Models of Continental Extension with Emphasis on Lower Crustal Flow

This project is a renewal of a previous grant concerned with 2-D modelling of continental extension and rifting. The P.I. will extend his earlier developed 2-D model of continental rifting which incorporates the effect of lower crustal flow and explains the development of wide continental extension areas with high heat flow. The P.I. will now use this model to derive the parameters (stress & strain, heat flow, time etc.) which control the long time development of continental margins. Then these will be compared with several margins as a test.