Mantle Imaging

Objective: High quality images of the mantle structure beneath spreading centers can only be achieved through international collaboration, because large-scale seismic and electromagnetic experiments in the same area are required. The proposed Working Group has two main roles, 1) promoting experiments to image the mantle structure at one or two ridge systems, and 2) encouraging scientists to link effectively for interpreting and using the high quality images. The key scientific questions to be addressed by imaging the mantle beneath spreading centers are 1) clarifying mantle dynamics associated with different ridge systems, and 2) identifying the parameters controlling various lithospheric features at different types of ridge systems.

Chair - Nobukazu Seama (Japan)

Working Group Members - Douglas A. Wiens (Washington University, St. Louis, USA), Alan D. Chave (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA), Douglas R. Toomey (University of Oregon, USA), Pascal Tarits (UBO – IUEM, France), Wayne C. Crawford (Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, France), John Chen (China) Please note: Membership in this new WG may be adjusted.

(Working Group formed in 2008)

Translations of mission statement: FrenchGermanKorean; Spanish

Workshop: "Ocean Mantle Dynamics: from Spreading Center to Subduction Zone"

Workshop Report - posted Nov 2011

Workshop abstracts

Background and Objectives

What have and can we derive from crustal and mantle imaging beneath the ocean together with laboratory and numerical studies?

2010 Update

Mantle Imaging WG

Chair – Nobukazu Seama (Kobe University, Japan)

In 2010, we convened a session at the EGU meeting, the title being: "Melt generation to crustal formation beneath mid-ocean ridges" and we had 12 abstracts.  However, we merged to make an oral session entitled: "Two-phase dynamics of mid-ocean ridges and other systems: theory and observation". Whilst there were not many abstracts, the session itself attracted a lot of interest.

2009 Update for Mantle Imaging WG

Mantle Imaging

Chair – Nobukazu Seama (Japan)

OBS and OBEM Project Listings

The InterRidge Mantle Imaging Working Group would like to promote large-scale seismic/EM experiments to image the mantle structure at ridge systems. We encourage PIs with cruises for these experiments to consider availability of bunks for graduate students (esp. students from a different country) and/or to enable international collaborators to deploy additional instruments on the cruises. For the current list of OBS and OBEM projects, please see: http://www.interridge.org/OBS-OBEM

2008 Update

Mantle Imaging
Working Group Update 2008

Chair - N. Seama (Kobe Univ., Japan)

The WG for Mantle Imaging was formed in 2008 and currently includes members from 4 countries (China, France, Japan, and USA). Our WG membership is still being developed.
The key scientific questions to be addressed by imaging the mantle beneath spreading centers are: 1) clarifying mantle dynamics associated with different ridge systems, and

Mantle Imaging WG Discussion

This webpage is for Working Group Members only. If you are not a member of this WG, the page will be blank.
For WG Members: Please click open "read more" (in blue), below.

2007 Mantle Imaging WG proposal

Click here for the Mantle Imaging WG proposal