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EARTH SCIENCES

Thesis topic: Dynamics of the core-mantle interface from seismic anisotropy.
My research currently focusses on using shear-wave splitting—the variable wavespeed of seismic body waves—to probe the structure and dynamics of the region at the base of the mantle know as ‘D″’. Here, between the core-mantle boundary and about 250 km above, processes such as slab impingment on CMB material and convection can align mineral crystals (or perhaps pockets of melt), producing a fabric that can be detected by its resultant seismic anisotropy. If indeed mineral alignment is the cause, then this technique can even tell us how the mantle deforms, meaning we can ultimately map strain at the CMB.

Thesis advisors:
Prof J-Michael Kendall and Dr James Wookey

Source of funding:
Natural Envrionment Research Council (NERC)

Start and finish dates:
October 2008 – October 2011

Publications