Earth: Day Zero • Paper 157 of 512
Large Igneous Provinces as Planetary Markers
Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) represent some of the largest volcanic events preserved within the geological record.
Regional Geological Context
Major LIPs occur in Siberia, Russia; Maharashtra, India; South Africa; Antarctica; Brazil; Namibia; and the North Atlantic region including Greenland and Iceland.
Relevant research institutions include Lomonosov Moscow State University in Moscow, Russia; Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, India; and University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa.
Observation
LIPs preserve evidence of extraordinary volcanic output at continental and planetary scales.
Constraint Analysis
Because of their size, duration, and global influence, LIPs function as important reference markers within deep-time geological investigations.
Open Questions
Do Large Igneous Provinces preserve information regarding deeper planetary organization and long-duration mantle processes?