Geophysics – Geodynamics

We use observations of the crustal and lithospheric structure of margins and oceanic crust from wide-angle, multichannel seismic data and petrological data with numerical modeling of their dynamics.

We actively pursue sea-going expeditions to collect seismic data (see upcoming expedition in South Santos Basin, Brazil, and seismic, MT and EMT expedition to Goban Spur in Projects).

Large part of our work is also focused on the development of in-house numerical codes to understand these observations, the fully dynamic Rift2Ridge code and its kinematic-dynamic branch Kinedyn. Rift2Ridge is a finite-element code for geodynamics with non-Newtonian visco-elasto-plastic rheologies which solves the momentum, mass and energy conservation equations in a Lagrangian framework. The code originally branched from MILAMIN finite element solvers (Dabrowski et al., G-cubed, 2008). The code includes a Winkler bottom boundary condition, a free-surface, strain softening in the brittle and ductile domains, serpentinization, melting and melt emplacement and is coupled to a surface process solver. The code has been used to addressed tectonic, sedimentary, magmatic and surface processes interactions during rifting and seafloor spreading (e.g. Mezri et al., 2024, Pérez-Gussinyé et al., 2023, Raghuram et al., 2023, Liu et al., 2023, Liu et al., 2022, Pérez-Gussinyé et al., 2020, Andrés-Martínez et al., 2019, Ros et al., 2017, Andrés-Martínez et al., 2015). The most recent description of the code is in in Mezri et al., 2024. See publications page for citations.

We also develop inversions of topography and gravity data to gain an understanding of the lateral variations in the lithosphere’s strength (See Perez-Gussinye et al, 2005, Perez-Gussinye et al., 2010….).