NSF Org:	EAR Division Of Earth Sciences
Recipient:	NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date:	July 17, 2019
Latest Amendment Date:	December 16, 2024
Award Number:	1928786
Award Instrument:	Continuing Grant
Program Manager:	Wendy Panero wpanero@nsf.gov  (703)292-5058 EAR  Division Of Earth Sciences GEO  Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	August 1, 2019
End Date:	July 31, 2025 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$207,105.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$207,105.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2019 = $130,978.00 FY 2021 = $76,127.00
History of Investigator:	James Ni (Principal Investigator) jni@nmsu.edu Thomas Hearn (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	New Mexico State University 1050 STEWART ST. LAS CRUCES NM  US  88003 (575)646-1590
Sponsor Congressional District:	02
Primary Place of Performance:	New Mexico State Universtiy 1255 N Horseshoe Drive Las Cruces NM  US  88003-8002
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	02
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	J3M5GZAT8N85
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	PREEVENTS - Prediction of and, Geophysics
Primary Program Source:	01001920DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002122DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):	9150
Program Element Code(s):	034y00, 157400
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.050

ABSTRACT

When two tectonic plates collide, one may slide underneath the other. This process, called subduction, often occurs when an oceanic plate meets a continental plate. The subducting oceanic plate, or subducting slab, sinks into the Earth's mantle affecting the regional mantle flow. This often generates mountain building and volcanic activity on land, like in Cascadia and Andean mountains. The volcanos may form along a curved chain called an arc. Colliding continental plates also build mountain ranges, like the Alps and the Himalayas. These processes are responsible for large earthquakes and volcanic eruptions threatening human lives and activity. Here, the researchers study a plate boundary coupling subduction with continental collision. Subduction of the Indian oceanic plate occurs along the Indo-Burma arc. It transitions to collision along the Himalayan Mountains. The scientists leverage on an international collaboration between five countries and the U.S. They use seismology, the study of seismic waves propagating through the Earth, to image in 3D mantle and crustal structures. Deploying 24 seismic stations in key locations in Myanmar, they analyze data from these instruments and ~900 other stations in surrounding India, Bangladesh and China. A primary objective is to unveil the processes responsible for the growth of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Another one is to quantify the effect of the Indian slab geometry on the mantle flow. The project improves the understanding of the regional tectonics. Its outcomes have strong implications for seismic and volcanic hazard assessment in Myanmar; a region which faces large dramatic events. The project provides support for two graduate students in Missouri and New Mexico, as well as the development of scientific collaborations in Myanmar. The three-year award was co-funded by NSF Prediction of and Resilience against Extreme Events (PREEVENTS) program.

Here, the team investigates the role of the Indian slab beneath Burma as a "backstop" to the mantle flow around the eastern Himalayas. They also study how this impacts the growth of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. The project consists of two components: (1) data collection from a temporary seismic array that links large arrays in India/Bangladesh and China; (2) the synthesis of data from a large number of existing stations across the region. The data acquisition component consists of 24 temporary broad-band stations deployed in key regions lacking any seismic instruments. The second component is a collaborative effort with scientists from Myanmar, India, Singapore, China, and Germany. The combined seismic network of over 900 stations spans an area of 1800 km by 2000 km. It completely covers the entire Indo-Burma Arc. The scientists use 3-D seismic tomography and anisotropic surface wave tomography to image the Indian slab beneath the Indo-Burma subduction zone. This enables them to compare flow and lithospheric deformation around eastern Himalayas and in the Indo-Burma back-arc. The project outcomes constrain the dynamics of the deformation associated with the Indian collision and subduction, and how the transition from subduction to continental collision occurs. The gained insight into the regional tectonics, as well as crustal attenuation, is key to improve seismic and volcanic hazard forecasting in Myanmar and surrounding regions.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

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