Recent advancements in seismic tomography and numerical modeling have unveiled compelling evidence of oceanic plate delamination occurring offshore of Southwest Iberia, a region of significant tectonic complexity. This innovative research integrates a vast array of seismic data and sophisticated simulations to illuminate the subsurface dynamics driving this geodynamic phenomenon. Delamination, the peeling away or removal of dense oceanic lithosphere from the underlying mantle, is a process critical to understanding plate tectonics, mantle convection, and the evolution of the Earth’s lithosphere. The study harnessed cutting-edge seismic tomography and numerical techniques to provide unprecedented detail into this elusive process, advancing our grasp of subduction zone mechanics and continental margin evolution.
The seismic tomography model underpinning this research was assembled from an extensive dataset collected between 2007 and 2013, involving 387 broadband land stations spread throughout the Ibero-Maghrebian region. Importantly, the study incorporated data from 24 ocean-bottom seismometers deployed offshore Southwest Iberia during the NEAREST experiment, alongside instruments from the TOPOMED project, enhancing offshore ray coverage. Analyzing over 25,000 arrival-time residuals from 451 teleseismic events with magnitudes exceeding 5.5, researchers meticulously constructed a detailed velocity model extending from the crust-mantle boundary (the Moho) to depths of 800 kilometers. This comprehensive dataset was foundational in resolving fine-scale structures in the upper mantle, critical for identifying delamination signatures.
Seismic wave travel times were initially aligned and filtered to isolate relevant signals, followed by an adaptive stacking procedure that refined the seismic phase arrival estimates. The innovative use of the FMTOMO package allowed for the iterative inversion of these time residuals, solving the forward travel-time problem through a grid-eikonal method known as the Fast Marching Method. This approach uncovers three-dimensional variations in seismic wave velocity that correspond to temperature, compositional, and structural heterogeneities deep within the Earth. Crucially, the inversion accounted for crustal effects using a prior three-dimensional model (PRISM3D), which corrected for topographic and velocity variations in the crust that might otherwise distort mantle imaging.
To evaluate the robustness of the tomography results, a synthetic spike resolution test was performed. This numerical experiment introduced pairs of velocity anomalies with known properties into the starting model to test whether these features could be reliably recovered by the inversion process. The successful identification of these synthetic anomalies in the output model confirmed the high accuracy and resolution of the seismic imaging, particularly for uppermost mantle structures near 90 kilometers depth. This accomplishment lends strong support to the interpretation that the imaged high-velocity anomalies offshore Southwest Iberia represent genuine lithospheric structures consistent with delaminated oceanic material.
Complementing the seismic imaging, the research team employed advanced numerical modeling to explore the mechanics of oceanic plate delamination. Using the computational platform Underworld, they simulated the coupled processes of momentum, mass conservation, and thermal evolution under realistic boundary conditions. The models solve governing equations of fluid dynamics and heat transfer, incorporating nonlinear rheologies governed by temperature, pressure, and strain-rate-dependent viscosity. Importantly, the mechanical behavior includes viscoplastic deformation, with yielding determined by a Drucker–Prager criterion that accounts for frictional failure and plastic strain weakening. This detailed formulation allows the model to capture complex interactions between brittle fracture, ductile flow, and thermal weakening—all critical for realistic simulation of lithospheric peeling.
The numerical experiments were conducted within a large two-dimensional domain measuring 2,800 kilometers in length and 660 kilometers deep, discretized with thousands of finite elements to ensure fine spatial resolution—down to 1.25 kilometers within the lithosphere. The modeled geometry includes two contrasting oceanic plates: a thicker, older Africa-like plate beneath the southern part of the model, and a younger, thinner Eurasia-like plate to the north. Notably, the younger plate incorporates a serpentinized mantle layer, a low-viscosity zone prone to weakening, reflecting real geological observations from seismic refraction profiles. These contrasting lithospheric features create conditions conducive to delamination under tectonic compression.
To simulate natural convergence, a slow northward velocity of 8 millimeters per year was imposed on the African-like plate, with the Eurasian-like plate fixed in place, replicating the Cenozoic Africa–Eurasia plate motions. Multiple scenarios were tested, varying the presence and thickness of serpentinized layers and vertical weak zones that represent inherited faults or fractures. Models with two vertical weak zones evenly spaced and a 10-kilometer-thick serpentinized weak layer best matched observed seismic data and geological constraints, faithfully reproducing the delamination process. These results underscore the critical role of preexisting lithospheric weaknesses and compositional heterogeneities in facilitating such complex tectonic behavior.
The simulations illuminate the dynamic progression of delamination, showing that gravitational forces and induced stresses cause the dense oceanic lower lithosphere to detach and sink into the mantle. This peeling away disrupts isostatic equilibrium and modifies mantle flow patterns, potentially triggering volcanism and seismicity. Notably, the study also explored the influence of stopping convergence after 18 million years, finding that delaminated blocks may continue sinking under gravity alone, highlighting the interplay between tectonic forcing and buoyancy-driven dynamics. This insight refines previous conceptions of delamination duration and its feedbacks with surface tectonic processes.
The decision to pursue a two-dimensional modeling approach was strategic. The elongated geometry of the delaminating structure, oriented perpendicular to the convergence direction, supports the assumption of plane-strain symmetry. Moreover, focusing on a simplified framework enabled systematic parametric studies of key controlling mechanisms without the computational burden and complexity of full three-dimensional modeling. While three-dimensional effects are expected in nature, this minimalistic modeling provided essential physical understanding, serving as a proof-of-concept to test hypotheses derived from seismic observations.
Advanced rheological formulations underpin the simulations, with effective viscosity calculated via experimentally derived flow laws that incorporate activation energy and volume, stress exponent, and temperature dependence. The models capture the transition from ductile creep at high temperatures and pressures to brittle failure at shallower depths. Incorporation of strain weakening mimics the progressive loss of strength as deformation accumulates, reproducing realistic lithospheric weakening that fosters delamination initiation. These physically based constitutive laws enhance model fidelity and predictive power, bridging laboratory rheology and geodynamic processes.
Thermomechanical coupling is central to the model, with temperature evolution governed by an advection-diffusion equation incorporating shear heating and adiabatic heating terms. Shear heating arises from viscous deformation work, while adiabatic heating relates to compression under mantle conditions. These thermal effects modify viscosity and density distributions, feeding back into deformation patterns and delamination progression. This coupling mirrors natural conditions where thermal and mechanical processes are intertwined, adding another layer of realism to the model outcomes.
The integration of seismic tomography and numerical modeling in this study represents a pioneering approach in geosciences, shedding light on complex lithosphere-mantle interactions offshore Southwest Iberia. The high-resolution seismic images confirm the presence of a dense, high-velocity anomaly interpreted as a delaminated oceanic slab fragment descending into the mantle, while the sophisticated simulations reveal governing physical mechanisms and key parameters controlling the process. This dual methodology sets a benchmark for future multidisciplinary investigations of plate dynamics in regions where direct observation is impossible.
Findings from this research have profound implications beyond Southwest Iberia. Understanding oceanic plate delamination is fundamental to deciphering tectonic regime changes, intraplate volcanism, seismic hazard, and mantle-driving forces globally. The observed link between inherited lithospheric fabrics, serpentinization, and delamination initiation offers new perspectives on how plate weakening modulates large-scale Earth dynamics. Moreover, the study emphasizes the importance of integrating seismological, geological, and numerical evidence to unravel deep Earth processes, inspiring a holistic paradigm in geodynamics.
Looking ahead, the research team envisions extending their framework to incorporate three-dimensional geometries, anisotropic material properties, and coupling with surface processes such as erosion and sedimentation. Such enhancements will enable even more detailed reconstructions of lithospheric evolution and its surface manifestations. Furthermore, applying similar approaches to other convergent margins worldwide can test the ubiquity and variability of delamination phenomena, providing a richer understanding of the Earth’s tectonic mosaic.
The multidisciplinary nature of this breakthrough underscores the synergy emerging in Earth sciences as computational power increases and data acquisition evolves. Combining dense seismic observations with cutting-edge modeling tools allows scientists to “see” and simulate hidden processes shaping our planet’s lithosphere. Studies like this herald a new era where theory, observation, and computation converge to solve longstanding geodynamic puzzles, with promising impacts on hazard assessment, resource exploration, and fundamental Earth science.
In conclusion, the seismic evidence for oceanic plate delamination revealed offshore Southwest Iberia not only solves an important regional geodynamic mystery but also opens pathways for novel explorations into plate tectonics and mantle convection. The coupling of meticulous seismic imaging and robust numerical simulations demonstrates the power of integrative science in unraveling the deep Earth’s secrets. As we push the limits of resolution and computational sophistication, our planetary understanding becomes ever clearer, revealing the dynamic tapestry beneath our feet.
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Duarte, J.C., Riel, N., Civiero, C. et al. Seismic evidence for oceanic plate delamination offshore Southwest Iberia. Nat. Geosci. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01781-6
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