Earth-Science Reviews最新文献

{"title":"Advances and challenges in predicting wave runup in coastal regions: A scoping review of empirical, numerical, and AI-based approaches","authors":"Erfan Amini ,&nbsp;Mehrdad Baniesmaeil ,&nbsp;Hossein Mehdipour ,&nbsp;Mehdi Neshat ,&nbsp;Reza Marsooli","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105399","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105399","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coastal regions, home to critical infrastructure and diverse ecosystems, are increasingly vulnerable to short-wave (incident-band) runup-induced hazards, including coastal erosion, flooding, and infrastructure damage. Accurately predicting short-wave runup is essential for effective coastal management, flood risk assessment, and climate adaptation strategies. This study presents a comprehensive scoping review of short-wave runup prediction methodologies, systematically evaluating empirical formulas, numerical models, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based approaches. We critically analyze their theoretical foundations, computational frameworks, and predictive capabilities under diverse coastal conditions. The review integrates a global wave runup dataset, providing a data-driven comparison of model performance across varying beach morphologies and hydrodynamic conditions. A key contribution of this review is conducting a cross-methodological evaluation, providing a structured assessment of the trade-offs between accuracy, computational demand, and real-world applicability across the three approaches. Furthermore, we examine the implications of climate change on wave runup prediction methodologies, emphasizing the effects of rising sea levels, changing storm characteristics, and changing wave energy on predictive reliability. The findings underscore the need for integrated modeling techniques to enhance predictive accuracy and support adaptive coastal management. By identifying research gaps and future directions, this review serves as a foundation for advancing wave runup prediction science, with direct applications in coastal engineering, risk mitigation, and climate resilience planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 105399"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145995581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Switch on tunnel vision: Portable wind tunnels to understand and quantify aeolian processes","authors":"Miriam Britt Marzen ,&nbsp;Kanat Akshalov ,&nbsp;Carlos Asensio Grima ,&nbsp;Fernando Avecilla ,&nbsp;Daniel E. Buschiazzo ,&nbsp;Juan Cruz Colazo ,&nbsp;Elisabetta Del Bello ,&nbsp;Lars Engelmann ,&nbsp;Vicken Etyemezian ,&nbsp;Michael Raymond Fischella ,&nbsp;Wolfgang Fister ,&nbsp;Roger Funk ,&nbsp;Thomas Iserloh ,&nbsp;Itzhak Katra ,&nbsp;Moritz Koza ,&nbsp;Jonathan Merrison ,&nbsp;Gregory Okin ,&nbsp;Mahrooz Rezaei ,&nbsp;Johannes Bernhard Ries ,&nbsp;Gerd Schmidt ,&nbsp;R. Scott Van Pelt","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105396","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105396","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A Portable wind tunnel is a highly specialized device capable of examining soil surfaces in their natural state and independently from naturally occurring wind events. The field experiments give valuable insights into wind-induced entrainment, transport, redistribution and emission of mineral and organic particles from surfaces in their original state to understand geomorphological, pedological, and ecological processes. Recent portable wind tunnel studies highlight a broad range of research objectives including the determination of threshold wind velocities, the quantification of wind-eroded sediment, the development of dust emissions, and wind-induced dynamics of nutrients and contaminants. Portable wind tunnels usually follow a straight tunnel design with a push or suction-type wind source, an air straightening section, and an open-bottom test area. Research groups developed and applied specific add-on features such as sediment feeders to simulate an erosive saltation layer, an integrated rainfall simulator for wind-driven rain studies, and miniaturized tunnels. A large variety of techniques is used to collect and count the entrained mineral and organic particles to allow for quantification and qualitative analysis. Validity, reproducibility, and reliability of the experimental setup and data application for extrapolation and modeling are discussed based on physical constraints of the tunnel and spatiotemporal characteristics of the data. The manuscript also summarizes experiences and recommendations for application and maintenance and proposes methods to compare results generated by different devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 105396"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145962708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preferential flow paths in active rock glaciers","authors":"Simon Seelig ,&nbsp;Magdalena Seelig ,&nbsp;Karl Krainer ,&nbsp;Gerfried Winkler","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105373","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105373","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rock glaciers are key components of alpine hydrology, regulating groundwater flow and shaping catchment responses in permafrost-affected environments. While traditional models represent subsurface flow as diffuse through a porous matrix, field evidence increasingly demonstrates that channelized flow exerts a critical influence on groundwater dynamics. This review explores the hydrological processes governed by these channel networks, which enable rapid, turbulent water movement along distinct pathways. Observations of channels and hydraulically related features from 73 sites across mountain regions worldwide, viewed through a range of disciplinary perspectives, are synthesized into a unified conceptual framework. Building on this body of field evidence, we analyze the implications of channelized flow for groundwater movement, water quality, solute and heat transfer, permafrost degradation, and slope stability, advancing understanding of these interconnected processes. Our synthesis suggests that channels enhance water transport efficiency, accelerate permafrost thaw, and trigger debris flows and thermokarst lake outburst floods. The rapid transfer of suspended and dissolved matter makes downstream springs vulnerable to contamination and affects their suitability for water supply. Through integrating field observations, geophysical surveys, tracer experiments, borehole data, and ground temperatures, we reveal key processes governing water movement and its interconnected effects on heat, solutes, and permafrost structure in rock glaciers and related periglacial systems. We propose a novel conceptual model that integrates preferential flow paths into the framework of permafrost hydrology and identifies new directions for investigating hydrological processes in alpine aquifers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 105373"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145962298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Translithospheric fault targeting for giant magmatic (-hydrothermal) ore deposit discoveries: recent advances and leading practices","authors":"Nicholas Hayward ,&nbsp;Quentin Masurel ,&nbsp;Nicolas Thébaud ,&nbsp;Graham C. Begg","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105397","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105397","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Improving discovery rates for Tier 1 magmatic ore deposits requires more accurate prediction of camp-scale structural targets and mapping of (trans-)lithospheric fault zones (LFZs). Here we review LFZ architecture, evolution and behaviour, and their spatial correlation with large ore deposit clusters based on &gt;120 global case studies of magmatic Ni-Cu (-PGE) and porphyry Cu (-Au,Mo) deposits. At belt-scale, the most prospective LFZs are the longest and deepest ones formed at lithospheric domain boundaries (“primary strike-parallel”). At district- to camp-scales, the strongest structural predictor for giant Ni and Cu discoveries is proximity to secondary transverse LFZ intersections that provided long-lived, subvertical, pipe-like, mantle-tapping conduits. The transverse LFZ correlation is stronger for large porphyry Cu deposits (∼90% within 5 km) than for large magmatic Ni-Cu (-PGE) deposits (∼82% within 25 km).</div><div>Magmatic-hydrothermal mineral systems are driven bottom-up by transfer of mechanical stress, heat, fluid, and metals from upwelling asthenosphere or slab subduction. Positive feedback from thermal, reaction, and strain softening partitions these drivers first into translithospheric fault zones, which evolve at the expense of transcrustal fault zones to efficiently channel the extreme energy, fluid and metal fluxes required to form giant magmatic-hydrothermal deposits. The dynamic fault-valve behaviour of LFZs, triggered by intermittent coupling across transient rheological barriers, enhances system self-organization and drives both exceptional fertility enhancement (when stalled) and extreme fluid fluxes (when released).</div><div>From our results, we identify key knowledge gaps and future research priorities, and propose a refined, systems-based approach to mapping LFZs aimed at enhancing the targeting of giant ore systems and mineral resource discovery performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 105397"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145962705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Formation and fluxes of natural hydrogen in the crust and upper mantle","authors":"Kevin Wong ,&nbsp;Martina Cascone ,&nbsp;Donato Giovannelli ,&nbsp;Alberto Vitale Brovarone","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105400","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105400","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Molecular hydrogen (H₂) is a fundamental component of planetary evolution and an important energy source for microbial life. It is now understood that natural mechanisms, spanning geological and biological processes, can produce high concentrations of hydrogen in natural fluids. Quantifying the processes that modulate natural hydrogen concentrations is necessary not only for conceptualising the distribution of life on Earth and elsewhere in the universe, but also for identifying settings where natural hydrogen may potentially accumulate to complement industrial hydrogen production. However, uncertainties persist in assessing these natural fluxes. In this review, we explore the biological and geological processes that can generate natural hydrogen. Compared to previous summary efforts, we include in our updated inventory hydrogen fluxes from biological processes, metamorphic degassing, and subduction zones. By integrating recent advances in quantifying hydrogen generation and transportation in geological environments, we demonstrate that significant concentrations and fluxes of hydrogen can arise in a plethora of settings worldwide, contributing towards a total abiotic production rate of 40 to 64&lt; Mt H₂ yr^-1. We also highlight that geological environments characterised by high hydrogen production may be associated with high microbial hydrogen consumption (e.g., oceanic sediments). However, large uncertainties regarding the residence time of hydrogen within geological settings remain, and future research endeavours should aim to ascertain the long-term behaviour of hydrogen stored in the deep Earth to assess the viability of natural hydrogen as a renewable energy source.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 105400"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146033654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Is daily extreme rainfall increasing in the Mediterranean basin? A critical review of the evidence","authors":"José Carlos Gonzalez-Hidalgo ,&nbsp;Santiago Beguería","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105409","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105409","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article reviews published research on trends in extreme precipitation events across the Mediterranean basin between 1980 and 2025. A total of 175 peer-reviewed studies were compiled using standardized search criteria across major bibliographic databases. The review focuses on reporting the diversity of findings as presented by their authors, while it does not assess the quality of data, methods, or definitions used in individual studies. To avoid misinterpretation, and ensure traceability of our research, key statements regarding trends transcribed directly from each paper's abstract, main text, or conclusions are compiled. The results highlight substantial spatial and temporal heterogeneity in reported trends, with few statistically significant and regionally consistent patterns. While in some subregions (particularly parts of Italy, southern France, some areas of Spanish east-coastland and North-Western Africa coastland) localized increases in high-magnitude rainfall events have been found, many areas show either no trend or statistically insignificant changes. The evidence does not support a basin-wide intensification of extreme precipitation, and observed trends appear more strongly influenced by local geographic and synoptic factors, or linked to specific analysis time windows, than by a coherent signal of global climate forcing. These findings underscore the importance of continued observation, high-resolution analysis, and cautious interpretation of regional extremes in a climate change context. A more unified methodological framework is needed to improve comparability across studies and support effective risk management and adaptation strategies in this highly exposed region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 105409"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146089743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Innovations in underground hydrogen storage with multiphysics simulations, optimization, and monitoring: A review","authors":"Yue Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhenxue Dai ,&nbsp;Hung Vo Thanh ,&nbsp;Mingxu Cao ,&nbsp;Lulu Xu ,&nbsp;Xiaoying Zhang ,&nbsp;Bicheng Yan ,&nbsp;Philip H. Stauffer ,&nbsp;Huichao Yin ,&nbsp;Kenneth C. Carroll ,&nbsp;Mohamad Reza Soltanian","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105411","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105411","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS) is a promising solution for large-scale energy storage and a critical component in advancing low-carbon energy system. Ensuring the safety and efficiency of UHS necessitates a comprehensive understanding of multiphysical interactions driven by cyclic pore fluid pressure fluctuations and coupled physicochemical processes. This review examines the key geomechanical responses in UHS, including rock property variations under cyclic loading, fracture evolution and propagation, reservoir stress sensitivity, and fault stability. It also explores the impact of geochemical and microbial reactions on geomechanical characteristics. We provide an in-depth analysis of Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical-Chemical (THMC) coupled numerical simulations, highlighting their potential for future multi-scale modeling. Limitations of current machine learning (ML) approaches in addressing UHS challenges are highlighted, emphasizing the need for innovative ML-based methodologies. Operational strategies for hydrogen injection and production are reviewed, focusing on safety, efficiency, and economic viability. The necessity for multi-objective optimization (MOO) to balance storage efficiency, risk mitigation, and cost-effectiveness is also discussed. Current monitoring technologies are evaluated to ensure safe and efficient UHS operations. Finally, this review identifies critical knowledge gaps and underscores the importance of advancing geomechanical understanding under multiphysics-coupling. We highlight the need for ML-driven multiphysics theories, enhanced modeling techniques, and robust optimization strategies to improve UHS performance. This study serves as a comprehensive reference for future research and the large-scale implementation of UHS systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 105411"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146071754","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding the resource potential of natural hydrogen on Earth: Scientific gaps, uncertainties and recommendations","authors":"Giuseppe Etiope ,&nbsp;Geoffrey S. Ellis ,&nbsp;Omid H. Ardakani ,&nbsp;Christopher J. Boreham ,&nbsp;Peter Klitzke ,&nbsp;Antonio Martín-Monge ,&nbsp;Humberto L.S. Reis ,&nbsp;Alexis S. Templeton ,&nbsp;Hyeong Soo Kim ,&nbsp;Eric Gaucher ,&nbsp;Olivier Sissmann","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105413","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105413","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;A comprehensive scientific research roadmap is essential to bridge knowledge gaps and deepen the understanding of key geological, geochemical, and geophysical aspects of natural hydrogen (H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;) as a potential new energy resource. This paper reviews major scientific uncertainties on natural H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, suggesting research priorities, as a guide for defining exploration strategies, techniques, and data interpretation. The uncertainties concern all phases of the natural H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; cycle, from generation (source rocks) through migration (advection and diffusion) and accumulation (reservoir and cap rocks) to the application and interpretation of subsurface and surface geochemical and geophysical exploration techniques. Understanding H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; sources and generation rates (the amount of H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; generated by a given volume of rock over time) is crucial for determining whether a geological H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; system operates as a short-term dynamic system with rapid H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; production and release, or as a conventional gas system with long-term accumulations, analogous to petroleum reservoirs. Preliminary estimates for serpentinisation, radiolysis, and organic matter degradation suggest that H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; generation is not inherently fast, especially for non-hydrothermal continental systems (crystalline basement of shields, ophiolites, peridotite massifs, sedimentary basins), and long-term accumulations, like those of fossil natural gas systems, represent the most likely scenario. The mechanisms of H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; migration through geological formations require application of fundamental principles of fluid-flow physics, distinguishing advection and diffusion, as well as their forms (from gas-phase, bubble flows to aqueous solutions). Additional studies of H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; accumulation and retention in subsurface reservoirs could improve understanding of mechanisms of H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; migration by focusing on the rock fluid-bearing properties and the factors affecting H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; preservation, such as the presence of cap rocks impermeable to H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, pressure conditions, residence times, and microbial or abiotic consumption. Advanced techniques, including reservoir modelling, flow simulations, 3D imaging (micro-CT) of H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-bearing rocks, and extraction and analysis of gas occluded in rocks, can provide insights into the stability and potential recoverability of H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; accumulations. The interpretation of surface exploration techniques, including gas geochemistry, geophysics, and remote sensing, long employed in mineral and energy resource exploration, is now being adapted for natural H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; studies, but challenges remain in the data interpretation. Distinguishing H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; seepage due to geological degassing from H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; produced near the surface by modern microbial processes or artificial sources, such as hammering or drilling for soil-gas sampling, drilling into aquifers, and corrosion ","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 105413"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146098420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Controls on commercial helium accumulation in coal seams: From fundamentals to an integration of basin geology and gas geochemistry","authors":"Jianzhou Tang ,&nbsp;Jinzhuang Xue ,&nbsp;Shuangming Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105402","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105402","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coal seams, as a result of the coalification of terrestrial plant matter, were previously regarded as unfavorable for economically significant helium accumulations. However, this viewpoint has been challenged by the increasing discoveries of helium-rich gas reservoirs in such settings. This review investigates the major controls on commercial helium accumulations in coal seams, using an integrated analysis of basin geology and gas geochemistry. Six main findings are summarized as follows. (1) Naturally occurring helium accumulates in nitrogen-, carbon dioxide-, methane-, and mixed-gas reservoirs, with nitrogen and methane reservoirs being the most favorable for commercial helium accumulation. (2) Commercial helium accumulation in coal seams is predominantly (&gt; 70%) of external origin, although these seams are commonly enriched in thorium and uranium. (3) The formation of helium accumulations in coal seams largely depends on an external replenishment system, including source rocks, carrier fluids, migration pathways, and an open system. (4) Two key geological elements contribute to favorable trap conditions: one is coal seams that show high water saturation, effective pore connectivity, and adequate natural gas; and the other is overlying cap rocks that exhibit fine pore throats, high gas pressure, low temperature, and high associated fluid content. (5) An accumulation window at a depth of ca. 100–1250 m for helium in coal seams is proposed. (6) Three main geological patterns, namely basement uplift, basement fault and anticlinal crest patterns, are proposed for commercial helium accumulations in coal seams, and these patterns can be distinguished by variations in He/N₂ ratios and N₂, CO₂, and CH₄ contents. The findings presented herein are expected to provide guidance for helium exploration in coal seams.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 105402"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gravity maps of the African continental crustal and mantle structure","authors":"Franck Eitel Kemgang Ghomsi ,&nbsp;Robert Tenzer ,&nbsp;Wenjin Chen ,&nbsp;Alexey Baranov ,&nbsp;Ojima Isaac Apeh ,&nbsp;Tan Xiaolong ,&nbsp;Hong Guoqing ,&nbsp;Julienne Stroeve","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105412","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105412","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The African continent is characterized by a complex tectonic and geological history, with its current configuration shaped by the assemblage of Precambrian cratons and fragments delineated by Proterozoic and Paleozoic mobile belts. Knowledge of its lithospheric structure has primarily been derived from sparsely and irregularly distributed seismic surveys, limiting continent-wide analysis. To address this issue, we utilize satellite (e.g., GOCE, GRACE) and terrestrial gravity observations, integrated with lithospheric structure models, to compile a suite of gravity maps on a 5′ × 5′ geographical grid. The maps of the free-air, Bouguer, crust-stripped, mantle, lithosphere-stripped, and sub-lithospheric mantle gravity disturbances enable detailed interpretation of Africa's lithospheric architecture. Our methodology enhances traditional gravimetric studies by applying advanced corrections for topographic, bathymetric, sediment, crustal, and lithospheric mantle density heterogeneities, revealing deeper structural signatures. The free-air gravity map exhibits a signature of topographic and upper crustal density variations, with positive anomalies (+50 to +150 mGal) over elevated regions (e.g., Ethiopian Plateau) and negative anomalies (−50 to −150 mGal) over sedimentary basins (e.g., Congo Basin). The Bouguer gravity map highlights tectonic and volcanic features, reflecting crustal thickness variations, with isostatic equilibrium in cratons and disequilibrium along continental rifts like the East African Rift System (EARS). The crust-stripped gravity map mirrors Moho geometry, showing a stark contrast between thin oceanic and thick continental crust. The mantle gravity map exhibits a thermal signature, with gravity lows marking active divergent margins along the East and West Rift Systems and highs coinciding with cold, stable Archean cratons. Combined Bouguer and mantle gravity analyses confirm a non-collisional origin of mountain ranges along the EARS. Notably, the southern portion of the EARS lacks a clear thermal signature, suggesting distributed deformation at diffuse plate boundaries. These findings, alongside signatures of the African Superswell and the Congo Craton subsidence, provide new insights into Africa's geodynamic evolution, supporting future geophysical and resource exploration efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 105412"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}