2026

Crustal-Scale Signatures of Steady-State Thermal Inheritance: Insights from the South China Sea

20 February 2026 / By Laetitia Le Pourhiet, Manuel Pubellier, Anthony Jourdon, Thomas François

Abstract: Long-lived lateral variations in radiogenic heat production create persistent thermal heterogeneities that shape continental lithosphere over geological timescales. We introduce a steady-state concept of thermal inheritance, linking these variations to crustal-scale strain localization and tectonic architecture.Using numerical models, we explore both crustal- and lithospheric-scale consequences of heterogeneous heat production….

Lithospheric Mantle Density Anomalies Determined From Lithosphere Thickness and Dynamic Topography

12 January 2026 / By Bernhard Steinberger, Paul Strobel

Abstract: Chemical buoyancy within the lithosphere may be prevalent in certain depth regions. To constrain those depths, we follow an approach similar to Wang et al. (2023) and plot the difference between residual topography—where only crustal isostatic topography has been removed—and dynamic topography—where only sub-lithospheric density anomalies are considered—against lithosphere thickness….