of foreland and back-arc basin in the Pannonian-Carpathians domain and plans to develop past analogues on the basis of which the driving mechanisms of Quaternary deformations can be assessed (e.g. Cloetingh et al., 2003a). From such analogue and thermomechanical models (e.g. Garcia-Castellanos et al., 2002; Sokoutis et al., 2005), the pattern and interaction of the coupled surface phenomena erosion and sedimentation will be analyzed. The aim is to understand the mechanisms of small-scale changes in the source-sink domain that are caused by large-scale lithospheric processes. A key element in the regional assessment of processes controlling the evolution of the source-sink domains is 4D tectonic and stratigraphic modelling of the entire Carpathian-Pannonian basin system over large time scales (e.g. Vasiliev et al., 2004; Vasiliev et al., 2005). The objective is to simulate the evolution of these basins, taking into account different tectonic scenarios and the timing of their subsidence and uplift. Such medium scale modelling can be coupled with macro-scale thermomechanical lithospheric modelling, and micro-scale modelling of the drainage pattern and landscape evolution (Fig. 33).