Wed 11 Jun 14:00: The Dynamic Process of Subduction Initiation in Young Ocean Basins: A Case Study of the North Sulawesi Subduction Zone
The Sulawesi subduction zone, having recently undergone the initiation of subduction, serves as an ideal natural laboratory for investigating the dynamics of subduction initiation in young ocean basins. Is the subduction process in this region “spontaneous” or “induced”? Why is the North Arm of Sulawesi rotating clockwise? Does the absence of a corresponding volcanic island arc represent a unique tectonic feature of the Sulawesi subduction zone, or is it a characteristic stage in the transformation of a young basin into an active continental margin? This study seeks to address these questions through a combination of numerical modelling and geophysical observations.
- Speaker: Miao Dong, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Wednesday 11 June 2025, 14:00-15:00
- Venue: Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Bullard Laboratories.
- Series: Bullard Laboratories Wednesday Seminars; organiser: ChuanChuan Lu.
Wed 11 Jun 14:00: The Dynamic Process of Subduction Initiation in Young Ocean Basins: A Case Study of the North Sulawesi Subduction Zone
The Sulawesi subduction zone, having recently undergone the initiation of subduction, serves as an ideal natural laboratory for investigating the dynamics of subduction initiation in young ocean basins. Is the subduction process in this region “spontaneous” or “induced”? Why is the North Arm of Sulawesi rotating clockwise? Does the absence of a corresponding volcanic island arc represent a unique tectonic feature of the Sulawesi subduction zone, or is it a characteristic stage in the transformation of a young basin into an active continental margin? This study seeks to address these questions through a combination of numerical modelling and geophysical observations.
- Speaker: Miao Dong, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Wednesday 11 June 2025, 14:00-15:00
- Venue: Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Bullard Laboratories.
- Series: Bullard Laboratories Wednesday Seminars; organiser: ChuanChuan Lu.
Fri 13 Jun 16:00: The splendours of Isfahan, Iran, enabled by Late Quaternary earthquake faulting and drainage reversal
Abstract not available
- Speaker: James Jackson
- Friday 13 June 2025, 16:00-17:00
- Venue: Tea Room, Old House.
- Series: Bullard Laboratories Tea Time Talks; organiser: David Al-Attar.
Fri 13 Jun 16:00: The splendours of Isfahan, Iran, enabled by Late Quaternary earthquake faulting and drainage reversal
Abstract not available
- Speaker: James Jackson
- Friday 13 June 2025, 16:00-17:00
- Venue: Tea Room, Old House.
- Series: Bullard Laboratories Tea Time Talks; organiser: David Al-Attar.
Thu 03 Jul 11:30: Applying simple mathematical models in the mining and energy industries
In this talk I hope to show how I applied what I learned at the IEEF in my career as a consulting engineer. Of particular utility to me has been the idea of breaking a complex engineering problem into small tractable pieces. I am obliged to briefly introduce my company, Itasca International, and the type of work we do. I will show three examples: Potash is a water soluble rock made of potassium salts, it is economically important because its use as a fertilizer. In North America, potash is solution mined by circulating water that dissolves the rock. This is a rich problem that involves chemistry, fluid flow, heat transfer, and geomechanics. I will demonstrate some models that are used to help design solution mines, forecast production, and diagnose operational problems. Explosives are an inexpensive means to break and move rock for civil purposes like tunneling, road cut development, and open pit mine excavation. Rock blasting is a complex set of processes that span several orders of magnitude in time-scale, length-scale, and stress magnitude. I will describe some simple mathematical and numerical models that have helped understand blasting. Onshore wind energy is rapidly growing in the United States, partially as a consequence of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. During construction, the world’s largest mobile cranes are used to lift the nacelle and blades of turbines. There have been several high profile cases of these large cranes tipping over and being destroyed during construction. It is 2025, so every talk has to have something about machine learning now: I will describe the technical problem of soil bearing capacity failure and show how machine learning, via the concept of a surrogate model, has helped make wind turbine installation faster, safer, and less expensive.
Bio: Jason Furtney was a student at the IEEF from 2002 to 2006 after studying Geology at Edinburgh University. Since leaving the institute, Jason has been working as a consulting engineer for Itasca International, a geomechanics consulting and software company in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Speaker: Jason Furtney, Itasca International
- Thursday 03 July 2025, 11:30-12:30
- Venue: Open Plan Area, Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows, Madingley Rise CB3 0EZ.
- Series: Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows (IEEF); organiser: Catherine Pearson.
Thu 03 Jul 11:30: Applying simple mathematical models in the mining and energy industries
In this talk I hope to show how I applied what I learned at the IEEF in my career as a consulting engineer. Of particular utility to me has been the idea of breaking a complex engineering problem into small tractable pieces. I am obliged to briefly introduce my company, Itasca International, and the type of work we do. I will show three examples: Potash is a water soluble rock made of potassium salts, it is economically important because its use as a fertilizer. In North America, potash is solution mined by circulating water that dissolves the rock. This is a rich problem that involves chemistry, fluid flow, heat transfer, and geomechanics. I will demonstrate some models that are used to help design solution mines, forecast production, and diagnose operational problems. Explosives are an inexpensive means to break and move rock for civil purposes like tunneling, road cut development, and open pit mine excavation. Rock blasting is a complex set of processes that span several orders of magnitude in time-scale, length-scale, and stress magnitude. I will describe some simple mathematical and numerical models that have helped understand blasting. Onshore wind energy is rapidly growing in the United States, partially as a consequence of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. During construction, the world’s largest mobile cranes are used to lift the nacelle and blades of turbines. There have been several high profile cases of these large cranes tipping over and being destroyed during construction. It is 2025, so every talk has to have something about machine learning now: I will describe the technical problem of soil bearing capacity failure and show how machine learning, via the concept of a surrogate model, has helped make wind turbine installation faster, safer, and less expensive.
Bio: Jason Furtney was a student at the IEEF from 2002 to 2006 after studying Geology at Edinburgh University. Since leaving the institute, Jason has been working as a consulting engineer for Itasca International, a geomechanics consulting and software company in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Speaker: Jason Furtney, Itasca International
- Thursday 03 July 2025, 11:30-12:30
- Venue: Open Plan Area, Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows, Madingley Rise CB3 0EZ.
- Series: Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows (IEEF); organiser: Catherine Pearson.
Thu 12 Jun 11:30: Mixing and chemical transfers in particle clouds – implications following planetary impacts
At a late stage of its accretion, the Earth experienced high-energy planetary impacts. Following each collision, the metal core of the impactor sank as millimetric drops into a molten silicate magma ocean. The efficiency of chemical equilibration between these silicates and the metal core controlled the composition of the Earth controlled the initial temperature and composition of rocky planets, and hence the emergence of plate tectonics, the time when a solid inner core started to grow, or the driving of an early dynamo in the Earth’s core by exsolution of light elements.
In this talk I will present different experiments focusing on the interaction of settling particle clouds with their surrounding through entrainment, mixing and chemical reactions. I will first present experiments on inert clouds settling in a quiescent fluid. Then, I will discuss the implications of planetary rotation on the efficiency of chemical transfers inside particle clouds, largely disregarded despite the strong rotation rate of the proto-Earth that has been suggested by impact simulations.
- Speaker: Quentin Kriaa, Uni of Cambridge
- Thursday 12 June 2025, 11:30-12:30
- Venue: Open Plan Area, Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows, Madingley Rise CB3 0EZ.
- Series: Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows (IEEF); organiser: Catherine Pearson.
Thu 12 Jun 11:30: Mixing and chemical transfers in particle clouds – implications following planetary impacts
At a late stage of its accretion, the Earth experienced high-energy planetary impacts. Following each collision, the metal core of the impactor sank as millimetric drops into a molten silicate magma ocean. The efficiency of chemical equilibration between these silicates and the metal core controlled the composition of the Earth controlled the initial temperature and composition of rocky planets, and hence the emergence of plate tectonics, the time when a solid inner core started to grow, or the driving of an early dynamo in the Earth’s core by exsolution of light elements.
In this talk I will present different experiments focusing on the interaction of settling particle clouds with their surrounding through entrainment, mixing and chemical reactions. I will first present experiments on inert clouds settling in a quiescent fluid. Then, I will discuss the implications of planetary rotation on the efficiency of chemical transfers inside particle clouds, largely disregarded despite the strong rotation rate of the proto-Earth that has been suggested by impact simulations.
- Speaker: Quentin Kriaa, Uni of Cambridge
- Thursday 12 June 2025, 11:30-12:30
- Venue: Open Plan Area, Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows, Madingley Rise CB3 0EZ.
- Series: Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows (IEEF); organiser: Catherine Pearson.
Thu 03 Jul 11:30: TBC
Abstract not available
- Speaker: Jason Furtney,
- Thursday 03 July 2025, 11:30-12:30
- Venue: Open Plan Area, Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows, Madingley Rise CB3 0EZ.
- Series: Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows (IEEF); organiser: Catherine Pearson.
Thu 03 Jul 11:30: TBC
Abstract not available
- Speaker: Jason Furtney,
- Thursday 03 July 2025, 11:30-12:30
- Venue: Open Plan Area, Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows, Madingley Rise CB3 0EZ.
- Series: Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows (IEEF); organiser: Catherine Pearson.
Thu 05 Jun 11:30: Unveiling complex transport processes in a large deep lake: From coastal upwelling to higher-mode internal waves
Water quality in lakes is closely linked to hydrodynamics and is often dominated by thermal stratification which limits the exchange between the upper layers (called the epilimnion) and the deeper layers (called the hypolimnion). Consequently, the vertical redistribution of biogeochemical tracers such as dissolved oxygen and nutrients by convective overturning during winter is a key process in annual lake cycles. In deep lakes, convective cooling often does not reach the deepest layers. Furthermore, convective cooling is weakening due to climate change, motivating a good understanding of (i) alternative deepwater renewal mechanisms, and (ii) deepwater dynamics in large deep lakes in general. Understanding deepwater dynamics is crucial because of the role deepwater currents play in mediating water-sediment exchanges, hypolimnetic mixing, and horizontal and vertical transport.
In this talk, I will present results from several studies conducted in Lake Geneva, Western Europe’s largest lake (max. depth 300 m), combining field observations, 3D numerical modelling, and particle tracking. The first part of the talk will cover the dynamics and ecological implications of wintertime coastal upwelling and interbasin exchange and upwelling, highlighting their role in deepwater renewal. The second part of the talk will present recent findings on the importance of different vertical modes of rotationally-modified standing internal waves (i.e., Kelvin and Poincaré waves) on the deepwater dynamics in Lake Geneva, highlighting the impact of seemingly negligible but ever-present weak stratification in the deep hypolimnion on the vertical structure of higher vertical-mode Poincaré waves.
- Speaker: Rafael Reiss (University of Cambridge)
- Thursday 05 June 2025, 11:30-12:30
- Venue: Open Plan Area, Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows, Madingley Rise CB3 0EZ.
- Series: Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows (IEEF); organiser: Catherine Pearson.
Thu 05 Jun 11:30: Unveiling complex transport processes in a large deep lake: From coastal upwelling to higher-mode internal waves
Water quality in lakes is closely linked to hydrodynamics and is often dominated by thermal stratification which limits the exchange between the upper layers (called the epilimnion) and the deeper layers (called the hypolimnion). Consequently, the vertical redistribution of biogeochemical tracers such as dissolved oxygen and nutrients by convective overturning during winter is a key process in annual lake cycles. In deep lakes, convective cooling often does not reach the deepest layers. Furthermore, convective cooling is weakening due to climate change, motivating a good understanding of (i) alternative deepwater renewal mechanisms, and (ii) deepwater dynamics in large deep lakes in general. Understanding deepwater dynamics is crucial because of the role deepwater currents play in mediating water-sediment exchanges, hypolimnetic mixing, and horizontal and vertical transport.
In this talk, I will present results from several studies conducted in Lake Geneva, Western Europe’s largest lake (max. depth 300 m), combining field observations, 3D numerical modelling, and particle tracking. The first part of the talk will cover the dynamics and ecological implications of wintertime coastal upwelling and interbasin exchange and upwelling, highlighting their role in deepwater renewal. The second part of the talk will present recent findings on the importance of different vertical modes of rotationally-modified standing internal waves (i.e., Kelvin and Poincaré waves) on the deepwater dynamics in Lake Geneva, highlighting the impact of seemingly negligible but ever-present weak stratification in the deep hypolimnion on the vertical structure of higher vertical-mode Poincaré waves.
- Speaker: Rafael Reiss (University of Cambridge)
- Thursday 05 June 2025, 11:30-12:30
- Venue: Open Plan Area, Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows, Madingley Rise CB3 0EZ.
- Series: Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows (IEEF); organiser: Catherine Pearson.
Thu 05 Jun 14:00: How large can an earthquake grow? Effect of geometrical and energetical barriers
For large earthquakes to occur, seismic ruptures need to propagate long distances along-strike and overcome different types of barriers. Understanding how far an earthquake can propagate includes assessing the effectiveness of these barriers in stopping earthquakes, which depends on the characteristics of both the rupture and barriers. It also includes the evaluation of a portion of a fault to be ready to host an earthquake as it will depend, among other factors, on the energy accumulated since the occurrence of the previous large event. There is thus a time dependency.
In this talk, I will focus on both of these aspects. First, I will discuss about geometrical barriers, due to geometrical complexities along a fault (e.g. gaps and steps), within the framework of the rate-and-state friction law. Next, I will discuss about energetical barriers based on a recent extension of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics theory to elongated ruptures. The work presented here adopts a probabilistic approach and aims to integrate certain aspects of the physics of rupture propagation into seismic hazard analysis.
- Speaker: Speaker to be confirmed
- Thursday 05 June 2025, 14:00-15:00
- Venue: Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Bullard Laboratories.
- Series: Bullard Laboratories Wednesday Seminars; organiser: Adriano Gualandi.
Thu 05 Jun 14:00: How large can an earthquake grow? Effect of geometrical and energetical barriers
For large earthquakes to occur, seismic ruptures need to propagate long distances along-strike and overcome different types of barriers. Understanding how far an earthquake can propagate includes assessing the effectiveness of these barriers in stopping earthquakes, which depends on the characteristics of both the rupture and barriers. It also includes the evaluation of a portion of a fault to be ready to host an earthquake as it will depend, among other factors, on the energy accumulated since the occurrence of the previous large event. There is thus a time dependency.
In this talk, I will focus on both of these aspects. First, I will discuss about geometrical barriers, due to geometrical complexities along a fault (e.g. gaps and steps), within the framework of the rate-and-state friction law. Next, I will discuss about energetical barriers based on a recent extension of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics theory to elongated ruptures. The work presented here adopts a probabilistic approach and aims to integrate certain aspects of the physics of rupture propagation into seismic hazard analysis.
- Speaker: Speaker to be confirmed
- Thursday 05 June 2025, 14:00-15:00
- Venue: Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Bullard Laboratories.
- Series: Bullard Laboratories Wednesday Seminars; organiser: Adriano Gualandi.
Thu 05 Jun 11:30: Unveiling complex transport processes in a large deep lake: From coastal upwelling to higher-mode internal waves
Abstract not available
- Speaker: Rafael Reiss (University of Cambridge)
- Thursday 05 June 2025, 11:30-12:30
- Venue: Open Plan Area, Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows, Madingley Rise CB3 0EZ.
- Series: Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows (IEEF); organiser: Catherine Pearson.
Thu 05 Jun 11:30: Unveiling complex transport processes in a large deep lake: From coastal upwelling to higher-mode internal waves
Abstract not available
- Speaker: Rafael Reiss (University of Cambridge)
- Thursday 05 June 2025, 11:30-12:30
- Venue: Open Plan Area, Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows, Madingley Rise CB3 0EZ.
- Series: Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows (IEEF); organiser: Catherine Pearson.
Wed 04 Jun 17:30: Temporal Dynamics of Island Biodiversity
Understanding how quickly, where, and why biodiversity is changing remains a key question in ecology. Observations show that the pace of change varies widely across different regions. Palaeoecological research contributes valuable insights by revealing long-term patterns and helping to interpret the effects of drivers such as human activity and erosion.
Drawing on examples from islands around the world, we examine how biodiversity has shifted significantly, particularly following human settlement and other environmental pressures. Our findings suggest that islands colonised within the past 1500 years tend to experience more rapid ecological changes than those settled earlier. We also explore the long-term introduction and spread of non-native species, along with the resulting trends in biotic homogenisation.
These examples show how standardised palaeoecological records can help create a more complete understanding of long-term changes in island ecosystems.
- Speaker: Sandra Nogué Bosch, Autonomous University of Barcelona
- Wednesday 04 June 2025, 17:30-19:00
- Venue: Latimer Room, Clare College.
- Series: Quaternary Discussion Group (QDG); organiser: wb350.
Wed 04 Jun 17:30: Temporal Dynamics of Island Biodiversity
Understanding how quickly, where, and why biodiversity is changing remains a key question in ecology. Observations show that the pace of change varies widely across different regions. Palaeoecological research contributes valuable insights by revealing long-term patterns and helping to interpret the effects of drivers such as human activity and erosion.
Drawing on examples from islands around the world, we examine how biodiversity has shifted significantly, particularly following human settlement and other environmental pressures. Our findings suggest that islands colonised within the past 1500 years tend to experience more rapid ecological changes than those settled earlier. We also explore the long-term introduction and spread of non-native species, along with the resulting trends in biotic homogenisation.
These examples show how standardised palaeoecological records can help create a more complete understanding of long-term changes in island ecosystems.
- Speaker: Sandra Nogué Bosch, Autonomous University of Barcelona
- Wednesday 04 June 2025, 17:30-19:00
- Venue: Latimer Room, Clare College.
- Series: Quaternary Discussion Group (QDG); organiser: wb350.
Wed 04 Jun 17:30: Temporal Dynamics of Island Biodiversity
Understanding how quickly, where, and why biodiversity is changing remains a key question in ecology. Observations show that the pace of change varies widely across different regions. Palaeoecological research contributes valuable insights by revealing long-term patterns and helping to interpret the effects of drivers such as human activity and erosion.
Drawing on examples from islands around the world, we examine how biodiversity has shifted significantly, particularly following human settlement and other environmental pressures. Our findings suggest that islands colonised within the past 1500 years tend to experience more rapid ecological changes than those settled earlier. We also explore the long-term introduction and spread of non-native species, along with the resulting trends in biotic homogenisation.
These examples show how standardised palaeoecological records can help create a more complete understanding of long-term changes in island ecosystems.
- Speaker: Sandra Nogué Bosch, Autonomous University of Barcelona
- Wednesday 04 June 2025, 17:30-19:00
- Venue: Latimer Room, Clare College.
- Series: Quaternary Discussion Group (QDG); organiser: wb350.
Wed 04 Jun 17:30: Temporal Dynamics of Island Biodiversity
Understanding how quickly, where, and why biodiversity is changing remains a key question in ecology. Observations show that the pace of change varies widely across different regions. Palaeoecological research contributes valuable insights by revealing long-term patterns and helping to interpret the effects of drivers such as human activity and erosion.
Drawing on examples from islands around the world, we examine how biodiversity has shifted significantly, particularly following human settlement and other environmental pressures. Our findings suggest that islands colonised within the past 1500 years tend to experience more rapid ecological changes than those settled earlier. We also explore the long-term introduction and spread of non-native species, along with the resulting trends in biotic homogenisation.
These examples show how standardised palaeoecological records can help create a more complete understanding of long-term changes in island ecosystems.
- Speaker: Sandra Nogué Bosch, Autonomous University of Barcelona
- Wednesday 04 June 2025, 17:30-19:00
- Venue: Latimer Room, Clare College.
- Series: Quaternary Discussion Group (QDG); organiser: wb350.