Dr. Sibiao Liu

Research Profile

I am a solid Earth geophysicist and geodynamic modeller. My research examines how mantle flow, lithospheric structure, tectonic and magmatic processes shape plate boundaries and intraplate volcanism. I combine numerical models with geophysical, geochemical, geomorphological, and structural geological observations. My current work focuses on mid-ocean ridge–transform systems, plume–ridge interaction, seamounts, subduction, mountain building and continental rifting.

Scientific Interests

• Mantle and lithosphere dynamics
• Tectonic and magmatic processes at plate boundaries
  • Mid-ocean ridges, transform faults and plume–ridge interactions
  • Subduction, mountain building and foreland deformation
  • Continental rifting and seafloor spreading
• Numerical geodynamic modelling informed by geophysical, geological and geochemical observations
• Geodynamic software development
• Scientific visualisation and auralisation of geoscientific data

Education and career

• since 03/2021 Research Associate / Postdoctoral Researcher, GEOMAR, Germany
• 03/2019 – 02/2021 Research Scholar, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

 

• 11/2015 – 02/2020  PhD in Geophysics at GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences/ University of Potsdam, Germany. Supervisor: Prof. Stephan Sobolev
• 09/2012 – 11/2014  MSc in Geophysics at University of Alberta, Canada. Supervisor: Prof. Claire Currie
• 09/2007 – 08/2011  BSc in Geophysics at China University of Geosciences Beijing, China

Projects

• since 2021    Structures and dynamics of mid-ocean ridge – transform fault system, with Prof. Lars Rüpke, funded by the North German Supercomputing Alliance (HLRN)
• 2024 – 2026  Long-term evolution of rift-rift-rift triple junctions: Numerical modelling meets field observations, with Prof. Ameha Muluneh, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)
• 2022 – 2024  Structure, tectonic and petroleum system evolution of the southern Central Andes at 36°S: inferences from field geology and numerical modelling, with Dr. Matías Barrionuevo, funded by the Ministry of Science of Argentina
• 2023 – 2024  Deep Sea Light: What can we see by illuminating the ambient deep sea, with Dr. Yu Ren, funded by Zhihu Inc.
• 2016 – 2019  High-resolution subduction modelling of Cenozoic Andean Orogeny, with Prof. Stephan Sobolev, funded by HLRN
• 2015 – 2018  Controls of Cenozoic foreland-deformation patterns, funded by DFG and the federal state of Brandenburg
• 2012 – 2014  Geodynamic modeling of flat-slab subduction during the Laramide orogeny, funded by University of Alberta

Scientific service and engagement

• since 2022      Peer reviewer: Communications Earth & Environment; Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth; Tectonophysics; International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation                                                                                 
• Since 2023     Member, Pool of Experts, United Nations Regular Process for the Third World Ocean Assessment (WOA III)
• 2023 – 2024   Co-founder and Steering Committee Member of the Helmholtz Association Postdoc Network (HAPN)
• 2022 – 2023   Editorial Team Member, Ocean Voices Blog, GEOMAR and Kiel University
• 2021 – 2023   Postdoc Speaker at GEOMAR
• 2022 – 2023   Steering Committee Representative, FYORD program, Kiel University
• 2023               Lead Convener and Session Chair, AGU Fall Meeting session “Tectonic Anatomy of the Andes: Multitemporal and Multispatial Processes”
• 2011               Undergraduate Mentor, China University of Geosciences Beijing
• 2008               Math lecture, Beijing Tongxin Experimental Primary School

Publications

For a complete and current publication list, see my google scholar profile. *Corresponding author

• Zhang, F., Liu, S.*, Zhang, Y., Zhang, X. & Lin, J. (2026). Variable roles of oceanic transform faults in plume dispersion along segmented mid-ocean ridges. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 675, 119766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119766
• de Melo, G. W. S., Grevemeyer, I., Liu, S., Maia, M., Rüpke, L. (2025). Seismicity and thermal structure of the St. Paul Transform System, equatorial Atlantic: insights from focal depth analysis. Solid Earth 16, 1059–1072. https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-1059-2025
• Chen, Z., Zhang, F., Zha, C., Liu, S., Zhou, Z., Lin, J., Zhou, P., Wu, Y., Qiu, Q. (2025). Important role of intra-transform spreading centers in shaping thermal structure along the Blanco transform fault. Journal of Earth Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-025-0293-3
• Liu, S., Guo, Z., Rüpke, L. H., Morgan, J. P., Grevemeyer, I., Ren, Y., & Li, C. (2023). Sensitivity of gravity anomalies to mantle rheology at mid-ocean ridge – transform fault systems. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 622, 118420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118420
• Guo, Z., Liu, S., Rüpke, L. H., Grevemeyer, I., Morgan, J. P., Lange, D., Ren, Y., & Tao, C. (2023). Disparate crustal thicknesses beneath oceanic transform faults and adjacent fracture zones revealed by gravity anomalies. Geology, 51(3), 300–304. doi.org/10.1130/G50429.1
• Chen, M., Tao, C., Rüpke, L. H., Liu, Y., Wang, H., & Liu, S. (2023). Lithospheric structure controls the intermittent detachment faulting on the Southwest Indian Ridge. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 128, e2023JB026467. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JB026467
• Liu, S., Sobolev, S. V., Babeyko, A. Y., & Pons, M. (2022). Controls of the foreland deformation pattern in the orogen-foreland shortening system: Constraints from high-resolution geodynamic models. Tectonics, 41(2), e2021TC007121. doi.org/10.1029/2021TC007121
• Pons, M., Sobolev, S. V., Liu, S., & Neuharth, D. (2022). Hindered trench migration due to slab steepening controls the formation of the Central Andes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 127(12), e2022JB025229. doi.org/10.1029/2022JB025229
• Giambiagi, L., Tassara, A., Echaurren, A., Julve, J., Quiroga, R., Barrionuevo, M., Liu, S., et al. (2022). Crustal anatomy and evolution of a subduction-related orogenic system: Insights from the Southern Central Andes (22-35°S). Earth-Science Reviews, 232, 104-138. doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.104138
• Barrionuevo, M., Liu, S., Mescua, J., Yagupsky, D., Quinteros, J., Giambiagi, L., et al. (2021). The influence of variations in crustal composition and lithospheric strength on the evolution of deformation processes in the southern Central Andes: insights from geodynamic models. International Journal of Earth Sciences, 110(7), 2361–2384. doi.org/10.1007/s00531-021-01982-5
• Liu, S. (2020). Controls of foreland-deformation patterns in the orogen-foreland shortening system (doctoral thesis). Universität Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany. doi.org/10.25932/publishup-44573
• Ibarra, F., Liu, S., Meeßen, C., Prezzi, C. B., Bott, J., Scheck-Wenderoth, M., et al. (2019). 3D data-derived lithospheric structure of the Central Andes and its implications for deformation: Insights from gravity and geodynamic modelling. Tectonophysics, 766, 453–468. doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2019.06.025
• Liu, S., & Currie, C. A. (2016). Farallon plate dynamics prior to the Laramide orogeny: Numerical models of flat subduction. Tectonophysics, 666, 33–47. doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2015.10.010