The Quest For Water

Water played a key role in shaping the Solar System—from the formation of early solids to the processes of planetary and moon formation. The presence of water in molecular clouds influences the initial abundance and distribution of water in the circumsolar disk, which, in turn, affected the water budget of the terrestrial planets and, therefore, their geological activity and habitability. On Earth, surficial and deep-water cycles have largely governed the planet’s geodynamical and geochemical evolu- tion. This issue focuses on the past and present distribution of water within the Solar System and how this important molecule affects astrophysical and geological processes.

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December 2025 --The Variscan Orogeny in Europe – Understanding Supercontinent Formation

The Variscan orogen formed between 380 and 300 million years ago through several accretionary and collisional cycles, culminating with the construction of the Pangea supercontinent. This process occurred via sequential opening and closure of oceanic basins, synchronous detachment of Gondwana derived continental ribbons, and their outboard amalgamation onto the Laurussia margin. The Variscan orogen is rather unique compared with other orogenic belts on Earth: its overthickened and dominantly magmatic crust in the central belt, surprisingly minor mantle involvement in the magmatic and geodynamic processes, coherent and pulsed magmatism along the collision suture, and its complex accretionary history. Because its final product, Pangea, is the youngest and best-understood supercontinent on Earth, the Variscan orogeny offers clues for understanding the mechanisms of supercontinent formation.