In response to changing stress fields the crust and its underlying lithospheric mantle experience deformation the mode of which may be decisively influenced by the internal rheological configuration. To assess the general processes that govern the deformation of the subsurface we comparatively evaluate the deformation modes of different plate-tectonic settings in time and space.
Also the coupled hydro-thermal-mechanical processes and changes in subsurface fluid dynamics may influence deformation as for example due to ice loading or due to geothermal energy production. We develop models to estimate such effects to minimize for example the induced seismic hazard from reservoir operations.