PYRTEC will study interaction between surface processes, climate, and tectonic deformation during mountain building in the
Pyrenean-Cantabrian belt. Collision between the Iberian and European plates resulted in mountain building in the Pyrenees and passive margin inversion in the Cantabrian area. The
mountain range topography, however, was shaped by both collision and associated surface processes. Whereas large amounts of material were eroded in the Pyrenees, only minor erosion took place in the Cantabrian mountain range. Although operating at vastly different time and length scales, a significant
potential exists for feedback between largescale tectonic deformation and redistribution of mass by erosion processes. This CRP will use a multidisciplinary approach involving field-based studies, regional data compilation, geochronology and quantitative modelling approaches that will couple tectonic and
surface process models.