Cherilyn Toro
Cherilyn Toro is a student at University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez currently completing her research at University of Delaware - Newark under Dr. Colton Lynner .
This project will examine the patterns of mantle wedge dynamics of the Alaska-Aleutians Subduction Zone using the shear wave splitting technique of local S seismic phases to look at the flow directions in the mantle, and with these results we can infer the flow change along the subduction zone and the variable dynamics operating within the mantle wedge. The importance of this project is related to a better understanding of the aspects of the controlling mantle wedge dynamics in this subduction zone, and a better assess to the risks associted to it.
Data and Elevator Speech
June 28th, 2022
The data I am working with was collected from stations located in the Alaska Aleutian Islands Subduction Zone. For this I was given a list with station names, networks and location in order to retrieve their data from 2005 to present. After doing the process of data retrieval I would then start to pick the splitting on each station, checking each earthquake on them and marking my picks. The data is barely raw, and by that I mean that they are earthquakes that have been already processed by seismic networks and they already have the S wave picked, so when I go to the stations I can see the predicted location of the S wave arrival and use it for reference in my picks.
In respect to the skill that I would like to develop, it would be more like getting full knowledge on the research topic, since I don’t have that many issues with communicating but in order to do well I still need to develop a better understanding on my research purpose and goals. With this further development I would be able to feel more confident when presenting and communicating my project.
The elevator speech was kind of hard to fulfill because I still haven’t developed the skill that I previously mentioned as one that I need to work a little harder to achieve and feel more confident on the project. However, I find it like a challenge that I want to conquer and it will also help me achieve the mentioned skill. And I also find it very useful, not only for AGU but for future projects or research that I might be involved in, so it is actually a very important activity to practice more frequently.
Summer Goal
June 13th, 2022
Starting this second week of internship at Delaware, things are already starting to get in place as we get more used to the programs and the project itself. During this time I’ve had the goal of dominating the programs and understanding the project as best as I can to be better prepared for the paper writing and poster creation for AGU. However, I also have the goal of finding the correct path for me in graduate school, getting to know which career I want to follow and what I want to do in seismology for the upcoming years. I want to define my next steps and have a better view of the grad school process.