From collision to collapse: phases of lithospheric evolution as monitored by seismic records

• Published in: Physics of the earth and planetary interiors Vol. 79; no. 1; pp. 75 - 86
• Main Authors: Meissner, Rolf, Tanner, Barbara
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.08.1993; Amsterdam Elsevier Science; New York, NY
• Subjects: Applied geophysics; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Internal geophysics; Tectonics. Structural geology. Plate tectonics; Alps; Great Britain; Europe; Atlantic Ocean; North Atlantic; European Atlantic; France; Central Europe; Germany; Baltic Sea; Western Europe; brittle deformation; delamination; reflection methods; vertical seismic profiles; tectonic units; shear; reflection; underplating; collapse structures; Caledonides; creep; igneous rocks; lower crust; crustal shortening; stretching; deep seismic sounding; compression tectonics; intrusions; ductile deformation; granites; Variscides; plate collision; Baltic Shield; ocean closure

Deep seismic reflection profiles in Europe and elsewhere cover a range of different tectonic units. Specifically, in western and central Europe they cross structures relating to the Alpine, Variscan and Caledonian orogens with considerable crustal shortening, delamination, and interfingering. The Va...