Lead Chief Investigator

Joseph J Kurtz Geodynamics, RSES, Australian National University

Project Title

Numerical investigations in reconstructing subducted slab geometry

Brief Description for General Publications

Seismic tomography has taken major leaps forward in recent years and has provided researchers with new images of earth's lithosphere and mantle structure. Although detailed interpretation of these images is subject to ongoing research, there can be little doubt of their potential significance in increasing our understanding and knowledge of the earth's dynamics and how these processes link the present-day earth to its past configurations. Of particular interest are the images under subduction zones that can be interpreted as surfaces of subducted slabs. Because these structures are indicative of the extent and geometry of tectonic plates as they previously existed on the earth's surface, the simulation of the reversal of the subduction process using these images can constrain hypothetical reconstructions of the ancient super continents in a way not previously possible. The aim of this proposal is to assist the process of utilizing these tomography images for purposes of tectonic reconstruction by investigating various numerical procedures which can result in a global stress calculation. If successful, this result will significantly impact current ideas with respect to, for example, the Banda Arc of Indonesia among others.