Articles | Volume 12, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1777-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1777-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
11 Aug 2021
Research article |
| 11 Aug 2021
| 11 Aug 2021
3D crustal stress state of Germany according to a data-calibrated geomechanical model
Steffen Ahlers
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Engineering Geology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, TU Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
Andreas Henk
Engineering Geology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, TU Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
Tobias Hergert
Engineering Geology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, TU Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
Karsten Reiter
Engineering Geology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, TU Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
Birgit Müller
Technical Petrophysics, Institute of Applied Geosciences, KIT, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Luisa Röckel
Technical Petrophysics, Institute of Applied Geosciences, KIT, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Oliver Heidbach
Seismic Hazard and Risk Dynamics, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Institute for Applied Geosciences, TU Berlin, 10587 Berlin, Germany
Sophia Morawietz
Seismic Hazard and Risk Dynamics, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Institute for Applied Geosciences, TU Berlin, 10587 Berlin, Germany
Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth
Basin Modelling, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Department of Geology, Geochemistry of Petroleum and Coal, Faculty of Georesources and Material Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
Denis Anikiev
Basin Modelling, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
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Ángela María Gómez-García, Eline Le Breton, Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth, Gaspar Monsalve, and Denis Anikiev
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Cameron Spooner, Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth, Mauro Cacace, and Denis Anikiev
Solid Earth Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/se-2020-202, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-2020-202, 2020
Revised manuscript not accepted
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Denis Anikiev, Adrian Lechel, Maria Laura Gomez Dacal, Judith Bott, Mauro Cacace, and Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth
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T. Hergert, O. Heidbach, K. Reiter, S. B. Giger, and P. Marschall
Solid Earth, 6, 533–552, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-533-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-533-2015, 2015
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P. Klitzke, J. I. Faleide, M. Scheck-Wenderoth, and J. Sippel
Solid Earth, 6, 153–172, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-153-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-153-2015, 2015
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K. Reiter and O. Heidbach
Solid Earth, 5, 1123–1149, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-5-1123-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-5-1123-2014, 2014
Y. Cherubini, M. Cacace, M. Scheck-Wenderoth, and V. Noack
Geoth. Energ. Sci., 2, 1–20, https://doi.org/10.5194/gtes-2-1-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/gtes-2-1-2014, 2014
K. Fischer and A. Henk
Solid Earth, 4, 347–355, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-4-347-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-4-347-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Subject area: Tectonic plate interactions, magma genesis, and lithosphere deformation at all scales | Editorial team: Geodynamics and quantitative modelling | Discipline: Tectonics
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Extension leading to the formation of ocean–continental transition can be highly oblique to the main direction of crustal thinning. Here we explore the case of a continental margin exposed in the Betics that developed in a back-arc setting perpendicular to the direction of the retreating Gibraltar subduction. We show that transtension is the main mode of crustal deformation that led to the development of metamorphic domes and extensional intramontane basins.
Timothy Chris Schmid, Sascha Brune, Anne Glerum, and Guido Schreurs
Solid Earth, 14, 389–407, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-389-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-389-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Continental rifts form by linkage of individual rift segments and disturb the regional stress field. We use analog and numerical models of such rift segment interactions to investigate the linkage of deformation and stresses and subsequent stress deflections from the regional stress pattern. This local stress re-orientation eventually causes rift deflection when multiple rift segments compete for linkage with opposingly propagating segments and may explain rift deflection as observed in nature.
Mousumi Roy
Solid Earth, 13, 1415–1430, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1415-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1415-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates one of the key processes that may lead to the destruction and destabilization of continental tectonic plates: the infiltration of buoyant, hot, molten rock (magma) into the base of the plate. Using simple calculations, I suggest that heating during melt–rock interaction may thermally perturb the tectonic plate, weakening it and potentially allowing it to be reshaped from beneath. Geochemical, petrologic, and geologic observations are used to guide model parameters.
Liming Li, Xianrui Li, Fanyan Yang, Lili Pan, and Jingxiong Tian
Solid Earth, 13, 1371–1391, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1371-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1371-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We constructed a three-dimensional numerical geomechanics model to obtain the continuous slip rates of active faults and crustal velocities in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Based on the analysis of the fault kinematics in the study area, we evaluated the possibility of earthquakes occurring in the main faults in the area, and analyzed the crustal deformation mechanism of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau.
Anthony Jourdon and Dave A. May
Solid Earth, 13, 1107–1125, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1107-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1107-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
In this study we present a method to compute a reference pressure based on density structure in which we cast the problem in terms of a partial differential equation (PDE). We show in the context of 3D models of continental rifting that using the pressure as a boundary condition within the flow problem results in non-cylindrical velocity fields, producing strain localization in the lithosphere along large-scale strike-slip shear zones and allowing the formation and evolution of triple junctions.
Sepideh Pajang, Laetitia Le Pourhiet, and Nadaya Cubas
Solid Earth, 13, 535–551, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-535-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-535-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The local topographic slope of an accretionary prism is often used to determine the effective friction on subduction megathrust. We investigate how the brittle–ductile and the smectite–illite transitions affect the topographic slope of an accretionary prism and its internal deformation to provide clues to determine the origin of observed low topographic slopes in subduction zones. We finally discuss their implications in terms of the forearc basin and forearc high genesis and nature.
Anthony Jourdon, Charlie Kergaravat, Guillaume Duclaux, and Caroline Huguen
Solid Earth, 12, 1211–1232, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1211-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1211-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The borders between oceans and continents, called margins, can be convergent, divergent, or horizontally sliding. The formation of oceans occurs in a divergent context. However, some divergent margin structures display an accommodation of horizontal sliding during the opening of oceans. To study and understand how the horizontal sliding part occurring during divergence influences the margin structure, we performed 3D high-resolution numerical models evolving during tens of millions of years.
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Short summary
Knowledge about the stress state in the upper crust is of great importance for many economic and scientific questions. However, our knowledge in Germany is limited since available datasets only provide pointwise, incomplete and heterogeneous information. We present the first 3D geomechanical model that provides a continuous description of the contemporary crustal stress state for Germany. The model is calibrated by the orientation of the maximum horizontal stress and stress magnitudes.
Knowledge about the stress state in the upper crust is of great importance for many economic and...
