Sessions of Interest at the 2015 AGU Fall Meeting

Please see below for sessions of interest to the GeoPRISMS Community, taking place at the 2015 AGU Fall Meeting, December 14-18 in San Francisco. Note, AGU abstract submission deadline is August 5, 2015.

See http://fallmeeting.agu.org/2015/

Submit your abstract: http://fallmeeting.agu.org/2015/abstract-submissions/

S001: Advances in understanding slow slip and transitional regions
V003: A Tangled Web? Generation and transport of fluids, volatiles and melts in subduction zones from source to surface
V012: Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry and Biology of Serpentinization Processes on Earth and Other Planets
V014: Heterogeneity in the Earth’s interior: the on-going processes of differentiation
V016: High-temperature thermochronology: theory, analysis, and application to Earth processes
V038: Transport of Volatiles from Mantle to Surface: Insights on Diffusion, Exsolution and Migration of Fluids in Magmatic Environments from Natural Samples and Experiments
V041: Volatile distribution and cycling in the mantle
DI010: Multidisciplinary Views of the Lithosphere-Asthenosphere Boundary and Lithospheric Discontinuities
EP021: Mass Extraction and Grain Size Fractionation in Sediment Routing Systems: Tracking Sediment from Upland Catchments to the Deep Ocean
T034: New Insights into the Active Deformation and Tectonic Evolution of the Caribbean Plate
T045: Tectonic, magmatic, and geodynamic studies of extensional processes: Applications in Iceland and the Nubia-Somalia-Arabia plate system
MR018: Pore fluids, faulting, and (a)seismicity

—————-

S001: Advances in understanding slow slip and transitional regions

Session ID#: 8822

For investigators working on slow slip or transitional regions of faults, please consider submitting an abstract to our AGU session:

Slow, aseismic slip provides insight into areas of faults where frictional properties transition from unstable stick-slip behavior to stable sliding. Yet our current understanding of the mechanics of slow slip events cannot explain either their broad diversity, both temporal, ranging from days to years, and spatial, or their implications for earthquake hazards. Additionally, slow slip events often exhibit complex interactions with tectonic tremor or earthquake swarms. Slow slip events also load their surrounding environment, including locked seismic faults, and recent evidence suggests that some large earthquakes were preceded by slow slip signals, indicating possible forecasting applications. This session welcomes studies of slow slip observations, including interactions between aseismic slip, tremor, and earthquakes. We also welcome studies of the mechanical properties or physics of slow slip areas, including modeling and laboratory work. In addition, studies relating slow slip processes to seismic hazards are welcomed.

This session is a co-organized session between Seismology, Geodesy, and Tectonophysics.

Conveners:

Noel M Bartlow (University of California San Diego)

Lucile Bruhat (Stanford University)

Heidi Houston (University of Washington)

—————-

V003: A Tangled Web? Generation and transport of fluids, volatiles and melts in subduction zones from source to surface

Session ID#: 9802

We seek to integrate multidisciplinary efforts to advance our understanding of the generation and transport of volatiles and melts in subduction zones to further comprehend the deep volatile cycle and arc magma genesis. New geodynamic models and geophysical imaging techniques continue to improve our understanding of melt and fluid distribution in the mantle. Ground-truth evidence for these models and images is provided through geochemical, petrologic, geochronologic and field studies of lavas erupted on the surface, and the mantle and crust from which magmas are derived and through which they must pass. Thus the tangled web of sub-arc magmatic and volatile cycling is opening to provide a sharper view. This interdisciplinary session invites submissions from geochemistry, petrology, geophysics, modeling, experiments and field geology that address the temporal and spatial evolution of subduction outfluxes, evidence for sub-arc mantle wedge processes and geochemical exchange between Earth’s reservoirs.

Conveners:

Julia Ribeiro (Rice University)

Christy Till (Arizona State University)

Horst Marschall (WHOI)

Leif Karlstrom (University of Oregon)

—————-

V012: Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry and Biology of Serpentinization Processes on Earth and Other Planets

Session ID#: 8394

This session will focus on the most recent discoveries of the complex hydration reactions of ultramafic rocks in which olivine and pyroxene are reacted to form rocks that are dominated by serpentine, brucite, talc, magnetite and carbonates and are associated with H2 and/or CH4 seeps. Serpentinization involves volume expansion, exothermic heat release, and crustal deformation, coupled with changes in fluid chemistry and seismic properties of the host rock. New insights into how serpentinization reactions proceed and importance of serpentinization as an energy source for microorganisms have been developed from studies on ophiolites and hydrothermal systems.

We invite investigations that concern different aspects of serpentinization such as physical, chemical or biological processes, petrology, fluid-rock processes, mechanics, kinetics of the reactions, volatile transfer (CO2, H2O, O2, SO2), or studies on carbon sequestration and abiotic generation of methane on natural, experimental and numerically modeled systems on Earth and planetary environments.

Conveners:

Aida Farough (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)

Robert P Lowell (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)

Jeffrey Alt (University of Michigan)

—————-

V014: Heterogeneity in the Earth’s interior: the on-going processes of differentiation

Session ID#: 8060

Earth’s interior is compositionally heterogeneous owing to differentiation processes from early in Earth’s history and through the ongoing recycling of lithosphere by modern plate tectonics.  The nature and distribution of these heterogeneities have implications for the convective vigor of Earth’s mantle, its rhealogical structure, processes of magma generation, and the volatile inventory of the whole Earth system.  This session aims for a multi-disciplinary exploration of the nature and fate of mantle heterogeneities in a convective regime, role of heterogeneties in the melting process across tectonic settings, residence times for chemical heterogeneities in the mantle, and the evidence for primordial reservoirs in the deep Earth.  We encourage contributions from all fields including field observations, analytical geochemistry, experimental geophysics and petrology, and numerical modeling.

Our confirmed invited speakers for the session are:

Kate Kiseeva – University of Oxford

Mingming Li – Arizona State University

Sujoy Mukhopadhyay – University of California, Davis

Jackie Li – University of Michigan

We look forward to your submission.

With warm regards,

Fred A Davis (Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, United States)

Sujoy Ghosh (Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India)

Ananya Mallik (Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Bayreuth, Germany)

—————-

V016: High-temperature thermochronology: theory, analysis, and application to Earth processes

Session ID#: 7950

Over the past two decades, applications of low-temperature (< 350 ºC) thermochronologic techniques have expanded to include measurement of cooling histories imparted by near surface erosional, burial and tectonic events. Recent studies of more slowly diffusing daughter nuclides within accessory phases have pushed thermochronology to the realm of higher temperatures, with applications focused on measuring cooling rates at deeper crustal levels. Coupled with cooling rates derived from trace element diffusion speedometry, high-temperature thermochronology has the potential to greatly advance understanding of the thermal, and thus geophysical, evolution of the middle and lower crust.

This session will highlight recent advances in assessing thermal histories at greater depths with the Earth’s crust. We encourage abstracts relating to theoretical, analytical, and applied advances in the field of high-temperature thermochronology and geospeedometry.

Conveners:

Terrance Blackburn (UC Santa Cruz)

Andrew Smye (University of Oxford)

Christopher Spencer (Curtin University)

—————-

V038: Transport of Volatiles from Mantle to Surface: Insights on Diffusion, Exsolution and Migration of Fluids in Magmatic Environments from Natural Samples and Experiments

Session ID#: 8051

The transfer of volatiles (H2O, CO2, Cl, S, F) between reservoirs within the mantle, subducted oceanic crust and continental crust 1) influences magmatic processes, 2) modifies trace element and isotope signatures and 3) may change redox conditions. The physical and chemical properties of magmas are significantly influenced by diffusion and exsolution of volatiles during their ascent from the upper mantle through the crust to the surface. For instance, magma degassing may initiate volcanic eruptions, modulates magma viscosity (especially along the conduit) and, thus, affects the eruptive style. This session seeks insights from natural and laboratory observations involving volatile transfer and degassing. Cross-disciplinary studies (e.g. petrology with geophysics and/or geochemistry) providing temporal constraints, and/or involving volatile solubility, fluid and melt composition, isotope signatures and redox conditions are especially welcome.

Confirmed Invited speakers:

Iona M. McIntosh – JAMSTEC, Japan

Kristina J. Walowski – University of Oregon, USA

James D. Webster – American Museum of Natural History, NY, USA

Conveners:

Sarah B. Cichy (Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; scichy@asu.edu)

Adrian Fiege (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; afiege@umich.edu)

Thomas Giachetti (Rice University, Houston, TX, USA; tg10@rice.edu)

—————-

V041: Volatile distribution and cycling in the mantle

Session ID#: 7967

Session Description:

The amount, distribution and speciation of volatiles (including H, B, C, N, S and halogens) in the Earth’s mantle are crucial for constraining melting and metasomatism, electrical, thermal and seismic properties, as well as geodynamics. How these volatiles transfer from the crust and the exosphere to the deep Earth and back, or whether some of them originate from primordial reservoirs, is critical to understanding volatile cycling through time and Earth’s planetary origin. We invite contributions that address these issues via natural samples, experiments or models from the scale of minerals to the whole planet. Projects centered on any tectonic setting and mantle depth (from the lower to the upper mantle) and geological time (Archean to present) are welcomed.

Invited speakers:

Rita Parai (Carnegie)

Sylvia-Monique Thomas (University of Nevada, Las Vegas)

Nathalie Bolfan-Casanova (Université Blaise Pascal)

Sincerely,

Anne Peslier

Jaime Barnes

Marion Le Voyer

Jessica Warren

—————-

DI010: Multidisciplinary Views of the Lithosphere-Asthenosphere Boundary and Lithospheric Discontinuities

Session ID#: 8001

There has been a rapid expansion in the number of geophysical studies that detect evidence for abrupt changes in the physical properties at the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) and at additional boundaries within the cratonic and oceanic lithosphere. These mid-lithosphere discontinuities (MLD) and LAB associated boundaries are being discovered in many localities across the globe, though the mechanism(s) underlying the drop in seismic wavespeed, changes in electrical conductivity, and relationship of these observed properties to a rheological transition remain enigmatic. A multidisciplinary approach is fundamental for unraveling the role(s) of partial melt, dissolved water, seismic anisotropy, and/or mineral composition at both the LAB and MLDs. This research is yielding new insights into the growth, stability, alteration, and destruction of plates. Our session welcomes contributions from geophysics (seismology. magnetotellurics, gravity, rheology), geology, geochemistry, mineral physics, and geodynamics that investigate the nature of the LAB/MLD.

Conveners:

Andy Cai (University of Maryland)

Chris Havlin (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory)

Anna Kelbert (USGS)

Nicholas Schmerr (University of Maryland)

—————-

EP021: Mass Extraction and Grain Size Fractionation in Sediment Routing Systems: Tracking Sediment from Upland Catchments to the Deep Ocean

Session ID#: 8927

Sediment routing systems carve and construct land- and sea-scapes through erosion, transport and deposition of sediment. Quantifying controls on mass extraction through selective deposition and grain size sorting within sediment transport systems is of paramount importance for predicting geohazards, natural resources, and land/sea-scape evolution. Interactions between fluid, topography and sediment in transport systems subject to steady or changing boundary conditions result in a complex array of local and down-system variability in grain-size. Inverting the resulting stratigraphic record to isolate the key variables can be tremendously challenging. This session will focus on building links between grain size trends, sediment transport dynamics, landscape evolution and basin-scale forcings over diverse spatiotemporal scales. We solicit contributions that use field-based datasets, experimental/ numerical models, and statistical methods to quantify grain-size patterns at a range of scales (from dunes and bars to whole continental margins), and/or temporal changes in grain-size patterns preserved in the stratigraphic record.

Conveners:

Zane R Jobe (Shell Houston)

Anjali M Fernandes (Tulane University of Louisiana)

Nick C Howes (Shell, Houston)

Elizabeth A Hajek (Penn State University)

—————-

T034: New Insights into the Active Deformation and Tectonic Evolution of the Caribbean Plate

Session ID#: 7814

This session seeks to discuss the current state of knowledge of Caribbean plate geodynamics, kinematics and tectonic evolution. Recent studies have quantified how strain is accommodated along the plate boundary, have been able to better constraint geological hazards, and have postulated new models to explain its tectonic evolution. The Caribbean Plate is tectonically active with subduction zones, volcanism, and transpressional zones that produce large seismic and volcanic hazards. The densification of seismic and geodetic instrumentation, capacity building, international collaborations, and collection of new data sets during the past decade are improving our understanding of the Caribbean plate. We seek contributions that use geophysical (seismic, geodetic, remote sensing), numerical and/or analog modeling, and geological techniques to understand strain accommodation along active faults, earthquake, tsunami and volcanic hazards, subduction processes, deformation history, and plate kinematics. This session also encourages contributions on future research directions on tectonics of the Caribbean Plate.

Conveners:

Daniel A. Laó-Dávila (Oklahoma State University)

Alberto M. López (University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez)

—————-

T045: Tectonic, magmatic, and geodynamic studies of extensional processes: Applications in Iceland and the Nubia-Somalia-Arabia plate system

Session ID#: 8278

We invite contributions focused on understanding tectonic, magmatic, and geodynamic processes during rifting at various stages in development with specific emphasis on case studies in Iceland and the Nubia-Somalia-Arabia plate system. Active extension and volcanism along the East African Rift System as well as the adjoining Red Sea and Gulf of Aden spreading centers provide archetypal environments with which to examine both incipient rifts and recently-established seafloor spreading centers. Iceland offers a unique opportunity to directly observe the subaerial mid-Atlantic ridge – a fully-developed spreading center. We welcome petrological, geochemical, and computational investigations of mantle plume dynamics, extension-related volcanism and volatile flux, and magma supply, generation, and ascent. We also welcome geophysical, geodetic, geodynamic modeling, and geological research to better understand lithosphere-asthenosphere behavior, localization of deformation, mantle structure, structural inheritance, strain partitioning between brittle faulting and sub-surface creep, interplay between faulting and magmatism, and time-dependent plate-boundary deformation.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

Freysteinn Sigmundsson (University of Iceland)

Wendy Nelson (Towson University)

Cynthia Ebinger (University of Rochester)

Oliver Shorttle (University of Cambridge)

Conveners:

Cory Reed (Missouri University of Science & Technology)

D. Sarah Stamps (Virginia Tech)

Tyrone Rooney (Michigan State University)

Ian Bastow (Imperial College)

We look forward to your submissions, and hope to see you in San Francisco!

Best regards,

Cory, Sarah, Tyrone, and Ian

—————-

MR018: Pore fluids, faulting, and (a)seismicity

Session ID#: 7583

Recent studies highlight the important role pore fluids play in controlling fault slip and seismicity. Fluids are hypothesized to be first-order controls on: slow slip in subduction zones, dynamic weakening of mature plate boundary faults, and triggered seismicity associated with fluid injection. We invite contributions that investigate the mechanical and chemical effects of pore fluids on rock deformation and fault slip. Approaches that merge results of rock deformation experiments and field observations to understand geophysical observations, as well as those that use geophysical observations to infer mechanical processes, are particularly encouraged.

Invited Speakers:

Nick Beeler

Bill Ellsworth

Stephen Miller

Paul Segall

Conveners:

Melodie E French (University of Maryland)

John D Platt (Carnegie Institution for Science)

David L Goldsby (University of Pennsylvania)

Thomas M Mitchell (University College London)

 
——————————————–

powered by phpList 3.0.12, © phpList ltd

 

Job Postings: Postdoctoral positions


1) Postdoctoral position in subduction zone geodynamics – University of Oxford

2) Postdoctoral Fellow in Geodynamics – Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston

3) Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) FY2016 Recruitment of Postdoctoral Fellows

———————————–

1) Oxford postdoctoral position in subduction-zone geodynamics

This position is based at the University of Oxford in the research group of Prof Richard Katz (http://foalab.earth.ox.ac.uk).  It is co-supervised by Dr. John Rudge of the University of Cambridge and includes collaborations with the University of Waterloo, Canada, and Rice University, Texas.

Quoting from

http://www.earth.ox.ac.uk/vacancies/postdoctoral_research_assistant_in_subduction-zone_geodynamics

Grade 7: £30,434 – £37,394 p.a. (with a discretionary range to £40,847)

Fixed term contract: 2.5 years

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford. The project is funded for two and a half years by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) as part of the Mantle Volatiles Consortium. It is aimed at developing and interpreting numerical models of coupled magma/mantle flow, thermal and chemical transport in subduction zones.

The successful candidate will be responsible for working in a team to develop finite-element based numerical simulations of two-phase flow, volatile-enriched melting, and geochemical transport in subduction zones. S/he must be able to interpret model behavior in terms of comparisons with a broad range of relevant, published, chemical and physical observations. S/he should be prepared to interact with geophysicists, geologists and geochemists who have related interests, and should be eager to communicate results at international scientific meetings and publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Candidates must have a PhD in the Earth sciences, mathematics or physics, including but not limited to geophysics and geodynamics.  Knowledge and/or experience in development of finite-element based models is desirable; experience with numerical modeling more generally is required. Candidates should be ambitious and motivated; they should be able to effectively manage their work-load.

For further details of the responsibilities/duties, please see job description. This is a fixed term position for 2.5 years. Candidates should apply online by 12 noon on Friday 14 August 2015. Interviews will be held in mid-September 2015.

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online. To apply for this role and for further details, including the job description and selection criteria, please click on the link below:

https://www.recruit.ox.ac.uk/pls/hrisliverecruit/erq_jobspec_version_4.jobspec?p_id=119132

Committed to equality and valuing diversity.

Enquiries to richard.katz@earth.ox.ac.uk

———————————–

2) Postdoctoral position in subduction zone geodynamics – University of Oxford

Description:

Postdoctoral researcher sought for independent research in subduction dynamics. This could include 2D/3D numerical modeling of slab driven mantle flow, slab-mantle coupling, slab-driven overriding plate deformation, numerical solvers for complex rheological viscous flow problems, and/or 3D visualization of mantle flow in subduction zones. Research could also be in related fields that constrain/improve the construction, running, or analysis of numerical simulations of subduction. Related experience could include seismology, particularly that applied to the interpretation/constraints on geodynamic models, such as seismic tomography or shear wave splitting. Related experience could also include numerical algorithms, optimization, designing scalable software, or three-dimensional data visualization, with the interest to apply methods to geodynamics.

Position Information:

$45,000 USD/year for 1 year, with the possibility of renewal. Position could start as early at September 1st, 2015.

Minimum Qualifications:

Ph.D. in the Geosciences (Geophysics and/or Geology), Computational Science, or Mathematics.

Desired Skills:

Experience running or working with numerical models of subduction. Experience with UNIX, High Performance Computing, and/or C. Preference is for modeling experience with the Citcom* family of codes, but the researcher can use their preferred code, as independent research is welcome. If not a numerical modeler by trade, must have experience and/or interest in collaborating with geodynamicists.

Application Materials:

(a) Cover Letter
(b) Curriculum Vitae
(c) Short Statement of Research Interests

(d) Contact Information for 3 references  (Name, address, email)

Please Send Application Materials as a Single PDF by July 25th to:

Margarete Jadamec

Email: mjadamec@central.uh.edu

———————————–

3) Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) FY2016 Recruitment of Postdoctoral Fellows

FY2016 Recruitment of Postdoctoral Fellows

The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) wants to help talented young researchers who have completed promising Ph.D. theses to develop their scientific excellence in the fields of ocean and earth sciences. For this purpose, JAMSTEC has established an international postdoctoral fellowship programme. It is intended that research grants will be provided to successful applicants, which will enable them to work independently on research topics of their choosing: \1,000,000 for the first fiscal year and \500,000 for each of the second and third years. During the contract period, they will have access to the necessary facilities and equipment at JAMSTEC.

Successful applicants are expected to join our institutes on April 1, 2016 in Yokosuka, Yokohama, Kochi, or Mutsu, Japan.

Applicants are required to have been awarded or expect to have obtained a Ph.D. in a related field by the date of employment. In addition, no more than 5 years can have passed between the last day of the fiscal year in which the applicants obtained a Ph.D. and the date of employment.

Annual salary (paid in 1/12 equal monthly payments) JPY 5,250,000

*There will be no raise, bonus, or retirement allowance.

Working Conditions and Contract Period:

(1) Number of positions: 5 JAMSTEC Postdoctoral Fellow positions
(2) Type of contract: Fixed-term employee
(3) Working Hours: Discretionary labor system

(4) Contract Period: Period of employment is from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017. 1 contract period is maximum 1 fiscal year.  The contract period can be renewed but the total contract period is maximum 3 fiscal years  (until March 31, 2019).

Required documents must be sent to JAMSTEC by POST on or before July 21, 2015.

For further information, please visit our website:

http://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/about/recruit/jinji_20150721.html

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Human Resources Division II,
Human Resources Department,
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
Tel: +81-46-867-9598   Fax: +81-46-967-9095
E-mail: jinji2@jamstec.go.jp
———————————–
Please note, new job announcements (usually) will be distributed to the GeoPRISMS Listserv on the 1st and 15th of each month.

Call for presentations: Workshop on Slow Earthquakes 2015 in Nagoya, Japan


Dear all,

We are going to have an international workshop on slow earthquakes on 24-26 September 2015 at the Higashiyama campus, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan. In this workshop, we focus not only on the understanding of “slow earthquakes”, but also on the relationship between slow earthquakes and megathrust earthquakes. We welcome any topic related to slow earthquakes such as, observations, geological field surveys, laboratory experiments, numerical modeling, theoretical studies, and so on.

Date: 24-26 September, 2015

Venue: Environmental Studies Hall, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

Registration fee: none

Support for travel expense for speakers: partial support available (not all of the requests will be accepted; please send a CV and a statement of interest to H. Hirose (hitoshi.hirose@ruby.kobe-u.ac.jp) if you want to apply)

Please submit title of your presentation at:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kGIbzlmDm21OfFeScIIIQCTM5sWUgMpF7BydW9JjcZ4/viewform

Deadline for travel expense support applicants: August 7, 2015

Deadline for those who do not need a travel expense support: August 28, 2015

This workshop is supported by Cooperative Research Programs of ERI The University of Tokyo and DPRI Kyoto University.

For more information about this workshop, visit:

https://sites.google.com/site/wssloweqs2015/

We look forward to your submission and seeing you in Nagoya,

Hitoshi Hirose, Yoshihiro Ito, Aitaro Kato, Kazushige Obara

Tectonics Workshop postponed


WORKSHOP POSTPONED:

The NSF-sponsored workshop on Future Directions in Tectonics, to be held in Madison, WI on July 22-24, has been postponed until May, 2016.

We received a small number of interested responses to the original workshop invitation, due to short leeway time and busy summer schedules. Many others contacted us expressing interest in the workshop, but regretfully could not attend given travel that had already been scheduled.

We believe it is important to have a critical mass of scientists at this workshop that fully represents the broad tectonics community, and to ensure that potential participants have ample time to arrange their schedules. The organizing committee was concerned that a small number of participants would prevent us from attaining the goals of this important vision-forming event, hence the need to reschedule.

We have received significant positive feedback and strong community support for this workshop, and we feel that rescheduling it for spring 2016 will enable more people to attend and for more comprehensive planning of the workshop structure.

We continue to welcome comments and suggestions via the website listed below. These comments will be used in forming a vision of the workshop content and structure. We will also hold town-hall meetings at the 2015 GSA and AGU national meetings to solicit community input for planning the workshop.

Please provide comments on this workshop at the following website:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1lPWP4hBWSSAPJJFV3BaHzo8jwEEHPOSNwLICxzdiPKk/viewform

We apologize for any inconvenience that results from this change in schedule, but hope that it will ultimately better serve the community than moving forward with short notice on such an important event.

A modified announcement and call for applications for the May, 2016 workshop will be coming soon.

Sincerely,

Workshop Organizers: R. Allmendinger, M. Clark, B. Dorsey, P. Kapp, K. Mahan, J. SpotilaV

ENAM Community Seismic Data Set now available


Scientists of the Eastern North American Margin (ENAM) Community Seismic Experiment (CSE) gathered marine seismic data along several 2-D lines offshore North Carolina in September and October 2014 using the acoustic source of the R/V Marcus Langseth and ocean-bottom seismometers of the US OBS Instrument Pool that were deployed from the R/V Endeavor. More information on this project can be found on the GeoPRISMS web site for the Eastern North American Margin (ENAM) primary site (/initiatives-sites/rie/enam/), including a web link to download the seismic data from the R/V Marcus Langseth and the OBS data from the R/V Endeavor. The air-gun shots from the R/V Marcus Langseth were also recorded by an array of land seismic stations from IRIS/PASSCAL in the adjacent coastal plain of the ENAM CSE work area. The onshore-offshore data have now been released, and they are available from the LDEO/UTIG Academic Seismic Portal at:

http://www-udc.ig.utexas.edu/sdc/cruise.php?cruiseIn=en546

Processed Endeavor OBS data can be downloaded from the Academic Seismic Portal as well at:

http://www.ig.utexas.edu/sdc/cruise.php?cruiseIn=en546

For more information on the ENAM Community Seismic Experiment, visit http://www.ig.utexas.edu/enam/

Field opportunity for EarthScope seismic refraction project in Georgia


In July-August 2015, a team of scientists will collect seismic refraction data in Georgia as a part of an NSF-Earthscope project to study the relationship between extension, magmatism and an ancient suture beneath the South Georgia Basin. We think that this project will yield exciting new information on the geological history of the southeastern US, which was at the center of some of the biggest tectonic events to shape North America.

The field work: We are looking for volunteers to help us collect these data.  This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in acquiring seismic refraction data and learn about this technique and the tectonic history of the southeastern US. We will acquire seismic refraction data along of two profiles in eastern Georgia in late summer 2015. Geophones spaced at ~100-250 m will record a series of 200-2000 lb explosive shots (the seismic sources). Volunteers would be involved in deploying and recovering geophones, and will have the chance to see some of the shots.

Timing: Our planned dates for the program are July 29 – Aug 15. Ideally, we are looking for people who can participate for the entire program. However, even if you cannot participate for the full time, we may still be able to use your help!

Travel costs and living expenses: We will cover all of your expenses during the field work and your travel to/from the field area. We also plan to give a couple of lectures during the field program on active source seismology and tectonics of this region.

Please see our website for more information: www.LDEO.columbia.edu/~djs/sugar

If you are interested in participating, please email Donna Shillington (djs@ldeo.columbia.edu) with a short CV, a few sentences about your interest in the field work, and the dates that you are available.

Job Postings: Faculty Position, Staff Scientist Position, Post-doc Fellowship


1) Faculty position in petrology – University of New Mexico

2) Wiess Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship – Rice University, Department of Earth Science

3) Staff Scientist Position – IODP at Texas A&M University

———————————–

1) Faculty position in petrology – University of New Mexico

The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) and the Institute of Meteoritics (IOM) at the University of New Mexico invite applications for a tenure track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the field of Petrology. The position is a 9-month joint appointment with duties split equally between EPS and IOM. The position comes with a reduced teaching load to accommodate a high level of research-related activities. We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated research activities in both terrestrial and planetary topics and who possess skills necessary to lead the integrated IOM/EPS experimental petrology laboratory facilities. The University of New Mexico is the largest and most comprehensive of the state’s institutions of higher education and is both a Carnegie Very High Research University and a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences has a faculty of 20 and offers undergraduate degrees in Earth and Planetary Sciences and Environmental Science, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Earth and Planetary Sciences. The Institute of Meteoritics, founded in 1944, was one of the first institutions in the world devoted to the study of meteorites, its scientists carry out research on planetary materials, solar system formation and evolution, and participate in NASA missions of exploration. All of the EPS and IOM facilities and instrumentation are co-located in Northrop Hall on the UNM Main Campus, which feature electron microprobe, SIMS, SEM, TEM, FIB, x-ray diffraction, FTIR, QMS-GC, ICPMS, radiogenic isotope, stable isotope, and analytical chemistry laboratories.

Minimum qualifications are a Ph.D. in Geosciences or a related field at the time of appointment and research experience in igneous petrology, planetary materials or mineral physics. Preferred qualifications are: demonstrated publication record in peer-reviewed journals; commitment and energy to establish a vigorous and externally funded research program; evidence of a research area that complements existing research in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the Institute of Meteoritics and demonstrated commitment to collaborative science; commitment to excellence in undergraduate and graduate level teaching and research mentoring; a demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion, and student success, as well as working with broadly diverse communities.

The application package, containing a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching and a statement of research interests, and the names of three references with contact information, should be submitted electronically to UNM Jobs: https://unmjobs.unm.edu/ . The job posting number is 0830522. For best consideration, all materials must be received by August 3, 2015. However, the position will remain open until filled. For questions regarding the application process please contact Search Co-chairs Carl Agee (agee@unm.edu ) and Tobias Fischer (fischer@unm.edu ), or Search Coordinator Paula Pascetti (pascetti@unm.edu),  Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (Tel: 505 277-1633). Women and under-represented minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. The University of New Mexico is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator.

———————————–

2) Wiess Post-Doctoral Research Fellow –Rice University, Department of Earth Science

The Department of Earth Science at Rice University is launching a Wiess Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship competition in the broad fields of Earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences. Interested candidates should have recently completed their PhD or are expected to complete their PhD by September 2016. The appointment of the fellow is expected to begin anytime between July and December 2016.

The principal selection criteria for the fellow are scientific excellence and a clearly expressed research plan to address questions at the forefront of Earth science, broadly defined. Applicants are expected to propose their own research ideas, but are encouraged to consider the current spectrum of research activities in the department and to communicate with one or more members of the faculty (http://earthscience.rice.edu/).

The research fellowship will be supported by the Department of Earth Science for two years pending satisfactory progress in their first year. The fellowship covers an annual stipend of $60,000 and includes an annual research allowance of $3,500.

Candidates are required to submit:

(1) A cover letter addressed to the search committee chair

(2) A research proposal of no more than 3 single-spaced pages excluding references

(3) A current CV

(4) A list of publications

(5) A list of four referees with full contact details

All documents should be submitted as a single .pdf file to the chair of the fellowship search committee (esci-postdoc@rice.edu). The application deadline is November 1, 2015. The highest ranked candidates will be invited to visit Rice in early 2016, and the decision of the award will be announced March 1, 2016.

Equal Opportunity Employer – Females/Minorities/Veterans/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identityship – Rice University

———————————–

3) Staff Scientist Position – IODP at Texas A&M University

IODP-JRSO Accepting Applications for Staff Scientist Position

The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) at Texas A&M University invites applications for an Assistant Research Scientist (Expedition Project Manager/Staff Scientist) with expertise in any aspect of borehole geophysics, petrophysics, or geophysics. A Ph.D. in geosciences or related field, and demonstrated on-going research experience is required. Applicants must have a demonstrated fluency in written and spoken English. Experience as a seagoing scientist, especially in scientific ocean drilling, is preferred.

This position will serve as the Expedition Project Manager to coordinate all aspects of precruise expedition planning, sea-going implementation, and postcruise activities. These duties include sailing as the IODP scientific representative on a two-month IODP expedition approximately once every 1 to 2 years. Individual scientific research, as well as collaboration with colleagues at Texas A&M University in fulfilling its educational mission, is required. This position will also provide scientific advice on laboratory developments in their area of specialization including scientific implementation of downhole logging on the JOIDES Resolution. Applicants must be able to cooperate and work harmoniously with others, have the ability to be an effective team leader, and foster collaboration among diverse scientific participants. Passing a new employee medical exam and annual seagoing medical exams are a requirement of the position.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience of the applicant. This is a regular full time position, contingent upon continuing availability of funds for IODP. TAMU will begin reviewing applications on 15 September 2015, but will continue to accept applications until candidates are selected for interviews. Applicants may access the TAMU application at https://jobpath.tamu.edu and apply online with reference to Posting Number O00163FY15, attach a curriculum vita, list of published papers, statement of research interests, and names and addresses of three references. Quick Link – http://jobpath.tamu.edu/postings/84569

———————————–

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

Regional Framework Plan for Marine Seismics OCE Communication, Early Summer 2015


OCE is carefully considering input from the marine seismic community and the UNOLS Marcus Langseth Science Oversight Committee (MLSOC) regarding ways to improve experiment planning. This advice, together with internal NSF discussions, leads us to adopt a Regional Framework Path for marine seismic data acquisition. As the NSF reply to the NRC/NAS Decadal Survey ³Sea Change² indicated, we are investigating options for how to support future marine seismic research, including deep crustal seismic capability. A regional approach is expected to be relevant for any feasible model, and thus we intend to get underway with a regional plan so as to understand the ramifications of operating in this mode. Moving forward, we will continue to work with MLSOC and the community at large to assess any need for adjustment.

The regional framework is designed to reduce overall data acquisition costs, and:

– Provide guidance about when to submit proposals for research in a particular area.

– Encourage investigators (both US and potential international teams) with new ideas for work along the path to submit a proposal that could mesh geographically (modest transit) with the framework path.

– Provide rotating access to all regions of scientific interest within a timeframe of several years.

REGIONAL FRAMEWORK PATH

Equatorial-South Atlantic     2016

Southeastern Pacific                     2017

Southwestern Pacific                                 2018

Indian Ocean

North Pacific     2019

The framework can flex somewhat in response to demand. NSF proposals for projects along the path should be submitted about 18-30 months prior to potential cruise dates. Details of the path can evolve but the main regions are expected to be retained. The length of time in one region will reflect demand and science timeliness considerations for the next region(s) along the path. The vision for this framework is that it can guide planning about 4 years into the future. Subsequent path route(s) will be announced approximately biennially, based on NSF understanding of projected interest areas and MLSOC and community input.

This information and subsequent updates will be posted on MLSOC website

https://www.unols.org/committee/marcus-langseth-oversight-committee-mlsoc

Below is a list of 2015 seismic work, with emphasis in the North Atlantic / Mediterranean. The next opportunity for NSF deep seismic data acquisition in this region would be after 2019/20.  Shallow seismic work using existing portable systems, such as currently operated by Scripps or using P-Cable (available via lease agreement), will continue to be scheduled as needed for funded projects in any region.

van Avendonk , Cayman Trough, NSF, Apr-22 days, R/V Meteor*

Hutchinson,  Mid-Atlantic Shelf,  USGS, Apr-27 days,R/V Langseth

Harris/Trehu, Hikurangi , SIO system, NSF, May-31 days, R/V Revelle

Mountain, New Jersey Sea Level ¬ 3D Imaging, NSF Jun-42 days, R/V Langseth

Hooft-Toomey, Santorini Volcanic System, NSF Oct/Nov-23 days, R/V Langseth

Rychert (UK), Mid-Atlantic Ridge Lithosphere, NERC Dec-17 days, R/V Langseth

* Platforms of opportunity may occasionally handle collaborative work that deviates from the Regional Path.

 

Session of Interest at the 2015 GSA Meeting


Please see below for session of interest to the GeoPRISMS community that will take place at the 2015 GSA Meeting, November 1-4, 2015, in Baltimore, MD.

Abstracts deadline is August 11, 2015

Meeting information:

***************************

T168. Subduction, fluids, accessory minerals, and trace elements: A Celebration of Sorena Sorensen’s Career

This session will focus on metamorphosed subduction-related rocks including metamorphosed rocks of the subduction channel as well as arc crust, associated fluids, and minerals, cathodoluminescence, and trace elements that provide information about their petrogenesis.

Invited speakers are:
     Prof. Elizabeth Catlos, Univ. Texas – Austin
     Dr. George Harlow, AMNH
     Prof. Mark Cloos, UT – Austin

Sorena Sorensen has made fundamental contributions to our understanding of subduction-related metamorphic rocks and the importance of fluid and mass transfer pervasive in these environments. She was one of the first researchers to use state-of-the art cathodoluminescence imaging with trace element analyses to visualize the former presence of fluids and decipher the petrogenesis of these rocks in ancient and modern arcs. Her work is also important because subduction is a major modifier of the continental crust, new methods to extract petrogenetic fingerprints from metamorphosed rocks are continuously being developed. To celebrate her career, this session brings together researchers studying subduction zone processes, metasomatism, metamorphism from low temperature to UHP environments, fluids, whole rock and trace element geochemistry, mineralogy and imaging to highlight advances made in understanding these environments.

In addition to these scientific contributions, as a long time curator at the Smithsonian Institution, she has worked tirelessly to acquire important petrological collections for their preservation and continued use. Her work on the petrology hall showcased our science to millions of visitors.

Sponsored by: Mineralogical Society of America; GSA Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Petrology, and Volcanology Division; Geochemical Society

Thank you from the session organizers:

Barb Dutrow, Sarah Penniston-Dorland, Virginia Sisson

Apply to Sail on Cascadia Initiative Expedition – Summer 2015


Apply to Sail on Cascadia Initiative Expedition (Summer 2015)

Opportunity for Students and Early-Career Scientists: Sail on a Cascadia Initiative Expedition

Cruise Dates: September 30 – October 14, 2015

Application Deadline: July 15th

Application is available at: /ci-apply-to-sail-2015/

Students and early-career scientists are invited to sail on the final leg of the Cascadia Initiative (CI) Expeditions late in the 2015 field season.  This expedition on the R/V Thomas G. Thompson will involve the remotely operated vehicle Jason and will recover shallow- and deep-water ocean bottom seismometers (OBS) operated by Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory. Berths for 6 to 8 additional students/scientists are available.  The cruise is schedule for September 30 – October 14 and participants must arrive in port at least one full day prior to sailing. Travel funds will be provided to and from the port of departure (Newport, Oregon).

The goal of this call for open participation is to help expand the user base of OBS data by providing opportunities for students and scientists to directly experience at-sea acquisition of OBS data. Participants must have a strong interest in learning field techniques, be willing to work long hours at sea assisting in OBS recoveries, OBS post-recovery servicing and preliminary data processing, and have an interest in working with the data collected. Eligible applicants include graduate students and early-career scientists in fields related to seismology. Preference will be given to employees of U.S. institutions.  All CI data is publically available via the IRIS DMC.

Applications should be completed online by July 15, 2015. A 2-page CV and a brief statement of interest (not to exceed 250 words) describing the applicant’s experience in geophysics and motivation for participating in this expedition are requested. Applicants who will be graduate students during summer 2015 must include a letter of support from their advisor. Participants will be ranked by the CIET and notified by July 22, 2015.

More information on the scientific goals of the CI and details of past expeditions can be found at http://cascadia.uoregon.edu.

Experiences from an earlier apply to sail participants are described in GeoPRISMS article: /education/report-from-the-field/ciet-apply-to-sail-fall2013/

Questions should be directed to William Wilcock wilcock@uw.edu and Dean Livelybrooks dlivelyb@uoregon.edu