Jaime Almeida

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Geology, Earth and Planetary Sciences

Scopus Publications

Subduction initiation triggered the Caribbean large igneous province
Nicolas Riel, João C. Duarte, Jaime Almeida, Boris J. P. Kaus, Filipe Rosas, Yamirka Rojas-Agramonte, and Anton Popov
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractSubduction provides the primary driving force for plate tectonics. However, the mechanisms leading to the formation of new subduction zones remain debated. An example is the Lesser Antilles Arc in the Atlantic. Previous initiation mechanisms have implied the transmission of subduction from the Pacific Ocean or the impact of a plume head. Here, we use geodynamic models to simulate the evolution of the Caribbean region during the Cretaceous, where the eastern Pacific subduction triggered the formation of a new subduction zone in the Atlantic. The simulations show how the collision of the old Caribbean plateau with the Central America margin lead to the formation of a new Atlantic subduction zone by polarity reversal. The results further show how subduction renewal on the back of the old Caribbean plateau (present-day Central America) resulted in a major mantle flow reorganization that generated a subduction-induced plume consistent with the formation of the Caribbean Large Igneous Province.


Self-replicating subduction zone initiation by polarity reversal
Jaime Almeida, Nicolas Riel, Filipe M. Rosas, João C. Duarte, and Boris Kaus
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractSubduction zones have recurrently formed on Earth. Previous studies have, however, suggested that they are unlikely to start in the interior of a pristine ocean. Instead, they seem to be more likely to form from another pre-existing subduction zone. One widely cited conceptual model to start new subduction zones is polarity reversal, resulting from the shutdown of a pre-existent subduction zone due to the arrival of a buoyant block at the trench. However, the dynamic conditions by which this process occurs remain elusive. Here, we present 3D numerical models of subduction zone initiation by polarity reversal resulting from the arrival of an oceanic plateau at the trench. Our results show that this process is more likely to occur for old subducting plates and narrow plateaus, and that new subduction zones can form from previous ones in a self-replicating manner, without requiring any other external tectonic forcing.


Impact of crustal rheology and inherited mechanical weaknesses on early continental rifting and initial evolution of double graben structural configurations: Insights from 2D numerical models
Magda E. Oliveira, Afonso S. Gomes, Filipe M. Rosas, João C. Duarte, George S. França, Jaime C. Almeida, and Reinhardt A. Fuck
Elsevier BV



Polarity-reversal subduction zone initiation triggered by buoyant plateau obstruction
J. Almeida, N. Riel, F.M. Rosas, J.C. Duarte, and W.P. Schellart
Elsevier BV



A computational diffusion model to study antibody transport within reconstructed tumor microenvironments
Ana Luísa Cartaxo, Jaime Almeida, Emilio J. Gualda, Maria Marsal, Pablo Loza-Alvarez, Catarina Brito, and Inês A. Isidro
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Abstract Background Antibodies revolutionized cancer treatment over the past decades. Despite their successfully application, there are still challenges to overcome to improve efficacy, such as the heterogeneous distribution of antibodies within tumors. Tumor microenvironment features, such as the distribution of tumor and other cell types and the composition of the extracellular matrix may work together to hinder antibodies from reaching the target tumor cells. To understand these interactions, we propose a framework combining in vitro and in silico models. We took advantage of in vitro cancer models previously developed by our group, consisting of tumor cells and fibroblasts co-cultured in 3D within alginate capsules, for reconstruction of tumor microenvironment features. Results In this work, an experimental-computational framework of antibody transport within alginate capsules was established, assuming a purely diffusive transport, combined with an exponential saturation effect that mimics the saturation of binding sites on the cell surface. Our tumor microenvironment in vitro models were challenged with a fluorescent antibody and its transport recorded using light sheet fluorescence microscopy. Diffusion and saturation parameters of the computational model were adjusted to reproduce the experimental antibody distribution, with root mean square error under 5%. This computational framework is flexible and can simulate different random distributions of tumor microenvironment elements (fibroblasts, cancer cells and collagen fibers) within the capsule. The random distribution algorithm can be tuned to follow the general patterns observed in the experimental models. Conclusions We present a computational and microscopy framework to track and simulate antibody transport within the tumor microenvironment that complements the previously established in vitro models platform. This framework paves the way to the development of a valuable tool to study the influence of different components of the tumor microenvironment on antibody transport.


Analogue modelling of brittle shear zone propagation across upper crustal morpho-rheological heterogeneities
A.S. Gomes, F.M. Rosas, J.C. Duarte, W.P. Schellart, J. Almeida, R. Tomás, and V. Strak
Elsevier BV



Analog modelling of strike-slip fault (lateral) propagation from an elastic to a viscous medium: Insights from trial experiments




From Non-invasive Site Characterization to Site Amplification: Recent Advances in the Use of Ambient Vibration Measurements
P.-Y. Bard, H. Cadet, B. Endrun, M. Hobiger, F. Renalier, N. Theodulidis, M. Ohrnberger, D. Fäh, F. Sabetta, P. Teves-Costa,et al.
Springer Netherlands

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

2D Numerical modelling of continental subduction and synthetic obduction
F Rosas, A Gomes, W Schellart, R Nicolas, J Duarte, J Almeida
EGU25 2025



Modes of collisional orogenic growth: forward, backward and thermally induced
N Rodrigues, N Riel, F Rosas, J Almeida, A Gomes, J Duarte
EGU25 2025



Insights into plume-ridge-transform fault interactions as derived from 3D numerical geodynamic modelling of the Azores Triple Junction
J Almeida, J Duarte, F Rosas, RS Ramalho, R Fernandes
EarthArXiv 2025



Numerical modelling of lithosphere-asthenosphere interaction and intraplate deformation in the Gulf of Guinea
J Almeida, H Mohammadigheymasi, M Neres, S Dumont
Tectonophysics 895, 230581 2025



3D numerical geodynamic modelling of plume-ridge-transform fault interactions in the Azores triple junction
J Almeida, J Duarte, F Rosas, RMS Fernandes, R Ramalho
AGU24 2024



Numerical and analogue modelling of boudinage under non-coaxial shear strain
F Rosas, A Gomes, J Almeida, J Duarte, N Riel, W Schellart
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, 12208 2024



Crust-mantle delamination enables continental subduction and flake tectonics: insights from numerical modelling
N Rodrigues, F Rosas, N Riel, J Almeida, A Gomes, J Duarte
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, 13652 2024



Proto-ophiolite serpentinization may influence ophiolite emplacement: Insights from numerical models
A Gomes, F Rosas, N Riel, J Duarte, WP Schellart, J Almeida
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, 10540 2024



A new geodynamic model of the Azores archipelago: preliminary results
J Almeida, J Duarte, F Rosas, R Fernandes, F Geraldes, L Carvalho, ...
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, 13464 2024



Enhanced insight into Ghana's Seismicity through a Refined Crustal Velocity Model and Earthquake Focal Mechanisms
H Mohammadigheymasi, Z Xiao, SM Mousavi, M Jamalreyhani, J Almeida, ...
EGU24 2024



New insights on geodynamic modelling of the Central Group of the Azores archipelago
RMS Fernandes, J Almeida, J Duarte, FM Rosas, R Ramalho, ...
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2023, G12A-03 2023



2D numerical modelling of Tethyan-type ophiolite emplacement: The role of overriding plate age, serpentinization, and OCT width.
A Gomes, F Rosas, J Duarte, N Riel, W Schellart, J Almeida
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, EGU-7370 2023



Lithosphere-asthenosphere interaction as the source for intraplate deformation in the Gulf of Guinea
J Almeida, N Riel, M Neres, H Mohammadigheymasi, S Custdio, ...
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, EGU-6598 2023



Numerical modelling of intra-oceanic rifting: the rift-to-drift transition time frame
N Rodrigues, F Rosas, J Duarte, A Gomes, J Almeida, N Riel
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, EGU-113 2023



Geodynamic modelling of continental subduction beneath oceanic lithosphere
F Rosas, A Gomes, N Riel, W Schellart, J Duarte, J Almeida
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, EGU-7248 2023



Subduction initiation triggered the Caribbean large igneous province
N Riel, JC Duarte, J Almeida, BJP Kaus, F Rosas, Y Rojas-Agramonte, ...
Nature Communications 14 (1), 786 2023



Impact of crustal rheology and inherited mechanical weaknesses on early continental rifting and initial evolution of double graben structural configurations: Insights from 2D
ME Oliveira, AS Gomes, FM Rosas, JC Duarte, GS Franca, JC Almeida, ...
Tectonophysics 831, 229281 2022



Numerical modeling of subduction zones: thermo-mechanical stabilization as a function of overriding plate rheology and thickness
F Bolro, J Almeida, JC Duarte, FM Rosas
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, EGU22-12659 2022



Self-replicating subduction zone initiation by polarity reversal
J Almeida, N Riel, FM Rosas, JC Duarte, B Kaus
Communications Earth & Environment 3 (1), 55 2022



Polarity-reversal subduction zone initiation triggered by buoyant plateau obstruction
J Almeida, N Riel, FM Rosas, JC Duarte, WP Schellart
Earth and Planetary Science Letters 577, 117195 2022

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Polarity-reversal subduction zone initiation triggered by buoyant plateau obstruction
J Almeida, N Riel, FM Rosas, JC Duarte, WP Schellart
Earth and Planetary Science Letters 577, 117195 2022
Citations: 38



Subduction initiation triggered the Caribbean large igneous province
N Riel, JC Duarte, J Almeida, BJP Kaus, F Rosas, Y Rojas-Agramonte, ...
Nature Communications 14 (1), 786 2023
Citations: 21



Self-replicating subduction zone initiation by polarity reversal
J Almeida, N Riel, FM Rosas, JC Duarte, B Kaus
Communications Earth & Environment 3 (1), 55 2022
Citations: 20



Analogue modelling of brittle shear zone propagation across upper crustal morpho-rheological heterogeneities
AS Gomes, FM Rosas, JC Duarte, WP Schellart, J Almeida, R Toms, ...
Journal of Structural Geology 126, 175-197 2019
Citations: 10



A computational diffusion model to study antibody transport within reconstructed tumor microenvironments
AL Cartaxo, J Almeida, EJ Gualda, M Marsal, P Loza-Alvarez, C Brito, ...
BMC bioinformatics 21, 1-19 2020
Citations: 8



Impact of crustal rheology and inherited mechanical weaknesses on early continental rifting and initial evolution of double graben structural configurations: Insights from 2D
ME Oliveira, AS Gomes, FM Rosas, JC Duarte, GS Franca, JC Almeida, ...
Tectonophysics 831, 229281 2022
Citations: 6



Analog modelling of strike-slip fault (lateral) propagation from an elastic to a viscous medium: insights from trial experiments
FM Rosas, P Terrinha, J Duarte, L Baptista, C Kullberg, J Almeida, ...
Commun Geol 101, 1429-1432 2014
Citations: 6



Delamination of oceanic lithosphere in SW Iberia: a key for subduction initiation?
J Duarte, N Riel, C Civiero, F Rosas, W Schellart, J Almeida, S Silva, ...
Geophysical Research Abstracts 21 2019
Citations: 5



Enhanced insight into Ghana's Seismicity through a Refined Crustal Velocity Model and Earthquake Focal Mechanisms
H Mohammadigheymasi, Z Xiao, SM Mousavi, M Jamalreyhani, J Almeida, ...
EGU24 2024
Citations: 2