Research | SERPENT

Collaborative Research: SERPENT: Serpentinite, Extension and Regional Porosity Experiment across the Nicaraguan Trench

EM Lab Personnel:

Kerry Key, Steven Constable

This is a FUNDED!! NSF proposal to study the fluid content of the subducting plate offshore Nicaragua and Costa Rica, submitted in collaboration with Rob Evans and Dan Lizarralde (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute) and Marion Jegen (GEOMAR, Germany). Broadband magnetotelluric (MT) data will be collected on two profiles. The main profile located offshore Nicaragua coincides with a recent seismic experiment, while a second profile offshore the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica coincides with recent offshore and onshore MT acquisition. Controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) deep-tows are proposed along the main profile in order to image porosity variations associated with lithospheric bending and cracking near the trench. Circular CSEM tows will measure the anisotropic fabic of upper mantle conductivity in order to constrain the extent of serpentinization.

Download a copy of the proposal (14 Mb pdf), but bear in mind we've had to trim back the scope of work a little bit to accommodate a reduced level of funding.