22 April 2013 – Seminar
When: 4pm on Monday, 22 April 2013
Where: DIAS, Geophysics Section, 5 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, (library)
Speaker: Prof. Ian Bastow (Imperial College London)
Title: Precambrian plate tectonics: seismic evidence from northern Hudson Bay
Abstract
Much of the geological record on Earth can be interpreted in the context of active processes occurring at the plate boundaries. For Phanerozoic (younger than 570 Ma) rocks this is well established, but during the Precambrian (older than 570 Ma), when the oldest rocks were forming, Earth conditions were likely very different, so analogies with modern-day tectonics are less certain. For example, 40 yr after the advent of plate tectonic theory, the precise onset of continental drift remains ambiguous: in the past 5 yr its onset has been estimated as early as ca. 4.1 Ga (e.g., Hopkins et al., 2008), or as late as ca. 1 Ga (Stern, 2005). Gathering geological evidence preserved deep within the plates in stable Precambrian regions (shields) is thus essential to improve our understanding of the early Earth. The geological record of northern Canada spans more than 2 b.y. of the Precambrian (ca. 3.9–1.7 Ga; Hoffman, 1988), and the region is underlain by a large continental root (e.g., Hoffman, 1990). It comprises several Archean terranes that are thought to have been brought together during a series of Paleoproterozoic collisions (e.g., Hoffman, 1988), culminating in the Trans-Hudson orogen, an ~1.8 b.y. old mountain building event that is thought to have been similar in scale and nature to the present-day Himalaya-Karakoram-Tibetan orogen of Asia (St-Onge et al., 2006). To address questions concerning Precambrian plate tectonics and the assembly of the Canadian shield, the Hudson Bay Lithospheric Experiment operated broadband seismograph stations between 2007-2011. I will describe the salient results of HuBLE and their implications for Precambrian plate tectonics, as well as the reasons for the existence of the Hudson Bay basin.
Leave a Comment
Last Updated: 22nd March 2016 by Louise Collins
2013-04-22 – Seminar: Prof. Ian Bastow
22 April 2013 – Seminar
When: 4pm on Monday, 22 April 2013
Where: DIAS, Geophysics Section, 5 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, (library)
Speaker: Prof. Ian Bastow (Imperial College London)
Title: Precambrian plate tectonics: seismic evidence from northern Hudson Bay
Abstract
Much of the geological record on Earth can be interpreted in the context of active processes occurring at the plate boundaries. For Phanerozoic (younger than 570 Ma) rocks this is well established, but during the Precambrian (older than 570 Ma), when the oldest rocks were forming, Earth conditions were likely very different, so analogies with modern-day tectonics are less certain. For example, 40 yr after the advent of plate tectonic theory, the precise onset of continental drift remains ambiguous: in the past 5 yr its onset has been estimated as early as ca. 4.1 Ga (e.g., Hopkins et al., 2008), or as late as ca. 1 Ga (Stern, 2005). Gathering geological evidence preserved deep within the plates in stable Precambrian regions (shields) is thus essential to improve our understanding of the early Earth. The geological record of northern Canada spans more than 2 b.y. of the Precambrian (ca. 3.9–1.7 Ga; Hoffman, 1988), and the region is underlain by a large continental root (e.g., Hoffman, 1990). It comprises several Archean terranes that are thought to have been brought together during a series of Paleoproterozoic collisions (e.g., Hoffman, 1988), culminating in the Trans-Hudson orogen, an ~1.8 b.y. old mountain building event that is thought to have been similar in scale and nature to the present-day Himalaya-Karakoram-Tibetan orogen of Asia (St-Onge et al., 2006). To address questions concerning Precambrian plate tectonics and the assembly of the Canadian shield, the Hudson Bay Lithospheric Experiment operated broadband seismograph stations between 2007-2011. I will describe the salient results of HuBLE and their implications for Precambrian plate tectonics, as well as the reasons for the existence of the Hudson Bay basin.
Category: Geophysics Section News & Events
Big thank you to @MartinaPQuinn of @helloalicepr for moderating the discussion, and of course to our panel @NeasaMcG @CormacORafferty and @laoneill111
@CormacORafferty "to cut yourself off from fundamental research means you could miss out on some of the biggest ideas"
@laoneill "it's our job as researchers to keep reminding governments how important basic research is" "For Dev basic research being carried out in Ireland was a badge of pride"
@NeasaMcG Schrödinger's work in causality was not well received by the religious authorities at the time At the same time DIAS did have Catholic priests working on research projects in the early days, so there was not the conflict you might think between science and religion
@laoneill111 Schrödinger was very popular in social circles in Dublin, a bit of a renaissance man
@CormacORafferty Schrödinger was gifted at explaining difficult concepts
@CormacORafferty on how unsuccessful work, in Schrödinger's case, unified field theory, is just as important part of science. And no one has managed to crack it yet! And not forgetting the cat
@laoneill111 how Schrödinger's book inspired scientists to change fields and result in the finding of the double helix.
@NeasaMcG explaining how DIAS came about and how Schrödinger was attracted to Ireland #DIASdiscovers
Panel Discussion getting underway! @laoneill111 @CormacORafferty @NeasaMcG @MartinaPQuinn
We're half way through the documentary... Join us for the rest and the fascinating discussion to follow DM for link
@Stella15882 @NeasaMcG @HistFest @lukeoneil47 @CormacORafferty @MartinaPQuinn Stella, send me an email. I'll get a link to you communications@dias.ie
Starting in just over an hour we have limited tickets left for tonights broadcast and panel discussion. Get your free ticket now twitter.com/DIAS_Dublin/st…
Culture Night 2020 Booking Links! - Virtual Tour of DIAS Dunsink Observatory: eventbrite.ie/e/118043576515 - Earthquakes and other Geohazards: eventbrite.ie/e/earthquakes-… - Taifeadaí Cartlainne ó Scoil an Léinn Cheiltigh: eventbrite.ie/e/taifeadai-ca… Join us from 5pm! #CultureNight2020
@dias_geophysics have developed something special for @galway2020 in collaboration with composer David Stalling. It is an audio-visual composition “Palace of Ships,” based on sounds, images and seismic data from DIAS’ @SEA_SEIS Expeditions. More: dias.ie/2020/09/14/dia…
Meet some of our panelists for tomorrows discussion on the impact and legacy of the work carried out by Erwin Schroedinger during his time in Ireland as our first Director of Theoretical Physics Grab a free ticket here: eventbrite.ie/e/115984908985
This Wednesday! We continue our participation in @HistFest with an online screening of "Thinking outside the box" followed by a panel discussion featuring @laoneill111 @NeasaMcG @CormacORafferty, chaired by @MartinaPQuinn Tickets still available! eventbrite.ie/e/the-impact-a…