Underworld2: Python Geodynamics Modelling for Desktop, HPC and Cloud

Abstract

The modelling of long time-scale solid-Earth processes presents challenges on many fronts. Typically a large range of length scales must be resolved, and computational requirements can easily go beyond a desktop machine’s capability, even in 2-dimensions. Rheological behaviours are diverse and modellers often wish to investigate a spectrum of dynamics. With this also comes the requirement of robust solution strategies capable of capturing a system of large dynamic range. Time dependent aspects of a model also require careful consideration such that numerical artefacts do not subsume the required signal. Underworld2 is a Python API which seeks to meet these challenges, while also providing a friendly and intuitive interface to model development.