Articles | Volume 19, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-5191-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-5191-2026
Methods for assessment of models
 | 
16 Jun 2026
Methods for assessment of models |  | 16 Jun 2026

A novel ALE scheme with the internal boundary for true free surface simulation in geodynamic models

Neng Lu, Louis Moresi, and Julian Giordani

Related authors

A novel ALE scheme with the internal boundary for coupling tectonic and surface processes in geodynamic models
Neng Lu, Louis Moresi, Julian Giordani, and Ben Knight
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-6324,https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-6324, 2026
Short summary

Cited articles

Andrés-Martínez, M., Morgan, J. P., Pérez-Gussinyé, M., and Rüpke, L.: A new free-surface stabilization algorithm for geodynamical modelling: theory and numerical tests, Phys. Earth Planet. In., 246, 41–51, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pepi.2015.07.003, 2015. a, b, c
Babel, L. and Vinck, D.: The “sticky air method” in geodynamics. Modellers dealing with the constraints of numerical modelling, Revue d'anthropologie des connaissances, 16, https://doi.org/10.4000/rac.27795, 2022. a
Balay, S., Abhyankar, S., Adams, M. F., Benson, S., Brown, J., Brune, P., Buschelman, K., Constantinescu, E. M., Dalcin, L., Dener, A., Eijkhout, V., Faibussowitsch, J., Gropp, W. D., Hapla, V., Isaac, T., Jolivet, P., Karpeev, D., Kaushik, D., Knepley, M. G., Kong, F., Kruger, S., May, D. A., McInnes, L. C., Mills, R. T., Mitchell, L., Munson, T., Roman, J. E., Rupp, K., Sanan, P., Sarich, J., Smith, B. F., Zampini, S., Zhang, H., Zhang, H., and Zhang, J.: PETSc/TAO Users Manual V.3.21, Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL, USA, https://doi.org/10.2172/2337606, 2024. a
Beall, A. P., Moresi, L., and Stern, T.: Dripping or delamination? A range of mechanisms for removing the lower crust or lithosphere, Geophys. J. Int., 210, 671–692, https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggx202, 2017. a, b
Beaumont, C., Fullsack, P., and Hamilton, J.: Styles of crustal deformation in compressional orogens caused by subduction of the underlying lithosphere, Tectonophysics, 232, 119–132, https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-1951(94)90079-5, 1994. a
Download
Short summary
This study presents a novel scheme for simulating Earth's free surface. Traditional methods like 'Sticky Air' in the Eulerian scheme face limitations such as increased computational costs and marker fluctuation issues. Our approach integrates the 'Sticky Air' concept into an Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian framework using an internal boundary enabling a true free surface simulation, which reduces marker noise and enhances numerical stability.
Share