RESEARCH SUMMARY
During my career I have acquired solid expertise in the application of quantitative geomorphic techniques to the interactions between surface- and deep-Earth processes. My projects are multidisciplinary integrating detailed field studies, quantitative analysis of digital topography, tectonics, geochronology, basin analysis, analogue and numerical modeling, as well as sedimentological, and geophysical data.
My expertise in geomorphology and geology derives from my PhD conducted at Géosciences Rennes (France) within the framework of a multidisciplinary team. Since my thesis, I have concentrated my efforts on the study of natural laboratories in the Pyrenees, Atlas, Andes and Central Range of Papua New Guinea. I validate my interpretations using analogue and numerical models. Nowadays, my research focuses on quantifying the tectonic displacements from a quantitative analysis of the topography to understand the geodynamic processes at the origin of orogens, and disentangle the different processes originated in the lithosphere and those involving the sublithospheric mantle.
CURRENT PROJECT
Growth and origin of the Iberian plateau. A multidisciplinary approach (PLATIBERIA)
coordinated IGME-CSIC/UCM
Funded by Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades - Spain) PID2020-114854GB-C21 - PID2020-114854GB-C22
J. Babault (Coord. PI, IGME-CSIC), J. Fullea (PI, UCM), A. Suárez Rodríguez (IGME-CSIC), A. Negredo (UCM), M. Montes Santiago (IGME-CSIC), J. Fernández Lozano (U. León), A. Rodríguez García (IGME-CSIC) & P. Hernaiz Huerta (IGME-CSIC)
Motivation
The history of surface uplift rates in the Iberian Meseta, as well as the deep and shallow mechanisms that generated and currently support its characteristic elevated topography, are still debated.
Objectives
The objective of our project is to quantify the degree to which contributions to topography in the Iberian Meseta partition into crustal, lithospheric mantle, and sublithospheric mantle dynamic processes.
Methods
Addressing the problem at hand requires an interdisciplinary approach to integrate the two very different, yet intimately connected, crustal and upper mantle scales that operate here. Our coordinated project, built upon the synergy between geomorphic, geological, geophysical and geodynamic modelling approaches is defined by two differentiated and complementary subprojects with the following objectives:
Subproject 1) new estimates of high-resolution surface uplift and erosion histories and quantifying the impact of crustal deformation on surface uplift rate histories (IGME);
Subproject 2) integrated geophysical-petrological modelling of present-day and past lithospheric structure, along with upper mantle convection and their joint impact on surface uplift (UCM).
Scientific impact
The results of each subproject will allow for a comparison of surface uplift histories predicted independently by surface evolution models and deep-Earth models. A probabilistic (Bayesian) approach will allow us to estimate the level of confidence of the crustal and subcrustal components of surface uplift and quantitatively test the level of confidence of the hypotheses on the origin of the Iberian Meseta.