The topography of continents is the result of interacting processes in the interior and at the surface of the Earth. New satellite-based techniques provide ultra-high resolution information of how the surface topography varies in space and time. Multi-sensor arrays (GPS, magnetotelluric and seismic) deployed throughout Europe produce a wealth of detailed data on surface deformation and the electrical and seismic structure of the Solid Earth. In addition to giving exciting new insights in how mountains and sedimentary basins are formed this has important applications in studies of geohazards and environmental change.

Union Symposium US5 focuses on the 4-D (space and time) evolution of the topography of the European continent and adjacent parts of North Africa, Asia and the Middle East, as well as analogs elsewhere on the globe. Speakers represent fields ranging from of geomorphology, geology, geophysics, geodesy, remote sensing to various branches of geotechnology.

A few examples from the programme will illustrate the rich variation and multidisciplinarity of this session:

• David Smith (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA) The Topography of the Planets and Implications for their Interiors
• Sierd Cloetingh (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, NL) Topo-Europe - 4D topography evolution in Europe: Uplift, subsidence and sea level rise. abstract
  
• Jean Braun (Université de Rennes, France) Earth's surface topography, erosion, climate and tectonics. abstract
• Gabor Bada (Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Budapest, Hungary) Active tectonics and topography development in the Pannonian basin: problems and progress. abstract
  
• Ernst Hauber (Institute of Planetary Research, Berlin, Germany) Quantitative planetary geomorphology with stereo images from the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on Mars Express. abstract
  
• Alan Jones (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Ireland) A programme for the 4D study of the Assembly of the European Continent. abstract

 Session: US5 Topography of the Earth and Planets | >>programme

Convener: Sierd Cloetingh (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, NL) This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it