CSEDI: Collaborative Research: Toward a Comprehensive Model of Mantle Flow & Seismic Anisotropy in the Western US - Using Mineral Physics to Directly link Geodynamics & Se

量化地震各向异性与地幔流动之间的关系，对于促进我们对地表构造和地幔对流的理解具有重要意义。研究人员提出了一种联合方法：计算区域地球动力学流动模型，将导出的有限应变与矿物物理计算的结构进行比较，并进行地震建模，以找到与观测结果相符的各向异性的应变和结构预测。他们努力回答以下问题：应变、地幔流动和各向异性在方向和大小上是如何相关的？深对流流在多大程度上与岩石圈耦合？实验室变形实验的结果能应用于地幔在低得多的应变率下的行为吗？美国西部是这一项目的理想天然试验台，因为地震和大地测量数据的密度是世界上最高的之一，可以实现良好的横向和深度分辨率，在地球望远镜工作期间，分辨率将进一步提高。拟议的研究还将有助于规划未来地震仪器的部署，特别是在美国西部板块边界区域内。资金将为两名女性个人投资主任和两名从事自我指导项目的初级研究人员的职业发展提供支助。在资助期结束时，投资促进机构期望向社区提供对结构形成算法和应变-各向异性关系的真实世界测试，并就从地球动力学角度解释各向异性的地震学观测提供定量指南。

Quantifying the relationship between seismic anisotropy and mantle flow is important for advancing our understanding of surface tectonics and convection in the Earth's mantle. The investigators propose a joint approach: to calculate regional geodynamic flow models, compare derived finite strain to mineral physics calculations of texture, and perform seismological modeling to find both strain and texture predictions for anisotropy that are compatible with observations. They strive to answer the following questions: How are strain, mantle flow, and anisotropy related, in orientation and in magnitude? To what degree are deep convective currents coupled to the lithosphere? Can results from laboratory deformation experiments be applied to the behavior of the mantle at much lower strain rates? The western United States are an ideal natural test-bed for this project since the density of seismic and geodetic data is one of the highest worldwide, allowing for good lateral and depth resolution, which will increase further during the Earthscope efforts. The proposed study will also be useful for planning the future deployment of seismic instrumentation, in particular within the western United States plate boundary region. Funding will provide support for two female PIs and for the career development of two junior researchers working on a self-directed project. At the end of the funding period, the PIs expect to provide the community with a real-world test of texture formation algorithms and strain-anisotropy relationships, and with a quantitative guide to the interpretation of seismological observations of anisotropy with respect to geodynamics.