ANNUAL REPORT ICTJA - CSIC 2016 INSTITUTE OF EARTH SCIENCES JAUME ALMERA

2017 Institut de Ciències de la Terra Jaume Almera, CSIC, ICTJA-CSIC c/ Lluís Solé i Sabaris, s/n Barcelona [email protected] www.ictja.csic.es Realization Jordi Cortés Picas Coordination José-Luis Fernández-Turiel Texts ICTJA-CSIC staff Graphic design and layout Marta Planas i Mia Masgrau MIA COMUNICACIÓ www.miacomunicacio.cat

Cover image: Margerie Glacier (Alaska, USA). Author: Miquel Àngel González. This image was the winner of the “ICTJA-CSIC Photo Contest 2016”.

FOREWORD

José-Luis Fernández-Turiel Director

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he Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera of the Spanish Scientific Research Council (ICTJA-CSIC) in Barcelona was established in the year 1965 focusing on Earth Sciences. Its name recalls the early days of research in Geology in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, paying tribute to Jaume Almera, an expert in the geology of Catalonia with international renown.

From its earliest days in 1965 as a new Geology institute in Barcelona, it has evolved to become an innovative and dynamic centre, with international relevance in the field of Earth Sciences. Our history is of all those who helped to establish the Institute with enthusiasm and perseverance, contributing to the research work of CSIC as a whole. The ICTJA’s mission and vision will continue to keep alive our passion for advancing knowledge of Earth Sciences with rigor and dedication. The Institute belongs to the Spanish Scientific Research Council (CSIC), a state agency dedicated to the promotion, coordination, development and dissemination of scientific and technological research, as well as staff training and advice to public and private entities. Earth Sciences study the Earth’s system, but they are about much more than that. They engage intellectual inquiry through interrogating the world in which we live to contribute to a future in which we want to live. Earth Sciences are particularly relevant today in many aspects of our everyday life. From the Antarctica to the Caribe, from the Mediterranean to the dessert of Atacama and the Puna in the Andes, from the Pacific coast of Asia to central Asia, ICTJA-CSIC scientists work examining the Earth’s Systems through their particular specialties covering many time and space scales. Cutting across the traditional disciplinary boundaries of geology, physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics, and using advanced instruments, ICTJA-CSIC seeks to advance the understanding the geologic processes and materials to meet industrial and social needs with knowledge transfer applied to geohazards and exploration and exploitation of geological resources. We take great pride of the integration of graduate students and technicians in our research efforts. The aim is to promote the creative thinking and the ability to develop independent and original research. Our research activities are strongly supported by the specialized technical and administrative staff available in our scientific, technical and administrative services. This Annual Report 2016 describes the scientific activity of the four research groups: Structure and dynamics of the Earth, Environmental changes in the geological record, Geophysical and geochemical modelling of geological hazards and resources, and Crystallography and optical properties. The service units and laboratories section outlines the major capacities of these infrastructures. The ICTJA 10 highlighted papers section allows obtaining a fast snapshot of our research. The following sections rounds off this Report with a look to training, outreach activities and media presence, international collaboration, editorial activities, and finally a summary of the ICTJA big numbers for 2016. Annual report ICTJA 2015

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Annual report ICTJA 2015

ICTJA at a glance ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Our Mission ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Our Aims ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Our Expertise ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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Organization Chart …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6 Research Groups ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Structure and dynamics of the Earth ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Crystallography and optical properties …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Environmental changes in the geological record ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Geophysical and geochemical modelling …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

11 12 19 22 28

General Services ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 31 Scientific services and laboratories ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Library ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… X-Ray Diffraction Service ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Paleomagnetism Service (CSIC-CCiTUB) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… LabGEOTOP Service- Geochemistry Laboratory……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Seismic Laboratory (LabSis)……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Raman Spectroscopy and Photoluminescence Laboratory………………………………………………………………………………………………… Th-230/U-234 Geochronology Laboratory……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… SIMGEO (UB-CSIC)………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Borehole Geophysical Logging Lab-Scientific Boreholes Almera 1-2 ………………………………………………………………………………… Laboratory of Palaeoecology (PALAB) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Laboratory of Geodynamic Modelling ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

34 34 36 39 40 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

10 highlighted publications 2016 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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Other activities ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Academy member …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Retired member ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… PhD Theses ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Master Theses …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Organization of congresses ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Editorial activities ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… International and national commitees ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Invited scientists ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Guest & Visiting scientist ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Invited talks ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Seminars …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Courses …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4th ICTJA PhD student presentation awards 2016 (ICTJA-CSIC) …………………………………………………………………………………… Outreach …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

63 64 65 67 68 69 70 70 71 71 72 73 75 77 80

ICTJA in numbers ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

87

Annual report ICTJA 2015

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ICTJA AT A GLANCE

Playa de las Catedrales, Spain. (Author: Angel Valverde)

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ICTJA Annual at a report glance ICTJA 2015

Our Mission ICTJA is an international geosciences research institute of excellence whose mission is to advance the understanding of Earth System Science. We will achieve this by applying advanced (forefront) experimental and analytical methodologies to well-defined, knowledge-driven research objectives. A key part of our mission is to meet industrial and societal needs through knowledge transfer applied to geohazards and exploration and exploitation of geological resources. Central to our mission is quality training of the next generation of Earth Science researchers and technicians.

Our Aims › @[\ek`]pe\nXe[\d\i^`e^#_`^_$gi`fi`kpi\j\XiZ_fggfikle`k`\j% ›