Pecube-D: Thermokinematic and Erosion Modeling Software for problems in Tectonics and Surface Processes
Contributors
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Researchers:
- 1. University of Tuebingen, Germany
- 2. University of Helsinki, Finland
- 3. University of Glasgow, UK
- 4. GFZ Potsdam
Description
This repository submission provides the source code for the Pecube-D software developed by the workgroup and collaborators of Todd Ehlers. The source code is based on the original version of Pecube published by Jean Braun (Braun, 2003). It has been modified in several ways to simulate the predicted thermal history and thermochronometer age response for diverse problems in tectonic and surface process studies.
Pecube-D (where the -D represents ‘detrital’ thermochronometer ages) uses the finite element method to solve the 3D advection-diffusion equation with a crustal radiogenic heat source. The governing equations are solved for constant temperature lower and surface boundary conditions. The upper surface of the model (topography) is allowed to vary with time following the approach explained in Braun (2003). Modifications made to the original version of Pecube and included in this distribution include: 1) the transient calculation of detrial thermochronometer ages for user defined river or basin sample locations (e.g., Whipp et al., 2009, JGR); 2) Monte-Carlo and genetic inverse search algorithms for inversion of user-defined cooling ages for transient exhumation histories (e.g., Thiede and Ehlers, 2013, EPSL); 3) inversion of bedrock thermochronometer ages for paleotopography and paleotopographic change (e.g., Olen et al., 2012, JGR-ES; Ehlers et al., 2006, Geology); 4) integration with the Move software to simulate thermochronometer ages as a function of spatially and temporally variable structural and kinematic fields (e.g., McQuarrie and Ehlers, 2015, Tectonics); 5) diverse kinematic scenarios to evaluate the thermal and thermochronometer response to Himalayan and syntaxis rock exhumation (e.g., Michel et al., 2018, Geology); and 6) modifications to how different thermochronometer ages are predicted (e.g., Ehlers, 2005, RMG; and also as described in the previous references).
Interested users are recommended to start with the included Pecube.in file, which provides an instruction manual via copious comments, as well as instructions for compilation of the source code. Compilation of the software requires GNU compilers and MPI. Model output includes the thermal history of samples exhumed to the surface, cooling ages across topography, the transient thermal field, and the 3D position history of exhumed samples. Visualization of results is left up to the user, although outputs are provided in the Tecplot data format. A singularity (*.sif) container is also provided. Finally, example input files are included for a thrust belt-related simulation (from Eizenhoefer et al., 2023, Tectonics).
Notes
Files
Example_pecube_transalp_eizenhoefer.zip
Additional details
Funding
References
- Braun, J. (2002). Quantifying the effect of recent relief changes on age–elevation relationships. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 200(3), 331–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0012-821X(02)00638-6
- Braun, J. (2003). Pecube: a new finite-element code to solve the 3D heat transport equation including the effects of a time-varying, finite amplitude surface topography. Computers & Geosciences, 29(6), 787–794. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0098-3004(03)00052-9
- Ehlers, T. A. (2005). Computational Tools for Low-Temperature Thermochronometer Interpretation. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 58(1), 589–622. https://doi.org/10.2138/rmg.2005.58.22
- Ehlers, T. A. (2005). Crustal Thermal Processes and the Interpretation of Thermochronometer Data. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 58(1), 315–350. https://doi.org/10.2138/rmg.2005.58.12
- Ehlers, T. A., Farley, K. A., Rusmore, M. E., & Woodsworth, G. J. (2006). Apatite (U-Th)/He signal of large-magnitude accelerated glacial erosion, southwest British Columbia. Geology, 34(9), 765–768. https://doi.org/10.1130/G22507.1
- Eizenhoefer, P.R., Glotzbach, C., Kley, J., Ehlers, T.A., (2023 In press). Thermo-kinematic evolution of the Eastern European Alps along the TRANSALP transect. Tectonics
- McQuarrie, N., & Ehlers, T. A. (2015). Influence of thrust belt geometry and shortening rate on thermochronometer cooling ages: Insights from thermokinematic and erosion modeling of the Bhutan Himalaya. Tectonics, 34(6), 1055–1079. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014TC003783
- Michel, L., Ehlers, T. A., Glotzbach, C., Adams, B. A., & Stübner, K. (2018). Tectonic and glacial contributions to focused exhumation in the Olympic Mountains, Washington, USA. Geology, 46(6), 491–494. https://doi.org/10.1130/G39881.1
- Olen, S. M., Ehlers, T. A., & Densmore, M. S. (2012). Limits to reconstructing paleotopography from thermochronometer data,. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 117(F1), https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JF001985
- Schultz, M. H., Hodges, K. V., Ehlers, T. A., van Soest, M., & Wartho, J.-A. (2017). Thermochronologic constraints on the slip history of the South Tibetan detachment system in the Everest region, southern Tibet. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 459, 105–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2016.11.022
- Thiede, R. C., & Ehlers, T. A. (2013). Large spatial and temporal variations in Himalayan denudation. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 371–372, 278–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2013.03.004
- Whipp, D. M., Ehlers, T. A., Braun, J., & Spath, C. D. (2009). Effects of exhumation kinematics and topographic evolution on detrital thermochronometer data. Journal of Geophysical Research, 114(F4). https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JF001195