Asian geodynamics, climate and biodiversity: an introduction

This book addresses the interplay between geodynamics, climate and biodiversity, focusing on the India–Asia collision, the key abiotic parameter shaping the region's topography, climate and ecosystems. Asia, with its unparalleled geological activity and rich biodiversity, is ideal for studying interactive processes of Earth system science. Collision shaped the Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau regions, significantly influencing atmospheric circulation, precipitation patterns and biotic evolution. Key questions revolve around the timing and mechanisms of these processes, which remain topics of debate. Fossil records highlight evolutionary patterns, such as plant and animal dispersals during tectonic shifts like the ‘Africa–India Floristic Interchange’. Climatic phenomena, including monsoons and glaciations, further influenced biodiversity by shaping habitats and driving speciation. High-altitude regions, like the Hengduan Mountains, became biodiversity cradles owing to habitat heterogeneity and ecological niches. Advances in tools such as palaeoaltimetry proxies, molecular phylogenetics, climate and landscape modelling clarify the complex interactions between tectonics, climate and biodiversity. Asia's geological history offers vital insights into past climate–biodiversity dynamics that can aid in the prediction of current ecosystem responses to climate change. This region's incomparable geological activity and biodiversity make it a focal point for Earth system science, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary research to address global biodiversity and environmental challenges.