Thermochronology provides quantitative data on time and rates of rock cooling. This information is used to investigate how fast the mountain chains grow and how fast they erode. Integration of thermochronology with field data and topographic analysis reveals the character of the dynamics of the mountain building process, including the feedbacks between climate, tectonics and deep geodynamic processes.

In particular, the recent projects aim to study the relationships between the long-term climate transitions that characterized the last million years of the Earth's history and the growth of specific mountain chains located in the key sites such as eastern Tibetan plateau, Greenland margin, Antarctic mountains and the Andes. The research activities are based on the integration of most advanced thermochronological and geochronological techniques with field studies, modelling approaches and complementary analyses including mineralogy and geochemistry.

Professors coordinating and developing projects related to this research pathway: Claudia Agnini, Massimiliano Zattin, Manuele Faccenda, Matteo Massironi, Richard Spiess, Telemaco Tesei, Valerio Olivetti