Introduction: A majority of the mountains on Io are tectonic, upthrusted blocks [1-8]. The mechanism behind their formation, however, is unknown. Mountain formation may be indirectly related to the prolific volcanism on Io [3]. Three major mountain formation hypotheses following from this idea include: • convection-modified subsidence: global compressional stresses (subsidence) are created by t...

Over the last decade, mountain areas have been receiving more concern about organic pollution due to atmospheric transport and deposition processes. Similar to the polar regions these areas are considered some of the most pristine and remote ecosystems worldwide. However, mountains and associated highlands are subject to the atmospheric deposition of Persistent Toxic Substances (PTS) that inclu...

It has long been argued that mountains have an effect on wars. While some research understands this chiefly in physical terms, other research looks at the effect that mountains have on human nature. This article will look at the two thousand year history of the term ‘mountain people.’ It will explore how the belief has emerged that living in mountainous regions changes people to the degree that...

This contribution provides an overview of the intricacies of mountain climates, particularly as they pertain to the European Alps. Examples will be given of issues that are related to climatic change as observed in the Alps during the course of the 20th century, and some of the physical mechanisms that may be responsible for those changes. The discussion will then focus on the problems related ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE At high altitudes barometric pressure is reduced and, thus, less oxygen is inhaled. Reduced oxygen concentration in brain tissue can lead to cerebral damage and neurological and cognitive deficits. The present study was designed to explore the effects of high-altitude exposure using a quantitative MRI technique, voxel-based morphometry. METHODS We studied nine world-cla...

More than 140 million people worldwide live >2500 m above sea level. Of them, 80 million live in Asia, and 35 million live in the Andean mountains. This latter region has its major population density living above 3500 m. The primary objective of the present study is to review the physiology, pathology, pathogenesis, and clinical features of the heart and pulmonary circulation in healthy highlan...

This paper challenges the thesis that mountain areas are regions of refuge. The refuge concept attributes irrelevant exchange and limited communication to isolated mountain habitats which mainly depend on production for home consumption. In contrast, it is shown that exchange relations in all walks of life have been affected not only recently but for nearly two centuries in Central Asia, althou...