LARGE 0.2.0: 2D numerical modelling of geodynamic problems

Abstract. We present here LARGE 0.2.0 (Lithosphere AsthenospheRe Geodynamic Evolution) a geodynamic modelling Python package that implements a flexible and user friendly tool for the geodynamic/modelling community. It simulates 2D large scale geodynamic processes by solving the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy by a finite difference method with the moving tracers technique. LARGE uses advanced modern numerical libraries and algorithms but unlike common simulation code written in Fortran or C this code is written entirely in Python. Simulations are driven by configuration files that define thoroughly the lithologies and the parameters that distinguish the model. Documentation for them and for all the modules is included in the package together with a complete set of examples and utilities. The package can be used to reproduce results of published studies and models or to experiment new simulations. LARGE can run in serial mode on desktop computers but can take advantage of MPI to run in parallel on multi node HPC systems.