Broadly defined, I am interested in using passive source seismic techniques to image the structure of the crust and upper mantle of the Earth. My research goals can be summarized by the question “How are tectonic events manifested in the character of the lithosphere?”.
I work on developing new approaches to obtain tomographic models that better image subsurface structure, primarily using receiver functions and surface wave dispersion data. I have applied these imaging techniques to a variety of locations to understand problems pertaining to:
- the role of fluids in subduction zone processes
- the character of lithospheric-scale magmatic systems
- the processes related to the terminal stages of subduction in the Tethyan system
- the longevity and relative stability of cratonic crust
I am an assistant professor in Purdue University's Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences alongside fellow seismologist Xiaotao Yang. We are both looking for motivated graduate students to help us build our Computational Seismology and Tectonics group and maintain the already strong reputation for seismology at Purdue. Don’t hesitate to contact me if interested.
Featured Publications:
For the technique-focused seismologist:
Delph, J.R., Levander, A., and Niu, F., 2019, “Constraining crustal properties using receiver functions and the autocorrelation of earthquake-generated body waves”, Journal of Geophysical Research, doi:10.1029/2019JB0127929. GitHub code.
For the tectonicist:
Lynner, C., Delph, J.R., Portner, D.E., Beck, S.L., Sandvol, E., Ozacar, A.A., 2022, "Slab induced mantle upwelling beneath the Anatolian plateau" Geophys. Res. Lett., https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL097451
Most Recent Publication:
Kaviani, A., Sandvol, E., Ku, W., Beck, S.L., Türkelli, N., Özacar, A.A., Delph, J.R., 2022, "Seismic attenuation tomography of the Sn phase beneath the Turkish-Iranian Plateau and the Zagros mountain belt" Geosphere, https://doi.org/10.1130/GES02503.1
