Understanding the deep-time tectonic carbon cycle by linking thermodynamic and plate tectonic models

Apr 21, 2024·
Dr. Ben Mather
Dr. Ben Mather
· 0 min read
Abstract
This talk examines the deep-time tectonic carbon cycle by linking thermodynamic models of carbon storage and release with global plate tectonic reconstructions. We quantify carbon fluxes at subduction zones and mid-ocean ridges through geological time, building on the framework of Kelemen and Manning (2015) to constrain how plate tectonics has regulated atmospheric CO2 over hundreds of millions of years.
Date
Apr 21, 2024 9:00 AM — 10:00 AM
Location

Cambridge, UK

events
Dr. Ben Mather
Authors
ARC Industry Research Fellow

I am an ARC Industry Research Fellow in the School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at The University of Melbourne. I am an expert in fusing Earth evolution models with data to understand how groundwater moves critical minerals through the landscape. Related research interests include the cycling of volatiles within the Earth, probabilistic thermal models of the lithosphere to unravel past tectonic and climatic events, and understanding the how enigmatic volcanoes form.

I am a vocal advocate for the integral role of geoscience in responding to challenges we face in transitioning to the carbon-neutral economy. As an expert in my field, I have been interviewed in national and international print media, TV, and radio on a wide variety of subjects including earthquakes, volcanoes, groundwater, and critical minerals.