Volcanoes of the Bolivian Andes

My research in the Central Andes of Bolivia is focused on the interaction between volcanoes, mountain building, and plate tectonics. The Central Andes is an ideal location for this type of research as it is the only location in the world where a subduction zone interacts with a thick crustal plateau. The Central Andean Plateau is second only to the Tibetan Plateau in terms of size and height. But unlike in Tibet, there is no collision between two continents in the Central Andes. Instead, the enormous Central Andean Plateau was generated by typical subduction of oceanic crust beneath the South American continent. And in just about every other subduction setting of this type (such as the Pacific Northwest), there are volcanoes, but no major crustal plateau. Why are the Central Andes so different?
By analyzing the ages and chemistry of volcanoes of the Central Andes, my colleagues and I are able to address the unique processes that formed the Central Andean Plateau.