WHAT IS DRIVING THE PLATES AT THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH ?
Seismic tomography just begins to define the distribution of internal loads, which govern the large scale mantle circulation. Satellite observations define the geoid which puts further constraints on the internal dynamics. They also detect small scale processes: hot spot tracks and small scale convection beneath the lithosphere. All this belongs to the fist part of our programme. The second part shall address the following question: WHAT ARE THE NATURE AND ORIGIN OF INTRA-PLATE DEFORMATIONS? The latter produce mountain chains or rifts and sedimentary basins. The attention will be concentrated on the Alpine chain and meidterranean domain, on Asia, especially China and surrounding areas, and on the Andes in South America. Five European labnoratories will combine their efforts and expertise to give better answeres to these fundamental questions.