The research activities of this thematic are dedicated to the study of the Earth’s present-day inner structure and long-term dynamics by combining seismological and geodynamic computational methods, together with geophysical and geological observations.

These studies aim at improving seismic imaging techniques for detecting the deep and thus inaccessible structural features of our planet (i.e., presence of fluids and magma, subducted oceanic seafloors, upwelling hot mantle, etc.), as well as understanding the interrelations between the large-scale mechanical behavior of our planet (i.e., plate tectonics, mantle convection) and micro-/meso-scale deformational, magmatic and metamorphic processes.

The scientific approach includes:

• (1) the development of computational software for seismic imaging and geodynamic numerical modeling,
• (2) simulations of geodynamic processes and seismic wave propagation,
• (3) the inversion of seismological data, and
• (4) in collaboration with structural geologists, the interpretation of the imaged deep structures.

Professors coordinating and developing projects related to this research pathway: Omar Bartoli, Lapo Boschi, Manuele Faccenda, Massimiliano Ghinassi, Fabrizio Nestola, Davide Novella, Martha Giovanna Pamato, Giorgio Pennacchioni, Richard Spiess.