The Asian continent has fascinated the world for at least 3,000 years with its music, food, and discoveries, as well as its breathtaking landscapes. Most of these incredible landscapes are formed by mountains that can be considered geologically “recent” (such as the Cenozoic formation of the Himalayas). However, there are also ancient terrains, pre-dating the Mesozoic, that pose intrig ...[Read More]
Seismicity is undoubtedly an integral part of Geodynamics, since seismic data, from large-scale geophysical monitoring, can provide many valuable insights regarding the state of the Earth’s crust; seismicity, however, is not always natural, it can also be induced. In this week’s blog, we explored the subject of fluid injection-induced seismicity mainly through the lens of hydraulic fracturing (HF; ...[Read More]
Profesor Saskia Goes is the receipent of the 2026 Augustus Love Medal of the Geodynamics Division for her outstanding contributions to our understanding of Earth structure and evolution, using integrative research at the confluence of geodynamics, seismology, mineral physics, and geochemistry. In this interview, she talks about her professional journey and shares her thoughts on what the future of ...[Read More]
The EGU General Assembly is only a few weeks away, and attendees are starting to plan their schedules into what promises to be a week full of exiciting presentations and events. Don’t know where to start planning your week? We got you covered! In today’s blog, we highlight the key events of Geodynamics Division and give you some key tips to get the most out of the week. To access the e ...[Read More]
“I am forced into speech because men of science have refused to follow my advice without knowing why. It is altogether against my will that I tell my reasons for opposing this contemplated invasion of the antarctic—with its vast fossil-hunt and its wholesale boring and melting of the ancient ice-cap —and I am the more reluctant because my warning may be in vain.” The opening lines from At the Moun ...[Read More]
With the winds of change brought by a new season, I’m back to help my readers to get out from dispair. This time a reader ask: Dear Sassy scientist, How do I deal with rejection during a job hunt? Dear Sarah, I hear you writing from the edge of despair. Let’s be honest: you’ve chosen the scenic route to career purgatory. Nevermind watching your lifelong friends enjoying their permanent contr ...[Read More]
The Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Awards highlight exceptional scientific contributions made by an Early Career Scientist in the fields of Earth Sciences associated with each division. This year, the prestigious recognition for the Geodynamics Division has been awarded to Dr. Sia Gelichkhan, from the Australian National University. Today we have the pleasure of interviewing him on hi ...[Read More]
The dynamics of subduction zones are strongly influenced by the subduction interface. Understanding its rheology enables geodynamic modellers to better simulate these systems and unravel the fundamental processes that govern them. In today’s blog post, we explore subduction interface rheology and discuss effective approaches for modelling it. What is a subduction interface? I first met a subductio ...[Read More]
At the geodynamic scale, tectonic forces guide the distribution of stress. Stress in the Earth is not constant, but varies through space. Variations in gravitational energy caused by changes in mass distribution within the Earth, forces acting at plate boundaries, and basal mantle drag all cause stress to vary and act in different directions. Overall, stress plays a key role in tectonics. It allow ...[Read More]
Seismic waves tell us that something unusual is happening in the lowermost few hundred kilometers of Earth’s mantle. Beneath Africa and the Pacific lie two enormous thermochemical structures known as Large Low-Shear-Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs). These “large blobs” are slower to transmit shear waves, but beyond that, their physical nature remains one of the biggest open questions in deep Earth geod ...[Read More]