CSEDI Research: Fine Structure of the Lower Mantle

0001966这是一个合作项目的更新，在这个项目中，地震学家和地球动力学家(与他们的学生)密切合作，以了解下地幔的动力学和精细结构。研究人员之所以把重点放在地球深处的这一区域，是因为它在控制整个星球的热和化学状态和演化方面发挥着如此重要的作用。在这个项目中，地震学和地球动力学方法紧密结合在一起。地球动力学模型(一些与地表板块的地质演化相结合)被用来研究：粘度、部分熔融和化学非均质性变化较大的上升区的动力学；与热化学边界层相互作用的强冷板；以及上升流和下升流之间的横向过渡区。这些热化学结构被映射到二维和三维地震速度场中，以便动态模型直接与观测波形、差异旅行时和层析成像进行测试。动态模型促进了新数据的收集，同时也提出了解释地震模型的新方法。这种方法加速了我们对地球过程的理解。

Gurnis, Michael EAR-0001966 This is a renewal of a collaborative project in which a seismologist and a geodynamicist (with their students) work closely together to understand the dynamics and fine structure of the lower mantle. The investigators have focussed on this region of the deep Earth because it plays such an important role in controlling the thermal and chemical state and evolution of the entire planet. In this project, seismological and geodynamical methodologies are tightly integrated. Geodynamical models (some integrated to the geological evolution of surface plates) are used to study: The dynamics of upwelling regions with large variations in viscosity, partial melting, and chemical heterogeneity; strong, cold slabs interacting with thermo-chemical boundary layers; and lateral transition regions between upwellings and downwellings. These thermo-chemical structures are mapped into two- and three-dimensional seismic velocity fields so that dynamic models are directly tested against observed waveforms, differential travel times, and tomography. The dynamic models motivate the collection of new data while also suggesting new ways to interpret seismic models. This approach has lead to an acceleration in our understanding of Earth processes.