Mapping global plate boundaries beneath the Earth’s ocean
Alejandra Davalos Valadez
Undergraduate Researcher
Geological Sciences Major (College of Arts and Sciences)
Jianhua Gong
Faculty Mentor
Jianhua Gong (College of Arts & Sciences)
Project Description
The lithosphere, Earth's outermost layer, is a ~60 km thick rigid layer divided into multiple plates that move and interact, causing phenomena like earthquakes and volcanoes. But many of these plate boundaries lie hidden beneath the ocean and are not accurately identified, preventing us from better understanding these natural phenomena. We invite you to explore the uncharted underwater territory with us using cutting-edge Geographic Information System (GIS) software. You’ll get hands-on experience tracing these hidden boundaries and help create a comprehensive plate boundary database. This database will be a valuable resource for the marine geology community and could lead to new discoveries about our planet. The project will be a great opportunity to get involved in real research, learn new skills, and contribute to science. Plus, your work will be publicly available, making a lasting impact. Dive in and make your mark on the world of geology!
Technology or Computational Component
Student will learn to identify morphological features related to plate boundaries and to use a Geographic Information System (GIS) software named QGIS to manually trace plate boundaries beneath the ocean. The student will conduct morphological and statistical analysis of the plate boundaries and use the 3D print facility at IU to print morphology of the seafloor.