Trine Dahl-Jensen

Crustal structure of the southeast Greenland margin from joint refraction and reflection seismic tomography

We present results from a combined multichannel seismic reflection (MCS) and wideangle onshore/offshore seismic experiment conducted in 1996 across the southeast Greenland continental margin. A new seismic tomographic method is developed to jointly invert refraction and reflection travel times for a two-dimensional velocity structure. We employ a hybrid ray-tracing scheme based on the graph method and the local ray-bending refinement to efficiently obtain an accurate forward solution, and we employ smoothing and optional damping constraints to regularize an iterative inversion. We invert 2318 Pg and 2078 PmP travel times to construct a compressional velocity model for the 350-km-long transect, and a long-wavelength structure with strong lateral heterogeneity is recovered, including (1) ∼30-km-thick, undeformed continental crust with a velocity of 6.0 to 7.0 km/s near the landward end, (2) 30- to 15-km-thick igneous crust within a 150-km-wide continent-ocean transition zone, and (3) 15- to 9-km-thick oceanic crust toward the seaward end. The thickness of the igneous upper crust characterized by a high-velocity gradient also varies from 6 km within the transition zone to ∼3 km seaward. The bottom half of the lower crust generally has a velocity higher than 7.0 km/s, reaching a maximum of 7.2 to 7.5 km/s at the Moho. A nonlinear Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis is performed to estimate the a posteriori model variance, showing that most velocity and depth nodes are well determined with one standard deviation of 0.05–0.10 km/s and 0.25–1.5 km, respectively. Despite significant variation in crustal thickness, the mean velocity of the igneous crust, which serves as a proxy for the bulk crustal composition, is surprisingly constant (∼7.0 km/s) along the transect. On the basis of a mantle melting model incorporating the effect of active mantle upwelling, this velocity-thickness relationship is used to constrain the mantle melting process during the breakup of Greenland and Europe. Our result is consistent with a nearly constant mantle potential temperature of 1270–1340°C throughout the rifting but with a rapid transition in the style of mantle upwelling, from vigorous active upwelling during the initial rifting phase to passive upwelling in the later phase.

Mantle thermal structure and active upwelling during continental breakup in the North Atlantic

Seismic reflection and refraction data acquired on four transects spanning the Southeast Greenland rifted margin and Greenland^Iceland Ridge (GIR) provide new constraints on mantle thermal structure and melting processes during continental breakup in the North Atlantic. Maximum igneous crustal thickness varies along the margin from s 30 km in the near-hotspot zone (6 500 km from the hotspot track) to V18 km in the distal zone (500^1100 km). Magmatic productivity on summed conjugate margins of the North Atlantic decreases through time from 1800 ˛ 300 to 600 ˛ 50 km 3 /km/Ma in the near-hotspot zone and from 700 ˛ 200 to 300 ˛ 50 km 3 /km/Ma in the distal zone. Comparison of our data with the British/Faeroe margins shows that both symmetric and asymmetric conjugate volcanic rifted margins exist. Joint consideration of crustal thickness and mean crustal seismic velocity suggests that along-margin changes in magmatism are principally controlled by variations in active upwelling rather than mantle temperature. The thermal anomaly (vT) at breakup was modest (V100^125‡C), varied little along the margin, and transient. Data along the GIR indicate that the potential temperature anomaly (125 ˛ 50‡C) and upwelling ratio (V4 times passive) of the Iceland hotspot have remained roughly constant since 56 Ma. Our results are consistent with a plume^impact model, in which (1) a plume of radius V300 km and vT of V125‡C impacted the margin around 61 Ma and delivered warm material to distal portions of the margin; (2) at breakup (56 Ma), the lower half of the plume head continued to feed actively upwelling mantle into the proximal portion of the margin; and (3) by 45 Ma, both the remaining plume head and the distal warm layer were exhausted, with excess magmatism thereafter largely confined to a narrow (6 200 km radius) zone immediately above the Iceland plume stem. Alternatively, the warm upper mantle layer that fed excess magmatism in the distal portion of the margin may have been a pre-existing thermal anomaly unrelated to the plume. fl 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Depth to Moho in Greenland: receiver-function analysis suggests two Proterozoic blocks in Greenland

Abstract The GLATIS project (Greenland Lithosphere Analysed Teleseismically on the Ice Sheet) with collaborators has operated a total of 16 temporary broadband seismographs for periods from 3 months to 2 years distributed over much of Greenland from late 1999 to the present. The very first results are presented in this paper, where receiver-function analysis has been used to map the depth to Moho in a large region where crustal thicknesses were previously completely unknown. The results suggest that the Proterozoic part of central Greenland consists of two distinct blocks with different depths to Moho. North of the Archean core in southern Greenland is a zone of very thick Proterozoic crust with an average depth to Moho close to 48 km. Further to the north the Proterozoic crust thins to 37–42 km. We suggest that the boundary between thick and thin crust forms the boundary between the geologically defined Nagssugtoqidian and Rinkian mobile belts, which thus can be viewed as two blocks, based on the large difference in depth to Moho (over 6 km). Depth to Moho on the Archean crust is around 40 km. Four of the stations are placed in the interior of Greenland on the ice sheet, where we find the data quality excellent, but receiver-function analyses are complicated by strong converted phases generated at the base of the ice sheet, which in some places is more than 3 km thick.

Crustal structure of Iceland and Greenland from receiver function studies

[1] We used data from both permanent and temporary seismic networks on Iceland and Greenland to investigate the crustal thickness by partly reinterpreting earlier data (P receiver functions) and adding S receiver functions to better constrain the results. We obtained good conversions from the Moho and also crustal multiples in both Iceland and Greenland. The central ice covered part of Greenland has an average crustal thickness of 40 km, typical for a craton. At the edges of Greenland the crustal thickness decreases to 30–40 km. On the east coast of Greenland, where the track of the Iceland plume is thought to have affected the lithosphere, the crustal thickness is only 24–26 km. In contrast to previous studies, we find that the crustal thickness in the east and the northwest coastal regions of Iceland is more than 40 km, similar to beneath the active volcanic region. In the southwest region of Iceland and along the mid-ocean ridge, the crustal thickness is only 25 km or less. Also in contrast to earlier receiver function interpretations, which deduced a broad crust-mantle transition zone for Iceland, we find indications for a normal, sharper Moho beneath a number of sites.

Crustal structure at the SE Greenland margin from wide-angle and normal incidence seismic data

Abstract Results from a seismic refraction and reflection line along the southeast coast of Greenland give information on both the Precambrian structures on the Greenland continent and on the effects of the Tertiary breakup of the North Atlantic. Three seismic stations on the Greenland coast recorded the airgun shots from a 279-km reflection seismic line approximately 20 km offshore. The maximum offset recorded was 313 km. The wide-angle data show crustal thickness variation from 39 km in the south to 49 km in the north, with an 8- to 17-km-thick, high-velocity (7.5 km/s) layer at the base of the crust, interpreted as underplating related to the opening of the North Atlantic in the Tertiary. The boundary between the early Proterozoic Ketilidian orogen in the south and the Archaean block to the north show little variation in seismic velocities, and the reflection pattern suggests that the Archaean underlies the Ketilidian at depth. We see no evidence that the Julianehab Batholith at the boundary between rocks of the Ketilidian orogen and the North Atlantic block is a deep structure.

Seismic Network in Greenland Monitors Earth and Ice System

Some of the most dramatic effects of climate change have been observed in the Earths polar regions. In Greenland, ice loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated in recent years [Shepherd et al., 2012]. Outlet glaciers are changing their behavior rapidly, with many thinning, retreating, and accelerating [Joughin et al., 2004]. The loss of ice weighing on the crust and mantle below has allowed both to rebound, resulting in high rock uplift rates [Bevis et al., 2012]. Changes in ice cover and meltwater production influence sea level and climate feedbacks; they are expected to contribute to increasing vulnerability to geohazards such as landslides, flooding, and extreme weather.

Landslide and Tsunami 21 November 2000 in Paatuut, West Greenland

A large landslide occurred November 21, 2000 at Paatuut, facing the Vaigat Strait onthe west coast of Greenland. 90 million m3 (260 million tons) of mainly basalticmaterial slid very rapidly (average velocity 140 km/h) down from 1,000–1,400 maltitude. Approximately 30 million m3 (87 million tons) entered the sea, creatinga tsunami with an run-up height of 50 m close to the landslide and 28 m at Qullissat,an abandoned mining town opposite Paatuut across the 20 km wide Vaigat strait. Theevent was recorded seismically, allowing the duration of the slide to be estimated tocirca 80 s and also allowing an estimate of the surface-wave magnitude of the slideof 2.3. Terrain models based on stereographic photographs before and after the slidemade it possible to determine the amount of material removed, and the manner ofre-deposition. Simple calculations of the tsunami travel times are in good correspondencewith the reports from the closest populated village, Saqqaq, 40 km from Paatuut, whererefracted energy from the tsunami destroyed a number of boats. Landslides are notuncommon in the area, due to the geology with dense basaltic rocks overlying poorlyconsolidated sedimentary rocks, but the size of the Paatuut slide is unusual. Based onthe observations it is likely at least 500 years since an event with a tsunami of similarproportions occurred. The triggering of the Paatuut slide is interpreted to be caused byweather conditions in the days prior to the slide, where re-freezing melt water inpre-existing cracks could have caused failure of the steep mountain side.

Miocene uplift of the NE Greenland margin linked to plate tectonics: Seismic evidence from the Greenland Fracture Zone, NE Atlantic

Tectonic models predict that, following breakup, rift margins undergo only decaying thermal subsidence during their post-rift evolution. However, post-breakup stratigraphy beneath the NE Atlantic shelves shows evidence of regional-scale unconformities, commonly cited as outer margin responses to inner margin episodic uplift, including the formation of coastal mountains. The origin of these events remains enigmatic. We present a seismic reflection study from the Greenland Fracture Zone – East Greenland Ridge (GFZ-EGR) and the NE Greenland shelf. We doc- ument a regional intra-Miocene seismic unconformity (IMU), which marks the termination of syn-rift deposition in the deep-sea basins and onset of: (i) thermo-mechanical coupling across the GFZ, (ii) basin compression, and (iii) contourite deposition, north of the EGR. The onset of coupling across the GFZ is constrained by results of 2-D flexural backstripping. We explain the thermo-mechanical coupling and the deposition of contourites by the forma- tion of a continuous plate boundary along the Mohns and Knipovich ridges, leading to an accelerated widening of the Fram Strait. We demonstrate that the IMU event is linked to onset of uplift and massive shelf-progradation on the NE Greenland margin. Given an estimated middle-to-late Miocene (ca. 15-10 Ma) age of the IMU, we speculate that the event is synchronous with uplift of the East and West Greenland margins. The correlation between margin uplift and plate-motion changes further indicates that the uplift was triggered by plate tectonic forces, induced perhaps by a change in the Iceland plume (a hot pulse) and/or by changes in intra-plate stresses related to global tectonics.

Chapter 44 Geology and petroleum potential of the Lincoln Sea Basin, offshore North Greenland

Abstract A seismic refraction line crossing the Lincoln Sea was acquired in 2006. It proves the existence of a deep sedimentary basin underlying the Lincoln Sea. This basin appears to be comparable in width and depth to the Sverdrup Basin of the Canadian Arctic Islands. The stratigraphy of the Lincoln Sea Basin is modelled in analogy to the Sverdrup Basin and the Central Spitsbergen Basin, two basins between which the Lincoln Sea intervened before the onset of seafloor spreading in the Eurasian Basin. The refraction data indicates that the Lincoln Sea Basin is capped by a kilometre-thick, low-velocity layer, which is taken to indicate an uplift history similar to, or even more favourable than, the fairway part of the Sverdrup Basin. Tectonic activity in the Palaeogene is likely to constitute the major basin scale risk. We conclude that the Lincoln Sea Basin is likely to be petroliferous and contains risked resources on the order of 1×109 barrels of oil, to which comes an equivalent amount of (associated and nonassociated) gas.