The region of Southeast Asia has a complicated geological history in one of the most tectonically active regions of our planet. This complexity derives from the fact that Southeast Asia is situated at the junction of four major tectonic plates (Eurasian, Indian–Australian, Pacific, and Philippine Sea) with a few smaller microplates, and therefore its geological evolution is strongly related to diverse plate tectonic activity. In addition to this complexity, Southeast Asia includes unexplored areas with extensive rainforests and restricted accessibility, which explains why it is generally understudied compared to other regions on Earth.
A primary emerging interest in unravelling the geological mysteries of Southeast Asia derives from its extreme geo-diversity. The morphological highlands of Myanmar and Thailand, as well as the valleys and lowlands of Borneo, are surrounded by some of the highest mountains on Earth (e.g., Himalayas, Karakoram, Tibet), and coexist with some fascinating geological structures like the collision zone of the Indian continent and the Pacific ring of fire. The Precambrian and Archean platforms of China and India, surrounding Palaeozoic magmatic and metamorphic rocks in Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Sumatra, include some of the oldest formations on our planet. In contrast, the region is bounded by the much younger island arcs of Indonesia and the Philippines, with numerous Cenozoic fluvial and marine deposits. Some of the missing links in the evolution of Tethys, a major ancient ocean, as well as records of Caledonian, Hercynian, and Alpine orogenic processes, may be hidden in the lands of Southeast Asia waiting to be revealed. These, sometimes enigmatic, geological formations hold important petroleum reserves and ore/industrial mineral deposits, thus highlighting the importance of the region for global economic and social benefits.
This Research Topic aims to build bridges between Earth Scientists investigating the region. We endeavor to connect experienced researchers with young scientists, for the latter to improve their capacities and to exchange ideas with the first. Moreover, we aim to facilitate constructive scientific dialogue and to foster a network for meaningful and fruitful collaborations.
This Topic will focus on four key themes:
- Earth Surface Processes and Evolution;
- Modern Approaches in Applied Geology;
- Deep Earth: Modern and Experimental Advances; and
- Emerging Trends in Environmental Geosciences.
In this Research Topic of Frontiers in Earth Science, we encourage all researchers to expand the frontiers of geosciences in Southeast Asia in order to advance our geological knowledge of the region.
The region of Southeast Asia has a complicated geological history in one of the most tectonically active regions of our planet. This complexity derives from the fact that Southeast Asia is situated at the junction of four major tectonic plates (Eurasian, Indian–Australian, Pacific, and Philippine Sea) with a few smaller microplates, and therefore its geological evolution is strongly related to diverse plate tectonic activity. In addition to this complexity, Southeast Asia includes unexplored areas with extensive rainforests and restricted accessibility, which explains why it is generally understudied compared to other regions on Earth.
A primary emerging interest in unravelling the geological mysteries of Southeast Asia derives from its extreme geo-diversity. The morphological highlands of Myanmar and Thailand, as well as the valleys and lowlands of Borneo, are surrounded by some of the highest mountains on Earth (e.g., Himalayas, Karakoram, Tibet), and coexist with some fascinating geological structures like the collision zone of the Indian continent and the Pacific ring of fire. The Precambrian and Archean platforms of China and India, surrounding Palaeozoic magmatic and metamorphic rocks in Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Sumatra, include some of the oldest formations on our planet. In contrast, the region is bounded by the much younger island arcs of Indonesia and the Philippines, with numerous Cenozoic fluvial and marine deposits. Some of the missing links in the evolution of Tethys, a major ancient ocean, as well as records of Caledonian, Hercynian, and Alpine orogenic processes, may be hidden in the lands of Southeast Asia waiting to be revealed. These, sometimes enigmatic, geological formations hold important petroleum reserves and ore/industrial mineral deposits, thus highlighting the importance of the region for global economic and social benefits.
This Research Topic aims to build bridges between Earth Scientists investigating the region. We endeavor to connect experienced researchers with young scientists, for the latter to improve their capacities and to exchange ideas with the first. Moreover, we aim to facilitate constructive scientific dialogue and to foster a network for meaningful and fruitful collaborations.
This Topic will focus on four key themes:
- Earth Surface Processes and Evolution;
- Modern Approaches in Applied Geology;
- Deep Earth: Modern and Experimental Advances; and
- Emerging Trends in Environmental Geosciences.
In this Research Topic of Frontiers in Earth Science, we encourage all researchers to expand the frontiers of geosciences in Southeast Asia in order to advance our geological knowledge of the region.
