CAREER: Integrating Seismic Constraints on Continental Upper Mantle

University Of Houston, Houston TX

Investigators

Abstract

This project focuses on studying three cratonic regions using seismic body and surface waves. The study areas include the Kaapvaal craton, the eastern part of the North America craton, and the Wyoming craton. Regional seismic networks in these regions, such as the SASE array in southern Africa, the POLARIS network in southeastern Canada, and the USArray in Wyoming and Montana, provide abundant broadband seismic data for the studies. The research components of the project are (1) to perform Rayleigh and Love wave inversions to determine 3-D shear-wave velocity, azimuthal anisotropy, and radial anisotropy structure in southern Africa, eastern North America, and the Wyoming craton, (2) to conduct forward modeling to determine endmember anisotropic models beneath southern Africa using shear-wave splitting and surface wave constraints, (3) to develop a joint inversion method for body and surface waves and apply it to the SASE and the POLARIS data sets. High resolution seismic models constructed from this project will cast new light on properties of cratonic lithosphere and provide new insights into the dynamic process of continental cratons. The inversion methods that are modified and developed in this project can be easily applied to seismic data from the USArray and other regional seismic arrays. Another significant component of this CAREER development project is education. The education activities include (1) offering a seismology workshop for students in the Physical Geology class each semester at the University of Houston, (2) developing a new seminar course and a website about continental cratons, (3) developing web-based modules about inversion and surface wave concepts, and (4) installing a seismograph on campus. These activities will introduce earthquake seismology to a broad audience, help to recruit geophysics students, enhance the teaching and learning environment in geophysics at UH, and provide the community with a new web source about continental cratons. The educational products will be made available online so that they can be widely used in the earth science community.