Gallery
I enjoy designing illustrations and graphics to communicate my research. Below you can find several of my figures used for publications, presentations, and outreach. For vector format or adaptions (e.g., dark background), you can contact me. These figures can be used or modified with the appropriate credits:
- License: Attribution-NonCommercial International (CC BY-NC ) (non-commercial)
- Citation: the appropriate paper (if applicable) and/or Graphic by Anna Gülcher (annagulcher.com/gallery)
- All
- Earth
- Venus
- Mantle convection
- Tectonics
Venus to Earth transition globe
Venus mantle convection
Image of global mantle convection of Venus. The surface shows colorized SAR imagery obtained by the Magellan mission.
Earth globe mantle convection
Distinction made between upper mantle (dark colours) and lower mantle (light colours)
Earth globe with mantle heterogeneity
Earth globe with a mosaic of numerical modelling results from my PhD research (Gülcher et al., 2021, Solid Earth). Red colours represent ancient, primordial materials whereas blue colours represent recycled materials that have entered the deep Earth through tectonic processes.
Stagnant lid regime
Conceptual illustration of the “Stagnant lid” mantle and tectonic regime. A planet in “stagnant-lid” regime is covered by a single plate, without any plate boundaries and little to no surface motion. Today, this is likely the case for Mars. Image published in Rolf et al. (2022, Space Sci. Rev.); high-quality image available on S-ink.org.
Heat-pipe lid regime
Conceptual illustration of the “Heat-pipe lid” mantle and tectonic regime. A planet evolving in a “heat-pipe” regime, such as Jupiter’s moon Io, is characterised by vertical channels through the lithosphere through which magma erupts to the surface in the form of volcanism. Image published in Rolf et al. (2022, Space Sci. Rev.); high-quality image available on S-ink.org.
Mobile lid regime
Conceptual illustration of the “Mobile lid” mantle and tectonic regime. In a “mobile lid” style planet, the multiple cold surface plates are continuously in motion, often with differing (usually higher) velocities than the mantle below. Earth’s ocean-plate tectonics is a subcategory of such a mobile-lid regime, marked by narrow plate boundaries at which plates are either created or recycled back into the mantle. Image published in Rolf et al. (2022, Space Sci. Rev.); high-quality image available on S-ink.org.
Squishy lid regime
Conceptual illustration of the “Squishy lid” mantle and tectonic regime. The “squishy-lid” regime is characterised by a strong surface plate that is regionally weakened and deformed by intrusive magmatism. Venus is commonly considered to be in a squishy-lid mantle regime. Image published in Rolf et al. (2022, Space Sci. Rev.); high-quality image available on S-ink.org.
Venus plume-lithosphere interactions
Sketches of `active’ stages of four proposed plume–lithosphere interactions on Venus, thought to explain a large subset of coronae. Top: plume-induced crustal recycling via lithospheric dripping or short-lived subduction. Bottom: ‘transient’ plume cases without recycling at the plume margin—embedded and underplated plumes. Adapted from Gülcher et al. (2020); also used in press releases on Cascioli & Gülcher et al. (2025).
Venus rift modes
Sketches of Venus rift modes predicted by 3D geodynamic models in Gülcher et al. (2025, EPSL). These modes are dependent on lithospheric configuration: crustal rheology, crustal thickness, and lithospheric thickness (thermal structure). The “multiple”, “branching”, and “wide troughs” rift modes best match observations on Venus. Adapted from Gülcher et al. (2025, EPSL).
Venus rift modes - graphical abstract
Sketches of the most likely Venus rift modes (three out of five predicted modes in Gülcher et al., 2025, EPSL). This is the adapted graphical abstract from Gülcher et al. (2025, EPSL).
Slow oceanic spreading and subsequent convergence
Graphical abstract for Gülcher et al. (2019, EPSL). Three-stage evolution of slow oceanic spreading, with the formation of detachment faults and the “Christmas tree pattern”, and subsequent convergence and underthrusting.
Geodynamic modeling
Geodynamic modeling tools are a useful tool to integrate observations on Earth’s interior and surface, and put them in a coherent, physics-based framework. Such observations and theories come from e.g. observational geophysics, mineral- and rock physics, and cosmo- and geochemistry.
Interconnected processes
System Earth is a combined of interconnected processes. Mantle convection is a key aspect within this system, affecting e.g., Earth’s surface geology, atmosphere, liquid water, magnetic field, and volcanism.
Venus topography I
Map of Venus’ topography with a Mollweide projection centered at 60°E. The global topography (Pettengill et al., 1992) is relative to 6051.877 km. Figure used in Gülcher et al. (2020, Nat. Goesc.).
Venus topography II
Map of Venus’ topography with a Mollweide projection centered at 130°E on a dark background. The global topography (Pettengill et al., 1992) is relative to 6051.877 km.
Earth’s mantle heterogeneity theories
Conceptual model sketches for proposed compositional structures of Earth’s mantle. High-res images available on S-ink.org. Adaption from figure published in Gülcher et al. (2021, Solid Earth).
Earth's mantle heterogeneity I
The “Thermo-chemical piles” theory suggests that intrinsically dense materials may accumulate as piles atop the core–mantle boundary. In particular, the two large low-shear velocity provinces (LLSVPs) in the deep Earth are commonly thought to have resisted mantle mixing due to their thermochemical origin. Figure used in Gülcher et al. (2021, Solid Earth).
Earth's mantle heterogeneity II
The “Marble cake” theory emphasises that much of Earth’s mantle is made out of recycled oceanic lithosphere (dark and light) slivers that are preserved throughout the mantle. Figure used in Gülcher et al. (2021, Solid Earth).
Earth's mantle heterogeneity III
The “mid-mantle blobs” theory emphasises large, compositionally-different domains that may be located in the mid-mantle of the Earth, with mantle convection being accommodated around them. Figure used in Gülcher et al. (2021, Solid Earth).
Featured image (top and bottom of page): the “Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets” gallery, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Scientific visualisation
Visualization is, together with problem description, data production, and data post-processing, one of the main supporting pillars of science.
Scientific colour maps
Unfortunately, colour maps that visually distort data through uneven colour gradients and/or are unreadable to those with colour-vision deficiency remain prevalent in science (such as rainbow colour maps #endrainbow). It is extremely important to choose a scientific colour map that correctly visualizes your data and to use scientific figures that are intuitive and easy to interpret. I am a huge fan of the official scientific colourmaps by Dr. Fabio Crameri. The colour gradients in these colour maps are perceptually uniform and ordered to represent data both fairly and intuitively. Moreover, they are readable both by colour-vision-deficient and colour-blind people, and even when printed in black and white.
Science Graphics Collection (S-ink)
You can find numerous effective, high-quality science graphics in the Science Graphics Collection s-Ink.org. This collection consists of eye-catching, science-proof scientific-style artwork readily available to both the science community and the general public. You can also contribute to the collection by submitting your graphic and receiving the appropriate credits!
Selection of Scientific colour maps 7.0.1 (Crameri, 2018). I particularly make use of the BatlowW, Davos, Oslo, Lapaz, and Vik colour maps in my scientific visualizations.
The superiority of scientifically derived colour maps. From: The misuse of colour in science communication (Crameri et al., 2020)