The Western Alpine arc: a review and new kinematic model
The arcuate shape of the Western Alps is commonly interpreted to result from collisional, NW-ward indentation of the Adriatic indenter. The radial pattern (${\approx }$180°) of collisional transport directions is difficult to explain, especially in the southern WNW–ESE to E–W striking arc segments....
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| Language: | English |
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Académie des sciences
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Comptes Rendus. Géoscience |
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| Online Access: | https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/geoscience/articles/10.5802/crgeos.253/ |
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| author | Brunsmann, Quentin Rosenberg, Claudio Luca Bellahsen, Nicolas |
| author_facet | Brunsmann, Quentin Rosenberg, Claudio Luca Bellahsen, Nicolas |
| author_sort | Brunsmann, Quentin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The arcuate shape of the Western Alps is commonly interpreted to result from collisional, NW-ward indentation of the Adriatic indenter. The radial pattern (${\approx }$180°) of collisional transport directions is difficult to explain, especially in the southern WNW–ESE to E–W striking arc segments. A mid-Cenozoic change, from NW- to W-directed indentation is often proposed, but poorly constrained. Based on a critical review of conceptual models for the formation of the Western Alpine arc and associated geodynamic processes, we conclude that an arcuate structure already exists before the onset of collision. NW-ward indentation of the Adriatic indenter amplifies this arc structure by oroclinal bending, but the E–W to ESE–WNW striking, southernmost segments of the Alpine arc mainly result from distinct geodynamic processes, other than Alpine convergence in the strict sense. The southernmost External Zone is mainly inherited from the Pyrenean orogeny and was weakly reactivated in the Miocene, probably accommodating very small parts of Africa–Europe convergence since Late Miocene times. In the Internal Zone, the E–W strike of the Ligurian Alps is probably associated with 50° counterclockwise rotation of the northern Apennines. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0a6ad2b1263c4e918ef5195222e91c98 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1778-7025 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Académie des sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Comptes Rendus. Géoscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-0a6ad2b1263c4e918ef5195222e91c982025-02-07T10:41:48ZengAcadémie des sciencesComptes Rendus. Géoscience1778-70252024-03-01356S223126310.5802/crgeos.25310.5802/crgeos.253The Western Alpine arc: a review and new kinematic modelBrunsmann, Quentin0https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1442-4537Rosenberg, Claudio Luca1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6663-3650Bellahsen, Nicolas2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4264-4552ISTeP, Institut des Sciences de la Terre de Paris, Sorbonne Université, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, FranceISTeP, Institut des Sciences de la Terre de Paris, Sorbonne Université, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, FranceISTeP, Institut des Sciences de la Terre de Paris, Sorbonne Université, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, FranceThe arcuate shape of the Western Alps is commonly interpreted to result from collisional, NW-ward indentation of the Adriatic indenter. The radial pattern (${\approx }$180°) of collisional transport directions is difficult to explain, especially in the southern WNW–ESE to E–W striking arc segments. A mid-Cenozoic change, from NW- to W-directed indentation is often proposed, but poorly constrained. Based on a critical review of conceptual models for the formation of the Western Alpine arc and associated geodynamic processes, we conclude that an arcuate structure already exists before the onset of collision. NW-ward indentation of the Adriatic indenter amplifies this arc structure by oroclinal bending, but the E–W to ESE–WNW striking, southernmost segments of the Alpine arc mainly result from distinct geodynamic processes, other than Alpine convergence in the strict sense. The southernmost External Zone is mainly inherited from the Pyrenean orogeny and was weakly reactivated in the Miocene, probably accommodating very small parts of Africa–Europe convergence since Late Miocene times. In the Internal Zone, the E–W strike of the Ligurian Alps is probably associated with 50° counterclockwise rotation of the northern Apennines.https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/geoscience/articles/10.5802/crgeos.253/Western Alpine arcStructural inheritanceCollisional indentationAdriatic indenter rotationGravitational tectonic |
| spellingShingle | Brunsmann, Quentin Rosenberg, Claudio Luca Bellahsen, Nicolas The Western Alpine arc: a review and new kinematic model Comptes Rendus. Géoscience Western Alpine arc Structural inheritance Collisional indentation Adriatic indenter rotation Gravitational tectonic |
| title | The Western Alpine arc: a review and new kinematic model |
| title_full | The Western Alpine arc: a review and new kinematic model |
| title_fullStr | The Western Alpine arc: a review and new kinematic model |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Western Alpine arc: a review and new kinematic model |
| title_short | The Western Alpine arc: a review and new kinematic model |
| title_sort | western alpine arc a review and new kinematic model |
| topic | Western Alpine arc Structural inheritance Collisional indentation Adriatic indenter rotation Gravitational tectonic |
| url | https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/geoscience/articles/10.5802/crgeos.253/ |
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