Deep (> 40 km) seismic reflection surveys are acquired on land along crooked roads. Using the varying azimuth between source and receiver, the true 3-D orientation of crustal structures can be determined. Applying this method to a survey over the ancient Australian Yilgarn Craton reveals that most reflectors in the lower crust exhibit a systematic dip perpendicular to those in the overlying crust, consistent with lateral flow of a weak lower crust in the hotter early Earth 2.7 billion years ago.

The interpretation of a 1 km-long high-resolution seismic reflection profile integrated with borehole stratigraphy was useful to reconstruct the geological subsoil model of L'Aquila downtown which was struck by the 6/4/2009 Mw 6.1 earthquake, and thus to provide indication on the seismic site effects and the faults activity. This information was essential to design urban masterplan able to mitigate the Seismic Hazard of cultural heritage cities of central Italy, such as the case study site.

Three-dimensional numerical modelling of geodynamic processes may benefit strongly from using realistic 3D starting models that approximate e.g. natural subduction settings in the geological past or at present. To this end we developed the Geodynamic World Builder (GWB) which enables relatively straight-forward parameterization of complex 3D geometric structures associated with geodynamic processes. The GWB is an open source community code designed to easily interface with geodynamic codes.

This study sheds light on the mineral-scale mechanisms controlling the progressive deformation of sheared amphibolites from the Oman metamorphic sole during subduction initiation, and unravels how strain is localized and accommodated in (hydrated) mafic rocks at high temperature conditions. Our results indicate how metamorphic reactions and pore-fluid pressures driven by changes in pressure–temperature conditions and/or water activity control the rheology of mafic rocks.

This paper is a contribution to the knowledge of the geological processes on the SW Atlantic. We tried to integrate data from different time-scales, such as the geological evolution (millions of years) to the hydrodynamic processes (days to years). The results allowed us to recognize the importance of the geological inheritance to the present morphology of submerged areas.

We studied petrophysical characteristics of three consecutive sandstone layers of the Lower Cretaceous Hatira Formation from Israel. Evaluated micro- and macro-scale petrophysical properties predetermined the permeability of the layers, measured in turn in the lab and upscaled from pore-scale velocities. Two scales of porosity variations were found: at 300 μm scale due to pores size variability, and at 2 mm scale due to high and low porosity occlusions, suggested to control the permeability.

Evidences for tidal impacts on volcanism have been gathered by numerous empirical studies. This paper elucidates whether a causal link from the tidal forces to a variation in the volcanic degassing can be traced analytically. We model the response of a simplified magmatic system to the local tidal gravity variations, find that the tide-induced dynamics may significantly alter the bubble coalescence rate, and discuss the consequences for the volcanic degassing behaviour.

Land-river reflection seismic, hydrogeological modelling, and magnetic investigations in an area prone to quick-clay landslides in SW Sweden provide a detailed description of the subsurface structures, such as undulating fractured bedrock, and a sedimentary sequence of intercalating leached and unleached clay, and coarse-grained deposits. Hydrological properties of the coarse-grained layer help understanding its role in the leaching process that leads to the formation of quick clays in the area.

We provide an extensive comparison of high-resolution subsurface models of the Alpine subduction zone. The imaged slab geometries are discussed in relation to the geodynamic evolution of the Alpine region. In the eastern Alps, we compare the models to three scenarios from the literature and propose a fourth one which best fits the tomographic images and the geological constraints. We find that the European slab is broken off below the entire Alpine arc, at variable depth levels.

A 2D numerical modelling approach to simulate the mechanical formation of sinkhole cluster inside large-scale karstic depressions is presented. Different multiple cavity growth scenarios at depth are compared regarding the mechanical process and collapse style. The outcomes of the models are compared to results from remote sensing and geophysics for an active sinkhole area at the Dead Sea region.

The influence of fluids on the initiation and evolution of faults at the brittle ductile transition is still underdocumented. We studied the rocks of a deeply exhumed fault characterized by mixed brittle-ductile deformation. The chemistry of synkinematic fluids trapped in the crystals and thermobarometic estimates highlighted several cycles of fluid pressure and stress fluctuations that caused the initial faulting and its following structural evolution.

Proper magnitude estimates for earthquakes can give an insight into the seismic energy released at earthquake source. This is, in fact, essential for better seismic hazard assessments in tectonically active regions. In the present work, I examine local earthquakes in central Anatolia to estimate their moment magnitudes. The main outcome of this study is an empirical relation that can provide a direct physical quantity of seismic energy in the study region.

Earthquakes in the subsurface are hard to monitor due to their complicated signals. We aim to make the monitoring of the subsurface possible by redatuming the sources and the receivers from the surface of the Earth to the subsurface to monitor earthquakes originating from small faults in the subsurface. By using several sources together, we create complex earthquake signals for large scale faults sources.

The solid earth and exploration communities independently developed a variety of seismic imaging methods for passive- and active-source data. Despite the seemingly different approaches and underlying principles, many of those methods are based in some way or another on the same mathematical theorem. Starting with this theorem, we discuss a variety of classical and recent seismic imaging methods in a systematic way and explain their similarities and differences.

Using geological and geophysical data we set-up a 3D digital description of the underground structure in the central part of the Po alluvial plain. By means of computer simulated propagation of seismic waves we were able to identify the structural features that caused the unexpected elongation and amplification of the earthquake ground motion that was observed in the area during the 2012 seismic crisis. The study permits a deeper understanding of the seismic hazard in alluvial basins.

This research might be the first time to study the topographic changes due to strong earthquakes in region of low relief. We use high-resolution pre- and post-earthquake DEMs to detect the topographic changes caused by the Wenchuan earthquake. However, the topographic changes caused by the Chuetsu earthquake is different. Our findings might indicate that the earthquake mainly acts as roughening and driving the topographic growth in region of low relief.

Salt basins are important as they bear abundant hydrocarbon resource and record the geological evolution. However, current understanding does not fully reconcile with natural examples. Using state-of-the-art analogue modelling technique, we study how an undefromed area occurs in the experiment and gets destroyed later. The results suggest the natural systems work quite differently as we currently know. This study can help us to better explore natural resources in the salt basins.

In mountainous environments, landslides act as stochastic but discrete sediment sources in the landscape and randomly affect these catchments. Our study highlights that at the regional scale, one single landslide has not necessarily an impact on landscape evolution. It is the integrated effect of multiple sediment pulses providing sediments to the river network at the decadal scale, which are subsequently attenuated by sediment transport that may regulate sediment fluxes at the regional scale.

Due to ice sheets and glaciers losing mass, and because continents get wetter and drier, a lot of water is redistributed over the earth's surface. The earth is not completely rigid, but deforms under these changes in the load on top. This deformation affects sea-level observations. With the GRACE satellite mission, we can measure this redistribution of water, and compute the resulting deformation. We use this computed deformation to improve the accuracy of sea-level observations.

Rocks often contain fracture networks, which can strongly impact sub-surface fluid flow and the strength of a rock mass. We examine how participants interpret the same fracture network, both in the field and using field photographs. Considerable variability between participant's resulted in significant differences in derived fracture statistics, which are often used as inputs for geological models. We suggest protocols to recognise, understand and limit this effect on fracture data collection.

The dolomitized intervals of the Lower Jurassic deposits exposed in the Montagna dei Fiori Anticline (Central Apennines, Italy) have been investigated. Accordingly, two fault-related dolomitization events were recognised and interpreted as occurred before and during the Apenninic orogeny, respectively. The analyses suggest significant involvement of evaporitic fluids in both events, most likely derived from the underlying Upper Triassic Burano Formation in the detachment level.

To meet the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit temperature increase below 2 ºC, Geologic Carbon Storage (GCS) will be necessary at the gigatone scale. But to successfully deploy GCS, seismicity induced by CO₂ injection should be controlled and maintained below a threshold that does not generate nuisances to the population. We conclude that felt induced seismicity can be minimized provided that a proper site characterization, monitoring and pressure management are performed.