Collaborative Research: NSFGEO-NERC: Magnetotelluric imaging and geodynamical/geochemical investigations of plume-ridge interaction in the Galapagos

University Of California-San Diego Scripps Inst Of Oceanography, La Jolla CA

Investigators

Abstract

How magma flows from the Earth’s mantle to the surface is poorly understood. This project will acquire new data in the Galapagos islands to determine if melt flows slowly through the mantle, or quickly through melt-rich channels. The results will help in understanding where seafloor volcanoes form and how frequently they erupt. The project includes support and training of a graduate student and postdoctoral scholar, opportunities for early career scientists to participate in the research cruise, collaboration with the Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos, and outreach to the public and K-12 students. The proposed works aims to significantly improve the understanding of melt transport in the asthenosphere, and melt localization processes, through an integrated multidisciplinary study. The project will focus upon mantle plume/mid-ocean ridge interaction in the Galapagos and will include three key components: (1) New marine resistivity imaging using magnetotelluric data sets for imaging melt distribution; (2) Geochemical analysis of existing and new dredge samples along the northern Galapagos lineaments and Western Galapagos Spreading Center; and (3) Geodynamical modeling of two-phase melt channelization to constrain the physical viability of melt localization. These results will be integrated to generate a new global model for plume-ridge interaction and asthenospheric melt transport in general. This award was made possible through the NSF/GEO-UKRI/NERC lead agency opportunity. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.