School of Earth and Environment
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Emma Bramham Emma Bramham

Postgraduate Student

Telephone number: +44(0) 113 34 35634
Email address: E.K.Bramham09@leeds.ac.uk
Room: 8.153

Biography

Project Details

Project Title: The role of magmatism in active rifting in Ethiopia and Iceland.

The aim of this research project is to investigate the role of magmatism in active rifting in Ethiopia and Iceland, attempting to answer a number of key questions:

  • What are the roles of magmatism and tectonics in accomodating strain in rift zones?
  • Where does magma accumulate within a rift zone, and how does it migrate?
  • How do magma supply rates and strain accumulation vary within and between rift segments?

In a rift environment the roles of magmatism and tectonics on the rifting are very much intertwined, and their relative contributions very much depends on where in the rifting cycle, from inital continental rifting through to fully developed mid-ocean ridge, the rift lies (Kendall et al., 2005). These relative contributions
could be better understood by examining active rifts zones above sea-level, such as those found Krafla, Iceland and Afar, Ethiopia. With Afar in the transition from late-stage continental rifting to seafloor spreading and Krafla as part of a mature mid-ocean ridge, they offer the opportunity to examine the behaviour of rift zones in their different phases of rift evolution.

This aim of this project will be achieved by analysis of data captured via two main methods: LiDAR (Light Detection and Radar) elevation mapping to create high resolution digital elevation models and remote sensing using InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) to map surface deformation over specific time periods. In addition fieldwork in Krafla will involve GPS surveying that will confirm the validity of the LiDAR model and will also provide the opportunity to better understand the physical nature of the rift area.

Supervisors: Dr Tim Wright, Dr Douglas Paton

Start Date: 1st October 2009

Qualifications

MSc Marine Geotechnics (School of Ocean Sciences, UCNW)

BSc Physics with Astrophysics (University of Leeds)