TOPO-EUROPE: Understanding of the coupling between the deep Earth and continental topography

•New concepts on the origin of continental topography.•New concepts for the coupling between deep earth and surface processes.•Multi-scale constraints for integrated models for different natural laboratories.

Linking different spatial and temporal scales in coupled deep Earth and surface processes is a prime objective of the multidisciplinary international research program TOPO-EUROPE. The research approach of TOPO-EUROPE integrates active collection of new data, reconstruction of the geological record and numerical and analog modeling. The results of the program presented in this special volume focus on four closely interrelated topics: crustal and upper mantle structures, lithosphere geodynamics, sedimentary basin dynamics and surface processes. Quantitative understanding of topographic evolution in space and time requires study of processes from the upper mantle, through the lithosphere and crust and acting on the Earth's surface. The results presented here demonstrate the opportunities to further understanding of topography through integrated studies of the full Earth system across space and timescales.