Geoscientific Model Development
Geoscientific Model Development
GMD
Articles | Volume 18, issue 22
Articles | Volume 18, issue 22
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-8651-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-8651-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 18, issue 22
Development and technical paper
 | 
17 Nov 2025
Development and technical paper |  | 17 Nov 2025

The tracer nudging method for correcting and preventing uneven tracer distributions in geodynamical models

Paul James Tackley

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Short summary
Tracers are commonly used in geodynamical models to track various quantities as material moves around. However, methods used to advect them typically do not respect the mass conservation equation, resulting in gaps and bunches in the tracer distribution. Here a method to correct this, based on nudging tracer positions in order to respect mass conservation, is presented. Tests show that it is effective and has a low computational cost.
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Advances in numerical modelling of geological processes