numerical modelling

Subduction interfaces are complicated – and that’s their beauty!

P. Io Ioannidi and edited by Nuno Rodrigues March 18, 2026

Summary schematic view of the subduction plate interface as inferred from the exhumed geologic record. From Behr and Bürgmann, 2021.

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]

What’s blobbing inside the Earth? – insights from numerical modelling

Poulami Roy and edited by Pauline Gayrin March 4, 2026

Figure 1: Snapshot from a mantle convection simulation showing sinking tectonic plates at subduction zones and rising mantle plumes originating from deep LLSVPs (large low-shear-velocity provinces). These BLOBs at the base of the mantle influence plume formation and seismic anisotropy. (taken from Roy et al., 2025)

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]

Understanding geodynamic modelling results through maps of neural networks

João Paulo de Souza Bueno and edited by Constanza Rodriguez Piceda January 21, 2026

The huge amount of data produced in Geosciences is increasing exponentially, and numerical modelling has become a key tool for understanding tectonic evolution over time, which also increases the volume of data produced. Here, I, João Bueno (PhD student at University of São Paulo, Brazil) will present how a machine learning technique known as Self-Organising Maps can be used to understand the int ...[Read More]

Destruction of the North China Craton and its global impact

Jyotirmoy Paul and edited by Lorenzo Mantiloni November 12, 2025

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]