Section 2.5 | Geodynamic Modeling

A video of a modeling is shown.
Numerical model of rifting and continental break-up. Models like these provide an avenue to understand the formation of georesources and geohazards at plate boundaries. (S.Brune and D.Neuharth, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021TC007166)
This model stimulates the internal dynamics of the Earth's mantle.
This model simulates the internal dynamics of the Earth's mantle and its relationship to surface deformation and topographic evolution. Blue areas represent cold mantle material descending from subduction zones and red areas represent warm mantle rocks ascending in the form of mantle plumes. (M.Pons et al., 2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-10967)
This picture shows two scientists taking bathymetry measurements
Degassing of CO2 from the deep earth is an important component of the long-term carbon cycle. We measure natural CO2 degassing rates along fault systems and at volcanoes (such as here at the Laacher See in the Eifel) and use them to calibrate our model calculations. (Kyriaki Daskalopoulou, University of Potsdam)
This model shows the formation of the southern central Andes.
This model helps us to better understand the formation of the southern central Andes. In this area, unusually shallow subduction interacts with the South American continental plate to create a wide zone of tectonic deformation (M.Pons et al., 2023, Tectonics, 42(8), e2023TC007765)
This picure shows the modeling of a tsunami.
The 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean was triggered by a seaquake. We are investigating how tsunamis spread and how efficient warnings can be provided. (R.Hüttle (Ed.), Spektrum Akademischer Verlag Heidelberg, 316 pp., ISBN 978-3-8274-2470-9, page 131)
This model shows the deep deformation undergone by the Chilean subduction.
The formation of the Andes mountain range is closely linked to the dynamics of the oceanic plate subducted beneath South America into the Earth's mantle. This model aims to reproduce the deep deformation undergone by the Chilean subduction at the mantle transition zone at a depth of about 660 km, which led to the formation of the Central Andes during the last 40 Ma. (M.Pons et al., 2022, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 127(12), e2022JB025229)
This modeling shows the continental break-up
Rifting and continental breakup: Numerical model to capture the interaction between tectonics, erosion and sedimentation. We study the interaction of geodynamic and surface processes to gain a better understanding of the Earth system. (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2021TC007166)
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Our aim is to improve the understanding of geodynamic processes operating inside the solid Earth and their surface manifestation at a broad range of spatial and temporal scales through advanced numerical modeling. Our research focii are located at both plate boundaries and within the plate interiors, inside the deep mantle and at the surface. 

We constrain our models by multidisciplinary surface observations acquired by the GFZ and the international scientific community and look for practical applications of fundamental research, like tsunami early warning and hazard assessment. To approach our aims, we develop our own numerical methods and tools, but also extensively employ and co-develop numerical techniques provided by the international community.

Research Topics in our Section | Working Groups

Highlights

Professorships:

2023 | Prof.Dr. Sascha Brune | Professor “Tectonophysics” at University Potsdam, Germany

Memberships in important committess:

2024 | Prof.Dr. Sascha Brune | Member of NFDI, Germany

2021 | Prof.Dr. Stephan Sobolev | Member of Academia Europaea

  • 2024 | EGU “Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award”,  Anne Glerum
  • 2023 | GFZ Award for Young Scientists: Anne Glerum, 2020

Working together

Rift and Rifted Margins Online Seminar

This illustration is used for the Rift and Rifted margins Online Seminar
(S.Brune)

This international seminar series is open to anyone interested in rifts and rifted margins. It started in 2020 and is currently organised by Sascha Brune (GFZ Potsdam), Kim Welford (Memorial University of Newfoundland), Folarin Kolawole (Columbia University, New York), Derek Keir (Univ. of Florence), Gwenn Péron-Pinvidic (NTNU Trondheim) and Lydia Olaka (Technical University of Kenya).

Each seminar session is setup as a one-hour Zoom Meeting with 3 short talks (13-15 min) belonging to one scientific topic. There will be 3-5 minutes of open discussion after each talk. The seminar takes place on Monday 16:00 CEST every first Monday of each month with the same format but on a different topic.

Live meeting attendance links and session schedules are distributed through a dedicated webinar mailing list. To receive updates, simply subscribe at https://www.listserv.dfn.de/sympa/subscribe/riftwebinar.

Website Rift and Rifted Margins Online Seminar

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