Earth: Day Zero • Paper 163 of 512
Large Igneous Province Distribution Patterns
Large Igneous Provinces are distributed across multiple continents and ocean basins rather than occurring within a single geological region.
Regional Geological Context
Relevant regions include Siberia, Russia; Maharashtra, India; South Africa; Antarctica; Brazil; Namibia; Iceland; Greenland; Scotland; Canada; and the western Pacific region.
Research institutions frequently associated with global LIP studies include University of Leicester in Leicester, England, United Kingdom; University of Oxford in Oxford, England, United Kingdom; and Australian National University in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Observation
LIP distribution patterns may reflect interactions among continental configuration, mantle structure, lithospheric architecture, and deep Earth dynamics.
Constraint Analysis
Global distribution patterns provide a higher-order dataset than any single volcanic province considered alone.
Open Questions
Do LIP distributions reveal persistent mantle organization, or are they adequately explained by known plate-tectonic and plume-related processes?