Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: “New Horizons in Geophysics: From Theory to Applications”

A special issue of Geosciences (ISSN 2076-3263). This special issue belongs to the section "Geophysics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 3565

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis, National Research Council, 85050 Tito, PZ, Italy
Interests: geophysical time series analysis; statistical methods for the investigation of geophysical processes; point processes; fractals and multifractals; graphs and networks; complexity; information theory
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dept. of Geophysics, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel
Interests: potential geophysical fields; tectonics; geodynamics; 3D models of the Earth's crust; paleomagnetic reconstructions; natural hazards; environmental geophysics; archaeological geophysics; searching for economic minerals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing, National Observatory of Athens, I. Metaxa & Vas. Pavlou Street, GR-15236 Penteli, Greece
Interests: space physics; space weather; geomagnetism; magnetic storms; complex systems; extreme geophysical events
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Geophysics represents dynamic research fields that delve into the intricate physical properties and processes that shape the Earth and its surrounding space environment. It utilizes standard and sophisticated statistical and quantitative methods to analyze the Earth’s processes. By integrating theoretical insights with observations, researchers in the field are striving to advance our understanding of natural phenomena (such as earthquakes, tsunamis, geomagnetic storms, volcanic eruptions, rainfall, etc.) and address pressing societal challenges.

This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research in geophysics, highlighting innovative methodologies and multi-disciplinary approaches. We welcome contributions from researchers worldwide, focusing on new investigations and presenting new data/methods of interest to a broader geosciences readership. We sincerely invite you to be part of this collaborative endeavor.

Dr. Luciano Telesca
Prof. Dr. Lev V. Eppelbaum
Dr. Georgios Balasis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Geosciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • earthquakes
  • volcanoes
  • rainfall
  • tornado
  • tsunamis
  • geomagnetic storms
  • risk assessment
  • forecasting and early warning
  • satellite observations and applications
  • geological data analysis and modeling

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

12 pages, 627 KiB  
Article
Twenty-Five Years After the Chi-Chi Earthquake in the Light of Natural Time Analysis
by Panayiotis A. Varotsos, Nicholas V. Sarlis, Efthimios S. Skordas, Qinghua Huang, Jann-Yenq Liu, Masashi Kamogawa and Toshiyasu Nagao
Geosciences 2025, 15(6), 198; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15060198 (registering DOI) - 24 May 2025
Abstract
Almost two years after the devastating 1999 MW7.6 Chi-Chi earthquake, a new concept of time termed natural time (NT) was introduced in 2001 that reveals unique dynamic features hidden behind the time series of complex systems. In particular, NT analysis enables [...] Read more.
Almost two years after the devastating 1999 MW7.6 Chi-Chi earthquake, a new concept of time termed natural time (NT) was introduced in 2001 that reveals unique dynamic features hidden behind the time series of complex systems. In particular, NT analysis enables the study of the dynamical evolution of a complex system and identifies when the system enters a critical stage. Since the observed earthquake scaling laws indicate the existence of phenomena closely associated with the proximity of the system to a critical point, here we apply NT analysis to seismicity that preceded the 3 April 2024 MW7.4 Hualien earthquake. We find that in the beginning of September 2023 the order parameter of seismicity exhibited a clearly detectable minimum. Such a minimum demonstrates that seismic electric signal (SES) activity initiated which comprises several low-frequency transient changes of the electric field of the Earth preceding major earthquakes. Full article
20 pages, 14821 KiB  
Article
Seismic Facies Classification of Salt Structures and Sediments in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Using Self-Organizing Maps
by Silas Adeoluwa Samuel, Camelia C. Knapp and James H. Knapp
Geosciences 2025, 15(5), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15050183 - 19 May 2025
Viewed by 217
Abstract
Proper geologic reservoir characterization is crucial for energy generation and climate change mitigation efforts. While conventional techniques like core analysis and well logs provide limited spatial reservoir information, seismic data can offer valuable 3D insights into fluid and rock properties away from the [...] Read more.
Proper geologic reservoir characterization is crucial for energy generation and climate change mitigation efforts. While conventional techniques like core analysis and well logs provide limited spatial reservoir information, seismic data can offer valuable 3D insights into fluid and rock properties away from the well. This research focuses on identifying important structural and stratigraphic variations at the Mississippi Canyon Block 118 (MC-118) field, located on the northern slope of the Gulf of Mexico, which is significantly influenced by complex salt tectonics and slope failure. Due to a lack of direct subsurface data like well logs and cores, this area poses challenges in delineating potential reservoirs for carbon storage. The study leveraged seismic multi-attribute analysis and machine learning on 3-D seismic data and well logs to improve reservoir characterization, which could inform field development strategies for hydrogen or carbon storage. Different combinations of geometric, instantaneous, amplitude-based, spectral frequency, and textural attributes were tested using Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) to identify distinct seismic facies. SOM Models 1 and 2, which combined geometric, spectral, and amplitude-based attributes, were shown to delineate potential storage reservoirs, gas hydrates, salt structures, associated radial faults, and areas with poor data quality due to the presence of the salt structures more than SOM Models 3 and 4. The SOM results presented evidence of potential carbon storage reservoirs and were validated by matching reservoir sands in well log information with identified seismic facies using SOM. By automating data integration and property prediction, the proposed workflow leads to a cost-effective and faster understanding of the subsurface than traditional interpretation methods. Additionally, this approach may apply to other locations with sparse direct subsurface information to identify potential reservoirs of interest. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1766 KiB  
Communication
Estimating Secondary Earthquake Aftershocks from Tsunamis
by Sergey A. Arsen’yev and Lev V. Eppelbaum
Geosciences 2024, 14(12), 344; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14120344 - 13 Dec 2024
Viewed by 873
Abstract
Nonlinear solitary waves influence the Earth’s crust because wave pressure on the ocean bottom contains non-hydrostatic components. Our physical-mathematical model allows us to calculate the surplus super-hydrostatic pressure on the Earth’s crust. It depends on the amplitudes of solitary waves and the depth [...] Read more.
Nonlinear solitary waves influence the Earth’s crust because wave pressure on the ocean bottom contains non-hydrostatic components. Our physical-mathematical model allows us to calculate the surplus super-hydrostatic pressure on the Earth’s crust. It depends on the amplitudes of solitary waves and the depth of an ocean. The surplus wave pressure averages 50% from hydrostatic pressure on the shallow ocean shelves. Thus, the solitary wave’s tsunami class can provoke novel (repeated) earthquakes (or landslides) because surplus stresses affect the seismic focus. Theoretical results and experimental physical modeling of soliton waves have shown good agreement. A calculated example of the mega-tsunami in Lituya Bay and a described example of Dickson Fjord (AK, USA) indicate changes in the dynamic pressure after the onset of the tsunami. The presented studies demonstrate a first attempt at creating a numerical model of this phenomenon. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 14600 KiB  
Article
Non-Linear Effects of Gravity Change on Mantle Dynamics
by Paolo Mancinelli, Giorgio Ranalli and Cristina Pauselli
Geosciences 2024, 14(11), 301; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14110301 - 7 Nov 2024
Viewed by 890
Abstract
Starting from observed variations of the length of day in the past 2.5 billion years, we calculate the corresponding gravity variation and evaluate the possible effects that such variation would have induced on the lithosphere and on mantle convection. The lithospheric stress induced [...] Read more.
Starting from observed variations of the length of day in the past 2.5 billion years, we calculate the corresponding gravity variation and evaluate the possible effects that such variation would have induced on the lithosphere and on mantle convection. The lithospheric stress induced by the observed gravity increase at the equator in 500 Ma is of the same order as the one associated with a convective cell. We model a gravity increase that would result in 1.3 × 10−2 µGal or 1.3 × 10−10 m s−2 over 10 years, a value that is not far from the detection thresholds of modern gravimeters. Gravity increase also affects mantle dynamics by improving convection efficiency. Our models demonstrate that gravity variations contribute to this phenomenon through faster and wider mixing. The results support a view where a convective system being subject to gravity changes responds through non-linear adjustments of its effective mixing at all scales. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how gravitational fluctuations may shape the behavior of Earth’s dynamic systems over geological timescales. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

19 pages, 6515 KiB  
Review
North Caucasus Underground Geophysical Observatory: Instrumentation and Observation Results
by Alexey Sobisevich, Yuri Kuzmin, Dmitry Likhodeev, Andrey Kotov, Alexey Desherevsky, Andrey Myasnikov, Valentin Gravirov, Dmitriy Presnov, Konstantin Kanonidi, Irina Puzich, Zalim Dudarov, Spartak Dolov, Irina Suvorova, Alexey Sentsov and George Balashov
Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020042 - 27 Jan 2025
Viewed by 859
Abstract
A full-scale geophysical observatory in the North Caucasus, which was established to study volcanic activity in the Elbrus area, has been functioning for more than 10 years. Results of experimental studies performed at the observatory, located in the deep tunnel, are presented. Special [...] Read more.
A full-scale geophysical observatory in the North Caucasus, which was established to study volcanic activity in the Elbrus area, has been functioning for more than 10 years. Results of experimental studies performed at the observatory, located in the deep tunnel, are presented. Special attention is paid to the stability of metrologically significant parameters of precise information-measuring systems, taking into account different nature noises. Technical characteristics of installed geophysical instruments are given, and the principles of their operation are described. Examples of instrumental observations are also presented; for example, tidal deformations reflecting structural features of the geological environment in the area of the Elbrus volcanic edifice and associated with the presence of magmatic structures were investigated. It was shown that diurnal and semidiurnal harmonics observed in the microvariations of temperature can be caused, among other things, by the influence of tidal effects on the convective component of heat–mass transfer. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop