GD
Geodynamics

edited by Lorenzo Mantiloni

Lorenzo is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, UK. His research interests focus on the dynamics and stability of magma mush reservoirs, as well as numerical and analogue modelling of crustal stress and pathways of magmatic dykes. He joined the GD blog team as an editor in 2023. You can reach out to him at l.mantiloni@exeter.ac.uk.

Destruction of the North China Craton and its global impact

and November 12, 2025
Destruction of the North China Craton and its global impact
Left: Location of the North China Craton (modified from Wikipedia image). Right: Schematic diagram of the North China Craton destruction (Figure taken from Paul et al., 2025).

Cratons are forever, until they are not. These long-lived portions of lithosphere are known for being remarkably stable. However, if the conditions are right, even cratons can be ripped apart by geological forces, with far-reaching impacts on Earth’s systems. This week, Jyotirmoy Paul from the University of Oslo, Norway will tell us the downfall of the North China Craton, using numerical sim ...[Read More]

Unraveling volcanic patterns between adjacent rift zones

and July 16, 2025
Unraveling volcanic patterns between adjacent rift zones
The Sleeping Warrior volcano, located near Lake Elementaita in the Kenya Rift (East African Rift System). Its profile, shaped by erosion and tectonic activity, resembles a sleeping Maasai warrior, which is why it got its name.

Continental rifts are a prime example of how the forces at work beneath our feet are constantly shaping our world, and often host volcanic activity. The patterns and distribution of volcanism in rift settings, however, is far from intuitive. The picture gets even more complicated if we look between the segments that often make up a rift. This week, Valentina Armeni from the University of Potsdam, ...[Read More]

Exploring the Evolution of Rift Magmatism through Numerical Modelling

and June 5, 2024
Exploring the Evolution of Rift Magmatism through Numerical Modelling
A view of the volcanoes of Chaîne des Puys in Auvergne, France, associated to the Limagne Graben. Credit: Alpha du centaure (https://www.flickr.com/photos/alphaducentaure/11912337466/) / Wikipedia, CC BY-2.0

Continental rifts are a striking manifestation of the forces at work in the Earth’s interior and are often associated with volcanic activity. Contrary to intuition, volcanism is not confined to rift grabens, but migrates as the rifts evolve. How and why this happens is still not clear. This week, Gaetano Ferrante from Rice University, Houston (USA) will share his research with us, showing ho ...[Read More]

Equilibrium Crustal Thickness and Dynamics of Earth’s Lithosphere: The Answer is 42.

and March 13, 2024
Equilibrium Crustal Thickness and Dynamics of Earth’s Lithosphere: The Answer is 42.
There really is an answer, and now there is a question too - just deep below us rather than above. But then again, aren't up and down just conventions? Figure courtesy: Emily Hinshaw.

“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” had the answer; we think we have the right question. This week, Ajay Kumar from IISER Pune, India, will take us on a journey to the depths of the Earth’s lithosphere – a world as mysterious as the farthest reaches of the Universe. We will see what the thickness of the Earth’s crust can tell us about the balance between the ...[Read More]