Dr. Miriam Gauntlett

Biography

Miriam Gauntlett is an observational seismologist whose research focuses on using seismic techniques to elucidate and understand the structure and dynamics of the Earth's crust and mantle. Currently, she is working with Dr. Caroline Eakin on the WA Array, a continental-wide array of seismometers that provides unprecedented insights into the structure of the Western Australian lithosphere. Gauntlett is investigating seismic anisotropy in southwestern Western Australia through shear-wave splitting to uncover information about past and present mantle deformation events. Her PhD thesis examined the crust and mantle of the Afro-Arabian Rift System using various seismological techniques, including local earthquake tomography and receiver function analysis. Her findings indicate that the crustal structure in this region is highly complex and heterogeneous, while the large-scale mantle dynamics underlying the AARS are remarkably simple. Externally, extensional processes in the region have facilitated magmatism in the crust and upper mantle, leading to volcanic episodes such as the Nabro volcano's eruption in June 2011.

Research Interests