Some important scientific problems in current lithospheric physics research in China

Abstract

China has achieved much during recent years in the area of lithospheric physics research and promoted the development of the geosciences (Teng, 2004). However, in the 21st century, national needs and policy challenges the science of lithospheric physics. I suggest a general analysis, research, and development direction for lithospheric physics and point out clearly the content, core problems, and key scientific problems in this field. The realization of the earth and the discovery of the basic mechanisms of mountains, basins, minerals, and natural disasters depend basically on high-resolution observations of geophysics, the delineation of the fine structure of crust and mantle (2D and 3D) inside the lithosphere, substance and energy exchanges in the deep earth, the process of deep physical, mechanical, and chemical actions, and deep dynamical response. Therefore, geophysics should be the pioneer in the geosciences field in the first half of the 21st century. I end with an analysis and discussion of some problems and difficulties in the research of lithospheric physics.