[CIG-ALL] AGU/CGU/GACMAC Joint Assembly, Montreal, May 3-7, 2015 - Abstract deadline January 14

[Lorraine Hwang]

Dear Solid Earth Geodynamicists,

We would like to draw your attention to the following sessions taking
place at the Joint Assembly in Montreal this Spring (http://ja.agu.org/2015/ <http://ja.agu.org/2015/>). The ABSTRACT DEADLINE is January, 14. (Please note there is not a SEDI section at the Joint Assembly, instead
customary SEDI subject matter appears under "Solid Earth". Other sections, such as Tectonophysics, are featured as usual.)


Session Title: Mantle Dynamics From the Surface to Core: Continuing the Themes of CIG's 2014 Joint Meeting with the CGU

Session Description:
The numerical modelling of mantle dynamics is a powerful tool for understanding the interior dynamics of the Earth and other terrestrial planets. In particular, both the surface expression of mantle convection and the dynamics of the deep mantle have attracted considerable attention in the past decade. Continual code development has enabled modellers to explore topics ranging from the possibility of plate motion on super-Earths to the interplay of surface motion and the inferred thermochemical piles at the Earth's core-mantle boundary. We welcome contributions examining all aspects of numerical mantle convection modelling, considering the dynamics of the base of the Earth's mantle up to the coupled evolution of the mantle and lithosphere. In addition to an interest in models of mantle convection motivated by an understanding of the Earth, we also encourage contributions from studies of mantle convection in other solar system terrestrial planets and studies focussed on extrasolar terrestrial planets.

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Session Title: Deep Earth Dynamics

Session Description:
The Earth is continuously subjected to external and internal processes such as the tidal forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun, convection in the mantle and outer core, and gravitational and magnetic coupling between the Earth’s internal components. The response of the Earth, in return, is in the form of processes such as plate tectonics, generation and sustenance of the Earth’s magnetic field, changes in length of day and excitation of one or more of its normal modes, such as precession, wobble and nutation.  Studies of these processes help improve our knowledge of the Earth’s interior structure and properties. This knowledge is needed in geophysical and astronomical studies, and provides information about the Earth’s origin and evolution. We invite contributions in theoretical, numerical and experimental studies of deep Earth dynamics including, but not limited to, fluid core convection, geodynamo, core-mantle couplings, elliptical instability in the core, and the normal modes.

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Session Title: Multi-disciplinary perspectives on the continental mantle lithosphere and lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary

Session Description:
In the last several decades, multi-disciplinary programs (e.g., Lithoprobe, Earthscope) have provided new insights into the structure of the continental lithosphere and the nature of the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB). Instead of being a homongenous region of stable lithosphere, continental mantle lithosphere exhibits internal layering, lateral variations in composition and thickness, episodic destabilization, and often has a complex lower boundary. The nature of this lower boundarythe LABremains elusive despite numerous studies utilzing various geophysical, geochemical, and petrological techniques. Such studies have demonstrated the LAB likely consists of a boundary (or gradient) in composition, temperature, anisotropy, resistivity, hydration and/or small volumes of melt.

In this session we invite abstracts which address the structure, evolution, and dynamics of the continental lithosphere, and the nature of the LAB, dervied from a range of geophysical and geological perspectives, including seismology, geodynamic modelling, electromagnetics, geochemistry, and petrology.

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Session Title: Planetary Thermal History and the Transition of Stagnant Lid to Plate Tectonics

Session Description:
We propose a session to bring together scientists from different disciplines to address all aspects of the evolution of planets from stagnant lid to plate tectonics, including the question of why most planets do not evolve into a plate tectonic stage and why Earth is unique in our solar system.  This is a subject of widespread interest to geoscientists as well as planetary scientists and microbiologists, and will provide and opportunity for investigators from different specialties to discuss and exchange data, models and constraints on planetary evolution.  It includes, but is not limited to, the fields of geochemistry and geochronology, thermal history of planetary interiors, and planetary geodynamic models.


Best Wishes for 2015.
Julian Lowman

Best,
Lorraine

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Lorraine Hwang, PhD
Associate Director, CIG
530.752.3656

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