Articles | Volume 5, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-5-1087-2014
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-5-1087-2014
Method article
 | 
18 Nov 2014
Method article |  | 18 Nov 2014

Using the level set method in geodynamical modeling of multi-material flows and Earth's free surface

B. Hillebrand, C. Thieulot, T. Geenen, A. P. van den Berg, and W. Spakman

Related authors

On the choice of finite element for applications in geodynamics – Part 2: A comparison of simplex and hypercube elements
Cedric Thieulot and Wolfgang Bangerth
Solid Earth, 16, 457–476, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-457-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-457-2025, 2025
Short summary
Quantifying mantle mixing through configurational entropy
Erik van der Wiel, Cedric Thieulot, and Douwe J. J. van Hinsbergen
Solid Earth, 15, 861–875, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-861-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-861-2024, 2024
Short summary
Benchmarking the accuracy of higher-order particle methods in geodynamic models of transient flow
Rene Gassmöller, Juliane Dannberg, Wolfgang Bangerth, Elbridge Gerry Puckett, and Cedric Thieulot
Geosci. Model Dev., 17, 4115–4134, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-4115-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-4115-2024, 2024
Short summary
The effect of temperature-dependent material properties on simple thermal models of subduction zones
Iris van Zelst, Cedric Thieulot, and Timothy J. Craig
Solid Earth, 14, 683–707, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-683-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-683-2023, 2023
Short summary
Benchmark forward gravity schemes: the gravity field of a realistic lithosphere model WINTERC-G
Barend Cornelis Root, Josef Sebera, Wolfgang Szwillus, Cedric Thieulot, Zdeněk Martinec, and Javier Fullea
Solid Earth, 13, 849–873, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-849-2022,https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-849-2022, 2022
Short summary

Related subject area

Geodynamics
On the choice of finite element for applications in geodynamics – Part 2: A comparison of simplex and hypercube elements
Cedric Thieulot and Wolfgang Bangerth
Solid Earth, 16, 457–476, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-457-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-457-2025, 2025
Short summary
On the global geodynamic consequences of different phase boundary morphologies
Gwynfor T. Morgan, J. Huw Davies, Robert Myhill, and James Panton
Solid Earth, 16, 297–314, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-297-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-297-2025, 2025
Short summary
The geological structures of the Pyrenees and their peripheral basins examined through EMAG2v2 magnetic data
África Gamisel-Muzás, Ruth Soto, Conxi Ayala, Tania Mochales, Félix M. Rubio, Pilar Clariana, Carmen Rey-Moral, and Juliana Martín-León
Solid Earth, 16, 251–274, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-251-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-251-2025, 2025
Short summary
The influence of accretionary orogenesis on subsequent rift dynamics
Zoltán Erdős, Susanne J. H. Buiter, and Joya L. Tetreault
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1065,https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1065, 2025
Short summary
Increased metamorphic conditions in the lower crust during oceanic transform fault evolution
Peter Haas, Myron F. H. Thomas, Christian Heine, Jörg Ebbing, Andrey Seregin, and Jimmy van Itterbeeck
Solid Earth, 15, 1419–1443, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1419-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1419-2024, 2024
Short summary

Cited articles

Adalsteinsson, D., and Sethian, J.: The Fast Construction of Extension Velocities in Level Set Methods, J. Comput. Phys., 148, 2–22, 1999.
Andrews, E. and Billen, M.: Rheologic controls on the dynamics of slab detachment, Tectonophysics, 464, 60–69, 2009.
Androvičová, A., Čižková, H., and van den Berg, A.: The effects of rheological decoupling on slab deformation in the Earth's upper mantle, Stud. Geophys. Geod., 57, 460–481, 2013.
Bangerth, W. and Heister, T.: ASPECT: Advanced Solver for Problems in Earth's ConvecTion, Texas A&M University/Computational Infrastructure in Geodynamics, 2013.
Baumann, C., Gerya, T., and Connolly, J.: Numerical modelling of spontaneous slab breakoff dynamics during continental collision, Geological Society, London, Spec. Publicat., 332, 99–114, 2010.
Download
Short summary
Our paper demonstrates that the level set method is a viable method for material tracking in multi-material flow models. The different benchmarks illustate several advantages that the level set method provides over tracer-based methods. We therefore conclude that the level set method is well suited for geodynamical modeling.
Share