Lithospheric memory and tectonic (re)activation of volcanic rifted margins and their borderlands

The prime scientific objectives of this EUROMARGINS project are to advance understanding of: 1) processes and events during the formation of a volcanic margin, i.e. from onset of rifting to onset of "normal" sea floor spreading; 2) the processes controlli ng post-breakup history of a volcanic margin. To this aim we have selected the NW European volcanic margin as a natural laboratory. In particular the Mid-Norway Margin offers a comprehensive, high-quality database for an integrated study by a multidiscip linary team of researchers working on constraints for crustal architecture and margin topography and research groups with recognized modelling expertise on lithosphere- and surface-processes in rifted margin systems. This study holds also considerable po tential for a close feedback with related complementary EUROMARGINS studies focussing on the deep crustal architecture offshore Mid-Norway and East Greenland. At present a unique opportunity exists for EUROMARGINS researchers to make a breakthrough by co nnecting better understanding of breakup tectonics at volcanic rifted margins to new concepts on tectono-thermal and geomorphological development in volcanic margin borderlands. The natural laboratory of the NW European volcanic margin is extremely well suited for well-constrained numerical and analogue modelling.