Analogue and numerical modelling techniques are widely applied to simulate geological processes in Earth's crust. The methods are partly overlapping and partly of a complementary nature: Analogue models have traditionally been strong in visualising the mechanical behaviour of processes in 3D, but are still limited in their ability to quantify observables or use more complicated material rheologies. These are better achieved by using numerical models, which are often only 2D but whose 3D resolution has improved in recent years.

This session focusses on analogue and numerical modelling of crustal-scale processes related to, for example, basin formation, (oblique) basin inversion, strike-slip and transpressional deformation, and orogenic deformation at convergent plate margins. The crust is relatively accessible and many geological and geophysical observations are therefore available to constrain and test our models. Nevertheless, crustal-scale models face challenges related to the non-linearity of temperature- and pressure-dependent material behaviour, the large range in material strengths, the interactions with the underlying mantle and the overlying atmosphere and the role of fluids, among others. We welcome contributions that discuss recent advances in modelling, quantification and visualization techniques in 2D and 3D, use innovative material rheologies, and compare analogue and numerical model results to each other and/or the results of field observations and geophysical studies.

Invited presenters:
David Boutelier (GFZ Potsdam)
Tony Crook (Rockfield UK)