Sessions of Interest at the 2017 AGU Fall Meeting


Please see below for sessions of interest to the GeoPRISMS Community, taking place at the 2016 AGU Fall Meeting, December 11-15 in New Orleans, LA. AGU abstract submission deadline is Wednesday August 2 at 23:59 EDT.

https://fallmeeting.agu.org/2017/

Submit your abstract: https://fallmeeting.agu.org/2017/abstract_overview/abstract-submissions/

Your session is not listed? Email us at info@geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com and we’ll be happy to include your session to the list.

T005: Breaking Up is Never Easy: Why Do Some Rifts Fail and Others Succeed?
T007: Continental Rifts and Passive Margins: Geology, Geophysics, Geodynamics
T011: Eastern North American Margin: Multidisciplinary Studies
T015: Fluid migration through subduction zones: observations and the consequences on geodynamic processes and natural hazards
T016: Geochemical Evolution of Convergent Margins from Asthenosphere to Atmosphere
T028: New Insights On The Cascadia Subduction Zone From Offshore And Amphibious Studies
T032. Role of Pre-Existing Structures on Plate Deformation in Continental Rifting and Subduction Zones
T036: Subduction Dynamics Across the Scales
S035: Seismically surveying North America: synthesis and emerging ideas as USArray spans Alaska and the CCArray initiative builds momentum

—-

T005: Breaking Up is Never Easy: Why Do Some Rifts Fail and Others Succeed?

https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm17/preliminaryview.cgi/Session22413

Session ID: 22413

Session Description:

The breakup of continents is a fundamental process of plate tectonics. However, we have not yet identified the crucial ingredients that permit complete rupture of strong continental lithosphere. Studies of continental breakup are biased towards success¬ stories – rifts that evolve to oceanic spreading. Some extension episodes cease before this point, presumably in the absence of some fundamental process, initial condition(s), or forcing. Investigations of “failed rifts” may help isolate key processes or conditions that enable continental breakup, particularly when compared to successful examples. Outstanding questions include: Does rift success/failure depend on intrinsic or far-field properties? How do pre-existing structure, magma, and volatiles influence rift initiation, continuation, and extinction? Are failed rifts actually “paused rifts” that can later be reactivated? Do analogous mechanical controls apply to extinct seafloor spreading centers? We solicit contributions from diverse geoscience perspectives, including geodesy, geodynamics, geochemistry/petrology, volcanology, structural geology and seismology.

Invited Speakers:

Carol A. Stein – University of Illinois at Chicago
Sascha Brune – GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences

We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans!

Zach Eilon, Natalie Accardo, James Muirhead, Sarah Stamps

—-

T007: Continental Rifts and Passive Margins: Geology, Geophysics, Geodynamics

https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm17/preliminaryview.cgi/Session22111

Session ID#: 22111

Session Description:

This session invites contributions on rifts and rifted margins that integrate new data sets, approaches or viewpoints. Studies can range from the outcrop to the basin or lithospheric plate scale, and include global examples. Innovative concepts and techniques based on field geology, seismology, geodesy, marine geophysics, plate reconstructions, geochemistry, sedimentology, or modeling are encouraged. Topics may include but are not limited to fault dynamics, shear zones, tectono-magmatic and sedimentary processes, impact of volatiles, the continent-ocean transition, influence of mantle dynamics and surface processes, and the role of tectonic inheritance. We particularly encourage submissions that explore along-strike structural and magmatic variations in rifts and passive margins linked to 3D modeling studies. Emphasis will be given to presentations conveying an integrated picture by bridging spatial or temporal scales, or by combining results from active rifts, failed rift arms, passive margins or fossil rifted margins exposed in mountain belts.

Conveners: Sascha Brune (Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences), W Roger Buck (Columbia University of New York, LDEO), Patricia Persaud (Louisiana State University), and Gianreto Manatschal (University of Strasbourg)

—-

T011: Eastern North American Margin: Multidisciplinary Studies

Session ID#: 24298

https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm17/preliminaryview.cgi/Session24298

Session Description:

The Eastern North American Margin (ENAM) records a complex geologic and tectonic history, encompassing two complete Wilson cycles from supercontinent assembly to breakup over the past ~1.3 billion years. It is a natural laboratory to examine the orogenic histories, the lithospheric behavior, and the interaction between crust and upper mantle beneath passive margins, which are fundamental for our understanding of plate tectonics in general. This session invites multidisciplinary contributions from geology, geophysics, tectonics, and geodynamics on the ENAM with new datasets, new methods, new models, and new ideas, with particular interests of the integrated results from multiple disciplines on the study of the 3-D geometry and the tectonic evolutions of this passive margin. Topics may include but are not limited to understanding of the tectonic history of orogenic processes, the crustal and upper mantle structures and dynamics, the nature and origin of magmatic activities and the links to tectonic processes.

Conveners: 

Xiaotao Yang (University of Massachusetts Amherst), Cong Li (University of Massachusetts Amherst), Michael L Williams (University of Massachusetts Amherst), Vadim L Levin (Rutgers University)

—-

T015: Fluid migration through subduction zones: observations and the consequences on geodynamic processes and natural hazards

Session ID#: 25865

https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm17/preliminaryview.cgi/Session25865

Session Description:

Water plays a vital role in the Earth’s evolution. At subduction plate boundaries, vast quantities of fluid are exchanged between the Earth, ocean and atmosphere; however, water transport through subduction zones is only partially understood. Volatile cycling is fundamental to the petrogenesis and eruption of arc magmas. Fluids and dehydration reactions may also play a key role in the earthquake cycle. This session will address some key scientific questions of volatile cycling. What is the role of the slab mantle as a vessel for transporting water into the subduction zone? What are the pathways of volatiles through the subduction system thereby impacting geodynamic processes (e.g. mantle flow)? How are volatile pathways manifested in seismic, volcanic and mineralization potential? We welcome contributions from a range of studies on diverse subduction environments from various disciplines (e.g., but not limited to: geophysical imaging, rock physics, geochemistry, geodynamic modelling).

Conveners: Stephen Paul Hicks (University of Southampton), Lidong Bie (University of Liverpool, Liverpool), Andreas Rietbrock (University of Liverpool)

—-

T016: Geochemical Evolution of Convergent Margins from Asthenosphere to Atmosphere

Session ID#: 21897

https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm17/preliminaryview.cgi/Session21897

Do you have an interest in the climate-tectonic-magmatic-biologic evolution of Andean-type margins and their effects on the Earth system?

We invite you to submit an abstract to the topical session “Geochemical Evolution of Convergent Margins from Asthenosphere to Atmosphere” at this year’s AGU Fall Meeting in New Orleans, LA (Dec. 11-15, 2017). We aim to bring together a diverse group of geochemists tackling interdisciplinary questions at modern and ancient convergent margins.

Invited Speakers: Cin-Ty Lee (Rice University) and Carina Hoorn (University of Amsterdam).

The session description is below. We hope to see you in New Orleans!

Cheers,

Kendra Murray, Mauricio Ibañez-Mejia, & Alexander Rohrmann

Session Description:

The importance of links between processes in the mantle, crust, hydrosphere, and atmosphere at convergent margins is increasingly clear, but the mechanisms, timescales, and even directionality of these connections remain poorly understood. These interactions influence the growth, recycling, and destruction of the lithosphere; induce rapid shifts in surface elevation and produce high topography that can affect atmospheric circulation; and drive feedbacks between precipitation, rock deformation, uplift, basin development, landscape evolution, and biologic change. Furthermore, convergent margins generate the planet’s largest earthquakes and modulate greenhouse-gas budgets via volcanism and chemical weathering. In this session, we aim to bridge temporal, spatial, and disciplinary gaps between geochemical studies of Andean-type margins. We invite contributions that place the geochemistry of modern and ancient convergent margins within the context of these interactions. We particularly welcome multi-method approaches that include geochronology, thermochronology, cosmogenic nuclide-dating, stable isotope measurements, leaf-wax lipid-biomarkers, or other biological proxies.

—-

T028: New Insights On The Cascadia Subduction Zone From Offshore And Amphibious Studies

Session ID#: 24812

https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm17/preliminaryview.cgi/Session24812

Session Description:

Subduction zones, one of Earth’s fundamental tectonic environments, play a key role in many Earth processes. Consequently, they require study by interdisciplinary methods. However, our understanding of subduction zones has been limited by a lack of offshore and amphibious data. At the Cascadia subduction zone, new data collected over the last several years have helped close this gap, elucidating a wide range of new insights, including the structure of the incoming lithosphere, the role of water and volatiles in the subducting plate, asthenospheric flow above and below the subducting lithosphere, the transition from locking to slipping behavior along the plate interface, and the nature of episodic tremor and slip. We invite contributions broadly related to Cascadia geoscience that focus on new results from seismology, magnetotellurics, geodesy, geodynamics, hazards, paleoseismology, geochemisty and petrology, with particular emphasis on insights gained from the contribution of offshore and amphibious data.

Conveners:  Helen A Janiszewski (Columbia University of New York), William Bythewood Hawley (University of California Berkeley), Kerry Key (Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics La Jolla), and Matthew James Cook, Scripps Institution of Oceanography)

—-

T032. Role of Pre-Existing Structures on Plate Deformation in Continental Rifting and Subduction Zones

Session ID: 27474

https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm17/preliminaryview.cgi/Session27474

Session Description:

This session seeks to discuss the current state of knowledge of plate deformation in continental rifting and subduction zones as affected by the presence of pre-existing structures. Studies have shown how strain is accommodated along pre-existing structures, and how geological hazards are localized where the older structures are present. Other studies have shown how pre-existing structures are not important in the formation of new faults. Understanding the effects of these older structures are important to comprehend seismic hazards, plate kinematics, initiation and evolution of continental rifting, subduction initiation, and strain partitioning in subduction zones. We seek contributions that use geophysical (seismic, geodetic, remote sensing, potential fields), numerical and/or analog modeling, and geological techniques to understand strain accommodation, geologic hazards, subduction processes, deformation history, and plate kinematics, as affected by pre-existing structures. This session also encourages contributions on future research directions on strain accommodation on continental rifting and subduction zones.

Sincerely,

Daniel A. Laó-Dávila, Estella A. Atekwana, and Mohamed Abdelsalam

Oklahoma State University

—-

T036: Subduction Dynamics Across the Scales

Session ID#: 25133

https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm17/preliminaryview.cgi/Session25133

Session Description:

Subduction zones display a wide variety of tectonic and earthquake behaviors across a range of timescales. Seismic tomography, laboratory and numerical models have helped to understand plate boundary evolution at the geological time-scale. However many aspects of short-term subduction dynamics remain unclear. The series of thrust megathrust earthquakes of the last 15 years, besides highlighting the social relevance of geodynamic studies, has opened a window into the dynamics of subduction zones at the seismic cycle time-scale. The combination of seismic, geodetic and numerical modeling has helped to understand the physical characteristics of the megathrust earthquakes and the role of the fault geometry, temperature, fluid circulation, petrology and seismic/aseismic energy partitioning to the dynamics convergent margins. We welcome contributions from geodynamicists, seismologists, geodesists and geologists aiming at exploring the relationship between subduction zone dynamics and seismic cycle.

Conveners: Gabriele Morra (University of Louisiana at Lafayette), Emma Hill (Earth Observatory of Singapore), Thorsten W Becker (University of Texas at Austin, Austin), and Ylona van Dinther (ETH Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich)

—-

S035: Seismically surveying North America: synthesis and emerging ideas as USArray spans Alaska and the CCArray initiative builds momentum

Session ID#: 24626

https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm17/preliminaryview.cgi/Session24626

Session Description:

A systematic broadband seismic survey of an entire continent is a former pipe dream from the seismology community that has recently made major steps toward reality. The EarthScope program’s USArray Transportable Array has successfully covered the contiguous 48 states of the US, and is just reaching its maximum extent in Alaska and northwestern Canada. This session welcomes studies striving to synthesize new insights into continental structure, wave propagation, and seismic sources illuminated by comprehensive coverage of the contiguous US, as well as studies with nascent results and hypotheses from Alaska and northwestern Canada. Coverage of North America remains incomplete and the growing CCArray initiative may offer an opportunity to connect the existing broadband data sets by systematically sampling the Canadian Cordillera. Studies with relevance to the potential science targets, design, and capabilities of the CCArray concept are encouraged.

Conveners: Brandon Schmandt (University of New Mexico), Scott Burdick (University of Maryland College Park), Pascal Audet (University of Ottawa), and Emily Hopper (Brown University)

Reminder: Apply to host a GeoPRISMS Distinguished Speaker


GeoPRISMS Distinguished Lectureship Program (DLP), 2017 – 2018

Deadline: July 10, 2017

> Download the brochure

> Apply now

DLP
The GeoPRISMS Office is happy to announce the annual GeoPRISMS Distinguished Lectureship Program for academic year 2017-2018 with an outstanding speakers list. Distinguished scientists involved with GeoPRISMS science are available to visit US colleges and universities to present technical and public lectures on subjects related to GeoPRISMS science.
Any US college or university can apply to host a DLP speaker. Applications are due July 10, 2017 for visiting speakers in Fall 2017 and Spring 2018. Institutions that are not currently involved with GeoPRISMS research are strongly encouraged to apply, including those granting undergraduate or masters degrees, as well as those with PhD programs. Institutions may request a technical and/or public lecture. The GeoPRISMS Office will cover airfare for speakers’ travel and will coordinate travel and off-site logistics. Host institutions are responsible for local expenses for the duration of the visit.
Visit the GeoPRISMS website to apply and learn more about the speakers and talks available:
Also, please review the DLP Best Practices for making the most of your visiting speaker:
Please direct any questions to the GeoPRISMS Office at info@geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com
 The GeoPRISMS Office
——————————————————–
2017-2018 Speakers:
Cynthia Ebinger (Tulane University)
Public Lecture: Recipe for continental rifting: Flavors of East Africa
Technical Lecture: Earthquakes within continental plates: How, where, and why it matters
Esteban Gazel (Cornell University)
Public Lecture: The rocks that joined the Americas: Is there a connection with climate and evolution of life?
Technical Lecture: Making young continents in arcs
Heather Savage (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory)
Public lecture: The science and pseudoscience of earthquake prediction
Technical lecture: Understanding deformation in fault zones over multiple seismic cycles
Brandon Schmandt (University of New Mexico)
Public Lecture: Exploring the roots of volcanoes with seismology
Technical Lecture: Investigation of Mount St. Helens earthquakes and magma plumbing with a hybrid natural and controlled source seismic survey

USGS Publication: Reducing risk where tectonic plates collide


The USGS has just published a new blueprint for advancing science and resilience related to subduction zone hazards, entitled Reducing Risk Where Tectonic Plates Collide – A Plan to Advance Subduction Zone Science. This new Plan describes how the USGS may leverage scientific and technologic developments, address its stakeholder needs, and maximize capabilities through partnerships – with the overall goal of reducing the risks posed by subduction zone events.  The Plan is featured on the USGS main webpage, and a quick summary of the Plan is provided in an accompanying Fact Sheet (written for a general audience).

URLs for viewing and downloads:

GeoPRISMS Newsletter Available: Spring 2017


GeoPRISMS Newsletter Spring 2017 issue

Click the banner to read the Spring 2017 issue of the GeoPRISMS newsletter

The Spring edition of the GeoPRISMS newsletter include a  “Report from the Field” from Ninfa Bennington and Kerry Key on their work on arc melt generation beneath Okmok Volcano, and a Science Report from Anne Bécel on her investigation of the breakup and spreading history of the Eastern North American Margin.
This edition also includes:
  • NSF Update and Program Solicitation
  • Recent GeoPRISMS NSF Awards
  • GSOC Highlights – Spring 2017
  • Workshop Report – Theoretical & Experimental Institute for the RIE Initiative
  • Distinguished Lectureship Program Speakers 2017-2018
  • GeoPRISMS Data Portal Status Report
  • GeoPRISMS activities at the AGU Fall Meeting 2016
Printed copies of the newsletter will be mailed soon.
The GeoPRISMS Office

Apply to host a GeoPRISMS Distinguished Speaker


GeoPRISMS Distinguished Lectureship Program (DLP), 2017 – 2018

Deadline: July 10, 2017

Download the brochure

> Apply now

DLP

The GeoPRISMS Office is happy to announce the annual GeoPRISMS Distinguished Lectureship Program for academic year 2017-2018 with an outstanding speakers list. Distinguished scientists involved with GeoPRISMS science are available to visit US colleges and universities to present technical and public lectures on subjects related to GeoPRISMS science.

Any US college or university can apply to host a DLP speaker. Applications are due July 10, 2017 for visiting speakers in Fall 2017 and Spring 2018. Institutions that are not currently involved with GeoPRISMS research are strongly encouraged to apply, including those granting undergraduate or masters degrees, as well as those with PhD programs. Institutions may request a technical and/or public lecture. The GeoPRISMS Office will cover airfare for speakers’ travel and will coordinate travel and off-site logistics. Host institutions are responsible for local expenses for the duration of the visit.

Visit the GeoPRISMS website to apply and learn more about the speakers and talks available:

/education/distinguished-lectureship-program/

Also, please review the DLP Best Practices for making the most of your visiting speaker:

/education/distinguished-lectureship-program/best-practices/

Please direct any questions to the GeoPRISMS Office at info@geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com

The GeoPRISMS Office

——————————————————–

2017-2018 Speakers:

Cynthia Ebinger (Tulane University)
Public Lecture: Recipe for continental rifting: Flavors of East Africa
Technical Lecture: Earthquakes within continental plates: How, where, and why it matters
Esteban Gazel (Cornell University)
Public Lecture: The rocks that joined the Americas: Is there a connection with climate and evolution of life?
Technical Lecture: Making young continents in arcs
Heather Savage (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory)
Public lecture: The science and pseudoscience of earthquake prediction
Technical lecture: Understanding deformation in fault zones over multiple seismic cycles
Brandon Schmandt (University of New Mexico)
Public Lecture: Exploring the roots of volcanoes with seismology
Technical Lecture: Investigation of Mount St. Helens earthquakes and magma plumbing with a hybrid natural and controlled source seismic survey

Important Update: Provision of Marine Seismic Capabilities….(NSF 17-563)


The Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) of the National Science Foundation recently issued NSF 17-563, a solicitation entitled “Provision of Marine Seismic Capabilities to the U.S. Research Community”.

OCE has recently received additional information of potential relevance for collaborations. This information is provided as an option only and does not modify the solicitation.

For more information, please go to this www site:

https://www.nsf.gov/geo/oce/pubs/seismic-update-june-6-2017.pdf

Sincerely,

Rick Murray
Director, Division of Ocean Sciences
NSF

Provision of Marine Seismic Capabilities to the U. S. Research Community


Questions? Please contact

Maurice Tivey (mtivey at nsf.gov) or Debbie Smith (dksmith at nsf.gov)

The Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) has recently issued an important solicitation (NSF 17-563) regarding the provision of marine seismic capabilities to the U.S. research community.  Proposals are solicited to support needs of the marine seismic research community that are currently provided by the specialized seismic research vessel R/V Marcus G. Langseth. The vessel is owned by the National Science Foundation and operated by the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University (LDEO).

NSF has determined that the current operational model is unsustainable and, with this solicitation, seeks proposals that provide comparable access to marine seismic capability through innovative approaches to R/V Marcus G. Langseth use or by other means.  The successful proposal will be administered as a Cooperative Agreement over the five-year period of performance.

For additional information, please visit:

HTML: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2017/nsf17563/nsf17563.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click
PDF: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2017/nsf17563/nsf17563.pdf?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click

Regards,

Rick Murray

Director, Division of Ocean Sciences

Call for GeoPRISMS Mini-Workshop Proposals at the AGU 2017


Dear GeoPRISMS Community,

We are pleased to announce that this year we will again be able to host a few mini-workshops at the 2017 AGU Fall Meeting (December 11-15). A mini-workshop is a research meeting that is held on the Sunday prior to the meeting. Examples of mini-workshops held in association with recent and upcoming national and international meetings can be found at:

/meetings/mini-workshops/

Mini-Workshops offer excellent opportunities to jump-start science discussions, as well as to coordinate implementation for future GeoPRISMS studies, both for primary sites and thematic studies. We encourage you to consider such an undertaking. The GeoPRISMS Office provides logistical support, a meeting room and refreshments. We do not cover any travel costs or per diem to the organizers or participants.

If you would like to host a GeoPRISMS-related Mini-Workshop in association with the 2017 AGU Fall Meeting (11-15 December), we invite you to submit your proposal to the GeoPRISMS Office at info@geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com. The proposals will be reviewed and ranked by the GeoPRISMS Steering and Oversight Committee (GSOC). The number of mini-workshops is limited but we expect to be able to host two to three events.

The deadline for upcoming Mini-Workshop proposals is July 1, 2017. The proposal guidelines are described on the GeoPRISMS website at: /meetings/mini-workshops/. We encourage you to contact the GeoPRISMS Office with questions or for advice prior to submitting at info@geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com.

We look forward to hearing your ideas.

-The GeoPRISMS Office and GSOC​

2017 EarthScope National Meeting: Alaska Airlines Discount and Scholarship Application deadline April 3rd


The 2017 EarthScope National Meeting will be held in Anchorage, Alaska from May 16-18, 2017. Conference highlights include the opportunity to showcase research in oral and poster sessions, hear firsthand results of pioneering EarthScope studies and a synthesis of findings to date, and the option to participate in a post-meeting field trip led by local EarthScope scientists. Early career scientists are strongly encouraged to attend!

Please apply for the student and postdoc scholarship, deadline of April 3rd. A total of fifty (50) applicants will be chosen, and if selected, you will receive up to four (4) days of lodging (double occupancy), a registration fee waiver, and $600 to cover travel. Please apply on the main website page: https://www.iris.edu/hq/workshops/2017/05/earthscope_17

In addition, we are pleased to announce that Alaska Airlines is offering EarthScope attendees a discount on flights between the US, Canada, and Mexico to Anchorage, Alaska. Dates of travel must be between May 12-22, 2017, and the discount for booking is ECMX720. Please visit alaskaair.com to book your travel.

=========================

Important Dates:
Scholarship Application Deadline: April 3
Registration, Hotel, and Abstract Deadline: April 21

=========================

Have any questions? Please email Krystin Poitra (krystin.poitra@iris.edu).
See you there!
Danielle Sumy, PhD
Seismologist
Project Associate
Instrumentation Services
Education and Public Outreach
The IRIS Consortium
1200 New York Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20005

Young scientist support for Subduction Interface Processes (SIP) conference, Barcelona Apr. 19-21


Subduction Interface Processes (SIP)

An international conference zooming on subduction zones
April 19-21, 2017 | Barcelona, Spain
More information

Dear all,

Attached is an announcement of a funding opportunity for students and early career scientists/post-docs to attend the Subduction Interface Processes (SIP) conference in Barcelona on April 19-21 (just before the EGU meeting). The deadline is tomorrow (Feb 1), but decisions will be made on Feb. 15, so there is a little flexibility in the deadline. Interested parties should apply as soon as possible.
Philippe Agard
Professeur, UPMC (Univ. PM Curie), Sorbonne Universités
Dir. Licence Géosciences
Lab. ISTeP (T46-0, 3è) / 4 pl. Jussieu 75252 Paris
T: 0033144275235 / M: 0033-673370427