Thermo‐Kinematic Evolution of the Eastern European Alps Along the TRANSALP Transect

The eastern European Alps are shaped by the indentation of Adria into Europe. Recent tomography, depicting detached slab fragments, has been interpreted as evidence continuous southward subduction lithosphere, contrary to an often-invoked polarity reversal. Orogen-scale exhumation, driven rock displacement along active faults, may reflect within framework doubly-vergent Coulomb wedge theory, provided absence rheological contrasts across colliding plates. Low-temperature thermochronology can evaluate crustal cooling in response changes tectonic and erosional boundary conditions. This study investigates consistency observed re-organization, mantle processes Eastern Alps. Thermo-kinematic forward models reconstructions shortening TRANSALP geophysical transect were subjected variations rates, thermophysical parameters, topographic evolution, supplemented new fission-track data. thermo-kinematic reproduce: (a) orogen-scale structural geometry, (b) distribution thermochronometer ages, (c) time-temperature paths, (f) present-day surface heat flux. Results suggest that exhumation is faults without need involve mantle-driven buoyancy forces. Taken together, results identify two possible scenarios: if Tauern Ramp a retro-thrust shift deformation Southern Coulomb-wedge conditions, then our support Mid-Miocene reversal polarity. Alternatively, does not entailing high degree inter-plate decoupling.