Multi-scale seismic imaging of the crust and mantle beneath Iceland

This project will image (in 3D) the crust and upper mantle beneath Iceland using multi-scale seismic imaging. The
confluence of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and a deep sourced mantle plume has given rise to enhanced melting that has
formed Iceland, generating large volcanic fields, producing thicker than normal oceanic crust. Ergo, this research will play
a crucial role in answering key questions on how the interaction between the ridge and plume leads to the growth of
relatively thick crust, with a focus on trying to link processes that take place in the asthenosphere, mantle lithosphere and
crust, through the joint exploitation of local earthquake, regional and teleseismic sources. During the project, broadband
seismometers will be deployed and maintained, specifically the Reykjanes Peninsula and Northern Volcanic Zone. Data
will be added to the catalogue of data collected by the Cambridge Volcano Seismology Group. The Fast-Marching
Tomography software package will be utilised (and potentially further developed) to produce a seismic model of the crust
and upper mantle through multiple data types, including body wave traveltimes and surface wave dispersion. Multiple
seismic data types will improve the ability to image the crust and upper mantle and provide higher resolution in regions
with dense data coverage. The resultant models will be compared with results from other geophysical and geochemical
methods (such as gravity, heat flow trace element and isotope ratio analysis).