We investigate the processes driving spatial-temporal patterns of Cenozoic exhumation in the Mediterranean and the Middle East by compiling >7300 published low-temperature thermochronometric ages and converting them into exhumation rates through a formal inversion process based on thermal modeling and closure temperature kinetics. Exhumation rates are resolved using piecewise-continuous spatial variability and timesteps of five million years. The spatial variability of the inferred rates is constrained by a plate tectonic reconstruction based on the integration of available kinematic data. In this model we recognize different tectonic blocks with a relative homogenous tectono-sedimentary and tectono-magmatic history. The inverted erosion rates for each block are then compared with regional and local geodynamic rates, eustatic curves, and climatic forcing to decipher common patterns and possible teleconnections among different blocks. The results document asynchronous exhumation across different tectonic blocks indicating local (i.e., at the scale of a single orogen) rather than regional (i.e., at the scale of multiple orogens) control on erosion rates. The main processes driving exhumation include collisions of Arabia, Adria, and Iberia with Eurasia, and subduction and retreat of the various Neo-Tethys slabs and back-arc basins. Specifically, we recognize two tectonic domains: collisional deformation zones where exhumation is controlled by surface uplift and erosion, and back-arcs areas where exhumation is controlled by tectonic denudation. In both cases we observe an increase in mean rates and rate variance during tectonic activity, followed by a decrease in each metric as tectonic activity wanes. Finally, we note (with a few exceptions) an overall increase in exhumation rates over most of the Mediterranean and Middle East in the last 5 Ma. This increase is more evident in areas of active tectonics and/or high topographic relief. Although we cannot exclude a tectonic contribution to some of these higher rates, the occurrence of higher exhumation rates, even in regions that did not experience enhanced tectonic activity, indicates that such an increase occurred most likely in response to the late Cenozoic global cooling and the Pleistocene increase in climate cyclicity.

我们通过编译 >7300 个已发表的低温热年代学年龄，并通过基于热模型和闭合温度动力学的正式反演过程将它们转换为折返率，从而研究驱动地中海和中东新生代折返的时空模式的过程。使用分段连续空间变异性和五百万年的时间步长来解决挖掘率。推断速率的空间变异性受到基于可用运动学数据整合的板块构造重建的限制。在这个模型中，我们认识到具有相对均匀的构造-沉积和构造-岩浆历史的不同构造块。然后将每个块体的反向侵蚀速率与区域和局部地球动力学速率、海平面上升曲线进行比较，和气候强迫来破译不同区块之间的共同模式和可能的远程联系。结果记录了不同构造块体的异步折返表明局部（即，在单个造山带的规模）而不是区域（即，在多个造山带的规模）对侵蚀率的控制。驱动折返的主要过程包括阿拉伯、亚德里亚和伊比利亚与欧亚大陆的碰撞，以及各种新特提斯板块和弧后盆地的俯冲和后退。具体来说，我们认识到两个构造域：由地表隆起和侵蚀控制折返的碰撞变形区，以及由构造剥蚀控制折返的弧后区。在这两种情况下，我们都观察到构造活动期间平均速率和速率方差的增加，随着构造活动的减弱，每个指标都会下降。最后，我们注意到（除了少数例外）在过去 5 Ma 中，地中海和中东大部分地区的挖掘率总体增加。这种增加在活动构造和/或高地形起伏的地区更为明显。虽然我们不能排除构造对其中一些较高速率的贡献，但较高折返率的发生，即使在没有经历增强构造活动的地区，也表明这种增加很可能是对新生代晚期全球变冷和更新世气候周期性增加。这种增加在活动构造和/或高地形起伏的地区更为明显。虽然我们不能排除构造对其中一些较高速率的贡献，但较高折返率的发生，即使在没有经历增强构造活动的地区，也表明这种增加很可能是对新生代晚期全球变冷和更新世气候周期性增加。这种增加在活动构造和/或高地形起伏的地区更为明显。虽然我们不能排除构造对其中一些较高速率的贡献，但较高折返率的发生，即使在没有经历增强构造活动的地区，也表明这种增加很可能是对新生代晚期全球变冷和更新世气候周期性增加。