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Meeting Location: 
Churrascos - River Oaks
2055 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77098

5:30 to 6:00 PM Happy Hour
6:00 to 7:00 PM Dinner
7:00 to 8:00 PM Presentation
8:00 until ...  Networking

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Speaker: Dr. Sriharsha Thoram, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Houston 

Oceanic plateaus are large underwater features that were traditionally believed to be formed by massive volcanic eruptions from upwelling mantle plumes. However, recent research suggests that they often form at spreading ridges and triple junctions, indicating a strong connection between ridge tectonics and hotspot volcanism. The remote and massive size of oceanic plateaus, along with the sparse geophysical data density over these features, makes them difficult to study and interpret. Additionally, there is no standard way to measure the degree to which ridges control the formation of oceanic plateaus.
 
The primary objective of this study is to gain insights into the formation of oceanic plateaus by investigating the relationship between magnetic anomalies over mid-oceanic ridges and oceanic plateaus. To achieve this, deep learning algorithms will be employed to automatically interpret the geophysical data and quantify any similarities in spatial patterns. By comparing the magnetic data from mid-oceanic ridges and oceanic plateaus, this study hopes to shed light on the formation of oceanic plateaus. Specifically, identifying any similarities in spatial patterns between the two datasets will provide insights into the role of ridges in the formation of oceanic plateaus. Ultimately, the findings of this study will contribute to a deeper understanding of the processes that shape our planet's oceanic topography.

Dr. Sriharsha Thoram is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Houston, with expertise in oceanic plateau formation, seafloor geomorphology, and paleomagnetism. His current research includes drone-aided geophysics and developing deep learning-based algorithms for EM and magnetic data. Dr. Thoram earned his Ph.D. in Geophysics and Seismology from the University of Houston in December 2021 and received his B.E. degree in Information Systems from BITS Pilani, India. He participated in multiple ocean research expeditions, notably serving as a Paleomagnetist for the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Exp 391 and Co-Chief Scientist for R/V Thomas G. Thompson Expeditions.

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