Next IRIS Webinar 11/14 – Slow Earthquake and Tremor

Our next webinar highlights “Slow Earthquake and Tremor: Imaging a Wide Spectrum of Fault Slip with Mini-Seismic Arrays” from 2-3 pm ET (7-8 pm UTC) on Thursday 11/14.
 
 
You will be emailed a confirmation containing a link for accessing the webinar. The presentation and subsequent interactions between the speaker, host, and audience are recorded and made available within a few days. Access to the webinar archive, along with related materials and more information on the series is found here: http://www.iris.edu/hq/webinar/
 
Presenter: Dr. Abhijit Ghosh, Assistant Professor, University of California-Riverside
 
Slow earthquakes releases significant amount of stress form major plate boundary faults worldwide. In addition, there is ample evidence that slow earthquakes interacts with their regular counterparts and affect the overall fault dynamics. Yet, characterizing their tectonic behavior remains challenging due to the nature of deformation and complex seismic radiation, i.e. tremor. Beam backprojection technique images slow earthquakes in high resolution by detecting and locating seismic tremor using well-designed mini seismic arrays. I use this technique in Cascadia and Alaska subduction zone, and San Andreas Fault to show the evolution of slip during slow earthquakes as expressed by seismic tremor. Analyses of the intricate details of the spatiotemporal distribution of tremor and its migration patterns are providing new insights into the physics driving slow earthquakes and fault mechanics.
 
Please direct any related inquiries or funny images of felines to Andy Frassetto (andyf@iris.edu).
 
System Requirements:
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, 8, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

Invitation from organizers, GeoPRISMS”Earth Tectonics and Surface Processes” Mini-Workshop

             In conjunction with AGU special session: “Exploring the Interplay Between Solid Earth Tectonics and Surface Processes From Mountains to the Sea
We would like to bring to your attention a GeoPRISMS mini-workshop focused on: “Exploring the Interplay between Solid Earth Tectonics and Surface Processes using Community Codes”.  The goal of this mini-workshop is to discuss the availability and performance of community modeling codes for coupling geodynamics and surface processes and to identify key scientific questions that can be addressed though a coupled modeling approach. The workshop is co-sponsored by GeoPRISMS and the Geodynamics Focus Research Group within CSDMS.
Date: During AGU: Wednesday, December 11, 2013, 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Location: Fillmore ABC, Grand Hyatt San Francisco (345 Stockton Street)
Keynote Speakers: R. Huismans (Bergen University), B. Yanites (University of Idaho), L. Moresi (Monash University)
Conveners: P. Upton (GNS Science); M. Behn (WHOI); J. Jaeger (Univ. Florida)
regards
Phaedra, Mark and John

REMINDER: GeoPRISMS Prize for Outstanding AGU Student Presentations – Deadline Nov 11

GeoPRISMS Prize for Outstanding AGU Student Poster and Oral Presentations
 
Application Deadline: November 11, 2013 
 
The GeoPRISMS Program, successor to MARGINS, is offering two $500 prizes for Outstanding Student Presentations on GeoPRISMS- or MARGINS-related science at the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, December 9-13, 2013. The two prizes, one each for a poster and an oral presentation, will be awarded to highlight the important role of student research in accomplishing MARGINS- and GeoPRISMS-related science goals, and to encourage cross-disciplinary input. Any student working on science topics related to the objectives of MARGINS or GeoPRISMS is eligible to participate. Students do not have to be working on a MARGINS- or GeoPRISMS-funded project to enter the competition. Students from the international community, as well as from the U.S., are encouraged to apply.
 
Presentations will be judged throughout the AGU meeting. Students will also have an opportunity to display their posters (or poster versions of their AGU talks) at the GeoPRISMS Student and Community Forum, beginning at 6:00 pm, Monday, December 9th at the Westin Market Street Hotel (50 Third St., between Mission and Market).
 
GeoPRISMS Student Prize winners and honorable mentions will be notified after the AGU Fall Meeting and highlighted in the GeoPRISMS newsletter and website, and their host schools will be notified of their achievement.
 
Visit the GeoPRISMS website for further information and to apply:/agu-student-prize.html
 
Application deadline is November 11.
 
For questions, contact the GeoPRISMS office: info@geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com

New Zealand Draft Implementation Plan available

GeoPRISMS New Zealand Primary Site – Draft Implementation Plan is now available for review

The GeoPRISMS Implementation Plan for the New Zealand Primary Site has been revised based on the outcomes of the GeoPRISMS Science Workshop on New Zealand, held in Wellington, NZ in April 2013.  The draft can be downloaded from the following URL, in pdf or word formats.
We encourage members of the community to review and comment on this draft over the next week or so. We will accept input from the community through November 22, 2013 ? two weeks from today.  Comments on the draft science plan should be sent to the attention of Julia Morgan, GeoPRISMS Chair (morganj@rice.edu). Comments will be considered by the writing team, and the document revised accordingly.

 The lead writers (listed below) have done an extraordinary job synthesizing the outcomes of the New Zealand workshop, and identifying the exciting directions for future GeoPRISMS and collaborative research. Many others not listed below also contributed to the implementation plan. All will be acknowledged in the appendix of the final GeoPRISMS Implementation Plan, and we thank you all for your contributions to this document!

 This document presents a broad portfolio of scientific objectives in New Zealand and nearby. Out of necessity, the GeoPRISMS Implementation Plan cannot include all possible research targets or projects in New Zealand, but emphasizes the key topics and questions prioritized by the community during the planning workshop. The scientific summaries are intended to be informative but succinct (citations are minimal), and the implementation plans tractable and achievable within the decadal time frame of GeoPRISMS, while also being flexible and open to arising opportunities.  Even so, the plan is ambitious, ensuring that the best science will have to compete for the available GeoPRISMS funds.  Naturally, additional funding strategies must be pursued to achieve all of the science objectives presented here, and strong international collaborations will no doubt play a key role.

 We look forward to your constructive comments to help improve and finalize the community implementation plan for the New Zealand Primary Site, and please remember – the deadline for comments is November 22, 2013!!

Julia Morgan, GeoPRISMS Chair
The New Zealand Implementation Plan Lead Writing Team Members (listed alphabetically):

Laura Wallace, University of Texas, Austin
Kathleen Marsaglia, California State University at Northridge
Susan Ellis, GNS Science, New Zealand
Adam Kent, Oregon State University
Nicola Litchfield, GNS Science, New Zealand
Demian Saffer, Pennsylvania State University
Susan Schwartz, University of California, Santa Cruz
Richard Wysoczanski, NIWA, New Zealand

Several Faculty Positions

1) Assistant/Associate Professor Position in Remote Sensing & Geospatial Analytics – North Carolina State University
2) Tenure-Track or Tenured Faculty Position in Geophysics – University of Colorado at Boulder
3) Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Geochemistry – Stony Brook University
4) Tenure-Track Faculty Position – University of Texas at El Paso
5) Tenure-Track Faculty Positions Hydrology & Geomorphology – Penn State University
6) Assistant Professorship of Igneous Processes – Syracuse University
PLEASE NOTE, NEW JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS (USUALLY) WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE GeoPRISMS LISTSERV ON THE 1st AND 15th OF EACH MONTH.
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1) Assistant/Associate Professor Position in Remote Sensing & Geospatial Analytics – North Carolina State University
Position Announcement: Assistant/Associate Professor – Geospatial Analytics Faculty Excellence Position in Remote Sensing. Department of Marine Earth and Atmospheric Sciences – North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, U.S.A.
NC State University invites applications for a tenure track faculty position at the assistant or associate professor level for a new Geospatial Analytics research and education program.  The successful candidate will lead research focused on advanced remote sensing and geospatial analytics of the Earth’s surface or shallow sub-surface, develop and teach related upper undergraduate and graduate courses, and assist with the implementation of a new graduate MS/PhD degree program in Geospatial Analytics. It is anticipated that the position will be with the Department of Marine Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (MEAS), one of the largest interdisciplinary geoscience departments in the nation (www.meas.ncsu.edu). The multi-disciplinary nature of the department lends itself to the study of severe weather and its impacts, coastal processes and ecosystems, land surface evolution, water quality and climate change.
This position is one of three hires in our Geospatial Analytics initiative supported by the Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program (http://www.ncsu.edu/faculty-and-staff/workthatmatters).  This effort will expand the very successful geospatial science research and teaching program (gis.ncsu.edu) to include more focused investigations into “big data “issues , 3D and multi-platform/multi-instrument remote sensing,  and complex spatio-temporal modeling.
Research and teaching in the Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences address some of the most complex and important geoscience issues facing North Carolina and the world, including hurricanes, floods, climate change, water and air pollution, coastal erosion, the sustainability of fisheries, environmental cycles of critical elements (e.g., carbon and nitrogen), and the history of life itself.
Preferred experience to include one or more of the following:
·         Experience with hyperspectral imaging, IFSARE/InSAR and GPS Geodesy;
·         Experience using 3D remote sensing technologies and 3D photogrammetry;
·         Familiarity with development or applications of open source geospatial software;
·         Experience with UAV and robotic mapping technologies.
For full consideration, applications must be submitted by January 15, 2014.
The position and application procedures are described in detail at https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/19853
Inquiries can be addressed to:
Dr. Helena Mitasova
Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Associate Professor
Box 8208
NCSU Campus
Raleigh, NC 27695
Phone: 919-513-1327
E-Mail: helena_mitasova@ncsu.edu

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2) Tenure-Track or Tenured Faculty Position in Geophysics – University of Colorado at Boulder
The Department of Physics at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU-Boulder) invites applications for a tenure track or tenured faculty position in Geophysics to start August 2014.

Candidates with research interests in any area of Geophysics will be considered. We are particularly interested in the areas that expand on and are complementary to our department’s existing strengths in Geophysics and other areas. Example areas of interests include (but are not limited to) both experimental and theoretical mineral physics and geophysical fluid dynamics, broadly defined.

At present, members of the geophysics group in the Department of Physics at CU-Boulder are involved in studies of Seismology, Geodesy, and Geodynamics. Other departments on campus also have active research programs in various areas of Geophysics. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Physics/Geophysics or related areas. The successful candidate is expected to establish a vigorous research program and to teach Physics and Geophysics at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Theoretical, computational, and experimental candidates at all levels will be considered.

Application materials including a CV, research and teaching statements, and names and contact information of at least 3 references are accepted electronically at
http://www.jobsatcu.com/postings/72978.

Review of applications will begin on December 4, 2013. However, applications will be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled. Questions should be submitted to physicshr@colorado.edu.

The University of Colorado is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to building a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans. Alternative formats of this ad can be provided upon request for individuals with disabilities by contacting the ADA Coordinator at: hr-ada@colorado.edu.

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3) Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Geochemistry – Stony Brook University
The Department of Geosciences at Stony Brook University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor Faculty position within any specialty of the general field of Geochemistry. We seek a candidate with the potential to augment or build upon one or more of the department’s current research strengths in crystal chemistry, environmental geochemistry, experimental geochemistry, isotope geochemistry, low temperature geochemistry and theoretical geochemistry and who will be an effective teacher in undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of geochemistry and general geology, hydrogeology, mineralogy or planetary science. Details of the department’s areas of research emphasis and current facilities may be found at http://www.stonybrook.edu/geosciences/. The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. in the geosciences or closely related field at the time of appointment.  The successful candidate must also have the clear potential to establish an internationally recognized, externally funded research program that would include mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students.

Applicants should apply by January 10, 2014 through AcademicJobsOnline.org at http://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/3305. Applications should include a cover letter, CV, research and teaching statements and the names and contact information of three references. If needed, mail applications can be submitted to: Geochemistry Search Committee, Department of Geosciences, Earth and Space Sciences, Room 255, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2100.

For a full position description and/or application procedures, visit www.stonybrook.edu/jobs (Ref. # F-8201-13-10).

Stony Brook University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educator. If you need a disability-related accommodation, please call the University Human Resources Services Department at (631) 632-6161 or the University Hospital Human Resources Department at (631) 444-4700.  In accordance with the Title II Crime Awareness and Security Act, a copy of our crime statistics is available upon request by calling (631) 632-7786. It can also be viewed on-line at the University Police website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/police.

Apply Here: http://www.Click2Apply.net/fn3kd2d

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4) Tenure-Track Faculty Position – University of Texas at El Paso

The Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) announces a tenure-track faculty position to conduct original research and strengthen existing expertise in the fields of geophysics, tectonics, environmental sciences, and petroleum geology. We are particularly interested in candidates who are proficient in the acquisition, processing and/or interpretation of 2 and 3D geophysical data, can conduct regional scale studies, and have experience using the latest geophysical characterization techniques to improve our understanding of physical and/or hydrological processes of the Earth.

We expect to hire at the assistant professor level; however, candidates with exceptional qualifications, including industry experience, may be considered for a higher rank.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT, UTEP, AND EL PASO: The Department of Geological Sciences at UTEP has a faculty of 15 and more than 150 graduate and undergraduate students.  The Department is housed in an attractive 90,000 sq. ft. building, which contains faculty and student offices, laboratories, and classroom space, with research infrastructure that includes controlled source seismometers, passive source seismometers, gravimeters, magnetometers, and extensive computational and software resources.  The department was involved in the development of the Texan seismographs for controlled source experiments and currently operates 440 sensors.  It is also houses the National Seismic Source Facility an IRIS/NSF funded facility to aid investigators in controlled source seismic research. More information about departmental activities and facilities can be found at our web site: http://www.geo.utep.edu.  The Department also participates in interdisciplinary PhD programs in Materials Science Engineering, Environmental Science and Engineering, and Computational Science.

UTEP is a national research university with an enrollment of over 23,000 students, the majority of whom are Mexican-American.  The University, which employs nearly 3,500 faculty and staff, is located on the U.S.-Mexico border and adjacent to the State of New Mexico.  El Paso, Texas, is the19th largest and the safest big city in the United States.  UTEP’s strategic location, student body, and faculty research and expertise are focused on a range of topics of emerging national interest.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: A Ph.D. in the geosciences or closely related discipline is required.  The successful candidate will be expected to establish a funded research program, to mentor undergraduate and graduate students in research, and to teach introductory earth science as well as higher-level courses in the candidate’s specialty.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Review of applications will begin on Dec. 1, 2013, and will continue until the position is filled.  Anticipated appointment date is Fall 2014.  Applications must be submitted electronically via email in a single PDF document with “Faculty Position Application:  YOUR NAME” in the subject line.  Complete applications will consist of a cover letter, detailed curriculum vitae, complete contact information for at least three references, a statement of teaching, and a statement of research.  Applications should be submitted to:

Dr. Aaron A. Velasco, Chair of the Search Committee
Geological Sciences
Email: aavelasco@utep.edu

The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation in employment or the provision of services.

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5) Tenure-Track Faculty Positions Hydrology & Geomorphology – Penn State University
The Department of Geosciences at The Pennsylvania State University invites applications for two tenure-track faculty positions at the rank of Assistant Professor, in the fields of Hydrogeology and Geomorphology. We seek colleagues who will continue strong legacies in hydrologic sciences and geomorphology, contribute to highly active and diverse research programs in the Department and College through the development of vigorous externally funded research programs, and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in their discipline. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in geosciences or related field at the time of appointment.

Assistant Professor of Hydrogeology: Candidates who creatively use theoretical, observational, and/or experimental approaches to address fundamental problems in hydrosciences are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to participate in several campus-wide initiatives in water resources through the Penn State Institute for Energy and the Environment (http://www.psiee.psu.edu) and the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute (http://www.eesi.psu.edu).

Assistant Professor of Geomorphology and Landscape Dynamics: We are seeking candidates who conduct innovative research on landscape dynamics at a range of temporal and spatial scales in order to understand, for example, natural hazards, the evolution of Earth and planetary surfaces, and/or feedbacks between surface processes, climate, and tectonics.

The Department of Geosciences is part of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, and houses top-ranked research programs in environmental and climate sciences, geology, geophysics, and geochemistry (further information is available at: http://www.geosc.psu.edu).  The Department and College also host research centers with foci on climate, environment, energy, and policy, including the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory; the Earth System Science Center; the Penn State Ice and Climate Research Center; the Riparia Center; and the Center for Geomechanics, Geofluids, and Geohazards.  There are wide-ranging opportunities for collaboration in research and education in the College’s Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering and Energy Institute, and in departments within the Colleges of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences.

Candidates should send a complete curriculum vita, statements of research and teaching interests, and contact information for four references to: Search Committee Chair (please specify Hydrogeology or Geomorphology), 503 Deike Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802; application materials can also be sent electronically to: slg9@psu.edu.  Appointment could begin as early as July 1, 2014. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled.  For further information or questions, please contact Stacie Hugney, slg9@psu.edu.

Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its workforce.  Women and members of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

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6) Assistant Professorship of Igneous Processes – Syracuse University
Igneous Processes – The Department of Earth Sciences at Syracuse University seeks applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professorship in the general area of igneous processes. We seek a broadly-trained petrologist with expertise in data acquisition (field and/or experimental), and interpretation of magmatic processes on a variety of scales. The successful applicant will balance an aggressive research program with both discipline-specific graduate and innovative undergraduate majors’ courses, as well as introductory courses. We seek an individual with the capacity to collaborate across interdisciplinary boundaries, and interact with faculty and students in areas of existing strength particularly those in geodynamics, tectonics, thermochronology, isotope geochemistry, and paleoclimate studies. The Department houses extensive analytical research facilities. More information about the department is available at: http://earthsciences.syr.edu.  Applicants must possess a PhD with expertise in igneous processes. Applicants must submit their curriculum vitae, statements of research and teaching interests, and names and contact information of three referees via https://www.sujobopps.com.  Applications will be reviewed starting November 1, 2013. The search will remain open until the position is filled. Syracuse University is an equal opportunity employer. The University is committed to building a diverse faculty, and a vibrant, family-friendly community in Syracuse and surrounding areas. Candidates who have the communication skills and cross-cultural abilities to maximize their effectiveness with diverse groups of students, colleagues and community members are especially encouraged to apply.

Reminder: “Seismology in Alaska” webinar Friday 11/1

The next IRIS webinar highlights “Seismology and Imaging beneath Alaska: EarthScope’s Final Frontier” from 2-3 pm ET (7-8 pm UTC) on Friday 11/1. Following the main webinar, Andy Frassetto (IRIS Seismology Swiss Army Knife) will provide a brief update on the test TA stations currently deployed in Alaska and the Yukon and preliminary plans for the 2014 EarthScope Transportable Array Deployments in Alaska.

Register to attend: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/574155874

You will be emailed a confirmation containing a link for accessing the webinar. The presentation and subsequent interactions between the speaker, host, and audience are recorded and made available within a few days. Access to the webinar archive, along with related materials and more information on the series is found here: http://www.iris.edu/hq/webinar/

Presenter: Dr. Geoff Abers, Lamont Research Professor, LDEO, Columbia University

Alaska is home to most of North America’s earthquakes, including the second largest ever recorded (Mw 9.2). It is also a place where subducting plates traverse the upper mantle, driving abundant magmatism in an arc nearly 3000 km long. From now through 2018, the Transportable Array will site, deploy and operate stations throughout Alaska, completing the coverage of the continental United States. Likely the TA will be supplemented by portable seismic deployments and by other related activities onshore and offshore. All of these build on knowledge from a small number of past experiences in the area, which provide clear evidence of the wealth of scientific opportunities and special challenges working in this harsh environment. I will provide an overview of some past experiments and projects, highlighting several for which I have personal experience.

A couple lessons emerge. First, seismicity is remarkably abundant, and constitutes the vast majority of earthquakes in the U.S. Besides the signals, such high seismicity levels present operational challenges. Second, the subduction zone produces considerable structure within the upper mantle, precisely where broadband arrays can provide the most information about the Earth. In two past experiments (BEAAR and MOOS) we mapped out the subducting crust and plate interface zone from near the trench to 130 km depth, over several hundred km, and observe hints of many other structures. At this scale, the TA is guaranteed to image a great deal of interesting structure, and focused experiments have even more promise. Third, logistics are challenging but not insurmountable if projects are well designed and logistical constraints are taken into account in their design. Road systems are sparse but exist in some parts of the state, and airstrips exist in many others, although helicopters are clearly necessary in many regions. Finally, many problems associated with great earthquakes and volcanism will require coordinated marine programs, since the plate boundary system does not stop at the coastline and the Aleutians are small islands. Ocean-bottom seismometers can play a critical role in both the thrust zone and around remote segments of the volcanic arc.

Overall, the arrival of USArray has tremendous potential to reveal fundamental properties of the nature of subduction beneath continents.

Any inquiries can be directed to Andy (andyf@iris.edu).

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, 8, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

REMINDER: ANNOUNCING Four GeoPRISMS Mini-Workshops at AGU

Register Now to attend one or more GeoPRISMS Mini-Workshops at Fall AGU
   Please Register by: November 25, 2013 for fullest consideration
All Mini-Workshops are free of charge and open to all.
  (However, attendance and food may be limited; register early to reserve your space.)
Visit the GeoPRISMS website for further information and to register:
Questions? Contact the GeoPRISMS Office: info@geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com
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“Kermadec Arc-Havre Trough Planning”
Pre-AGU: Sunday, December 8, 2013, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Fillmore ABC, Grand Hyatt San Francisco (345 Stockton Street)
Conveners: A. Kent (Oregon State Univ.); M. Reagan (Univ. Iowa); L. Montesi (Univ. Maryland); K. Hoernle (GEOMAR)
Description: Coordination and discussion of science goals and marine field locales in the Kermadec Arc-Havre Trough in preparation for New Zealand primary site studies.
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“Field Logistics for GeoPRISMS Research in Aleutian Arc”
Pre-AGU: Sunday, December 8, 2013, 12:40 pm – 6:00 pm
Fillmore ABC, Grand Hyatt San Francisco (345 Stockton Street)
Conveners: P. Kelemen (LDEO); G. Abers (LDEO); P. Haeussler (U.S. Geol. Survey); W.S. Holbrook (Univ. Wyoming); B. Jicha (Univ. Wisconsin); J. Power (U.S. Geol. Survey); G. Yogodzinski (Univ. South Carolina)
Description: Advance coordination of shared logistical resources for field work in the oceanic Aleutian arc, including an assessment of available resources and community interest in use of shared facilities.
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“Exploring the Interplay between Solid Earth Tectonics and Surface Processes using Community Codes”
During AGU: Wednesday, December 11, 2013, 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Fillmore ABC, Grand Hyatt San Francisco (345 Stockton Street)
Conveners: P. Upton (GNS Science); M. Behn (WHOI); J. Jaeger (Univ. Florida)
Description: Learn about the availability and performance of community modeling codes for coupling geodynamics and surface processes, and the Geodynamics Focus Research Group within CSDMS, co-sponsored by GeoPRISMS.
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“Collaborative Efforts in the East African Rift”
During AGU: Thursday, December 12, 2013, 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Fillmore ABC, Grand Hyatt San Francisco (345 Stockton Street)
Conveners Part 1: C. Ebinger (Univ. Rochester); T. Fischer (Univ. New Mexico); S. Kattenhorn (Univ. Idaho)
Conveners Part 2: D.S. Stamps (MIT); W. Nelson (Univ. Houston); R. Moucha (Syracuse Univ.); A. Nyblade (Penn. State Univ.)
Description: Collaborative efforts and coordination in preparation for research in the East African Rift primary site:  Part 1 – The Eastern Branch Focus Site.  Part 2 – Synoptic Studies of the East African Rift.

REMINDER: GeoPRISMS Prize for Outstanding AGU Student Presentations

GeoPRISMS Prize for Outstanding AGU Student Poster and Oral Presentations

Application Deadline: November 11, 2013

The GeoPRISMS Program, successor to MARGINS, is offering two $500 prizes for Outstanding Student Presentations on GeoPRISMS- or MARGINS-related science at the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, December 9-13, 2013. The two prizes, one each for a poster and an oral presentation, will be awarded to highlight the important role of student research in accomplishing MARGINS- and GeoPRISMS-related science goals, and to encourage cross-disciplinary input. Any student working on science topics related to the objectives of MARGINS or GeoPRISMS is eligible to participate. Students do not have to be working on a MARGINS- or GeoPRISMS-funded project to enter the competition. Students from the international community, as well as from the U.S., are encouraged to apply.

Presentations will be judged throughout the AGU meeting. Students will also have an opportunity to display their posters (or poster versions of their AGU talks) at the GeoPRISMS Student and Community Forum, beginning at 6:00 pm, Monday, December 9th at the Westin Market Street Hotel (50 Third St., between Mission and Market).

GeoPRISMS Student Prize winners and honorable mentions will be notified after the AGU Fall Meeting and highlighted in the GeoPRISMS newsletter and website, and their host schools will be notified of their achievement.

Visit the GeoPRISMS website for further information and to apply: /agu-student-prize.html

Application deadline is November 11.

For questions, contact the GeoPRISMS office: info@geoprisms.nineplanetsllc.com

Seismology in Alaska IRIS Webinar rescheduled for 11/1

                    The next IRIS webinar highlights “Seismology and Imaging beneath Alaska: EarthScope’s Final Frontier” from 2-3 pm ET (7-8 pm UTC) on Friday 11/1. Following the main webinar, I (Andy Frassetto) will provide a brief update on the test TA stations currently deployed in Alaska and the Yukon and preliminary plans for the 2014 EarthScope Transportable Array Deployments in Alaska.

Register to attend: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/574155874

You will be emailed a confirmation containing a link for accessing the webinar. The presentation and subsequent interactions between the speaker, host, and audience are recorded and made available within a few days. Access to the webinar archive, along with related materials and more information on the series is found here: http://www.iris.edu/hq/webinar/

Presenter: Dr. Geoff Abers, Lamont Research Professor, LDEO, Columbia University

Alaska is home to most of North America’s earthquakes, including the second largest ever recorded (Mw 9.2). It is also a place where subducting plates traverse the upper mantle, driving abundant magmatism in an arc nearly 3000 km long. From now through 2018, the Transportable Array will site, deploy and operate stations throughout Alaska, completing the coverage of the continental United States. Likely the TA will be supplemented by portable seismic deployments and by other related activities onshore and offshore. All of these build on knowledge from a small number of past experiences in the area, which provide clear evidence of the wealth of scientific opportunities and special challenges working in this harsh environment. I will provide an overview of some past experiments and projects, highlighting several for which I have personal experience.

A couple lessons emerge. First, seismicity is remarkably abundant, and constitutes the vast majority of earthquakes in the U.S. Besides the signals, such high seismicity levels present operational challenges. Second, the subduction zone produces considerable structure within the upper mantle, precisely where broadband arrays can provide the most information about the Earth. In two past experiments (BEAAR and MOOS) we mapped out the subducting crust and plate interface zone from near the trench to 130 km depth, over several hundred km, and observe hints of many other structures. At this scale, the TA is guaranteed to image a great deal of interesting structure, and focused experiments have even more promise. Third, logistics are challenging but not insurmountable if projects are well designed and logistical constraints are taken into account in their design. Road systems are sparse but exist in some parts of the state, and airstrips exist in many others, although helicopters are clearly necessary in many regions. Finally, many problems associated with great earthquakes and volcanism will require coordinated marine programs, since the plate boundary system does not stop at the coastline and the Aleutians are small islands. Ocean-bottom seismometers can play a critical role in both the thrust zone and around remote segments of the volcanic arc.

Overall, the arrival of USArray has tremendous potential to reveal fundamental properties of the nature of subduction beneath continents.

Andy Frassetto (andyf@iris.edu) can be contacted with any inquiries.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, 8, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

Next IRIS Webinar 10/16 – Seismology in Alaska

                         The next IRIS webinar highlights “Seismology and Imaging beneath Alaska: EarthScope’s Final Frontier” from 2-3 pm ET (6-7 pm UTC) on Wednesday, 10/16. Following the main webinar, I (Andy Frassetto) will provide a brief update on the test TA stations currently deployed in Alaska and the Yukon and preliminary plans for the 2014 EarthScope Transportable Array Deployments in Alaska.

Register to attend: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/574155874

You will be emailed a confirmation containing a link for accessing the webinar. The presentation and subsequent interactions between the speaker, host, and audience are recorded and made available within a few days. Access to the webinar archive, along with related materials and more information on the series is found here: http://www.iris.edu/hq/webinar/

Presenter: Dr. Geoff Abers, Lamont Research Professor, LDEO, Columbia University

Alaska is home to most of North America’s earthquakes, including the second largest ever recorded (Mw 9.2). It is also a place where subducting plates traverse the upper mantle, driving abundant magmatism in an arc nearly 3000 km long. From now through 2018, the Transportable Array will site, deploy and operate stations throughout Alaska, completing the coverage of the continental United States. Likely the TA will be supplemented by portable seismic deployments and by other related activities onshore and offshore. All of these build on knowledge from a small number of past experiences in the area, which provide clear evidence of the wealth of scientific opportunities and special challenges working in this harsh environment. I will provide an overview of some past experiments and projects, highlighting several for which I have personal experience.

A couple lessons emerge. First, seismicity is remarkably abundant, and constitutes the vast majority of earthquakes in the U.S. Besides the signals, such high seismicity levels present operational challenges. Second, the subduction zone produces considerable structure within the upper mantle, precisely where broadband arrays can provide the most information about the Earth. In two past experiments (BEAAR and MOOS) we mapped out the subducting crust and plate interface zone from near the trench to 130 km depth, over several hundred km, and observe hints of many other structures. At this scale, the TA is guaranteed to image a great deal of interesting structure, and focused experiments have even more promise. Third, logistics are challenging but not insurmountable if projects are well designed and logistical constraints are taken into account in their design. Road systems are sparse but exist in some parts of the state, and airstrips exist in many others, although helicopters are clearly necessary in many regions. Finally, many problems associated with great earthquakes and volcanism will require coordinated marine programs, since the plate boundary system does not stop at the coastline and the Aleutians are small islands. Ocean-bottom seismometers can play a critical role in both the thrust zone and around remote segments of the volcanic arc.

Overall, the arrival of USArray has tremendous potential to reveal fundamental properties of the nature of subduction beneath continents.

Andy Frassetto (andyf@iris.edu) can be contacted with any inquiries.

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