Prof.  Junmeng  Zhao
the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tibet University,  China

Title: Antelope project and progress

Abstract:

The theory of plate tectonics is one of the greatest scientific discoveries of the 20th century, but the tectonics and deformation of the continental lithosphere are not involved in plate tectonics theory, and the theory of plate tectonics needs to be developed. The Tibetan Plateau is recognized as the best place to develop the theory of plate tectonics.
In 2003, we proposed and led the implementation of the International Research Project "ANTILOPE" (Array Network of Tibetan International Lithospheric Observation and Probe Experiments) and carried out a large number of systematic and comprehensive geophysical exploration and research in western China, especially in the high-altitude depopulated zone of the Tibetan plateau, and obtained a batch of high-quality geophysical data. By means of natural seismic method we have determined the collision boundary between Indian continent and Eurasian continent under the Tibetan plateau, and found a largest crush zone of the Earth inside the plateau, and revealed the dynamic significance of the crush zone to the tectonic evolution of western China. By means of comprehensive geophysical exploration we have obtained detailed structure of the crust and upper most mantle of the basin and range system in northwestern China, and developed a new intracontinental orogenic model of " interlayer insertion and subduction ", which reveals a transition mechanism from ocean-continent subduction to continent-continent subduction, and the contact relationship and activity rules of the microcontinental block groups in northwestern China. By means of earth system science method we have revealed the coevolution law of the basin and range system and the Tibetan plateau in western China and established the coupling model “Deep geodynamic process controlling the topographic fluctuation and environmental change”.

Biography:

Junmeng Zhao is a foreign academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, and professor of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tibet University. His research interests are crust and mantle structure, dynamic processes and their constraints on the resource and environmental change. Junmeng Zhao proposed and led the implementation of ANTILOPE (Array Network of Tibetan International Lithospheric Observation and Probe Experiments), led the research team to carry out systematic and comprehensive geophysical exploration and research in western China, especially in the Tibetan Plateau. As of April 2023, the integrated geophysical section completed is more than 12,000 kilometers. Junmeng Zhao has revealed the crust and mantle structure and deep dynamic processes of basins, mountains and plateau in western China and determined the collision boundary between the Indian and the Eurasian continents under the plateau. Junmeng Zhao discovered the biggest crush zone of the Earth in the interior of the plateau, established a new intracontinental orogeny model of "interlayer insertion and subduction" , revealed the transition mechanism from ocean-continental subduction to continental-continental collision subduction, and established a coupling model of the earth's deep processes controlling surface relief and resource as well as environment changes.