Solid-Earth Dynamics: GFZ

Dynamics of the solid earth

[Translate to English:] Global earth structure with tectonic plate boundaries and GIA induced movement. — Global earth structure with tectonic plate boundaries and GIA induced movement. *(Grafik: GFZ)*

The reaction of the solid earth to loads acting on its surface is essentially determined by its mechanical material properties, so that close cooperation is maintained with material sciences and geodynamic as seismological knowledge is incorporated.

Deformation processes of the solid earth and their measurable effects. *(Dr. Volker Klemann, GFZ)*

... i.e. how the Earth reacts to glacial and oceanic loads, rotational variations and tides. The time scales considered range from less than one year to several hundred thousand years.

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Schematic representation of the response of the lithosphere to the changing load of an ice sheet. *(Dr. Volker Klemann)*

GIA describes the response of the solid Earth and the sea level to glacial cycles over the last million years and includes the response to melting glaciers over the last few centuries up to present day an future changes.

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The modeling of processes in the Earth's interior caused by surface loading contributes integratively to the understanding of the Earth system. It thus makes important contributions to understand the dynamics of separate subsystems and to interpret and quantify geodetically observed deformations and gravity changes.

We focus on the numerical modeling of this dynamic process, ...

An important process of global significance is the glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) caused by the ice ages.