In studying the internal structure of the Earth the Geophysics section relies on the classical tools of seismology and the variations in the gravitational field supplemented by electromagnetic methods and theoretical geodynamic modelling.
In recent years, our research has exploited measurements from Space, of the effects of global ocean circulation on the Earth’s magnetic field to detailed images of the Earth’s mantle, obtained from combining earthquake waves recorded on worldwide seismometers, gravity and magnetic datasets.
Researchers within the section study the impact on the deep ocean of large atmospheric storms and the long term geophysical processes that lead to the formation of sedimentary basins, offshore Ireland. Through the installation of temporary high density seismic networks, significant advances were also made in our understanding of small earthquake populations in Ireland. We see superb examples of very small earthquakes (usually too small to be felt by humans) repeat slipping in an identical fashion. Hence even in a geographical location with little tectonic activity, there are very interesting dynamic processes at play.
Deployment of an Ocean Bottom Seismometer in 2018
These seismic networks are also leading to better images of sub-surface geological structure, which has implications for our understanding of how the Earth’s crust and its resources formed. Although DIAS has a remit to focus on fundamental research, nonetheless through the Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geoscience (iCRAG) and collaborations with the Geological Survey, Ireland (GSI) the geophysics section has strengthened its collaboration with industry partners, over recent years.
Our fieldwork
activities in recent years saw the deployment of Ocean Bottom
Seismometers (OBS) in the NE Atlantic, the development of our of
bespoke seismic networks in Iceland and the Galapagos, and
electromagnetic networks on the Azores. These latter deployments both
have a focus on volcanoes and both involve strong international
collaborations.
The section had several new project successes in recent years, noteably the €1 million Euro European Space Agency (ESA) award to Zdenek Martenic, Sergei Lebedev and Javier Fullea entitled “3D Earth – A Dynamic Living Planet,” and a prestigious Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) award to Javier Fullea deriving from his successful A-rated European Research Council starter (ERC) application.
DIAS Geophysics use seismic and electromagnetic networks to monitor and image volcanic systems.
Others include, Sergei Levedev’s SFI/GSI/Marine Institute 2017 funded project (€1.25 Million), SEA-SEIS (Structure, Evolution and SEISmic hazard off the Irish offshore). Led by DIAS the project will also bring together collaborators from the Geological Survey Ireland, University of Oxford and GFZ Potsdam. In turn SEASEIS is made possible by the 2017 commissioned iMARL Marine Infrastructure award (€2.9 Million) to Chris Bean. SEA-SEIS will bridge our understanding of the NorthAtlantic – Arctic region, for the first time.
#shareEGU20 was a huge experiment & we are so grateful to everyone who participated in whatever way you could. Now we start to reflect on what happened & how we can learn from it.
We start by breaking it down: Sharing Geoscience Online - by the numbers.
egu.eu/06VMOA/Retweeted by
DIAS Geophysics
New research published today in @NatureComms shows how seismic signals give early warning for subglacial floods.
Lead scientists Dr Eva Eibl & Prof Chris Bean expect that the work will help reduce risk to people in affected areas
nature.com/articles/s4146…#DIASdiscovers
One of the survey expeditions was affected by the tail end of Hurricane Helene in September 1988. The ship had to sit out the storm at sea.
The scientists and crew continued working once the storm had passed.
#DIASdiscovers
#ThrowbackThursday
In the 80s and 90s, a research team from @DIAS_Dublin led by Prof Brian Jacob used seismic equipment to survey marine basins off the west coast of Ireland.
The findings formed a key part of the evidence which led to Irish territory expanding by a factor of 10!
Marine researchers are gaining new insights into our ocean activity after recovering seismometers from the Atlantic. The devices have been brought back to Galway after they were deployed two years ago | Read more: bit.ly/2YYp3JRRetweeted by
DIAS Geophysics
Scientific Research
In studying the internal structure of the Earth the Geophysics section relies on the classical tools of seismology and the variations in the gravitational field supplemented by electromagnetic methods and theoretical geodynamic modelling.
In recent years, our research has exploited measurements from Space, of the effects of global ocean circulation on the Earth’s magnetic field to detailed images of the Earth’s mantle, obtained from combining earthquake waves recorded on worldwide seismometers, gravity and magnetic datasets.
Researchers within the section study the impact on the deep ocean of large atmospheric storms and the long term geophysical processes that lead to the formation of sedimentary basins, offshore Ireland. Through the installation of temporary high density seismic networks, significant advances were also made in our understanding of small earthquake populations in Ireland. We see superb examples of very small earthquakes (usually too small to be felt by humans) repeat slipping in an identical fashion. Hence even in a geographical location with little tectonic activity, there are very interesting dynamic processes at play.
These seismic networks are also leading to better images of sub-surface geological structure, which has implications for our understanding of how the Earth’s crust and its resources formed. Although DIAS has a remit to focus on fundamental research, nonetheless through the Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geoscience (iCRAG) and collaborations with the Geological Survey, Ireland (GSI) the geophysics section has strengthened its collaboration with industry partners, over recent years.
Our fieldwork activities in recent years saw the deployment of Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBS) in the NE Atlantic, the development of our of bespoke seismic networks in Iceland and the Galapagos, and electromagnetic networks on the Azores. These latter deployments both have a focus on volcanoes and both involve strong international collaborations.
The section had several new project successes in recent years, noteably the €1 million Euro European Space Agency (ESA) award to Zdenek Martenic, Sergei Lebedev and Javier Fullea entitled “3D Earth – A Dynamic Living Planet,” and a prestigious Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) award to Javier Fullea deriving from his successful A-rated European Research Council starter (ERC) application.
Others include, Sergei Levedev’s SFI/GSI/Marine Institute 2017 funded project (€1.25 Million), SEA-SEIS (Structure, Evolution and SEISmic hazard off the Irish offshore). Led by DIAS the project will also bring together collaborators from the Geological Survey Ireland, University of Oxford and GFZ Potsdam. In turn SEASEIS is made possible by the 2017 commissioned iMARL Marine Infrastructure award (€2.9 Million) to Chris Bean. SEA-SEIS will bridge our understanding of the NorthAtlantic – Arctic region, for the first time.
In terms of infrastructure, the Irish National Seismic Network (INSN) is in the process of expansion with support from the GSI.
For more detailed information on individual research projects and their research outcomes, see the staff page and the publications page.
Check out our most Recent Research Activies.
Geophysics
Sea creatures from the Midnight Zone: see the SEA-SEIS #Expedition new blog posts at sea-seis.ie/blog. @DIAS_Dublin @scienceirel @GeolSurvIE @Education_Ire @iCRAGcentre @dias_geophysics #octopus #SeaCreatures #seismology #OBS #MidnightZone #NorthAtlantic #science Retweeted by DIAS Geophysics
Spotted on the west pier in Dún Laoghaire. From the family firm of Robert Mallet, the father of seismology @dias_geophysics en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Ma… Retweeted by DIAS Geophysics
#shareEGU20 was a huge experiment & we are so grateful to everyone who participated in whatever way you could. Now we start to reflect on what happened & how we can learn from it. We start by breaking it down: Sharing Geoscience Online - by the numbers. egu.eu/06VMOA/ Retweeted by DIAS Geophysics
@FergusMcAuliffe
New research published today in @NatureComms shows how seismic signals give early warning for subglacial floods. Lead scientists Dr Eva Eibl & Prof Chris Bean expect that the work will help reduce risk to people in affected areas nature.com/articles/s4146… #DIASdiscovers
Ever heard how a North #Atlantic #earthquake sounds? Here is a complete recording by a SEA-SEIS seismic station, in the far reaches of the #Irish #offshore territory. @DIAS_Dublin @scienceirel @GeolSurvIE @Education_Ire @iCRAGcentre @dias_geophysics #sonification #seismology Retweeted by DIAS Geophysics
Just back with unique ocean-bottom recordings of North #Atlantic #earthquakes and great baleen whales sounds from the @SEA_SEIS project - a network of state-of-the-art ocean bottom #seismometers deployed in 2018. @DIAS_Dublin bit.ly/2T0jDds Photo Credit: SEA-SEIS Team Retweeted by DIAS Geophysics
Lockdown Lecture #2 💫 Are we Alone? Travelling to Proxima Centauri 🌟 19 May at 1pm Attendance is FREE but registration is essential. More details and registration link at the below link. #DIASdiscovers @SCSLibrary @dias_geophysics @DIASDunsink @DIASAstronomy Retweeted by DIAS Geophysics
Our expedition back on land, we miss the waves, sea creatures and the strange stares of northern seabirds. Now the next chapter begins -the treasure trove of data will keep us busy for some time! @DIAS_Dublin @scienceirel @GeolSurvIE @Education_Ire @iCRAGcentre @dias_geophysics Retweeted by DIAS Geophysics
DIAS SCIENTISTS COLLECT UNIQUE DATA fishfocus.co.uk/dias-scientist… @DIAS_Dublin @MarineInst #marinescience #oceanresearch #atlanticocean #earthquakes #seismology #galway #ireland Retweeted by DIAS Geophysics
One of the survey expeditions was affected by the tail end of Hurricane Helene in September 1988. The ship had to sit out the storm at sea. The scientists and crew continued working once the storm had passed. #DIASdiscovers
#ThrowbackThursday In the 80s and 90s, a research team from @DIAS_Dublin led by Prof Brian Jacob used seismic equipment to survey marine basins off the west coast of Ireland. The findings formed a key part of the evidence which led to Irish territory expanding by a factor of 10!
DIAS has two vacancies for Senior Professors. (1) Senior Professor – School of Theoretical Physics: dias.ie/2019/12/16/vac… (2) SALI Senior Professor in Physics (Astrophysics, Geophysics or Theoretical Physics) dias.ie/2020/03/05/sal… #DIASdiscovers #jobfairy #physics Retweeted by DIAS Geophysics
Marine researchers are gaining new insights into our ocean activity after recovering seismometers from the Atlantic. The devices have been brought back to Galway after they were deployed two years ago | Read more: bit.ly/2YYp3JR Retweeted by DIAS Geophysics
Welcome home @SEA_SEIS team! This was a difficult expedition and a huge effort was put into retrieving these seismometers safely. Well done to everyone involved! #DIASdiscovers @MarineInst @GeolSurvIE @DIAS_Dublin @rtenews @RTEScienceTech rte.ie/news/2020/0513…
Well done to all the scientists and crew!! @SEA_SEIS @DIAS_Dublin @scienceirel @GeolSurvIE @Education_Ire @iCRAGcentre @dias_geophysics #Ocean #Galway coastmonkey.ie/dias-scientist… Retweeted by DIAS Geophysics
Our expedition nearing its completion, a beautiful sunset greets us in the Galway Bay. @DIAS_Dublin @scienceirel @GeolSurvIE @Education_Ire @iCRAGcentre @dias_geophysics #ocean #Galway Retweeted by DIAS Geophysics
We are now heading back to Galway. Slowed down by a bit of rough weather, but a perfect day for 2 live video link-ups with schools in Ireland. @marygorey @stjosephsborris @DIAS_Dublin @scienceirel @GeolSurvIE @Education_Ire @iCRAGcentre @dias_geophysics #ocean #waves #illuminator Retweeted by DIAS Geophysics
Seismometer Allód—named by Coláiste Phobail Cholmcille, Tory Island, Co. Donegal (Principal: Máire Clár Nic Mhathúna) after the Irish God of the sea—decided to stay for now at 3.8 km depth. @DIAS_Dublin @scienceirel @GeolSurvIE @Education_Ire @iCRAGcentre @dias_geophysics #Allod Retweeted by DIAS Geophysics
Tomorrow our lunchtime, #LockdownLecture series will begin. Register today to receive the link tomorrow! More on our website. @SCSLibrary @dias_geophysics @StpDias @DIASAstronomy @DIAS_ISOS Retweeted by DIAS Geophysics