The seismic significance of water and partial melting in planetary interiors. Novel laboratory techniques will be used to measure the influence of dissolved water on the seismic properties of the deep interiors of Earth and Moon. The outcome will be new insight into the crucial role of water in the formation and subsequent evolution of our dynamic planet and its more quiescent moon.
Chemical influences on the seismic structure of the Earth's upper mantle. This project aims to determine the sensitivity of the seismic properties of Earth’s upper mantle (to 400 km depth) to variations in the prevailing chemical environment. The unique capability of the ANU Rock Physics Laboratory for low-frequency measurement of wave speeds and attenuation will be exploited to clarify the newly discovered importance of redox conditions, and document the effect of varying proportions of the mos ....Chemical influences on the seismic structure of the Earth's upper mantle. This project aims to determine the sensitivity of the seismic properties of Earth’s upper mantle (to 400 km depth) to variations in the prevailing chemical environment. The unique capability of the ANU Rock Physics Laboratory for low-frequency measurement of wave speeds and attenuation will be exploited to clarify the newly discovered importance of redox conditions, and document the effect of varying proportions of the most abundant upper-mantle minerals olivine and pyroxene. The expected outcome will be a robust and comprehensive model to guide the interpretation of the complex architecture of the upper mantle, and thereby provide an improved understanding of the tectonic processes responsible for its evolution through geological time.Read moreRead less