Geodynamics

magma propagation

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]

Modelling Magma Propagation in Three Dimensions – Or: How I Learnt to Stop Worrying and Love Simplicity

Lorenzo Mantiloni and edited by Michaël Pons November 22, 2023

Nature is complex, models not as much. A real eruptive fissure at Fagradalsfjall, Iceland, in 2022 (photo by Drumstick21, Wikipedia) is "fed" by a simulated dyke (modelled with SAM, Mantiloni et al., 2023) advancing in a stress field.

The crisis unfolding these days in Grindavík, Iceland reminds us of how important it is to forecast volcanic activity. Predicting the outcomes of volcanic unrest, or a magmatic intrusion making its way towards the surface, essentially amounts to three questions. Will there be an eruption? How much time before it starts? Where exactly will the eruption occur? Answering any of these questions is a d ...[Read More]