URI Geological Oceanographer
Receives $143,000 Grant
to Study the Dynamics of the Earth’s
Mantle
Narragansett, R.I .-- September 24,
2001 -- University of Rhode Island
Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO)
geophysicist
Chris
Kincaid has received $143,000 from the
National Science Foundation (NSF) to study
flow patterns in the Earth’s mantle
in subduction zones. The proposal Kincaid
wrote to acquire the grant was the
top-ranked out of 45 proposals submitted
to the NSF margins program.
Subduction occurs along convergent plate
boundaries, where one of the colliding
lithospheric plates descends into the
mantle. More than half of the Earth's
present 25,000 miles of subduction zones
are associated with continental margins
where a large and rapidly increasing
percentage of the Earth's population
resides. Subduction-induced hazards along
active continental margins include those
associated with volcanic processes such as
lava flows, pyroclastic flows and ash
fallout and tectonic processes, such as
faulting, tsunamis and earthquakes. All of
the great earthquakes in recorded history
(with a magnitude greater than 9) have
occurred at subduction zones.
Kincaid will study how large-scale motions
of subducting plates modulate flow in the
mantle, which in turn influence patterns
in mantle temperature and magma
generation. As part of this project,
Kincaid will work with world-renowned
geophysicist, Dr. Ross Griffiths, of the
Australia
National University. The two will
design and fabricate a laboratory
apparatus for developing scaled,
three-dimensional models of subduction.
Initially, the experiments will take place
at Australia National University (ANU)
where Kincaid will work with Griffiths in
ANU's state-of-the-art geophysical fluid
dynamics laboratory. The apparatus will
return to GSO's own fluid dynamics
laboratory, where it will be used in
future research projects and as a teaching
tool in both undergraduate and graduate
oceanography classes.
Previous studies have primarily used
numerical models to look at subduction,
but only in a two-dimensional sense. This
study will help scientists to understand
3-D aspects of subduction which, in turn,
will enhance models for chemical evolution
of volcanic arcs, like the Aleutians and
the Marianas, and seismicity within
subduction zones.
"There is a long history of using scaled
models to study fluid flow processes in
both engineering and scientific
applications," said Kincaid. "They provide
great scientific data, but also an
intuitive glimpse into the processes being
studied. This apparatus will allow
scientists and non-scientists to sit and
watch subduction unfold before them. It is
great for me to be able to work with Ross
on this project. He is truly one of the
world's best at unscrambling how things
flow above and below our planet’s
surface. Along with Bobby Orr, he has been
an idol of mine for many years."
Kincaid received his B.S. in earth science
from Wesleyan University, and his M.A. and
Ph.D. in geophysical fluid dynamics from
Johns Hopkins University. He came to GSO
as an assistant professor in 1991 and was
promoted to associate professor in 1997.
He is a resident of Saunderstown.
The URI Graduate School of Oceanography is
one of the country's largest marine
science education programs, and one of the
world's foremost marine research
institutions. Founded in 1961 in
Narragansett, RI, GSO serves a community
of scientists who are researching the
causes of and solutions to such problems
as acid rain, global warming, air and
water pollution, oil spills, overfishing,
and coastal erosion. GSO is home to the
Coastal Institute, the Coastal Resources
Center, Rhode Island Sea Grant, the Ocean
Technology Center, and the National Sea
Grant Library.
Contact: Lisa Cugini, (401) 874-6642,
lcugini@gso.uri.edu
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