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  • Perspective
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A complex system approach to magmatism

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment volume 6, pages 535–548 (2025)Cite this article

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Abstract

Magmatic systems are composed of many nonlinearly interacting components that operate across various scales; thus, these systems can be modelled as complex systems. In this Perspective, we examine efforts to recognize and model complexity in magmatic systems and suggest the direction for building a global integrated model to investigate volcanic and igneous processes. Magmatic systems are complex, as they operate on time and spatial scales ranging from seconds to millions of years and micrometres to kilometres, respectively, organized as networks of interacting components. These networks drain magmas and volatiles from deep sources towards plutons, dykes, sills, and volcanoes. Statistical analyses suggest power-law relationships in magmatic and volcanic processes, from the geometrical feature of melt extraction network at the source, to magma mingling, to the distribution of eruption intensity. These findings serve as evidence for self-organized criticality, suggesting that magmatic systems respond to small disturbances in unpredictable ways. The behaviours of complex systems emerge from the connections between the parts of the system and cannot be predicted by separate investigation of the individual parts. Therefore, Earth science should follow the example of fields such as climate sciences and take advantage of tools developed in complex system science to build an integrated model to test the validity of conceptual models and advance understanding of magmatic systems.

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Fig. 1: Two examples of conceptual models of magmatic systems.
Fig. 2: Size distribution of magma bodies.
Fig. 3: Complex system models of magmatic processes.
Fig. 4: Building a complex system model.
Fig. 5: Multiscale modelling.

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Acknowledgements

C.A. thanks C. Lesieur for triggering her interest in complex systems and for early discussions and building of ideas. J.-F.M. thanks D. Baratoux for ideas and data on the spatial distribution of chemical elements in igneous rocks, how to describe them and what they mean.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic

    Catherine Annen

  2. School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Roberto F. Weinberg

  3. Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, UCA-CNRS-IRD, Université Jean-Monnet, Aubière, France

    Jean-François Moyen

  4. Université Lyon 1 Claude-Bernard, CNRS, INSA Lyon, LIRIS, UMR5205, Villeurbanne, France

    Rémy Cazabet

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  1. Catherine Annen
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  2. Roberto F. Weinberg
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  3. Jean-François Moyen
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  4. Rémy Cazabet
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All authors researched the literature and contributed with data for the article. All authors contributed substantially to discussion of the content. All authors contributed to writing and reviewing the article with relative contributions expressed in the author list.

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Correspondence to Catherine Annen.

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Annen, C., Weinberg, R.F., Moyen, JF. et al. A complex system approach to magmatism. Nat Rev Earth Environ 6, 535–548 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-025-00697-4

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