Geodynamic modelling of the initiation of plate tectonics in a differentiating early Earth.

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Boris J.P. Kaus
• Subject Area: Geophysics ; Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: from 2015 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 277080870

Whereas there has been considerable progress over the last few decades in understanding the physical mechanisms that resulted in the generation of self-consistent plate tectonics on Earth, existing models remain unrealistic as they only operate successfully for yield stresses that are smaller than experimentally constrained values. Moreover, existing models typically don't take partial melting and differentiation into account. Here we will perform state-of-the-art 2D and 3D geodynamic models in order to understand the effect of magmatic differentiation and crust formation on the lithospheric deformation styles that occurred on a warmer early Earth. Our models incorporate realistic visco-elasto-plastic rheologies for the lithosphere, shear heating, a free surface, and thermodynamically constrained densities for the main rock-types that developed. Systematic simulations will help to understand the physics of the models as well as the sensitivity of the model results to uncertainties in the input parameters. Testable predictions will be derived from the geodynamic models that can be compared with geological and petrological constraints.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1833: Building a Habitable Earth
• International Connection: Australia
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Dr. Tim Johnson; Professor Dr. Alfred Kröner (†); Professor Dr. Richard William White