The continental lithosphere

The focus of my research is structure and evolution of the continental
lithosphere as constrained by geophysical (primarily thermal) data.

The research highlights include:

Global studies for the continental upper mantle:

thermal models, including lithosphere thickness and temperatures at 50,
100,150,and 200 km depths; mantle geotherms are compared with xenolith
P-T arrays,
global thermal model complemented by tectono-thermal ages provides
constraints on growth and preservation rate of the continental lithosphere
since the Archean,
an interaction of deep lithospheric roots with a convective mantle is
analyzed in the "basal drag" model of lithosphere erosion; it provides
constraints on lithosphere thickness in Paleozoic and Proterozoic-Archean,
global seismic tomography models ( seismic attenuation and Rayleigh-wave
seismic velocities in the upper mantle) are analyzed jointly with lithospheric
temperatures; the method provides quantitative constraints on a non-thermal
part of seismic anomalies in the upper mantle,
joint analysis of gravity data and mantle temperatures provides quantitative
constraints on mantle residual gravity anomalies of a non-thermal origin (i.e.
mantle depletion anomalies),
mantle temperatures are used to calculate electrical conductivity profiles in
the cratonal mantle; the latter are compared with regional studies of
electrical conductivity.

Regional studies and reviews include:

a review of seismic anisotropy in young orogens and a model of creep in the
upper mantle,
lithosphere structure and evolution of the East European Craton,
dynamic topograpgy of the East European Craton,
a review on the structure of the European upper mantle,
a review on the structure of the continental crust.

Contact information:
Geological Institute
University of Copenhagen
Øster Voldgade 10
Copenhagen DK-1350
Denmark
Tel: +45-3532 2473
Email: irina@geol.ku.dk
www.geol.ku.dk