Investigation of Island uplift of the Azores Island region

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Christine Thomas
• Subject Area: Geophysics
• Term: from 2011 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 193771886

Volcanic ocean islands that are neither arcs nor continental fragments are common features in the oceans. Their geology records past sea level in the form of wave-cut platforms, transitions of lava flow morphologies from subaerial to submarine, and carbonate terraces. These features, accurately dated, contribute positional information for eustatic sea level curves through time. However, they can be affected by local uplift processes at the individual edifice scale due to longer-term island volcanism. To document this process better, and to understand how it arises geophysically, we are proposing a combined field work, seismological, gravity and dynamic modeling study to measure and date uplift in two islands of the Azores archipelago. The objectives are to provide uncertainty bounds on eustatic sealevel markers derived from ocean islands, and to improve our understanding of the enigmatic process of ocean island volcanism.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: United Kingdom
• Participating Persons: Professor Dr. George Helffrich; Dr. Jörg Schmalzl