[margins-list] MARGINS Volatailes TEI Announcement: Sept. 29-Oct. 3

[margins-list at nsf-margins.org]

The MARGINS Office is pleased to announce a 5-day Theoretical and 
Experimental Institute (TEI) focused on the behavior, mass-balance, and 
influence of volatiles in subduction zones.  The scope of the meeting 
will encompass the range of research topics within the MARGINS SubFac 
(Subduction Factory), SEIZE (Seismogenic Zone Experiment) and RCL 
(Rupturing Continental Lithosphere) initiatives that are directly 
influenced by subduction-related fluids.  This multidisciplinary 
meeting, to be held Sept. 29-Oct. 3 2009 at  Timberline Lodge, Oregon, 
will bring together geochemists, geophysicists and modelers to 
critically examine and discuss the current state of our knowledge on the 
budgets of H2O, CO2, N, F, S, Cl, noble gases and hydrocarbons in the 
two SubFac focus sites (Izu-Bonin-Mariana and Central America), to 
compare and contrast the focus sites, and to deepen our understanding of 
the influence of volatile elements on issues of importance fundamental 
to our understanding of subduction zones, including:

    * mass-balance of volatile and non-volatile elements into and
      through the Subduction Factory
    * flux and composition of fluids emanating from fore-arcs and the
      role of serpentine in modulating fluid flow and composition, fault
      slip, and H2O transport to deeper levels
    * devolatilization reactions in the slab from the trench to the
      transition zone
    * the composition and mass transfer of fluids from slab to the
      mantle wedge and arc crust
    * the influence of fluids in earthquake generation and slab and
      mantle rheology
    * the role of volatiles in the interpretation of seismic observables
      (e.g. velocities, anisotropy, attenuation) in IBM and Central America
    * magma and volatile fluxes in the IBM and Central American arcs
    * the influence of water on magma generation
    * the effect of arc volatile emissions on volcanic hazards and
      global climate

The last day of the Volatiles TEI will be devoted to summarizing major 
unresolved questions regarding volatiles in subduction zones, and using 
this information to formulate future research directions for the next 
decadal MARGINS science plan.

Approximately 90 participants can be accommodated. Selected participants 
will be provided with full or partial funding for travel, accommodation 
and meals. We encourage applications from young investigators, graduate 
students, and members of under-represented groups. MARGINS funding is 
not a prerequisite. Applicants should prepare a short CV, abstract, and 
brief (half-page) statement of interest. Detailed instructions are 
included on the web application form which can be accessed from the TEI 
web page:  http://www.nsf-margins.org/SF/2009/

Applications open March 1st and close June 1st.