The Yellowstone Caldera, also called the Yellowstone Supervolcano, is a volcanic caldera and supervolcano located in Yellowstone National Park in the western United States. The caldera measures 43 by 28 miles (70 by 45 kilometers).
The scholar’s experience, energy and compassion leave a legacy.
The late Michigan State University researcher Min Chen has contributed a new seismic tomography of magma deposits under Yellowstone Volcano.
When Ross Maguire was a postdoctoral researcher at Michigan State University (MSU), he wanted to study the volume and distribution of molten magma beneath Yellowstone Volcano. Maguire used a technique called seismic tomography, which uses vibrations from the ground known as seismic waves to create a 3D image of what’s happening beneath the earth’s surface. Using this method, Maguire was able to create an image of the magma chamber window that showed where the magma was. But these are not clear enough pictures.
As a result of these new images, and with key contributions from Chen, Maguire and his team were able to see twice as much magma as there is in the Yellowstone magma system.
“I was looking for people with expertise in a specific type of computational seismic tomography called waveform tomography,” says Maguire, now an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). “Min Chen was truly a world-class expert on the subject.”
Min Chen was an assistant professor at MSU in the Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering and in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences in the College of Natural Sciences. Using supercomputer power, Chen developed the method applied to Maguire’s images to more accurately model how seismic waves propagate through the Earth. Chen’s ingenuity and skill led to sharpening these images, revealing more information about the amount of molten magma beneath Yellowstone Volcano.
“We haven’t seen an increase in the amount of magma,” Maguire said. “We just saw a clearer picture of what was really there.”
Main Chen. Credit: Michigan State University
Previous images have shown that Yellowstone Volcano has a low concentration of magma – only 10% – surrounded by a solid crystalline structure. As a result of these new images, and with key contributions from Chen, Maguire and his team were able to see twice as much magma as there is in the Yellowstone magma system.
“To be clear, the new discovery does not indicate the possibility of a future eruption,” Maguire said. “Any signs of change in the system will be detected by the network of geophysical instruments that constantly monitor Yellowstone.”
Unfortunately, Chen could not see the final results. Her unexpected death in 2021 continues to shock Earth’s scientific community, who mourn the loss of her passion and expertise.
“Computational seismology is still relatively new at MSU,” said Songqiao “Shawn” Wei, a talented assistant professor of geosciences in MSU’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences who was a colleague of Chen’s. “Once the pandemic hit, Chen made his lectures and research discussions available on Zoom for researchers and students from around the world to participate. This is how many seismologists around the world came to know about MSU.”
The meetups were a place where talented students, postdoc candidates, or just anyone interested were welcome. Chen has invited both prospective graduate students and experienced seismologists from around the world to join his virtual conversations.
Chen cared deeply about his students’ well-being and careers. He has cultivated a holistic, interdisciplinary environment in which he encourages his students and postgraduate candidates to become knowledgeable scholars and build lasting partnerships. She has even held virtual seminars on life outside academia to help students pursue their careers and hobbies. Chen gave an example: She was an avid soccer player and she could tango.
Diversity in the sciences was another area Chen cared about. She has championed and championed research opportunities for women and underrepresented groups. To honor Chen, her classmates created Memorial Society On his behalf, provide support to graduate students to increase diversity in computational sciences and earth sciences. As another tribute to her life and his love of gardening, her classmates also planted a memorial tree in the courtyard of the engineering building on the MSU campus.
Chen was truly a pioneer in her field and was honored with the National Science Foundation’s Early CAREER award receiver in 2020 to conduct detailed seismic imaging of North America to study the solid outer shell of the Earth.
“He had a lot of energy,” Maguire said. “She’s focused on making sure people are successful, while she’s been incredibly successful.”
Maguire’s research, which features part of Chen’s legacy, is published in the journal Science.
References:
“Magma Accretion Deep in Former Rhyolite Deposit Below Yellowstone Caldera” by Ross Maguire, Brandon Schmandt, Jiaki Li, Chengxin Jiang, Juliang Li, Justin Wilgus, & Min Chen, 2012 Dec. 1, Available here. Science.
DOI: 10.1126/science.ade0347
“What’s under Yellowstone? There is more magma than previously recognized, but it cannot erupt,” by Carrie M. Cooper, Dec. 1, 2012, Available here. Science.
DOI: 10.1126/science.ade8435
