The lithosphere features many of Earth's active processes such as the formation of mountain belts, subduction of oceanic lithosphere into the mantle underneath, rifting of continents, the formation of passive margins and the evolution of sedimentary basins.
An understanding of the dynamic evolution of these processes is of prime importance for understanding the hazards related to them (volcanism, land slides and earthquakes) and for research into petroleum occurrences.
Plate reconstructions document the movement of continents and the creation and destruction of oceanic plates. On a large scale, lithosphere movements provide a driving force for mantle flow through subduction and gravitational spreading at mid-ocean ridges. In turn, dynamic flow of the mantle drives lithosphere deformation. On a more regional scale, feedback processes also exist between erosion and sedimentation at the surface and tectonic deformation.
The Centre for Geodynamics at NGU studies the continental and oceanic lithosphere, its dynamic evolution and interactions with surface and mantle processes using numerical models (in-house and academic codes), geological and geophysical data.
Numerical model showing dynamic shear zone development, crustal thinning and sedimentary basin formation caused by lithosphere extension (bottom). This stretching of the continental lithosphere results in a high surface heatflow (top). Illust. Calculations by S. Buiter using the finite element code Sopale.
Relevant Projects:
Published: 04. February 2008