Biography
Effat is a PhD researcher in the iCRAG-GSI Environmental Geoscience Programme. Effat graduated with a MSc in Petroleum Engineering-Oil Exploration in 2015 from Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Poly Technique). After her MSc, Effat worked for 3 years as a researcher at Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI). In 2019 Effat joined iCRAG and National university of Ireland Galway, under the supervision of Dr. David Daniel McNamara.
Slow slip earthquakes (SSEs) occur on subduction thrusts within the frictional transition from velocity-weakening to velocity strengthening behaviour (i.e. occur at a rate between the velocity of aseismic slip on the plate boundary and the slip velocity required to generate seismic waves). SSEs in the Hikurangi Subduction Margin (HSM), New Zealand are among the best-documented and shallowest on Earth that recur about every two years, over a period of 2-3 weeks. The mechanics and source of slow slip earthquakes and their relationship to seismic slip are not well constrained. Therefore, the mechanisms behind SSE represent a challenge to better quantification of hazard posed to the New Zealand, and for the development of resource related infrastructure in the area.
Technical description
Preliminary studies suggest pore pressure variation and in-situ crustal stresses control the occurrence of SSEs. To investigate the interplay between stress, structure, geomechanical and seismic behaviour of the HSM, borehole image logs, geophysical logs, mud weight information, well-testing, and drill core information will be used to characterise the full stress tensor and its spatial variation at the HSM. This will allow us to explore whether slow slip earthquakes and plate interface locking impact the character of the contemporary stress field, and also investigate the role that longer term tectonic deformation processes (e.g., millions of years) associated with subduction play in the modern-day stress field.
Role
- Postgraduate Researcher
Institution
- UCD
Research Area
- Earth System Change
Expertise
- Environmental Geoscience
