Skip to main content

Research Highlights

Some like moving mountains, but we prefer moving continents, oceans, and even the entire silicate Earth

In a new EDRG-led Earth-Science Reviews paper, we publish the first data-rich full-plate global evolution history for the 2000–540 Ma interval, and utilise palaeomagnetic true polar wander (TPW) and global plume records to determine likely palaeolongitude for past reconstructions and the dynamic evolution of first-order mantle structures.

2Ga ESR thumbnail

This work presents a global 2000—540 Ma full-plate animation following the extended-orthoversion principle.

Why supercontinents became shorter lived as the Earth evolved

Geodynamic modelling performed by EDRG has shown that the lifespan of the supercontinents has been decreasing due to the weakening of the orogens formed during the assembly phase. The work published in Science Bulletin suggests that this is likely caused by Earth's secular cooling.

Evolutionary results for supercontinent assembly and break-up.

Evolutionary results for test case 1 at four critical time points. (a)–(d) Continental drift and orogenesis during the supercontinent assembly and its eventual break-up. The orogens are converted to new ocean when materials at 20-km depth are replaced by upwelling mantle during continental break-up. Black arrows in (a), (b), and (d) denote the motion directions of the continents. (e)–(h) The evolving mantle structure, including cold downwellings (dark blue to blue) and the undulating lower mantle thermo-chemical layer (red to yellow).

News

Social Media

Important upcoming events

Community Feature Article

 

Prof. Li was recently featured in an article discussing the work that we do in the Earth Dynamics Research Group. The article was produced by Futurum, a magazine and online platform aimed at inspiring young people to follow a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The article also includes a link to an activity sheet for students and teachers. For more information, teaching resources, and course and career guides, see www.futurumcareers.com.

CCFS Short Course on Snowball Earth by Professor Paul Hoffman

A CCFS-sponsored short course on the global climatic phenomenon known as Snowball Earth was held at Curtin University on 15 July, 2016.

Read More

Traveling Geologist

The work of previous EDRG team member, Chris Spencer, has seen him visit many exotic and remote locations around the world, documented on his travel blog Traveling Geologist. The page has now expanded to provide a platform for other Earth scientists to share their adventures – check out some of the incredible photos and stories.

Visit the website