This year, MUST has published several important research papers, and among them is a significant study titled “New insights into the crustal structures of the Arabian Plate and surrounding plates unveiled from the crustal thickness model and its implications for geodynamics.”

Led by Executive Dean of Ndata School of Climate and Earth Sciences, Associate Professor Chikondi Chisenga, the study has continued to gain attention for its contribution to understanding the deep geological processes of the Arabian Peninsula, an area where geodynamic activity has long been difficult to study due to limited seismic and ground-based geophysical data.

To overcome these challenges, the research team developed a high-resolution crustal thickness model using the GOCO60s gravity field data. 

This approach allowed them to map the deep crustal structures of the Arabian Plate with improved clarity.

One of the key findings is the strong variation in crustal thickness within the Zagros Fold Belt, indicating a long and complex history of deformation and crustal reworking. 

These variations also point to past collisional events between the Arabian and Eurasian Plates, similar to the tectonic processes that formed the Himalayas.

Overall, the improved crustal thickness model enhances our understanding of the region’s geological evolution and reveals possible variations in the Proterozoic crust of the Arabian Plate.

This publication stands as one of MUST’s key scientific achievements this year, highlighting the school’s ongoing commitment to advancing geoscience research locally and globally.

Use the link below to access the full research paper: