Early Career Scientists in Solid Earth Geophysics

Earth is a restless, dynamic planet. Beneath our feet, heat-driven convection stirs the mantle, tectonic plates collide and rift apart, magma rises toward the surface, and the geomagnetic field shifts in response to turbulent flow in the outer core. Understanding these processes — their physical mechanisms, their timescales, their interactions, and their consequences for the surface environment and human society — is the central mission of Solid Earth Geophysics. It is a mission that has never been more urgent or more tractable.The past decade has brought a revolution in the tools and data available to solid Earth scientists. Dense seismic networks and ocean-bottom seismometers now illuminate fault systems and mantle structure with unprecedented resolution. Satellite constellations track millimetre-scale ground deformation across entire tectonic plates in near real time. Advances in high-performance computing allow numerical models of mantle convection and earthquake rupture to reach scales and resolutions previously out of reach. Meanwhile, the explosion of machine learning and artificial intelligence is reshaping how geophysical data are processed, interpreted, and inverted — accelerating discovery across every subfield. Together, these developments are opening new windows into Earth’s interior and redefining what is possible in geophysical research.This Research Topic is designed to capture that momentum. It brings together high-quality, original contributions from across the full breadth of Solid Earth Geophysics, united by the shared goal of deepening our understanding of how the Earth works — from its innermost core to the base of the lithosphere, and across timescales ranging from the seconds of a seismic rupture to the billions of years of planetary evolution.A particular focus is placed on work led or co-led by early career researchers — PhD students, postdoctoral scientists, and researchers within seven years of receiving their doctorate. This is not simply a symbolic gesture. Early career scientists are, in measurable terms, among the most productive and innovative contributors to the geosciences today. They are the first adopters of new methodologies, the architects of novel theoretical frameworks, and the scientists asking the boldest questions about problems the field has long taken for granted. By dedicating a Research Topic to their contributions, we create a focused, high-visibility collection that reflects where the field is going, not just where it has been.We welcome submissions spanning, but not limited to, the following areas:Seismology — earthquake source mechanics, rupture dynamics, seismic cycle behaviour, ambient noise tomography, full-waveform inversion, induced and triggered seismicity, seismic hazard assessment, and the development of next-generation monitoring approaches including distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) and machine learning-based phase picking and classification.Geodynamics & Tectonics — mantle convection and rheology, plate kinematics and driving forces, subduction zone dynamics, orogenesis and mountain building, rifting and continental breakup, lithospheric strength and deformation, and the coupling between deep mantle processes and surface topography.Geodesy & Crustal Deformation — GNSS time series analysis, InSAR imaging of tectonic, volcanic, and anthropogenic deformation, postseismic and interseismic strain accumulation, postglacial isostatic adjustment, sea level contributions from ice mass loss, and the integration of geodetic data into geophysical models.Geomagnetism & Paleomagnetism — the geodynamo and core-mantle interactions, secular variation and geomagnetic excursions, paleomagnetic field reconstructions, rock and mineral magnetism, magnetostratigraphy, and the use of paleomagnetic data to constrain tectonic reconstructions and deep-time Earth history.Volcanology & Geothermal Systems — magma storage, transport, and eruptive dynamics, volcano monitoring and early warning, hydrothermal system behaviour, volcanic degassing and its atmospheric impacts, geothermal resource characterisation, and interactions between volcanic and tectonic processes.Gravity, Earth’s Interior & Global Geophysics — satellite and terrestrial gravimetry, Earth’s gravity field and its time variations, deep Earth structure from seismic and gravity constraints, inner core anisotropy and dynamics, the structure and composition of the lower mantle and core-mantle boundary region, and global geophysical reference frames.Applied & Computational Geophysics — novel numerical methods for forward and inverse modelling, joint inversion of multi-parameter datasets, geophysical applications of machine learning and deep learning, uncertainty quantification in geophysical inference, open-source software development, and advances in data management and reproducibility in the geosciences.Across all of these areas, we particularly encourage submissions that integrate observations from multiple data types, bridge disciplinary boundaries, or apply emerging computational methods to classical geophysical problems. Contributions that address geophysical processes in undersampled regions of the world — including developing nations, polar regions, and ocean basins — are strongly welcomed, as are studies that connect solid Earth processes to broader Earth system science, including links to climate, hydrology, and geohazard risk.The collection will be published as an open-access ebook upon completion, ensuring that all findings are freely available to researchers, educators, and policymakers worldwide — in line with Frontiers’ commitment to making science open and impactful.All submissions must include at least one early career researcher (PhD student, postdoctoral researcher, or scientist within seven years of receiving their doctorate) as lead or co-author. We strongly encourage contributions from researchers based in underrepresented regions and from groups historically underrepresented in the geosciences, reflecting our commitment to building a more equitable and globally inclusive scientific community. Topic editors: Jeroen van Hunen Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81783/early-career-scientists-in-solid-earth-geophysics