Upward mantle flow from novel seismic observations (UPFLOW)

The goal of the UPFLOW project is to develop new high-resolution seismic imaging approaches along with new data collection, and to use them to constrain upward flow in unprecedented detail. We conducted a large off-shore experiment in the Azores-Madeira-Canary Islands region, which is a unique natural laboratory with multiple upwellings that are poorly understood in general. UPFLOW deployed and recovered 49 ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs) in a ~1,000×2,000 km2 area in the Azores-Madeira-Canary Islands region starting in July 2021 for ~13 months, with an average spacing of ~150-200 km. The seismic deployment and recovery involved institutions from five different countries: Portugal (IPMA, IDL, Univ. of Lisbon, ISEL), Ireland (DIAS), UK (UCL), Spain (ROA) and Germany (Potsdam University, GFZ, Geomar, AWI). 32 OBSs were rented from the DEPAS international pool of instruments maintained by the Alfred Wegener Institute (Bremerhaven), Germany, while other institutions borrowed additional instruments (7 from DIAS, 4 from IDL, 3 from ROA, 4 from GEOMAR). Most of the instruments have three-component wideband seismic sensors, but three different designs of OBS frames were used. Waveform data is available from the GEOFON data centre, under network code 8J, embargoed data may be accessible upon request. We want to acknowledge the exceptional support of the whole team of able seaman, steward, cooks, engineers, mechanicians, electricians and motorman assistants of the vessel RRV Mário Ruivo. With special Thanks to José Ângelo Gomes (Captain), Luís Ramos (Superintendent), Mafalda Carapuço Vessel’s manager (IPMA), Henrique Ferreira Land logistics (IPMA), Celine Ahmed and Jen Amery (Administrative support at UCL)