Seismic reflection data from the ENAM Community Seismic Data available online


enam_16oct14_mcs_4summary_listserv_01-26-15Raw and processed multi-channel seismic (MCS) reflection data and underway geophysical data collected offshore North Carolina and Virginia aboard the R/V Langseth in Sept-Oct 2014 as a part of the GeoPRISMS Eastern North American Margin (ENAM) Community Seismic Experiment are now available for download. Below are links to each of these datasets.

 icon-link Stacks and post-stack time migrations of MCS data produced at sea

   Raw pre-stack MCS data and navigation

   Underway data acquired aboard the Langseth (including magnetic, gravity, bathymetry and sub bottom profiler data)

**Please see cruise report for information on data acquisition and processing

Other datasets from the ENAM Community seismic experiment are still being collected or processed and will be made available as soon as possible.  Workshops for training in MCS processing and for science coordination are being planned and will also be announced shortly.

These data are freely available to be used by anyone for science, education, etc. Enjoy!

Donna Shillington

on behalf of the ENAM Community Seismic Experiment PI Team and the MGL1408 Science Party

REMINDER – Special Section in the American Mineralogist’s Centennial Volume (2015-2016): “New advances in subduction zone magma genesis”


Dear colleagues,

The American Mineralogist has now opened a Special Section in its Centennial Volume (2015-2016) on the theme of “New advances in subduction zone magma genesis”.

The Special Section is now open for submission (see details below), and will remain open until December 31, 2015. Editors for this special section are Susanne M. Straub and Heather Handley.

An important aspect is that American Mineralogist is set to become a more general journal for the Earth Science, as reflected in the subtitle of “A Journal of Earth and Planetary Materials”. This means that manuscripts are now accepted that could go to Geochim CosmochimActa, Contrib Mineral Petrol, G-cubed, Earth Planet Sci Lett, J Volcanol Geotherm Res, etc.

Here are some facts that to assist your decision to contribute to this volume:

– American Mineralogist offers print-on-demand which means that papers are published online as they are accepted, without waiting for the closure date for the Special Section. Once the section is closed, a journal-formatted collection of all the papers will be printed. The online publication date of the paper will be retained.

– Shorter papers are encouraged. While American Mineralogist accepts long papers as well, the regular articles have a 30 printed page limit (or a rough limit of 100 manuscript pages, when text, figures, tables etc. are taken together).

– American Mineralogist offers unlimited color in the on-line version of the journal is free to all MSA members ($80/year, and that includes Elements and American Mineralogist subscriptions).

– Color in the print version is $450/paper – not per page, but per an entire paper. However, if a paper has a huge amount of color maps, the fee may increase.

– American Mineralogist is cited in ISI and Scopus

How to submit a paper to the special section of American Mineralogist

1. Go to http://minsocam.allentrack.net —be sure cookies are on and Java enabled. Use the most recent version of Netscape, Explorer, Safari, etc. Register and then log in.

2. Full manuscript preparation guidelines are available at http://www.minsocam.org and include a handy list of abbreviations and other style information available on the web site.

Please feel free to send questions anytime to the volume editors (Straub/Handley), and also a short notice of intent and preliminary paper title anytime.

Best wishes,

Susanne Straub, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University (smstraub@ldeo.columbia.edu)

Heather Handley, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia (heather.handley@mq.edu.au)

Deep Carbon Observatory Thematic Institute – Carbon from the Mantle to the Surface

Deep Carbon Observatory Thematic Institute: “Carbon from the Mantle to the Surface”

1-3 JULY 2015 (in conjunction with the 2015 CIDER Summer Program)

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California USA

Deadline to Apply: February 28, 2015

Is the planet currently ingassing or outgassing carbon?

This defining question and others require an exploration into the forms and fluxes of carbon — from diamonds to volcanoes, from marine carbon to carbonated melts, and from the mantle to the surface and back again.

The Deep Carbon Observatory is sponsoring this 3-day Thematic Institute at UC Berkeley to bring together 50-75 researchers and young scientists with broad international representation in geochemistry, experimental petrology, volcanology, geodynamics, thermodynamics, geophysics, paleoclimate and geology.

The DCO TI will be run in parallel with the CIDER Summer School on “Mantle Interactions with the Hydrosphere and Carbosphere.” Interested and qualified students and postdocs are encouraged to apply to both.

See the DCO Website for more information and to apply:

https://deepcarbon.net/feature/deep-carbon-observatory-thematic-institute-carbon-mantle-surface#.VlenXIefUjc

Conveners:

Terry Plank, Columbia University, NY, US

Donald Dingwell, Ludwig-Maximilians Universitat Muchen, Germany

Rajdeep Dasgupta, Rice University, TX, US

Mike Burton, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Pisa, Italy

Barbara Romanowicz, University of California Berkeley, CA, US

Workshop announcement: Scientific Ocean Drilling in Cascadia – April 29 to May 1

Investigating Cascadia Subduction Zone Geodynamics Through Scientific Ocean Drilling

University of Washington, Seattle

April 29 – May 1, 2015

http://usssp-iodp.org/workshop/cascadia/

Deadline for US participants to request travel support: January 31, 2015

Deadline for others to register: March 15, 2015

Recent devastating megathrust earthquakes in Sumatra, Chile and Japan have heightened awareness of the hazard posed by subduction zones and the inevitability of a comparable earthquake along the coast of the Pacific Northwest. At the same time, there have been extensive efforts to expand the infrastructure and funding for scientific studies of the Cascadia subduction zone. The NSF GeoPRISMS program identified Cascadia as a Primary Site, cabled observatories have been installed off both the US and Canada, NSF’s Amphibious Array Facility is supporting a 4-year community experiment to understand the seismicity and seismic structure of the Cascadia margin and Juan de Fuca Plates and significant active-source seismic imaging, magneto-telluric and heat flow experiments have been undertaken offshore. However, only very recently have efforts been initiated to extend geodetic observations above the subduction zone offshore, even though such observations are critical for understanding the dynamics and hazards potential of the Cascadia megathrust. Offshore geodetic studies must be conducted on a decadal timescale to fully resolve many interseismic deformation processes and downhole geodetic and hydrogeological observations are some of the most sensitive tools for understanding subduction zone dynamics. The objective of this 2½-day workshop is to develop the framework for a full IODP proposal to be submitted in 2016 by considering how drilling can best contribute to our scientific understanding of the deformation of the Cascadia subduction zone, the degree of interseismic locking across and along strike, and its seismic and tsunamigenic potential.

In order to accomplish this objective the workshop will:

* Review the state of knowledge of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, existing infrastructure, and experimental initiatives that are underway.

* Review the results of drilling and downhole geodynamic observations in other subduction zone settings.

* Identify and prioritize the scientific questions in Cascadia that are best addressed by ocean drilling and downhole instrumentation.

* Prioritize borehole instrumentation that is required to achieve the scientific objectives.

* Develop a plan for a borehole observatory array (or series of transects) that can be designed in light of realistic drilling/infrastructure constraints, structural context, and define a strategy for the complementary integration of borehole, seafloor, and land-based monitoring.

By the end of the meeting, a group of proponents will be identified to lead the writing of a proposal.

The workshop will be open to U.S. and international participants. Travel funds for US participants will be available through the US Science Support Program for IODP. Travel funds will be allocated based on the submission of a short statement of interest and on need – a portion of the travel funds are specifically reserved for graduate students and early career scientists.

The meeting web page (http://usssp-iodp.org/workshop/cascadia/) includes a link for registration and requests for travel support for US participants.

Non-U.S. participants should inquire with their own IODP national offices for possible travel support, e.g., http://www.essac.ecord.org/index.php?mod=about&page=partners for European and Canadian applicants, and <info@j-desc.org> for Japanese applicants.

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The GeoPRISMS Office is now hosted by University of Michigan.
Questions? Contact the GeoPRISMS Office at info@geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com
www.geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com
To contribute to the GeoPRISMS Listserv, please send your message to geoprisms-list@geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com
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ENAM seismic refraction processing workshop

In the week of May 18-22, 2015, we will host a 5-day training workshop at the University of Texas in Austin for students and early-career scientists who want to gain experience with the analysis of active-source seismic refraction data. Participants in this workshop will learn how to identify seismic phases, pick arrival times, and invert for crustal seismic velocity structure along geophysical transects. Hands-on learning will be accompanied by lectures explaining the basic assumptions and geophysical theory behind the seismic refraction methods.

In the workshop we will use ocean-bottom seismic refraction data, as well as onshore-offshore seismic refraction data, that were acquired in September and October 2014, during the ENAM Community Seismic Experiment offshore North Carolina. Five geophysical transects of this recent project characterize the rifted margin of the eastern United States. The wide-angle seismic refractions from these data will show the variation in deep structure from the continental crust onshore to ocean crust beneath the abyssal plain.

Example of a marine seismic refraction record

Example of a marine seismic refraction record

Seismic data acquisition map for the ENAM Community Seismic Experiment. Blue and red lines represent tracks of the R/V Marcus Langseth; yellow circles mark the location of short-period ocean-bottom seismometers.

Seismic data acquisition map for the ENAM Community Seismic Experiment. Blue and red lines represent tracks of the R/V Marcus Langseth; yellow circles mark the location of short-period ocean-bottom seismometers.

Interested participants should send a statement summarizing why they wish to attend the workshop, together with a short CV, to gail@ig.utexas.edu. Limited travel funds are available for participants.

Application deadline is March 15, 2015.

For more information, contact the instructors Harm Van Avendonk (harm@ig.utexas.edu) and Gail Christeson (gail@ig.utexas.edu).

Useful links:

The GeoPRISMS ENAM initiative

The ENAM Community Seismic Experiment project website

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The GeoPRISMS Office is now hosted by University of Michigan.
Questions? Contact the GeoPRISMS Office at info@geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com
www.geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com
To contribute to the GeoPRISMS Listserv, please send your message to geoprisms-list@geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com
To unsubscribe or subscribe, please visit: /phplist
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Sessions of interest at the AGU/CGU Joint Assembly & Japan Geoscience Union 2015

Please see below for sessions of interest to the GeoPRISMS Community, taking place at the AGU/CGU Joint Assembly in Montreal, Canada (3-7 May, 2015) and the Japan Geoscience Union in Makuhari Messe, Japan (24-28 May, 2015)

Joint Assembly abstract deadline is January 14, 2015

Japan Geoscience Union abstract deadline is February 18, 2015

> More information about GeoPRISMS related meetings available online

—————– 2015 AGU/CGU Joint Assembly—————–

Session Title: Understanding slow slip and tectonic tremor process along a variety of deformation boundaries

Conveners: Yajing Liu and Rebecca Harrington

Slow slip phenomena refer to the release of strain energy within a period longer than it typically takes for a dynamic earthquake of the equivalent size. A wide spectrum of slow slip phenomena, including episodic slow slip events, low-frequency earthquakes, afterslip, and transient glacial movement, have been reported along different types of deformation boundaries, but their underlying physical mechanism and potential interaction with dynamic earthquakes remains elusive. In this session we aim to integrate seismic and geodetic observations on direct imaging of the slow slip environment and the transition zone, as well as field, experimental and numerical investigations on the physical mechanism of slow slip phenomena. We invite abstracts focusing on the spatiotemporal evolution of source properties of slow slip observations, and on experimental and theoretical topics that explore possible sources of pressurized fluids and the role they play in the slow slip process.

—————– Japan Geoscience Union 2015—————–

S-CG14. Mixed volatiles in subduction zones; Physical and chemical properties and processes

Principal volatiles in subduction zones and CO2 and H2O derived from devolatilization of carbonate and hydrous minerals in subducted oceanic crust and upper mantle. In the forearc region, highly reduced CH4 may be formed via deserpentinization of forarc mantle. Halogens (F and Cl) are can also be transported at least to upper mantle depth. Fluorine may, in fact, enhance the P-T stability of hydrous minerals.Release of volatiles causes changes in elastic properties of the residual devolatilized rocks, which, in turn, governs seismic velocities, density, shear strength, and compressibility. The intergranular pore fluid also affects these properties. Whether or not fluid forms an interconnected network is critical for these properties. Fluid interconnectivity also controls the extent to which the fluid fluxes melting in and above subducting slabs and the trace and isotopic signatures of the source materials of melting. Physical properties of magma affect style of eruption. These properties, in turn, are affected by H2O/CO2 and F/Cl abundance ratios.

This session will focus on observations, experiments and theory to aid our understanding of

1. Relationship between fluid composition, pressure and temperature and connectivity of intergranular fluid

2. Shear strength and elastic properties of volatile-bearing mineral assemblages

3. Pressure(depth)-temperature and redox-controlled stability of volatile-bearing minerals in subduction zones and beyond

4. Melting phase relations and volatile compositions in subduction zones

5. Seismic activity and its relation to volatiles in minerals and in fluids and in melts

6. Solubility and solution mechanisms of major, mineral, and trace elements in silicate-saturated mixed fluids.

7. Silicate-saturated fluids and volatile-saturated melts and alteration processes in subduction zones.

8. Volatiles and style of volcanic eruption

Please visit URLs: http://www.jpgu.org/index-e.html, and http://www.jpgu.org/meeting_e, for more information about the meeting, relevant dates, its objectives, history and venue and/or contact us directly.

We truly hope you would want to contribute to this session.

Bjorn O. MYSEN

Eiji OHTANI

Dapeng Zhao

Job Postings: Faculty Positions, PhD & Postdoc positions

 1) PhD Topics in Rift Volcanism for 2015

2) Faculty Position at the Professor level with focus on geophysical characterization and numerical modelling of petroleum systems – Department of Geoscience, Aarhus University

3) Assistant Professor Structural Geology and Tectonics – North Carolina State University

4) Tenure-track faculty position at the assistant professor level – Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) Saint Louis University

5) Post-doctoral research position investigating aseismic slip, earthquake occurrence and hazard – USGS Menlo Park, California; Vancouver, Washington.

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1) PhD Topics in Rift Volcanism for 2015

Rift Volcanism: Past, Present, Future is a new 5-year large-scale research project funded by NERC to investigate the volcanism of the Main Ethiopian Rift. The project involves researchers from 6 UK universities (Edinburgh, Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge, Leeds and Southampton), Addis Ababa University, the Geological Survey of Ethiopia and the British Geological Survey. Here are links to a series of PhD topics that are being offered by researchers across the consortium. The funding for these projects will mainly be offered through the appropriate Doctoral Training Partnership – so follow the links to find out how to apply.

Since funding for these projects comes from the UK Natural Environment Research Council, there are quite strict eligibility rules: UK residents should be entitled to full funding; EU nationals who are not UK residents should be entitled to support for fees, but may need additional scholarships to cover living costs; while international students will need to be funded from scholarships or other sources: if in doubt, please ask!.

* Bristol (GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership).

Monitoring induced seismicity due to geothermal energy production in active volcanic systems.

UK Supervisors: Mike Kendall, Richard Luckett, Juliet Biggs, Brian Baptie (BGS)

* Cambridge (Fully funded project)

Eruption dynamics of peralkaline rhyolitic volcanism in the Main Ethiopian Rift.

UK Supervisors: Marie Edmonds (Earth Sciences) & Kathy Cashman (University of Bristol)

* Edinburgh (Edinburgh E3 Doctoral Training Partnership)

Understanding the nature of pyroclastic density current generation at Quaternary silicic volcanoes in the Main Ethiopian Rift.

UK Supervisors: Eliza Calder (Edinburgh), David Pyle (Oxford), Julia Crummy (British Geological Survey).

Supervisors: Andrew Bell, Ian Main (Edinburgh)

* Leeds (Leeds – York Doctoral Training Partnership; fully funded project)

What controls the magmatic plumbing systems of spreading centres in Afar?

UK Supervisors: Tim Wright (SEE), Andy Hooper (SEE), Dr Juliet Biggs (Bristol)

* Oxford (Oxford Doctoral Training Partnership in Environmental Research)

Volcanic carbon dioxide emissions in the Main Ethiopian Rift.

UK Supervisors: Tamsin Mather, David Pyle (Oxford)

Understanding volcanism in rift settings: the frequency and magnitude of large explosive eruptions in the Main Ethiopian Rift.

UK Supervisors: Tamsin Mather, David Pyle, Karen Fontijn, Victoria Smith (Oxford)

* Southampton (SPITFIRE Doctoral Training Partnership)

Interaction between magmatic processes and faulting at an active rift valley volcano

Supervisors: Derek Keir (Southampton), Alex Brisbourne (British Antarctic Survey).

Related links:

The RiftVolc project follows on from a number of major research activities in the Ethiopian rift over the past twenty years which have involved collaborators from Ethiopia, Europe and the United States. These include:

Afar Rift Consortium (2007 – 2012) with a focus on the Afar region of northern Ethiopia

EAGLE – the Ethiopian Afar Geoscientific Lithospheric Experiment (2003 – 2007)

GeoPRISMS – East African Rift System Primary Site

> More information about this announcement here

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2) Faculty Position at the Professor level with focus on geophysical characterization and numerical modelling of petroleum systems – Department of Geoscience, Aarhus University

The Department of Geoscience has strong research groups within a number of research areas. Basin analysis with high level cross disciplinary research is an important focus area, and the position will have a key function in the basin analysis group. This group includes at present 4 associate professors/professors and a varying number of postdocs and technicians. Equipment for on- and offshore reflection seismic acquisition, processing and interpretation, various tools for logging of boreholes and rock mechanical experimental laboratories are available.

Qualifications:

The appointee must have a strong background within geophysics and its application to petroleum related problems. Another important qualification is the ability to integrate numerical modelling and applied geophysics. The department has a long tradition for industry cooperation and applicants both with an industrial and/or an academic background are welcome. Experience with cross disciplinary research is an advantage. The appointee is expected to teach courses within applied geophysics (e.g. signal processing and seismic acquisition and processing) at all university levels (BSc, MSc and PhD).

The appointee is expected to develop strong international collaboration and to attract funding and material support (data, software, equipment) from national and international sources. Attractive opportunities exist via the collaboration with other researchers in addressing the problem portfolio of the recently established Danish Hydrocarbon Research and Technology Centre funded by the Dansk Undergrunds Consortium.

Further information:

Further information can be obtained from Head of Department Søren Bom Nielsen, Department of Geoscience, Hoegh-Guldbergs Gade 2, DK-8000 Aarhus C by e-mail sbn@geo.au.dk or phone +45 2113 1499.

Formalities and salary range:

Science and Technology refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities. (in Danish).

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Deadline:

All applications must be made online and received by: 1 Marts 2015

Please apply online here

Aarhus University offers an inspiring education and research environment for 44,500 students and 11,500 members of staff, ensuring results of a high international standard. The budgeted turnover for 2014 amounts to DKK 6.2 billion. The university’s strategy and development contract are available at www.au.dk/en.

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3) Assistant Professor Structural Geology and Tectonics – North Carolina State University

The Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences (MEAS) at North Carolina State University (NC State) seeks to fill a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of assistant professor in structural geology and tectonics.

Possible research areas include, but are not limited to: rock mechanics, neotectonics, thermochronology, sedimentary basin analysis, plate kinematics and geodesy. Candidates that combine field observations with precision measurement techniques, numerical simulations, analogue models, or laboratory experiments are preferred, and applicants should have a strong interest in interdisciplinary collaborations across and beyond the geosciences. The start date of this position is 15 August 2015.

Review of applications will begin on 10 February 2015; the position will remain open until filled. Applications, including cover letters, curriculum vitae, teaching and research statements, and contact information for three references must be submitted online at https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/46132 (position number 46132).

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. degree in the geosciences or a related field. The successful candidate must demonstrate strong potential for outstanding accomplishments in research, research supervision, and teaching. They will be expected to teach an undergraduate-level course in structural geology, as well as other undergraduate and graduate classes commensurate with the candidate’s interest and expertise. An interest in participating in the Department’s capstone undergraduate geology field course also is desirable. MEAS places a high value on excellent instruction and the use of innovative teaching methods.

Located within the College of Sciences at NC State, MEAS is one of the largest interdisciplinary geoscience departments in the United States. Opportunities exist for disciplinary and interdisciplinary interactions with more than 30 marine, earth and atmospheric scientists. Additional information about the department and its facilities can be found on the web page: http://www.meas.ncsu.edu. NC State also hosts large programs in geotechnical and construction materials engineeringhttp://www.ce.ncsu.edu and has recently established the Center for Geospatial Analytics: http://geospatial.ncsu.edu.

Founded in 1887, NC State is a land-grant institution distinguished by its exceptional quality of research, teaching, extension, and public service.  Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, NC State is the largest university in North Carolina, with more than 34,000 students and 8,000 faculty and staff. National rankings consistently rate Raleigh and its surrounding region among the five best places in the country to live and work, with a highly educated workforce, moderate weather, reasonable cost of living, and a welcoming environment. A collaborative, supportive environment for business and innovation and research collaborations with area universities and the Research Triangle Park are compelling reasons for relocation to the area.  NC State is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or disability. Applications from women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged.

Inquires about the open position should be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Del Bohnenstiehl at drbohnen@ncsu.edu.

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4) Tenure-track faculty position at the assistant professor level in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the assistant professor level in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS), to begin in the Fall semester, 2015.

We seek applicants with expertise in disciplines that will support our geology programs as well as contribute to our growing environmental science programs through research, teaching, and the mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students. We are interested in geoscientists with a background in areas of soft rock geology such as sedimentology, stratigraphy, and basin analysis, as well as applicants in closely related disciplines including geomorphology, surface processes, and land-atmosphere interactions. Teaching responsibilities include undergraduate courses in sedimentology, stratigraphy, geomorphology, and graduate courses in the candidate’s area of expertise. Applicants with a strong field component to their research and teaching will be favorably regarded. A PhD in earth science is required at the time of appointment.

The Department programs include undergraduate degrees in environmental science, environmental studies, geology, geophysics, and meteorology. Masters and PhD degrees are granted in geoscience (with concentrations in geology, geophysics, and environmental geoscience) as well as in meteorology. For more details, visit the EAS website at www.slu.edu/x35834.xml.

All applications must be made online at http://jobs.slu.edu and must include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a two-page statement of teaching, research, and professional goals, and the names and complete contact information of at least four references. Review of applications will begin January 1, 2015, and will continue until the position is filled. Further inquiries may be sent to geosearch@eas.slu.edu.

Saint Louis University, a Catholic, Jesuit institution dedicated to student learning, research, and health care, is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer (AA/EOE), and encourages nomination and application of women and minorities. Additional information can be found at www.slu.edu.

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5) Post-doctoral research position investigating aseismic slip, earthquake occurrence and hazard 

The USGS Mendenhall post-doctoral research program has an opportunity for research into the conditions that lead to seismic versus aseismic faulting and the spatial and temporal interaction of fault slip modes, to advance our understanding of earthquake occurrence and earthquake hazard. It is a multidisciplinary opportunity involving seismology, deformation and geodesy, geophysics, experimental fault mechanics, and seismic hazard analysis. It is open to candidates from all of these fields. Possible research topics include but are not limited to:

1) Determining the extent that areas of coseismic and aseismic slip overlap, and the implications for forecasting future large earthquake ruptures.

2) Seismologic, deformational or laboratory constraints on the physical processes underlying transient fault slip, including ETS and the occurrence of foreshock sequences.

3) Better establishing the seismic moment from co-seismic slip below the ‘locked’ depth, scaling of such deep slip with ruptured area and the influence of deep slip on large earthquake stress drop and surface slip.

4) Relation of episodic slow slip to large earthquake occurrence, including improved observational and rheological constraints on the up-dip extent of ETS.

5) Improved observations of transitions between aseismic and seismic slip and their relation to temperature, depth, mineralogy, phase transformations, slip rate, strain rate and pore pressure.

6) Developing methods to use geodetically observable aseismic transients or associated foreshocks in monitoring and earthquake hazard, for example in short-term likelihood forecasts.

7) Constraints on the dynamic rheology of the near-trench extent of subduction megathrusts and the mechanics of co-seismic coupling among fault slip, ground motion and tsunamigenesis.

Application deadline: February 17th 2015

Position start dates: Start dates have not been finalized. At the present time they are projected to be between May 2015 and early 2016.

Research Advisors: Nick Beeler, (650) 329-4863, (360) 993-8987, nbeeler@usgs.gov; Jessica Murray, (650) 329-4864, jrmurray@usgs.gov; David Shelly, (650) 329-4024, dshelly@usgs.gov; Diane Moore, (650) 329-4825, dmoore@usgs.gov; David Lockner, (650) 329-4826, dlockner@usgs.gov; Evelyn Roeloffs, 360-993-8937, evelynr@usgs.gov.

Location: Menlo Park, California; Vancouver, Washington.

For general information on the Mendenhall program see:

http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/index.htm

and for a more detailed description of this opportunity (15-9) see :

http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/opps/2015/15-9%20Beeler.htm

Contact one of the research advisors directly to discuss possible application proposals.

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Please note, new job announcements (usually) will be distributed to the GeoPRISMS Listserv on the 1st and 15th of each month.

 

Sessions of interest at the 2015 EGU & SSA Meetings

Please see below for sessions of interest to the GeoPRISMS Community, taking place at the 2015 EGU General Assembly in Vienna, Austria (12-17 April) and the 2015 SSA Meeting in Pasadena, California (21-23 April)

EGU Abstract deadline is January 7, 2015, 13:00 Central European Time

SSA Abstract deadline is January 9, 2015, 5 PM PST
—————– EGU sessions—————–

TS5.1/GD5.5. The evolution and architecture of rifts and rifted passive margins: observations and modelling (co-organized)

The formation of rifted continental margins by extension of continental lithosphere leading to seafloor spreading is a complex and still poorly understood component of the plate tectonic cycle. New observations and modelling allow us to investigate the underlying processes. Key questions that need to be resolved include 1) factors that control the geometry and crustal architecture or rifted margins, 2) the role of strain localisation and strain partitioning throughout the rift history, 3) processes responsible for anomalous vertical motions during basin evolution such as phase changes or small scale convective instability of the mantle lithosphere, 4) fundamental controls on the magmatic or a-magmatic nature of rifts and passive margins, 5) interaction between surface processes, tectonics, and climate during rift-passive margin evolution. We encourage abstracts that offer new insights into crustal and lithospheric architecture and processes underlying rifting and passive margin formation as well as smaller scale studies of individual sedimentary basins, using constraints from observations and modelling.

Convenors: Ritske S. Huismans, Delphine Rouby, Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth, Sylvie Leroy, Jan Inge Faleide

Link to the session: http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2015/session/17510

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TS4.2/EMRP4.10/SM2.2. Mechanical Heterogeneity And Its Transient Evolution Along Fault Zones

Geophysical studies of recent well-monitored mega-earthquakes are able to reveal, with increasing resolution, the complex mechanical heterogeneities along faults (differential locking behavior, differential rupture behavior, rheological and structural variations, among others). Furthermore, observations of various transient events (afterslip, slow slip, tectonic tremors, low frequency earthquakes, viscoelastic relaxation) also evidence the temporal evolution of fault systems. While fault heterogeneities seem to have first order controls on the pattern of strain accumulation/release and carry fundamental information about the mechanical setting of faults, we have limited physical and mechanical understanding of what causes these heterogeneities, their kinematics and transient evolution between major events, and how they ultimately influence the largest seismic events.

We aim to integrate studies from various disciplines in order to compare different observations and provide insights into the physical and transient properties of fault heterogeneities and their relation to earthquakes.

Contributions from geologists, seismologists, geodesists, experimentalists, and modellers are invited, especially studies from recent great earthquakes.

Some suggested topics are:

Roughness/asperities/geometry of faults

Geodetic records of fault slip in different periods of the earthquake cycle

Co-seismic slip inferred from seismic records of various frequencies

Spatiotemporal variation of seismicity and transient events, seismic vs. aseismic slip

Seismic and electromagnetic attributes around faults from tomography

Relation between fault heterogeneity and rock physical/rheological properties

Numerical modelling of fault zone kinematics

Conveners: Marcos Moreno, Hiroki Sone, Stephen Hicks

Link to session: http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2015/session/17509

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TS6.5/GMPV4.7. Crustal construction processes from the Backarc-Arc to the Forearc and the origin of ophiolites of belts and subduction arcs.

This session aims at gathering 4 different communities that work on related problems but that typically do not share discussions.

We would like to gather the communities working on:

1) Ophiolites in Alpine-Himalayan settings.

2) Ophiolites in subduction-related Pacific arcs.

3) Crustal structure in Back-arc, Arc, and Forearc settings of subduction zones.

4) Crustal structure formed at Mid Ocean Ridges.

DEBATE SCOPE

Based on their tectonic history and chemistry the majority of Alpine-Himalayan Ophiolites are interpreted as formed in a Back-arc to Arc setting, but the origin of some Alpine-Himalayan Ophiolites in a Mid Ocean Ridge setting is also under debate. In contrast, ophiolitic complexes found in Pacific arcs are commonly interpreted as created in Arc to Forearc settings, and often related to subduction initiation processes.

It is important to recall that much of what has been learned from ophiolite field studies in the last ~50 years has been widely used to interpret the structure of the oceanic lithosphere flooring most of today’s oceans, and that was formed at oceanic spreading centers, mainly at Mid Ocean Ridges, where in fact most ophioltes may not have been formed.

Interestingly, the comparatively abundant studies of the crustal structure formed at Mid Ocean Ridge have been rarely compared to observations of Back-arc, Arc, and Forearc settings, where most ophiolites were arguably created.

We would like to incite an across-communities discussion of those and related open topics, and encourage contributions that study processes of mountain building (e.g. Alpine-Himalayan) and/or subduction at arcs (e.g. Pacific arcs) and relate them to models of ophiolite formation. In addition we encourage presentations that study active processes of oceanic lithosphere creation in Back-arc, Arc, and Forearc systems of subduction zones, as well as crustal accretion at Mid Ocean Ridges before obduction and relate/compare them to the structure of ophiolites. We also welcome contributions that debate on oceanic lithosphere creation and/or ophiolite formation on any scope, time and space scale that contribute to the currently little explored debate on the contrasting views of the different communities.

Conveners: C. R. Ranero, C. Garrido, C. Faccenna, P. Agard.

Link to session: http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2015/session/17652

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TS8.2/EMRP4.4/GD1.2/GM1.7/GMPV7.12/PS9.10/SSS12.17. 200 years of modelling of geological processes

Convener: Vincent Strak

Co-conveners: Joao Duarte, Wouter Schellart, Fabien Graveleau, Filipe Rosas, Susanne Buiter

Analogue and numerical modelling are an essential tool – and possibly the most successful tool – to study the evolution of long-term geological processes. Since the first publication of laboratory experiments by Sir James Hall (1815) to model folds observed in geological strata two centuries ago, modelling has seen major advances and breakthroughs. The emergence of new techniques in the laboratory, the advent of the scaling theory (Hubbert, 1937), and the development of numerical algorithms, codes and fast computers have all contributed to create the discipline of modelling as we know it today. Resulting studies have focused on a large range of geological processes such as mantle convection, subduction, mountain building, rifting, accretionary wedge processes, crustal deformation, interaction between tectonics and surface processes, and volcanic processes. This session aims to present both historical overviews and new studies on geodynamic and tectonic modelling of geological processes from the crustal scale to the planetary scale, providing a unique opportunity to celebrate the 200th anniversary of modelling of geological processes.

Geodynamics sessions:

GD1 – Geodynamics General Sessions

GD1.1.Open Session in Geodynamics (posters only)

GD2 – Crust, Lithosphere, and Asthenosphere: Observations and models

GD2.1/GMPV7.8/SM6.10/TS9.4. Formation and evolution of the ocean plates

GD2.2/GMPV3.4. Geodynamics of continental crust and upper mantle, and the nature of mantle discontinuities

GD2.3/GMPV3.6. Mantle roots of deep seated magmas: origin and evolution of layered mantle lithosphere in different geodynamic setting

GD3 – Mantle Dynamics: Linking deep and shallow processes

GD3.1/EMRP4.16/GMPV3.5/PS9.4/SM6.13. Mantle dynamics in the Earth and other planetary bodies

GD3.2. Lower mantle heterogeneity – linking slab and LLSVP dynamics

GD3.3/TS7.3. Linking plate tectonics and mantle dynamics through the records of lithospheric motions and deformation

GD3.4/GM3.5/SM6.12/TS3.9. Topo-Europe: Linking mantle dynamics and shallow processes

GD4 – Core Dynamics

GD4.1/EMRP4.14/PS9.8. Earth’s core structure and dynamics: observations, models, experiments

GD4.2/EMRP4.15/PS9.9. Boundary control on the geodynamo

GD5 – Plate Tectonics and Geodynamics

GD5.1/EMRP4.17/GMPV7.7. Subduction dynamics from surface to deep mantle

GD5.2/EMRP4.18/SM6.6/TS6.11. Observations and modeling of subduction-driven deformation in the overlying plate and related feedbacks on the subduction process

GD5.3/GMPV7.10/SM6.11/TS6.10. Orogenesis and geodynamics related to the collision of large- and micro-plates

GD5.4/TS5.7. Mantle dynamics, rifting and post-breakup evolution of passive continental margins: Geological and geophysical observations and models with emphasis on the Atlantic Ocean

GD6 – Regional Geodynamics.

GD6.1/SM6.9/TS7.4. The Arctic connection – plate tectonics and mantle dynamics in the North Atlantic, North Pacific and the High Arctic

GD6.2/CR2.5. Geodynamic evolution of the polar regions and interaction with the cryosphere

GD7 – Experimental/Theoretical Studies on Earth Materials Relevant to Geodynamics

GD7.1/EMRP4.19/TS8.10. Long-term rheological behavior of the crust and mantle inferred from observations and models at laboratory and geological time and spatial scales

GD7.2/EMRP4.20/SM5.4. Anisotropy from crust to core: Observations, models and implications

GD7.3/EMRP4.21/TS2.10. Experimental/Theoretical Studies on Earth Materials Relevant to Geodynamics

GD8 – Integrated Geophysical Observations and Modeling in Geodynamics

GD8.1/TS8.9. Recent advances in computational geodynamics

GD8.2/EMRP4.22/GMPV3.7. Compositional geodynamics: The role of phase transitions, partial melting, and metamorphic reactions in mantle convection and plate tectonics

GD8.3/ERE4.5. Geodynamics in service of petroleum and mineral exploration

GD8.4/CR2.6/ERE3.9. Thermal heterogeneity of continental and oceanic lithosphere: from borehole data to regional and global thermal models (PICO Session)
—————– SSA sessions—————–

Session Title: How Reliable Are Reconstructions and Models of Surface-Rupturing Earthquakes?

Historic surface-rupturing earthquakes have demonstrated a potential for complex, discontinuous rupture traces. With this in mind, how well do reconstructions and models of past ruptures from paleoseismology, geomorphologic slip-rate studies, or finite fault models and forecasts of future surface-rupturing earthquakes [e.g. UCERF3 (CA), WGUEP (UT), J-SHIS (Japan)] realistically describe the complexity of surface ruptures? Are earthquake magnitudes and rupture lengths from empirically-based models consistent with individual field-based observations (e.g. timing, displacement) of past events)? This session will highlight advancements in earthquake science that improve our understanding of fault segmentation, rupture dynamics, distributed deformation, along-strike and down-dip fault-slip gradients, and related seismic hazard topics. We welcome abstracts from a wide spectrum of scientists, including paleoseismologic studies of Quaternary-active structures, detailed studies of modern ruptures, and dynamic or simulator models of rupture scenarios. We invite discussion of new, innovative approaches that characterize active structures and earthquakes using field-based techniques, computer modeling, and remote sensing. The goal of this session will be to consider ways to improve the documentation of past earthquakes and to advance our estimates of earthquake probabilities.

Conveners: Scott Bennett (USGS Golden), Kate Scharer (USGS Pasadena), Julian Lozos (Stanford/USGS Menlo Park)

Invited Speakers: James Dolan (USC), Eileen Evans (USGS), Jacqui Gilchrist (UC Riverside)

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Session Title: Slow Earthquakes: Diversity in Fault Motion and Their Implications in Earthquake Dynamics

Earthquake faults show a variety of motion – from slow slip and associated tremor to supershear rupture. Slow earthquakes emerge as a major player in releasing and redistributing stress over much of the seismic cycles. They are observed globally over multiple spatial and temporal scales. A unifying theory connecting this diversity and its implications on the fault dynamics, however, remains elusive. Moreover, the factors (fault properties, rheology, frictional and material heterogeneity etc.) controlling varied fault slip behaviors and their interplay are poorly understood. We invite abstracts that highlight different aspects of this broad spectrum of fault slip including, but not limited to, slow earthquakes and associated phenomena. We are interested in slow earthquakes in all forms and sizes – from episodic tremor and slip in the subduction zones to seismic swarms operating in smaller scales. Studies encompassing multiple styles of fault slip (slow and fast) and their interactions in space and time are encouraged. We solicit new observations and analyses from all tectonic settings using seismology, geodesy, numerical simulations, laboratory and field experiments.

Conveners: Abhijit Ghosh (University of California-Riverside), Christodoulos Kyriakopoulos (University of California-Riverside), Hongfeng Yang (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)