Upscaling results obtained in laboratory experiments to crustal/Deep Earth-scales or downscaling the application of geophysical techniques to a laboratory remains an ongoing challenge in the Earth Sciences. With developments of new faster and higher resolution imaging techniques a range of geological fields are seeing the benefits in increased resolutions, faster processing speeds as well as the ability to image more and more complex deformation features across a range of scales. Rock physics experiments and numerical models can provide great insight to larger scale phenomena using, for example, direct forward model techniques or well-constrained experiments in known conditions. Such an approach has the great benefit in that added value naturally arises when scientists from different disciplines transfer, and verify, new theories and techniques using laboratory rock physics as a tool.

The aim of this session is to bring together scientists working in different disciplines and who have set Rock Physics and laboratory/field experiments to model large-scale Earth phenomena. Conversely, we welcome contributions that seek to transfer to laboratory scale theory and techniques used in larger Earth environments. We are particularly interested in:

1) Imaging techniques, either already used in rock mechanics and successfully implemented, or taken from other research fields to monitor rock deformation and physical quantities at laboratory scale.

2) Designs of geophysical experiments that have been planned on the base of laboratory experiments.

3) The contribution of laboratory experiments to the understanding of large-scale geological features in volcanic/ crustal / Deep Earth environments.

4) New attempts and techniques related to upscaling rock-physics results to reproduce large-scale geophysical phenomena.

5) Novel contributions where laboratory experiments validate Earth-related theories or unveil new physical phenomena at a different scale.

Invited abstract:

"Superstatistical view of stress-induced electric current fluctuations in rocks" by Alexis Cartwright-Taylor, University of Edinburgh