Dr. Weisun Shen 
SUNY Stonybrook

Topic: Beyond Structure: Quantifying Composition, Temperature, and Volatiles with Seismic Data for Continents

Abstract: Traditional tomographic works often stop at velocity models, but a deeper understanding of continental evolution requires translating these structures into physical state variables. This talk highlights recent advancements in using comprehensive seismic observables to quantify the composition, temperature, and volatile content of the lithosphere. Drawing on recent work, we demonstrate how these integrated seismic constraints reveal the complex thermal and compositional architecture of North America. Furthermore, I will present ongoing efforts on the detection of melt across the United States and the characterization of sub-ice water in Antarctica, showcasing how high-resolution seismic analysis can distinguish between thermal anomalies and the presence of fluids in diverse tectonic settings.