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Professor Huw Davies
Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Welsh speaking
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
Interests
I have an interest in understanding global solid Earth processes, especially ones related to the mantle (the region between the crust and the core). I undertake this research through a combination of numerical modelling and data processing, especially by bringing strong observations to bear on numerical models. The models frequently utilise High-Performance Computing. They have included proposing slab break-off, assessing source region of subduction zone magmatism, subduction zone dynamics, mantle seismic structure, mantle heat flux, mantle circulation modelling, models of mantle dynamics underpinning mantle geochemistry and planetary formation and evolution. I also have a strong interest in supporting early career researchers interested in related research.
- Mantle
- Geodynamics
- Geophysics
- Subduction zone dynamics
- Numerical modelling
Publication
2024
- Ward, J., Walker, A. M., Nowacki, A., Panton, J. and Davies, J. H. 2024. The sensitivity of lowermost mantle anisotropy to past mantle convection. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors 356, article number: 107264. (10.1016/j.pepi.2024.107264)
- Plimmer, A., Davies, J. H. and Panton, J. 2024. Investigating the effect of lithosphere thickness and viscosity on mantle dynamics throughout the supercontinent cycle. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 25(11), article number: e2024GC011688. (10.1029/2024gc011688)
- Davies, J. H. and von Blanckenburg, F. 2024. The making of Slab Breakoff. Journal of the Geological Society (10.1144/jgs2024-167)
- Zhang, D. and Davies, J. H. 2024. How a volcanic arc influences back-arc extension: insight from 2D numerical models. Solid Earth 15, pp. 1113-1132. (10.5194/se-15-1113-2024)
2023
- Lei, Z. and Davies, J. H. 2023. Progressive weakening within the overriding plate during dual inward dipping subduction. Tectonophysics 863, article number: 230004. (10.1016/j.tecto.2023.230004)
- Panton, J., Davies, J. H. and Myhill, R. 2023. The stability of dense oceanic crust near the core‐mantle boundary. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 128(2), article number: e2022JB025610. (10.1029/2022jb025610)
2022
- Panton, J., Davies, J. H., Elliott, T., Andersen, M., Porcelli, D. and Price, M. G. 2022. Investigating influences on the Pb Pseudo‐Isochron using three‐dimensional mantle convection models with a continental reservoir. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 23(8), article number: e2021GC010309. (10.1029/2021gc010309)
2021
- Knight, B. S., Davies, J. H. and Capitanio, F. A. 2021. Timescales of successful and failed subduction: insights from numerical modelling. Geophysical Journal International 225(1), pp. 261-276. (10.1093/gji/ggaa410)
- Beall, A., Fagereng, ?., Davies, J. H., Garel, F. and Davies, D. R. 2021. Influence of subduction zone dynamics on interface shear stress and potential relationship with seismogenic behavior. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 22(2), article number: e2020GC009267. (10.1029/2020GC009267)
2019
- Price, M., Davies, J. and Panton, J. 2019. Controls on the deep water cycle within three-dimensional mantle convection models. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 20(5) (10.1029/2018GC008158)
- Phillips, T. N., Oldham, D. and Davies, J. H. 2019. Towards global SEM mantle convection simulations on Polyhedral-based grids. Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics 348, pp. 48-57. (10.1016/j.cam.2018.08.042)
2018
- Mitchell, N. C. and Davies, J. H. 2018. Equatorial Pacific gravity lineaments: interpretations with basement topography along seismic reflection lines. Marine Geophysical Research 39(4), pp. 551-565. (10.1007/s11001-018-9351-x)
- Davies, J. and Price, M. 2018. Examining the role of chemical heterogeneity on the deep mantle seismic signature using 3D thermo-chemical mantle modelling. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Washington D.C., USA, 10-14 December 2018.
- Price, M., Davies, J. and Panton, J. 2018. Constraining the global water budget: Understanding the deep-water cycle using 3-D mantle convection models. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Washington D.C., USA, 10-14 December 2018. pp. -.
- Price, M. and Davies, J. 2018. Profiling the robustness, efficiency and limits of the forward-adjoint method for 3D mantle convection modelling. Geophysical Journal International 212(2), pp. 1450-1462. (10.1093/gji/ggx489)
2017
- Price, M., Davies, J. and Panton, J. 2017. Investigating melting induced mantle heterogeneities in plate driven mantle convection models. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 11-15 December, 2015.
- Wolstencroft, M. and Davies, J. H. 2017. Breaking supercontinents; no need to choose between passive or active. Solid Earth 8, pp. 817-825. (10.5194/se-8-817-2017)
- Barry, T. L. et al. 2017. Whole-mantle convection with tectonic plates preserves long-term global patterns of upper mantle geochemistry. Scientific Reports 7, article number: 1870. (10.1038/s41598-017-01816-y)
2016
- Van Heck, H. J., Davies, J. H., Elliott, T. and Porcelli, D. 2016. Global-scale modeling of melting and isotopic evolution of Earth's mantle: melting modules for TERRA. Geoscientific Model Development 9, pp. 1399–1411. (10.5194/gmd-9-1399-2016)
- Price, M. and Davies, J. 2016. Investigating past mantle structures with assimilation techniques in mantle convection models. Presented at: China-UK Workshop on Deep Volatiles, Mineral Deposits and Geodynamics, State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, Nanjing, China, 9-15 September 2016.
2015
- Davies, J. H., Garel, F., Davies, R. and Goes, S. 2015. Overriding plate deformation during subduction evolution [invited paper]. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA, 14-18 December 2015.
- Van Heck, H., Davies, J. H., Nowacki, A. and Wookey, J. 2015. Probing seismically melting induced mantle heterogeneities in the thermo-chemical convection models. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA, 14-18 December 2015.
- Price, M. and Davies, J. H. 2015. Testing the stability of LLSVPs using the full adjoint method for mantle circulation models. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA, 14-18 December, 2015.
- Price, M. and Davies, J. H. 2015. Testing the limit of predicitability of mantle circulation models. Presented at: British Geophysical Association Postgraduate Research in Progress Meeting 2015, National Oceanographic Centre, Southampton, UK, 10-11 September 2015.
- Walker, A., Davies, J., Davies, D. R. and Wookey, J. 2015. Linking TERRA and DRex to relate mantle convection and seismic anisotropy. Presented at: European Geosciences Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, 12-17 April 2015.
- Nowacki, A., Van Heck, H., Davies, R., Davies, J. H. and Wookey, J. 2015. Plumes, piles or puddings? Testing hypotheses of lowermost mantle dynamics with geodynamic and seismic calculations. Presented at: GeoBerlin - Annual Meeting DGGV DMG, Berlin, Germany, 4-7 October 2015.
- Davies, J. H., Van Heck, H., Nowacki, A., Wookey, J., Elliott, T. and Porcelli, D. 2015. Dynamic coupling of bulk chemistry, trace elements and mantle flow. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA, 14-18 December, 2015.
2014
- Garel, F., Goes, S., Davies, R., Davies, J. H., Kramer, S. and Wilson, C. 2014. Interaction of subducted slabs with the mantle transition-zone: A regime diagram from 2-D thermo-mechanical models with a mobile trench and an overriding plate. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 15(5), pp. 1739-1765. (10.1002/2014GC005257)
2013
- Davies, J. H. 2013. Global map of solid earth surface heat flow. Geochemistry, Geophysics and Geosystems 14(10), pp. 4608-4622. (10.1002/ggge.20271)
- Davies, J. H. and Van Heck, H. 2013. Improving hydrocarbon exploration through mantle circulation modeling. Presented at: 75th EAGE Conference and Exhibition, London, UK, 10-13 June 2013. European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, (10.3997/2214-4609.20130101)
- Davies, D. R., Davies, J. H., Bollada, P. C., Hassan, O., Morgan, K. and Nithiarasu, A. 2013. A hierarchical mesh refinement technique for global 3-D spherical mantle convection modelling. Geoscientific Model Development 6, pp. 1095-1107. (10.5194/gmd-6-1095-2013)
2012
- Davies, D. R., Goes, S., Davies, J. H., Schuberth, B. S. A., Bunge, H. and Ritsema, J. 2012. Reconciling dynamic and seismic models of Earth's lower mantle: the dominant role of thermal heterogeneity. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 353-54, pp. 253-269. (10.1016/j.epsl.2012.08.016)
- Oldham, D. N., Davies, J. H. and Phillips, T. N. 2012. Generic polyhedron grid generation for solving partial differential equations on spherical surfaces. Computers & Geosciences 39, pp. 11-17. (10.1016/j.cageo.2011.06.004)
2011
- Wolstencroft, M. and Davies, J. H. 2011. Influence of the Ringwoodite-Perovskite transition on mantle convection in spherical geometry as a function of Clapeyron slope and Rayleigh number. Solid Earth 2, pp. 315-326. (10.5194/se-2-315-2011)
- Wolstencroft, M. and Davies, J. H. 2011. Influence of the Ringwoodite-Perovskite transition on mantle convection in spherical geometry as a function of Clapeyron slope and Rayleigh number. Solid Earth 3, pp. 713-741. (10.5194/sed-3-713-2011)
2010
- Davies, J. H. and Davies, D. R. 2010. Earth's surface heat flux. Solid Earth 1(1), pp. 5-24. (10.5194/se-1-5-2010)
2009
- Davies, D. R. and Davies, J. H. 2009. Thermally-driven mantle plumes reconcile multiple hot-spot observations. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 278(1-2), pp. 50-54. (10.1016/j.epsl.2008.11.027)
- Wolstencroft, M., Davies, J. H. and Davies, D. R. 2009. Nusselt-Rayleigh number scaling for spherical shell Earth mantle simulation up to a Rayleigh number of 109109. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors 176(1-2), pp. 132-141. (10.1016/j.pepi.2009.05.002)
2008
- Davies, J. H. 2008. Did a mega-collision dry Venus' interior?. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 268(3-4), pp. 376-383. (10.1016/j.epsl.2008.01.031)
- Davies, D. R., Davies, J. H., Hassan, O., Morgan, K. and Nithiarasu, P. 2008. Adaptive finite element methods in geodynamics: convection dominated mid-ocean ridge and subduction zone simulations. International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow 18(7/8), pp. 1015-1035. (10.1108/09615530810899079)
2007
- Davies, D. R., Davies, J. H., Hassan, O., Morgan, K. and Nithiarasu, P. 2007. Investigations into the applicability of adaptive finite element methods to two-dimensional infinite Prandtl number thermal and thermochemical convection. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 8(5), article number: Q05010. (10.1029/2006GC001470)
2006
- Davies, J. H. and Bunge, B. H. 2006. Are splash plumes the origin of minor hotspots?. Geology 34(5), pp. 349-352. (10.1130/G22193.1)
- Wolstencroft, M., Rana, O. F. and Davies, J. H. 2006. Distributed storage of high-volume environmental simulation data: mantle modelling. Presented at: 2006 IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on Web Intelligence (WI 2006), Hong Kong, 18-22 December 20062006 IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on Web Intelligence (WI 2006 main conference proceedings) : (WI ’06) : proceedings : 18-22 December, 2006, Hong Kong, China. Los Alamitos, Calif: IEEE Computer Society pp. 991-996., (10.1109/WI.2006.63)
2005
- Davies, J. H. 2005. Steady plumes produced by downwellings in Earth-like vigor spherical whole mantle convection models. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 6(12), pp. 1-25. (10.1029/2005GC001042)
- Davies, J. H. 2005. Steady plumes produced by downwellings in Earth-like vigor spherical whole mantle convection models. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 6(12), article number: Q12001. (10.1029/2005GC001042)
2004
- Oldham, D. N. and Davies, J. H. 2004. Numerical investigation of layered convection in a three-dimensional shell with application to planetary mantles. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 5(12), pp. 1-25. (10.1029/2003GC000603)
- Rhodes, M. and Davies, J. H. 2004. Constructing a Geodynamic A Priori Seismic (GAPS) velocity model of upper mantle heterogeneity. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 5(3) (10.1029/2003GC000622)
2002
- Davies, J. H., Brodholt, J. P. and Wood, B. J. 2002. Introduction. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 360(1800), pp. 2361-2369. (10.1098/rsta.2002.1086)
- Davies, J. H. 2002. Earth science: breaking plates. Nature 418(6899), pp. 736-738. (10.1038/418736a)
- Davies, J. H., Brodholt, J. P. and Wood, B. J. eds. 2002. Chemical reservoirs and convection in the Earth's mantle. Philosophical Transactions Royal Society London A Vol. 1800. London: Royal Society.
2001
- Rhodes, M. and Davies, J. H. 2001. Tomographic imaging of multiple mantle plumes in the uppermost lower mantle. Geophysical Journal International 147(1), pp. 88-92. (10.1046/j.0956-540x.2001.01512.x)
- Davies, J. H. and Bunge, H. 2001. Seismically ”fast” geodynamic mantle models. Geophysical Research Letters 28(1), pp. 73-76. (10.1029/2000GL011805)
- Bunge, H. and Davies, J. H. 2001. Tomographic images of a mantle circulation model. Geophysical Research Letters 28(1), pp. 77-80. (10.1029/2000GL011804)
- Rhodes, M. and Davies, J. H. 2001. Tomographic imaging of multiple mantle plumes in the uppermost lower mantle. Geophysical Journal International 147(1), pp. 88-92. (10.1046/j.0956-540x.2001.01512.x)
2000
- Leng, J., Brooke, J., Hewitt, T. and Davies, J. H. 2000. Visualization of seismic data in geophysics and astrophysics. Presented at: SGI 2000 Users' Conference Proceedings, Krakow, Poland, 11-14th October 2000. pp. 112-123.
1999
- Davies, J. 1999. Simple analytic model for subduction zone thermal structure. Geophysical Journal International 139(3), pp. 823-828. (10.1046/j.1365-246x.1999.00991.x)
- Rowland, A. and Davies, J. H. 1999. Buoyancy rather than rheology controls the thickness of the overriding mechanical lithosphere at subduction zones. Geophysical Research Letters 26(19), pp. 3037-3040. (10.1029/1999GL005347)
- Davies, J. H. 1999. The role of hydraulic fractures and intermediate-depth earthquakes in subduction-zone magmatism. Nature 398(6723), pp. 142-145. (10.1038/18202)
1998
- Davies, J. H. and von Blanckenburg, F. 1998. Thermal controls on slab breakoff and the rise of high-pressure rocks during continental collisions. In: Hacker, B. and Liou, J. G. eds. When continents collide : Geodynamics and geochemistry of ultrahigh-pressure rocks. Petrology and Structural Geology Vol. 10. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 97-115.
1996
- von Blanckenburg, F. and Davies, J. H. 1996. Feasibility of double slab breakoff (Cretaceous and Tertiary) during the Alpine convergence. Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae 89(1), pp. 111-127.
1995
- Davies, J. H. and von Blanckenburg, F. 1995. Slab breakoff: A model of lithosphere detachment and its test in the magmatism and deformation of collisional orogens. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 129(1-4), pp. 85-102. (10.1016/0012-821X(94)00237-S)
- von Blanckenburg, F. and Davies, J. H. 1995. Slab breakoff: A model for syncollisional magmatism and tectonics in the Alps. Tectonics 14(1), pp. 120-131. (10.1029/94TC02051)
1994
- Davies, J. H. 1994. Lateral water transport across a dynamic mantle wedge: a model for subduction zone magmatism. In: Ryan, M. P. ed. Magmatic Systems. International Geophysics series Vol. 57. San Diego: Academic Press, pp. 197-221.
1992
- Davies, J. H. and Stevenson, D. J. 1992. Physical model of source region of subduction zone volcanics. Journal of Geophysical Research 97(B2), pp. 2037-2070. (10.1029/91JB02571)
- Davies, J. H. 1992. Lower bound estimate of average earthquake mislocation from variance of travel-time residuals. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors 75(1-3), pp. 89-101. (10.1016/0031-9201(92)90120-K)
- Davies, J. H., Gudmundsson, O. and Clayton, R. W. 1992. Spectra of mantle shear wave velocity structure. Geophysical Journal International 108(3), pp. 865-882. (10.1111/j.1365-246X.1992.tb03476.x)
1991
- Davies, J. H. and Bickle, M. J. 1991. A physical model for the volume and composition of melt produced by hydrous fluxing above subduction zones. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 335(1638), pp. 355-364. (10.1098/rsta.1991.0051)
1990
- Gudmundsson, O., Davies, J. H. and Clayton, R. W. 1990. Stochastic analysis of global travel time data: Mantle heterogeneity and random errors in the ISC data. Geophysical Journal International 102(1), pp. 25-43. (10.1111/j.1365-246X.1990.tb00528.x)
Articles
- Ward, J., Walker, A. M., Nowacki, A., Panton, J. and Davies, J. H. 2024. The sensitivity of lowermost mantle anisotropy to past mantle convection. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors 356, article number: 107264. (10.1016/j.pepi.2024.107264)
- Plimmer, A., Davies, J. H. and Panton, J. 2024. Investigating the effect of lithosphere thickness and viscosity on mantle dynamics throughout the supercontinent cycle. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 25(11), article number: e2024GC011688. (10.1029/2024gc011688)
- Davies, J. H. and von Blanckenburg, F. 2024. The making of Slab Breakoff. Journal of the Geological Society (10.1144/jgs2024-167)
- Zhang, D. and Davies, J. H. 2024. How a volcanic arc influences back-arc extension: insight from 2D numerical models. Solid Earth 15, pp. 1113-1132. (10.5194/se-15-1113-2024)
- Lei, Z. and Davies, J. H. 2023. Progressive weakening within the overriding plate during dual inward dipping subduction. Tectonophysics 863, article number: 230004. (10.1016/j.tecto.2023.230004)
- Panton, J., Davies, J. H. and Myhill, R. 2023. The stability of dense oceanic crust near the core‐mantle boundary. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 128(2), article number: e2022JB025610. (10.1029/2022jb025610)
- Panton, J., Davies, J. H., Elliott, T., Andersen, M., Porcelli, D. and Price, M. G. 2022. Investigating influences on the Pb Pseudo‐Isochron using three‐dimensional mantle convection models with a continental reservoir. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 23(8), article number: e2021GC010309. (10.1029/2021gc010309)
- Knight, B. S., Davies, J. H. and Capitanio, F. A. 2021. Timescales of successful and failed subduction: insights from numerical modelling. Geophysical Journal International 225(1), pp. 261-276. (10.1093/gji/ggaa410)
- Beall, A., Fagereng, ?., Davies, J. H., Garel, F. and Davies, D. R. 2021. Influence of subduction zone dynamics on interface shear stress and potential relationship with seismogenic behavior. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 22(2), article number: e2020GC009267. (10.1029/2020GC009267)
- Price, M., Davies, J. and Panton, J. 2019. Controls on the deep water cycle within three-dimensional mantle convection models. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 20(5) (10.1029/2018GC008158)
- Phillips, T. N., Oldham, D. and Davies, J. H. 2019. Towards global SEM mantle convection simulations on Polyhedral-based grids. Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics 348, pp. 48-57. (10.1016/j.cam.2018.08.042)
- Mitchell, N. C. and Davies, J. H. 2018. Equatorial Pacific gravity lineaments: interpretations with basement topography along seismic reflection lines. Marine Geophysical Research 39(4), pp. 551-565. (10.1007/s11001-018-9351-x)
- Price, M. and Davies, J. 2018. Profiling the robustness, efficiency and limits of the forward-adjoint method for 3D mantle convection modelling. Geophysical Journal International 212(2), pp. 1450-1462. (10.1093/gji/ggx489)
- Wolstencroft, M. and Davies, J. H. 2017. Breaking supercontinents; no need to choose between passive or active. Solid Earth 8, pp. 817-825. (10.5194/se-8-817-2017)
- Barry, T. L. et al. 2017. Whole-mantle convection with tectonic plates preserves long-term global patterns of upper mantle geochemistry. Scientific Reports 7, article number: 1870. (10.1038/s41598-017-01816-y)
- Van Heck, H. J., Davies, J. H., Elliott, T. and Porcelli, D. 2016. Global-scale modeling of melting and isotopic evolution of Earth's mantle: melting modules for TERRA. Geoscientific Model Development 9, pp. 1399–1411. (10.5194/gmd-9-1399-2016)
- Garel, F., Goes, S., Davies, R., Davies, J. H., Kramer, S. and Wilson, C. 2014. Interaction of subducted slabs with the mantle transition-zone: A regime diagram from 2-D thermo-mechanical models with a mobile trench and an overriding plate. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 15(5), pp. 1739-1765. (10.1002/2014GC005257)
- Davies, J. H. 2013. Global map of solid earth surface heat flow. Geochemistry, Geophysics and Geosystems 14(10), pp. 4608-4622. (10.1002/ggge.20271)
- Davies, D. R., Davies, J. H., Bollada, P. C., Hassan, O., Morgan, K. and Nithiarasu, A. 2013. A hierarchical mesh refinement technique for global 3-D spherical mantle convection modelling. Geoscientific Model Development 6, pp. 1095-1107. (10.5194/gmd-6-1095-2013)
- Davies, D. R., Goes, S., Davies, J. H., Schuberth, B. S. A., Bunge, H. and Ritsema, J. 2012. Reconciling dynamic and seismic models of Earth's lower mantle: the dominant role of thermal heterogeneity. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 353-54, pp. 253-269. (10.1016/j.epsl.2012.08.016)
- Oldham, D. N., Davies, J. H. and Phillips, T. N. 2012. Generic polyhedron grid generation for solving partial differential equations on spherical surfaces. Computers & Geosciences 39, pp. 11-17. (10.1016/j.cageo.2011.06.004)
- Wolstencroft, M. and Davies, J. H. 2011. Influence of the Ringwoodite-Perovskite transition on mantle convection in spherical geometry as a function of Clapeyron slope and Rayleigh number. Solid Earth 2, pp. 315-326. (10.5194/se-2-315-2011)
- Wolstencroft, M. and Davies, J. H. 2011. Influence of the Ringwoodite-Perovskite transition on mantle convection in spherical geometry as a function of Clapeyron slope and Rayleigh number. Solid Earth 3, pp. 713-741. (10.5194/sed-3-713-2011)
- Davies, J. H. and Davies, D. R. 2010. Earth's surface heat flux. Solid Earth 1(1), pp. 5-24. (10.5194/se-1-5-2010)
- Davies, D. R. and Davies, J. H. 2009. Thermally-driven mantle plumes reconcile multiple hot-spot observations. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 278(1-2), pp. 50-54. (10.1016/j.epsl.2008.11.027)
- Wolstencroft, M., Davies, J. H. and Davies, D. R. 2009. Nusselt-Rayleigh number scaling for spherical shell Earth mantle simulation up to a Rayleigh number of 109109. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors 176(1-2), pp. 132-141. (10.1016/j.pepi.2009.05.002)
- Davies, J. H. 2008. Did a mega-collision dry Venus' interior?. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 268(3-4), pp. 376-383. (10.1016/j.epsl.2008.01.031)
- Davies, D. R., Davies, J. H., Hassan, O., Morgan, K. and Nithiarasu, P. 2008. Adaptive finite element methods in geodynamics: convection dominated mid-ocean ridge and subduction zone simulations. International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow 18(7/8), pp. 1015-1035. (10.1108/09615530810899079)
- Davies, D. R., Davies, J. H., Hassan, O., Morgan, K. and Nithiarasu, P. 2007. Investigations into the applicability of adaptive finite element methods to two-dimensional infinite Prandtl number thermal and thermochemical convection. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 8(5), article number: Q05010. (10.1029/2006GC001470)
- Davies, J. H. and Bunge, B. H. 2006. Are splash plumes the origin of minor hotspots?. Geology 34(5), pp. 349-352. (10.1130/G22193.1)
- Davies, J. H. 2005. Steady plumes produced by downwellings in Earth-like vigor spherical whole mantle convection models. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 6(12), pp. 1-25. (10.1029/2005GC001042)
- Davies, J. H. 2005. Steady plumes produced by downwellings in Earth-like vigor spherical whole mantle convection models. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 6(12), article number: Q12001. (10.1029/2005GC001042)
- Oldham, D. N. and Davies, J. H. 2004. Numerical investigation of layered convection in a three-dimensional shell with application to planetary mantles. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 5(12), pp. 1-25. (10.1029/2003GC000603)
- Rhodes, M. and Davies, J. H. 2004. Constructing a Geodynamic A Priori Seismic (GAPS) velocity model of upper mantle heterogeneity. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 5(3) (10.1029/2003GC000622)
- Davies, J. H., Brodholt, J. P. and Wood, B. J. 2002. Introduction. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 360(1800), pp. 2361-2369. (10.1098/rsta.2002.1086)
- Davies, J. H. 2002. Earth science: breaking plates. Nature 418(6899), pp. 736-738. (10.1038/418736a)
- Rhodes, M. and Davies, J. H. 2001. Tomographic imaging of multiple mantle plumes in the uppermost lower mantle. Geophysical Journal International 147(1), pp. 88-92. (10.1046/j.0956-540x.2001.01512.x)
- Davies, J. H. and Bunge, H. 2001. Seismically ”fast” geodynamic mantle models. Geophysical Research Letters 28(1), pp. 73-76. (10.1029/2000GL011805)
- Bunge, H. and Davies, J. H. 2001. Tomographic images of a mantle circulation model. Geophysical Research Letters 28(1), pp. 77-80. (10.1029/2000GL011804)
- Rhodes, M. and Davies, J. H. 2001. Tomographic imaging of multiple mantle plumes in the uppermost lower mantle. Geophysical Journal International 147(1), pp. 88-92. (10.1046/j.0956-540x.2001.01512.x)
- Davies, J. 1999. Simple analytic model for subduction zone thermal structure. Geophysical Journal International 139(3), pp. 823-828. (10.1046/j.1365-246x.1999.00991.x)
- Rowland, A. and Davies, J. H. 1999. Buoyancy rather than rheology controls the thickness of the overriding mechanical lithosphere at subduction zones. Geophysical Research Letters 26(19), pp. 3037-3040. (10.1029/1999GL005347)
- Davies, J. H. 1999. The role of hydraulic fractures and intermediate-depth earthquakes in subduction-zone magmatism. Nature 398(6723), pp. 142-145. (10.1038/18202)
- von Blanckenburg, F. and Davies, J. H. 1996. Feasibility of double slab breakoff (Cretaceous and Tertiary) during the Alpine convergence. Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae 89(1), pp. 111-127.
- Davies, J. H. and von Blanckenburg, F. 1995. Slab breakoff: A model of lithosphere detachment and its test in the magmatism and deformation of collisional orogens. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 129(1-4), pp. 85-102. (10.1016/0012-821X(94)00237-S)
- von Blanckenburg, F. and Davies, J. H. 1995. Slab breakoff: A model for syncollisional magmatism and tectonics in the Alps. Tectonics 14(1), pp. 120-131. (10.1029/94TC02051)
- Davies, J. H. and Stevenson, D. J. 1992. Physical model of source region of subduction zone volcanics. Journal of Geophysical Research 97(B2), pp. 2037-2070. (10.1029/91JB02571)
- Davies, J. H. 1992. Lower bound estimate of average earthquake mislocation from variance of travel-time residuals. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors 75(1-3), pp. 89-101. (10.1016/0031-9201(92)90120-K)
- Davies, J. H., Gudmundsson, O. and Clayton, R. W. 1992. Spectra of mantle shear wave velocity structure. Geophysical Journal International 108(3), pp. 865-882. (10.1111/j.1365-246X.1992.tb03476.x)
- Davies, J. H. and Bickle, M. J. 1991. A physical model for the volume and composition of melt produced by hydrous fluxing above subduction zones. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 335(1638), pp. 355-364. (10.1098/rsta.1991.0051)
- Gudmundsson, O., Davies, J. H. and Clayton, R. W. 1990. Stochastic analysis of global travel time data: Mantle heterogeneity and random errors in the ISC data. Geophysical Journal International 102(1), pp. 25-43. (10.1111/j.1365-246X.1990.tb00528.x)
Book sections
- Davies, J. H. and von Blanckenburg, F. 1998. Thermal controls on slab breakoff and the rise of high-pressure rocks during continental collisions. In: Hacker, B. and Liou, J. G. eds. When continents collide : Geodynamics and geochemistry of ultrahigh-pressure rocks. Petrology and Structural Geology Vol. 10. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 97-115.
- Davies, J. H. 1994. Lateral water transport across a dynamic mantle wedge: a model for subduction zone magmatism. In: Ryan, M. P. ed. Magmatic Systems. International Geophysics series Vol. 57. San Diego: Academic Press, pp. 197-221.
Books
- Davies, J. H., Brodholt, J. P. and Wood, B. J. eds. 2002. Chemical reservoirs and convection in the Earth's mantle. Philosophical Transactions Royal Society London A Vol. 1800. London: Royal Society.
Conferences
- Davies, J. and Price, M. 2018. Examining the role of chemical heterogeneity on the deep mantle seismic signature using 3D thermo-chemical mantle modelling. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Washington D.C., USA, 10-14 December 2018.
- Price, M., Davies, J. and Panton, J. 2018. Constraining the global water budget: Understanding the deep-water cycle using 3-D mantle convection models. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Washington D.C., USA, 10-14 December 2018. pp. -.
- Price, M., Davies, J. and Panton, J. 2017. Investigating melting induced mantle heterogeneities in plate driven mantle convection models. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 11-15 December, 2015.
- Price, M. and Davies, J. 2016. Investigating past mantle structures with assimilation techniques in mantle convection models. Presented at: China-UK Workshop on Deep Volatiles, Mineral Deposits and Geodynamics, State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, Nanjing, China, 9-15 September 2016.
- Davies, J. H., Garel, F., Davies, R. and Goes, S. 2015. Overriding plate deformation during subduction evolution [invited paper]. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA, 14-18 December 2015.
- Van Heck, H., Davies, J. H., Nowacki, A. and Wookey, J. 2015. Probing seismically melting induced mantle heterogeneities in the thermo-chemical convection models. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA, 14-18 December 2015.
- Price, M. and Davies, J. H. 2015. Testing the stability of LLSVPs using the full adjoint method for mantle circulation models. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA, 14-18 December, 2015.
- Price, M. and Davies, J. H. 2015. Testing the limit of predicitability of mantle circulation models. Presented at: British Geophysical Association Postgraduate Research in Progress Meeting 2015, National Oceanographic Centre, Southampton, UK, 10-11 September 2015.
- Walker, A., Davies, J., Davies, D. R. and Wookey, J. 2015. Linking TERRA and DRex to relate mantle convection and seismic anisotropy. Presented at: European Geosciences Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, 12-17 April 2015.
- Nowacki, A., Van Heck, H., Davies, R., Davies, J. H. and Wookey, J. 2015. Plumes, piles or puddings? Testing hypotheses of lowermost mantle dynamics with geodynamic and seismic calculations. Presented at: GeoBerlin - Annual Meeting DGGV DMG, Berlin, Germany, 4-7 October 2015.
- Davies, J. H., Van Heck, H., Nowacki, A., Wookey, J., Elliott, T. and Porcelli, D. 2015. Dynamic coupling of bulk chemistry, trace elements and mantle flow. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA, 14-18 December, 2015.
- Davies, J. H. and Van Heck, H. 2013. Improving hydrocarbon exploration through mantle circulation modeling. Presented at: 75th EAGE Conference and Exhibition, London, UK, 10-13 June 2013. European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, (10.3997/2214-4609.20130101)
- Wolstencroft, M., Rana, O. F. and Davies, J. H. 2006. Distributed storage of high-volume environmental simulation data: mantle modelling. Presented at: 2006 IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on Web Intelligence (WI 2006), Hong Kong, 18-22 December 20062006 IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on Web Intelligence (WI 2006 main conference proceedings) : (WI ’06) : proceedings : 18-22 December, 2006, Hong Kong, China. Los Alamitos, Calif: IEEE Computer Society pp. 991-996., (10.1109/WI.2006.63)
- Leng, J., Brooke, J., Hewitt, T. and Davies, J. H. 2000. Visualization of seismic data in geophysics and astrophysics. Presented at: SGI 2000 Users' Conference Proceedings, Krakow, Poland, 11-14th October 2000. pp. 112-123.
Research
I am the School's Director of Recruitment and Admissions. Before that I was the Director of Research, and earlier still I led the Centre for Solid Earth and Natural Resources (2015-16), and l Iead one of its sub-constituent groups, the Mantle Geodynamics Group (MGG) which is part of the Tectonics and Geophysics Research Group.
The Mantle Geodynamic Group tries to understand how the region between the crust and the core, called the mantle, drives Earth dynamics including plate tectonics. We primarily do this using advanced numerical models on high performance computers. We constrain the models using observational data from many disciplines ranging from seismology and geodesy to geochemistry, geology and petrology.
A big project for my group currently is the "Mantle Circulation Constrained (MC2): A multidisciplinary 4D Earth framework for understanding mantle upwellings" grant recently awarded to myself as lead PI, together with a further 13 co-Investigators across 9 UK Universities (see below on the grant section). This project supports a PDRA (Dr. James Panton) who models mantle circulation over the past 1 Ga, focussing on the past 300 Ma. This includes models assimilating plate motion histories provided by Prof. Müller's Earthbyte group at the University of Sydney. The final models will assimilate the seismic tomography structures that will be imaged by the MC2 seismologists working with Dr. Ferreira (UCL) and Dr. Koelemeijer (RHUL). The grant further supports 2 PhD students (Nicolas Récalde and Gwynfor Morgan) in my group who will consider the implications of the mantle circulations models for seismic discontinuities and noble gases. It also supports an isotope geochemist PDRA at Cardiff supervised by Dr. Morten Andersen. In total the project will employ 10 PDRAs across the UK and a further Researcher Co-Investigator. The goal of the project will be to understand mantle upwelling, including passive upwelling, active upwelling beneath "hot-spots", and the active upwellings that have punctuated geological history with their extinction inducing Large Igneous Provinces (LIPS). This project started in November 2020.
Recently this has included
- Understanding lead isotopes from mantle geodynamics (Panton et al., 2022)
- Global models of water circulation (Price, Davies and Panton, 2019)
- Assimilation of seismic tomography into mantle dynamic models (Price and Davies, 2018);
- Maintaining isotopic domains in mantle circualtion models (Barry et al., 2017)
- Developing a spectral element code for mantle convection (Phillips et al., 2019)
- Breaking supercontinents (Wolstencroft and Davies, 2017)
- Module for global modelling of melting and isotope evolution in the mantle (van Heck et al., 2016)
Over the years I have published on
- Constraining geodynamics with geochemistry (Panton et al., 2022; Barry et al., 2017)
- Heat Flow (Davies, 2013; Davies and Davies, 2010)
- Subduction dynamics (Garel et al., 2014; Davies 1999)
- Subduction zone thermal structure and melting (Davies and Stevenson, 1992; Davies, 1999)
- Mantle seismic structure (Rhodes and Davies, 2001; Davies et al., 1992)
- Slab Breakoff (Davies and von Blanckenburg, 1995; von Blanckenburg and Davies, 1995)
- Mantle convection (Wolstencroft and Davies, 2011; Wolstencroft et al., 2009)
- Adaptivity in mantle convection (Davies et al., 2008, Davies et al., 2007)
- Mantle upwellings (Davies, 2005, Davies and Bunge, 2006; Davies and Davies, 2009)
- Deep lower mantle structure, thermal or compositional (Davies et al., 2012)
Recent Grants
NERC Large Grant - Lead PI - "Mantle Circulation Constrained (MC2): A multidisciplinary 4D Earth framework for understanding mantle upwellings", October 2020- September 2024, ~£3 million. Principal Investigator - Prof. J. Huw Davies (Cardiff Univ.); Co-Investigators - Prof. Elliott, Dr. Myhill, Prof. Wookey (Univ. of Bristol), Dr. Andersen (Cardiff Univ.), Dr. Shorttle (Univ. of Cambridge), Dr. Roberts (Imperial College London), Dr. Davies, Dr. Nowacki, Dr. Walker (Univ. of Leeds), Prof. Biggin (Univ of Liverpool), Dr. Porcelli (Univ. of Oxford), Dr. Koelemeijer (Royal Holloway, Univ. of London), Dr. Ferreira (Univ. College London). Project Partners - Dr. Bower (Univ. of Bern), Prof. Cordier (Univ. de Lille), Dr. Davies (ANU), Dr. Ghiorso (ENKI), Prof. Müller (EarthByte, Univ. of Sydney), Dr. Zaroli (Univ. de Strasbourg).
Horizon 2020, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship, The Evolution of Terrestrial Planets: Insights from Models of Planetary Evolution with Coupled Internal, Atmospheric/Surface Development, Dr. Matt Weller, 2019-2021, €212933.76 - ultimately declined.
NERC Grant – NE/M000400/1 - Lead PI of Cardiff element – “Volatile legacy of the Early Earth”, £124k (FEC) – September 2014-September 2020. This Consortium is led by Prof. Walter (Univ. Bristol) (Part of NERC Programme - Volatiles, geodynamics and solid earth controls on the habitable planet).
NERC Grant – NE/M000397/1 Lead PI of Cardiff element – “Mantle volatiles : processes, reservoirs and fluxes”, £221k (FEC) - Sept 2014 – Oct 2020. This Consortium is led by Prof. Ballentine (Univ. Oxford) (Part of NERC Programme - Volatiles, geodynamics and solid earth controls on the habitable planet).
NERC Standard Grant – NE/K004824/1 -£428,490 (£240,763 Cardiff element; £192,610 awarded) – Lead PI, co-I James Wookey (Univ. of Bristol) – Project Partners – Rhodri Davies (Australian National University), Christine Thomas (Univ Muenster), Lars Stixrude and Carolina Lithgow-Bertelloni (UCL) - Superplumes, superpiles or superpuddings? Understanding the thermochemical dynamics of the mantle with waveform seismology – September 30 2013 - September 2017.
NERC Standard Grant – NE/I024429/1 - £428,490 (£204,669 from NERC to CU) –Lead PI -Understanding how the mantle transition-zone 'valve' controls slab fate – June 1, 2012 - 2016
Teaching
I lecture on
- Structural Geology and Geophysics (Yr 2)
- Geodynamics (Yr 3)
- Numerical Methods (Yr 4)
In 2019-20 I lectured/taught/or assessed on the following modules
- Planet Earth (yr 1),
- Geophysics (yr 2),
- Numerical Methods (yr 4).
I also lectured on the modules, Plate Tectonics (yr 2), Dynamic Earth (yr 3) and Geodynamics (yr 4), pre-2020. I also support some fieldtrips, and projects modules; e.g. the 60 credit Year 4 MESci Research Project module. In my first decade and more at Cardiff I lectured on Geographical Information Systems (GIS) (Years 1 to 3).
I was External Examiner for University of Bristol's Geophysics Degree Programmes, from 2018-2022.
Biography
Career overview
- Professor in Geodynamics - School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University (2015 - present)
- Reader in Earth and Environmental Sciences – School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University (2008 - 2015)
- Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Earth and Environmental Sciencess – School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University (2001 - 2008)
- Lecturer in Geophysics – Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Liverpool (1992-2001)
- NERC Research Fellow – Institute of Theoretical Geophysics, University of Cambridge (1990-1992)
Education and Qualifications
- PhD – Seismological Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (1989)
- MS – Geophysics, California Institute of Technology (1988)
- BA Natural Sciences – Physics and Theoretical Physics - University of Cambridge (1983)
Honours and awards
Honours and Awards (excluding Grants)
- Executive Editor, for Geodynamics/Geodesy, Solid Earth journal, 2015 - 2019.
- President, Geodynamics Division, European Geosciences Union, 2009-11, 2011-13
- Member Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) Peer Review College 2007-2010, 2012-present
- Member European Research Council Peer Review College
- Member European Science Foundation Peer Review College
- Member Editorial Board - Tectonophysics (1998 - present)
- Member Editorial Board - Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors (1998 - present)
- NERC Research Fellowship 1990-1992
- NERC Research Fellowship (renewed) 1992
- Scholarship, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Tulsa, OK, USA 1984-1989
- Senior Scholarship for First Class Performance, St. John's College, Cambridge 1982
Professional memberships
- Fellow - Royal Astronomical Society
- American Geophysical Union
- European Geosciences Union
- Cymdeithas Wyddonol Caerdydd
- British Geophysical Association
Academic positions
- 2001-present: Lecturer / Senior Lecturer / Reader /Professor – Cardiff University
- 2014 - Visiting Research Fellow, Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University
- 1995 - Visiting Fellow, Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University
- 1992-2001: Theoretical Geophysics Lecturer - University of Liverpool
- 1990-1992: NERC Research Fellow, Institute of Theoretical Geophysics, University of Cambridge
- 1984-1989: Research Assistant, Seismological Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
Committees and reviewing
External Committees
- 2013 - present: Member Geophysics Forum (Geological Society of London and Royal Astronomcal Society)
University Committees
- 2008 - present: Advanced Research Computing at Cardiff (ARCCA) – Oversight Committee
- 2009 - present: Advanced Research Computing at Cardiff (ARCCA) - Operational and User Group Committee
- 2016 - present: University Director of Research Network
- 2016 - present: Physical Sciences and Engineering College Director of Research Committee
School Committees
- 2016 - present: School Executive Commitee
- 2016 - present: Chair School Research Committee
- 2001 - present: School Exam Boards
- 2002-2015: Chair School IT Committee
- pre 2014 - member of School (i) Finance, (ii) Teaching, (iii) Research; Committees
Exernal PhD Vivia Examiner (since 2015)
External Examiner Marie Pears, UCL, PhD thesis, January 2015
External Examiner Michael Rubey, Sydney Univ, PhD thesis, Nov 2015
External Examiner Ka Lok Li, Uppsala University, PhD thesis, 15 September, 2017
External Examiner Anne Glerum, Utrecht University, PhD thesis, 1 March, 2019
Supervisions
I am interested in lead supervising projects related to
- mantle dynamics
- geodynamics
- subduction
- plumes and mantle upwellings
and co-supervising a broader range of projects where there is
- Geophysics
- Numerical components
I currently lead supervise
- Duo Zhang - Formation of Back Arc Basins
- Abi Plimmer - relationship between supercontinents and mantle circulation
- Nicolas Récalde - controls of geodynamics on noble gases
- Gwynfor Morgan - constraints from seismology on mantle dynamics
Current supervision
Duo Zhang
Research student
Gwynfor Morgan
Research student
Abi Plimmer
Research student
Nicolas Recalde
Research student
Past projects
Zhibin Lei -
James Panton -
Matthew Price -
Impact
Outreach
Open University Severnside Branch - Presentation on "Mantle Engine", Saturday December 7th 2019, at Christmas meeting.
I have presented to many School Groups who visit the 3D Visualisation Suite in the School. This will be on topics related to mantle convection, including in Welsh.
Impact
I have undertaken research with a range of geoscience companies.
Media (2020 onwards)
MC2 project was covered on BBC News website at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52701935 May 2020
Talk Radio - June 2020
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire - June 2020
BBC Radio 5 Live - June 2020
Radio National, ABC Australia - June 2020
Naked Scientists podcast - June 2020
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Geodynamics
