Deformation, fracturing, and evolution

At the Earth’s surface, rupture processes associated with deformation are assessed through terrestrial observations (GNSS, seismology) or space-based methods (InSAR, optical). Highly variable spatio-temporal deformations affect objects as diverse as the lithosphere, fault networks and gravity-driven instabilities, reservoirs, and the cryosphere. In-depth analysis of these objects raises broad scientific challenges addressed by ISTerre, including deformation at different time scales (seismic/aseismic) associated with internal processes (mantle flows) or geometric complexities, high-resolution characterization of morpho-tectonic markers, the relationships between seismicity rates and deformation rates, deformation of volcanic systems linked to hydro-magmatic processes, the topographic evolution of the Earth and multi-scale erosion processes, and the connection between micro-scale (grains) and macro-scale (ice sheets, rock) behavior. Linking fundamental physics and mechanics to geophysical applications is essential and will contribute to identifying precursors of major earthquakes and gravity-driven ruptures, anticipating damage processes, and understanding the hydro-mechanical properties of fault networks, volcanic systems, and reservoirs.