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Geodynamics

Archives / 2022 / March

Investigating earthquake activity of the 2018 Kīlauea Volcano eruption

and March 16, 2022
Photograph of Kīlauea’s summit, Halema’uma’u Crater, partway through the 2018 eruption. The seismic events at the summit and associated eruptive activity greatly changed the structure of the summit and surrounding region. Photograph by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on June 12, 2018 (https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/k-lauea-volcano-halema-uma-u-crater-0).
Photograph of Kīlauea’s summit, Halema’uma’u Crater, partway through the 2018 eruption. The seismic events at the summit and associated eruptive activity greatly changed the structure of the summit and surrounding region. Photograph by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on June 12, 2018 (https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/k-lauea-volcano-halema-uma-u-crater-0).

Both earthquakes and research project directions can be hard to predict. This week Becky Fildes, a graduate student at UC Davis, takes us on a journey of how she came to study earthquake behavior in Hawaii during an active volcanic eruption and how our understanding of caldera collapses can be further improved. In my first year of graduate school in 2017, I had started studying earthquake statisti ...[Read More]

The Sassy Scientist – The Doctor Is In

March 11, 2022
The Sassy Scientist – The Doctor Is In

There are no stupid questions. How many times have we heard that from colleagues and in classrooms? Obviously an exceedingly sizeable chunk of our community does not receive stupid questions often enough. Even silly questions have their merits though, and obviously they deserve an answer, at least to avoid them being asked in the future. My very busy mailbox has recently seen a staggering increase ...[Read More]

Why do some slabs stagnate?

and March 9, 2022
Why do some slabs stagnate?

Mechanisms for stab stagnation are essential for understanding the mantle circulation patterns. This week, Diandian Peng, a graduate student from University of Illinois explores how dynamic pressure gradients can pull the slabs sideways stagnating them at the Mantle Transition Zone. Seismic imaging provides critical constraints on the structure and evolution of subducted slabs. Numerous tomographi ...[Read More]

The Sassy Scientist – Chill Pill Refill

March 4, 2022
The Sassy Scientist – Chill Pill Refill

Angela is one to stress out just a wee bit every time a conference is right around the corner. It’s almost like she consistently doesn’t prepare in time. Ever so slightly concerned, her office mate asks: How last minute is too last minute when preparing for a conference? Dear Angela, Just take a breather and come down from your academic productivity high! It’s an untenable situat ...[Read More]