Date of Award
January 2015
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
First Advisor
Andrew M Freed
Committee Member 1
Christopher Andronicos
Committee Member 2
Ken Ridgway
Committee Member 3
Antonio Bobet
Abstract
Understanding the viscous strength (rheology) of the mantle is essential for understanding the dynamics and evolution of the Earth. Rheology affects many geologic processes such as mantle convection, the earthquake cycle, and plate tectonics. This study uses tectonic (postseismic) and non-tectonic (lake unloading) events that have induced differential stress changes within the crust and mantle, which in turn, create surface deformation. The viscoelastic relaxation is constrained using geodetic methods, such as GPS, InSAR, or measurements of shoreline rebound. We can use these observed surface displacements to constrain numerical models of the relaxation processes that can be used to infer a viscosity structure. These studies allow us to infer the mechanical nature of the lithosphere and asthenosphere using 3D finite element models. When we combine our inferred viscosity structure with calculations of conductive geothermal gradients and models of mantle melting, we can infer environmental conditions of the upper mantle like water content, mineralogy, and degree of melt.
Recommended Citation
Dickinson, Haylee, "INFERRED RHEOLOGY AND UPPER MANTLE CONDITIONS OF WESTERN NEVADA AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA-NORTHWEST MEXICO" (2015). Open Access Dissertations. 1486.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_dissertations/1486