Dynamic processes at submarine plate boundaries

The theory of plate tectonics provides a simplified yet powerful framework to describe the motion of lithospheric plates and the deformation that takes place at their boundaries. Although plate boundaries represent a small fraction of the earth’s surface, the localisation of stresses, resulting from the relative motion of adjacent plates, renders them the seismically most active and most deformed regions on the planet. Gaining insight into the ways in which plate boundaries deform, reorganize, and migrate over time is therefore fundamental to a comprehensive understanding of plate dynamics and lithospheric evolution. This thesis presents results from three complementary studies of submarine plate boundaries that jointly address geological processes and methodological challenges associated with plate boundary deformation. Based on a diverse set of marine geophysical observations, it explores the spatial and temporal variability of deformation foci at mid-ocean ridges and back-arc basin spreading centres, as well as the implications of this variability for plate boundary migration. The thesis also examines methodological aspects of marine geodesy, focusing on the quantification of hydrographic variability in direct-path acoustic ranging data to evaluate its influence on the detectability of deformation signals and its potential application in hydrographic investigations.

Level thesis:degree_level

thesis.doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel

Year

2026

Author dc:creator

• Jegen, Anna Margarethe

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kopp, Heidrun
• Grevemeyer, Ingo

• Plattentektonik
• Geophysik
• Seismik

Repository record source_url

https://macau.uni-kiel.de/receive/macau_mods_00008404

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:macau.uni-kiel.de:macau_mods_00008404