Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

A passive seismic temporary array research in Finnish Lapland  (LAPASS- LApland PASSive seismic experiment)

Outline
Recent teleseismic studies have demonstrated that the inner core is seismically anisotropic. Namely, the seismic phases travelling through the inner core along polar paths show smaller travel times than the same phases travelling through the inner core along equatorial paths. The seismic studies also demonstrated that the inner core is rotating relative to the Earth mantle and surface. This suggests that the orientation of anisotropy is approximately aligned with the Earth rotation axis. To undestand these phenomena, more detailed observations from seismic stations located in polar regions are necessary. Sodankyla Geophysical Observatory of Oulu University is located at 67.36N and 26.63E in the Finnish Lapland. At the moment Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory runs three seismic permanent stations equipped by short-period 3-component seismometers and digital recording systems. In 1997-1998 the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory participated in the SVEKALAPKO Deep Seismic Tomography project. The project was a passive seismic array research in southern and central Finland aiming at studying the lithosphere-asthenosphere system beneath the Fennoscandian Schield. The array comprised 128 temporary stations (40 broadband 88 short-period ones) and 15 permanent seismic stations. The project was carried out by the international team that included researchers from 16 institutions from 9 European countries and Russia. The international collaboration and experience gained during the SVEKALAPKO experiment can be used to carry out a new passive seismic experiment in norhtern Finland in the framework of the IPY 2007-2008. The main target of the proposed experiment is to deploy a temporary seismic array in the area with latitudes from 66N to 70N and longitudes from 24E to 30E and to collect seismic waveforms from events containing seismic phases travelling through the inner core. The waveform data will be compiled into a database available for world geophysical comunity and interpreted by different techniques. The other targets are: a) to study the structure of the upper mantle beneath Arhean domain of the Fennoscandian Shield by a variety of seismic method (body wave tomography, receiver functions, surface wave study, seismic anisotropy study, joint interpretation); b) to improve registration and location of local earthquakes in northern Finland.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The main result of the proposed research will be the database of seismic broadband waveforms containing phases travelling through the inner core. The dataset will be made available for the world geophysical community. It will be interpreted by a variety of seismiological techniques aiming to study the anisotropy and rotation of the inner core.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The SVEKALAPKO Deep Seismic Tomography project was a passive seismic array research in southern and central Finland aiming at studying the lithosphere-asthenosphere system at the suture of Archean and Proterozoic domains of the Fennoscandian Schield. The array comprised 128 temporary stations (40 broadband 88 short-period ones) and 15 permanent seismic stations. The project was carried out by the international team that included researchers from 16 institutions from 9 European countries and Russia. The Oulu group was responsible for deployment and mainteinance of more than 50% of the array stations and actively participated in data processing and interpretation. The international collaboration established during the SVEKALAPKO experiment can be used to carry out a new passive seismic experiment in norhtern Finland in the framework of the IPY 2007-2008.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory of Oulu University is located at 67° 22′ N, 26° 38′ E in the middle of Finnish Lapland. At the moment Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory runs three seismic permanent stations : OUL (Huttukylä) 65.0853N, 25.8964E; MSF (Maaselkä) 65.9113N, 29.0402E; SGF (Sodankylä) 67.4421N, 26.5261E. The proposed temporary seismic array will be deployed in the area with latitudes from 66N to 70N and longitudes from 24E to 30E.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 01/2007-31/2008            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Establishing of two new permanent seismic stations in Finnish Lapland 2) Installation of broadband instruments at permanent seismic stations of Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory. 3) Deployment of temporary broadband seismic array (about 25-40 stations, depending on participants) in northern Finland (latitudes from 66N to 70N and longitudes from 24E to 30E) in 2007-2008.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator
National agency
Other sources of support

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
New

How will the project be organised and managed?
We plan to use the experience and the international research network established during the SVEKALAPKO experiment to organise and manage the new seismic experiment. The equipement will be provided by European and Finnish research institutions participating in the Working Group. The deployment and maintainance of temporary stations will be made by the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory with the assistance of 2 PhD students. The waveform dataset will be compiled by the participating research institutions. The data will be interpreted by members of the working Group.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
We plan that the project will provide the data for 2-3 PhD theses in seismology.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
The data collected during the project will be made available for world geophysical community via the world and European data centres.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The project will be partly performed using the resources of Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory. We shall apply for funding to Academy of Finland and other Finnish and Scandinavian financing agencies.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Now we are able to send only preliminary list of participating organisations (see 4.2)

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Elena Kozlovskaya
Sodankyla Geophysical Observatory/Oulu Unit
POB 3000
University of Oulu
FIN-90014
Finland

Tel: +358-8-5531411
Mobile: +358-40-8212681
Fax: +358-8-5531414
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information