Understanding prehistoric geological disasters in the Outer Western Carpathians by cosmogenic radionuclide exposure dating

Understanding prehistoric geological disasters in the Outer Western Carpathians by cosmogenic radionuclide exposure dating

The project is structured around four complementary objectives: • Implement CRE dating to establish the exposure ages of landforms shaped by Quaternary geological events in the Outer Western Carpathians (OWC), improving our temporal understanding of seismic and slope failure activity in this region. • Reconstruct the Quaternary history of key sites, thereby laying the groundwork for future regional applications of relative dating techniques such as fault scarp roughness analysis or landslide degradation models. • Evaluate the methodological strengths and limitations of CRE dating in the specific geomorphic and lithological context of OWC, including challenges related to inheritance, post-depositional modification, and shielding corrections. • -Build local capacity by training Czech researchers—both senior scientists and early-career collaborators—in the practical use of CRE dating methods, enhancing their ability to apply this technique to their own scientific questions. Ultimately, this project will contribute not only to a more accurate reconstruction of the geological past but also to improved risk assessment and public awareness of rare but potentially devastating natural events. It fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and long-term capacity building in research of the Earth surface processes within Central Europe.

Grant No.

8J26FR038 

Grant Agency

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (bilateral research, development and innovation projects between Czechia and France within the Mobility program)

Resolved in

2026-2027

Principal investigator

Mgr. Ivo Baroň, PhD.
Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics of the CAS

Co-investigators

Doc. RNDr. Rostislav Melichar, Ph.D.
Masaryk University

State
Current
Cooperation

Partner organization in France: European Centre for Research in Environmental Geosciences (CEREGE)