The CIG Webinar Series draws from a pool of experts from mathematicians, to computer scientists, and to geoscientists, among others to bring together a cross-cutting community of faculty, students and researchers to both inform and disseminate knowledge on the tools and methodologies employed to further the study of problems in geodynamics.

The one hour webinars will be held the 2nd Thursday of each month October through May. Webinars will be recorded for later viewing. Reminders and details will be sent out through the cig-all mailing list.

***NEW*** Please register in advance for each webinar by clicking on the link provided.

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Click the zoom link next to the webinar of interest to join on your PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android. No registration required.

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+1 408 638 0968 (US Toll)
+1 646 876 9923 (US Toll)
Meeting ID: 384 711 375
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2021-2022 Webinar Schedule

Next Webinar

THURSDAY February 17  @ 2P PT

Energy transfer among flow and magnetic fields with different equatorial symmetry during the dipole reversal in a geodynamo simulation 

Takumi Kera, Tohoku University

•  More Info

Past Webinars

THURSDAY OCTOBER 14  @ 2P PT

SMOREs Showcase

[register]

Bayesian Uncertainty Quantification of Subduction Zone Rheology from the Geoid
Elena Ehrlich, North Carolina State University

Early Earth Influence of Radiogenic Heating on Mid-Ocean Ridge Depths and Seafloor Subsidence
Keneni Godana, University of Illinois at Chicago

As Above So Below: A Simulation of the Continental Lithosphere and LLSVPS as Thermal Insulators using ASPECT
Dante Hickey, Reed College

Interactions between Lithospheric Instabilities and Formation of Mantle Plumes in Venus
Hiva Mohammadzadeh, Los Angeles Pierce College

Members of the geodynamics community come from a broad range of fields. Many of these fields are among the least diverse in STEM. The challenges for computational geodynamics are not only to increase competency in earth and computational science but also in recruiting from an undergraduate student pool that in itself lacks diversity. The CIG 2021 Summer MOdeling Research Experiences (SMOREs) pilot program focused on addressing these issues by providing underrepresented groups funded training and research opportunities. In total, 4 applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and expertise were selected for the program out of 35 highly qualified applications. Following 2 weeks of virtual tutorials, the applicants worked with mentor pairs at different CIG-member institutions on projects ranging from mantle dynamics to magmatism within the lithosphere. This webinar will contain a short, AGU-style presentation from each SMOREs participants on the results of their summer research and plans going forward. We welcome all members of the community to join for the conclusion of the pilot CIG program! [intro] [Ehrlich] [Godana][Hickey][Mohammadzadeh]

THURSDAY January 13  @ 2P PT

Introduction to reference Earth models and datasets using AVNI

Raj Moulik, Princeton University

• Open-source Python package with APIs to handle data and compute intensive queries

• Introduce storage formats or classes for models and processed seismic data 

• Interactive web-based visualization tools for data and model exploration 

• Formulate and benchmark forward solvers for rapid data validation of models 

Modeling the interior structure of terrestrial planets has become one of the most computationally-intensive, big-data problems in the physical sciences with demonstrated utility in assessing hazard, locating explosions and characterizing plate tectonics. Multi-disciplinary advancements have led to a proliferation of dynamical simulations and model snapshots from seismic tomography. Reconciling seismic models and data with simulations from geodynamics, mineral physics and geochemistry is crucial for robust thermo-chemical interpretations. Such cross-disciplinary initiatives have been impeded by discrepant spatial scales, observational or theoretical assumptions, and lack of data validation algorithms. AVNI is an Analysis and Visualization toolkit for plaNetary Inferences that will handle model and data queries from the 3D reference Earth model (REM3D) project.

We present methods and data formats that facilitate rapid prototyping of multi-scale models by reconciling and assimilating features ranging from reservoir (~0.1 - 10 km) to global scales (~500 - 5000 km). Our approach involves three complementary aspects: (1) Code repositories comprising modular libraries with model classes and scalable HDF5 formats for archival, (2) API (Application Programming Interface) calls for querying model and data evaluations with fast, benchmarked forward solvers, (3) Web-based applets for visualization and outlier analyses. Both (1) and (2) are utilized by (3) and can be accessed on the client side with Jupyter notebooks and command-line tools.

AVNI aids reconciliation of measurements made using different techniques by identifying (in)consistent features and subsequently models them using a flexible scheme that permits almost instantaneous forward calculations of data. The methodology employs in-memory and filesystem data storage, providing rapid and scalable filtering of Earth models and calculation of seismic observations. By coupling existing, reconciled observations with predictions for arbitrary locations, this application will be a useful tool for identifying regions of scientific interest, validating new techniques, planning future seismic deployments, and testing hypotheses about the Earth's deep interior.