IDL’s internal organization comprises 4 working research groups (RGs) that reflect the wide span areas of expertise and disciplinary scientific background of its researchers in the general domains of Atmosphere, Ocean, Solid Earth and Energy.
The Ocean, Coastal and Land Surface Processes group integrates geophysical, geological and geochemical expertise to investigate internal and external geodynamic processes affecting terrestrial, coastal and oceanic systems, with a particular focus on natural hazards, climate change and georesource exploration.
Research on oceanic processes includes the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of continental and insular margins, slope dynamics, continent-to-ocean transition, plate boundary dynamics with emphasis on convergent systems and subduction initiation, tsunami propagation, and hydrothermal processes at mid-ocean ridges and their implications for mineral resources.
Research on coastal processes focuses on coastal morphodynamic evolution, future climate and sea-level scenarios, as well as the identification and characterisation of tsunami deposits.
Land surface research includes palaeontological and palaeoenvironmental studies, particularly in vertebrate palaeontology, monitoring and modelling of hydrogeological systems, and geotechnical studies.
Almeida, J., Mohammadigheymasi, H., Neres, M., & Dumont, S. (2025). Numerical modelling of lithosphere-asthenosphere interaction and intraplate deformation in the Gulf of Guinea. Tectonophysics, 895, 230581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2024.230581
Alves, J. M. R., Miranda, P. M. A., Tomé, R., & Caldeira, R. (2025). Evolution of the subtropical surface wind in the north-east Atlantic under climate change. Climate Dynamics, 63(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-024-07492-9
Antunes, C., Soares, F., Catita, C., & Rocha, C. (2025). Innovative absolute probability approach for coastal vulnerability assessment due to sea level rise: Application in Tagus Estuary, Portugal. Science of the Total Environment, 959, 178165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178165
Costa, A. M., Freitas, M. C., Coelho, R. G., Arvela, R., & Cachão, M. (2025). Environmental changes in the Atlantic World: how did the trade of enslaved people shape the landscapes. Portugal. Comunicações Geológicas, 112, 129-133. https://doi.org/10.34637/n39d-0s27
Duarte, J.C., Riel, N., Civiero, C., Silva, S., Rosas, F. M., Schellart, W. P., Almeida, J., Terrinha, P. & Ribeiro A. (2025). Seismic evidence for oceanic plate delamination offshore Southwest Iberia. Nature Geosciences. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01781-6