continental rifting

Exploring the Evolution of Rift Magmatism through Numerical Modelling

Gaetano Ferrante and edited by Lorenzo Mantiloni June 5, 2024

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]

Linking the Earth’s Engine and Landscape Formation and Evolution

Rafael Monteiro da Silva and edited by Jamison Assunção May 8, 2024

Image made using DALL·E 2

The Earth’s internal engine drives several geodynamic processes such as continental rifting and dynamic topography, shaping mesmerizing landscapes. Through numerical modeling, insights into formations like the Continental Rift of Southeastern Brazil deepen our appreciation of Earth’s dynamic nature and the forces sculpting its surface. The heat engine beneath our feet Not so long ago, ...[Read More]

Animating the past using numerical modeling

João Pedro Macedo Silva and edited by Jamison Assunção February 7, 2024

Image made using DALL·E 2

The human lifespan is too short compared to the geological time. To comprehend long-term phenomena, numerical modeling emerges as an imperative approach. But, there are several ways for visualizing the output of these models. Among these, animations stand out as a powerful tool, allowing us to watch the dynamic evolution of our planet over geological epochs like a movie. Our lives are too short co ...[Read More]

Rift linkage and rotating microplates

Derek Neuharth and edited by Anne Glerum January 20, 2021

Image Credit: modified by Anne Glerum after NASA Earth Observatory/Joshua Stevens.

2020 left your head spinning? This week Derek Neuharth from GFZ Potsdam introduces us to the spinning microplates that can be found in extensional plate boundaries such as the East African Rift System and the East Pacific Rise. Divergent plate boundaries Microplates are enigmatic features that form in the boundaries between tectonic plates. Generally, plate boundary dynamics are divided into three ...[Read More]