Assessing Seismic Tomography Models of Alaska
Voiceover
Presenter(s)(s)
Aracely Garcia
Presentation Number
2101
Abstract or Description
Alaska is positioned on a convergent plate boundary, where the Pacific Plate is being subducted underneath the North American Plate, with a convergence rate of 7.8 to 5.5 cm/yr from Near Islands region to the Gulf of Alaska along the Aleutian-Alaska Trench. The plate movement has resulted in Alaska’s mountains, volcanos, and frequently occurring earthquakes at high magnitudes. Seismic tomography images of the upper mantle’s seismic structure of Alaska are used to better understand the geological processes in subduction zones, including earthquakes, volcanoes, and crustal deformation in Alaska. By comparing multiple seismic velocity models in this region, we will be able to better understand the earth structure under Alaska to better assess earthquake and volcano hazards.
Mentor
S. Shawn Wei
Comments
Rachel Kamp4 years ago
Hello! This is such an interesting study and I really enjoyed reading your poster and watching the video. I can tell you are so passionate about this topic. You mentioned in your abstract that you will have a better understanding of the Earth structure under Alaska to assess earthquake & volcanic hazards - do you think that with further application and exploration that the information collected in this study could lead to being able to predict these earthquakes and volcanic eruptions before they happen?
• • 2 comments
Julie Libarkin4 years ago
That’s my question, too!
Aracely Garcia4 years ago
Hi, thank you so much! Yes, I'm hopeful that with further application and studies of tomography (especially in Alaska) we will be able to one day predict where earthquakes will occur! I do think it will be quite a tricky task, because as of now being able to correctly predict where an earthquake might occur is very slim, due to the uncertainly of the conditions at certain depths that it takes to create them.
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