Karen M. Fischer

"Karen Fischer" redirects here. For the German journalist killed in Afganistan, see Death of Karen Fischer and Christian Struwe.
Karen M. Fischer
Born
Boston, MA
Alma materMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University
Scientific career
InstitutionsBrown University
ThesisThe morphology and dynamics of subducting lithosphere (1989)
Doctoral advisorThomas H. Jordan

Karen Fischer is an American seismologist known for her research on the structure of Earth's mantle, in particular its lithosphere and asthenosphere.

Education and career

Fischer has a B.S. in geology and geophysics from Yale University (1983).[1] While an undergraduate, Fischer had summer research experiences at Yale University and Lamont–Doherty Geological Observatory.[2] In 1989, she earned a Ph.D. in geophysics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1989) with a dissertation titled "The morphology and dynamics of subducting lithosphere".[2] After a postdoctoral fellowship at Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University (1989-1990),[1] she joined the faculty at Brown University where she is the Louis and Elizabeth Scherck Distinguished Professor of Geological Sciences.[1]

Research

Fischer's research uses seismology to study the interior of Earth's crust and mantle, especially in the lithosphere and the asthenosphere.[3][4] In her early work, Fischer identified unusually high temperatures in the lithosphere of the Marquesas Islands in the Pacific Ocean,[5] and she used seismic data to map depth variations in the thickness of the subducting lithosphere in the Tonga subduction zone to gain insight on its dynamics.[6][7] A key theme of her research is using seismic wave velocities to understand the properties that make the lithosphere strong and the asthenosphere weak, including the presence of partial melt in the asthenosphere in hotter regions of the upper mantle.[3][8][9][10][11] Fischer and her group have also found evidence for complex layering inside the thick lithosphere of the oldest continental regions on Earth[3][12][8][13], which has implications for the stability of this ancient lithosphere.[14][15] Another theme is using seismic waves to map the direction in which the mantle is flowing, including the complex patterns of mantle flow that develop around subducting lithosphere[16][17][18][19][20][21] and beneath the continents.[22] Fischer studies the interplay of tectonic processes and the structure of the lithosphere, including rifting,[23] strike-slip faulting,[24][25] and continental plate collisions,[26] and her work has improved understanding of how the crust of old mountain belts has evolved over time.[27] To improve resolution of Earth structure, Fischer and her colleagues have installed temporary networks of broadband seismometers in the eastern and central U.S.,[28] the subduction zone in Costa Rica and Nicaragua[11][29], and the southern Appalachian mountains.[26][30]

In 2019 Fischer received the Harry Fielding Reid Medal from the Seismological Society of America for "pioneering research on Earth’s upper mantle structure and dynamics, the structure and evolution of continental lithosphere, and the dynamics of subduction systems."[31] In 2023 she was awarded the Inge Lehmann Medal from the American Geophysical Union for "outstanding contributions to the understanding of the structure, composition and dynamics of the Earth’s mantle."[32][33]

Awards

  • Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2025)[34]
  • Inge Lehmann Medal, American Geophysical Union (2023)[32][33]
  • Harry Fielding Reid Medal, Seismological Society of America (2019)[35][31]
  • Beno Gutenberg Lecture, American Geophysical Union (2016)[36]
  • Fellow, American Geophysical Union (2010)[37]
  • Royce Family Professorship for Excellence in Teaching, Brown University (2004-2007)[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Fischer, Karen". vivo.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  2. ^ a b Fischer, Karen Marie (1989). The morphology and dynamics of subducting lithosphere (Thesis thesis). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. hdl:1721.1/57820.
  3. ^ a b c Fischer, Karen M.; Ford, Heather A.; Abt, David L.; Rychert, Catherine A. (2010-04-01). "The Lithosphere-Asthenosphere Boundary". Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 38 (1): 551–575. Bibcode:2010AREPS..38..551F. doi:10.1146/annurev-earth-040809-152438. ISSN 0084-6597.
  4. ^ Rychert, Catherine A.; Fischer, Karen M.; Rondenay, Stéphane (2005). "A sharp lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary imaged beneath eastern North America". Nature. 436 (7050): 542–545. Bibcode:2005Natur.436..542R. doi:10.1038/nature03904. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 16049485. S2CID 4386941.
  5. ^ Fischer, Karen M.; McNutt, Marcia K.; Shure, Loren (1986). "Thermal and mechanical constraints on the lithosphere beneath the Marquesas swell". Nature. 322 (6081): 733–736. Bibcode:1986Natur.322..733F. doi:10.1038/322733a0. ISSN 1476-4687. S2CID 4350676.
  6. ^ Fischer, Karen M.; Jordan, Thomas H. (1991). "Seismic strain rate and deep slab deformation in Tonga". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 96 (B9): 14429–14444. Bibcode:1991JGR....9614429F. doi:10.1029/91JB00153. ISSN 2156-2202.
  7. ^ Fischer, Karen M.; Jordan, Thomas H.; Creager, Kenneth C. (1988-05-10). "Seismic constraints on the morphology of deep slabs". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 93 (B5): 4773–4783. doi:10.1029/JB093iB05p04773. ISSN 0148-0227.
  8. ^ a b Hopper, Emily; Fischer, Karen M. (2018). "The Changing Face of the Lithosphere-Asthenosphere Boundary: Imaging Continental Scale Patterns in Upper Mantle Structure Across the Contiguous U.S. With Sp Converted Waves". Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 19 (8): 2593–2614. Bibcode:2018GGG....19.2593H. doi:10.1029/2018GC007476. ISSN 1525-2027.
  9. ^ "Partly melted rocks under Earth's surface offer insights into what makes plate tectonics possible | Brown University". www.brown.edu. 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  10. ^ Hua, Junlin; Fischer, Karen M.; Becker, Thorsten W.; Gazel, Esteban; Hirth, Greg (February 2023). "Asthenospheric low-velocity zone consistent with globally prevalent partial melting". Nature Geoscience. 16 (2): 175–181. doi:10.1038/s41561-022-01116-9. ISSN 1752-0908.
  11. ^ a b Rychert, C. A.; Fischer, K. M.; Abers, G. A.; Plank, T.; Syracuse, E.; Protti, J. M.; Gonzalez, V.; Strauch, W. (October 2008). "Strong along‐arc variations in attenuation in the mantle wedge beneath Costa Rica and Nicaragua". Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 9 (10). doi:10.1029/2008GC002040. ISSN 1525-2027.
  12. ^ Abt, David L.; Fischer, Karen M.; French, Scott W.; Ford, Heather A.; Yuan, Huaiyu; Romanowicz, Barbara (2010). "North American lithospheric discontinuity structure imaged by Ps and Sp receiver functions". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 115 (B9). doi:10.1029/2009JB006914. ISSN 2156-2202.
  13. ^ Krueger, Hannah E.; Gama, Isabella; Fischer, Karen M. (June 2021). "Global Patterns in Cratonic Mid‐Lithospheric Discontinuities From Sp Receiver Functions". Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 22 (6). doi:10.1029/2021GC009819. ISSN 1525-2027.
  14. ^ Yoksoulian, Lois. "Continental interiors may not be as tectonically stable as geologists think". news.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  15. ^ Hu, Jiashun; Liu, Lijun; Faccenda, Manuele; Zhou, Quan; Fischer, Karen M.; Marshak, Stephen; Lundstrom, Craig (2018). "Modification of the Western Gondwana craton by plume–lithosphere interaction". Nature Geoscience. 11 (3): 203–210. Bibcode:2018NatGe..11..203H. doi:10.1038/s41561-018-0064-1. ISSN 1752-0894. S2CID 134835402.
  16. ^ Fouch, Matthew J.; Fischer, Karen M. (1996-07-10). "Mantle anisotropy beneath northwest Pacific subduction zones". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 101 (B7): 15987–16002. doi:10.1029/96JB00881. ISSN 0148-0227.
  17. ^ Hall, Chad E.; Fischer, Karen M.; Parmentier, E. M.; Blackman, Donna K. (2000-12-10). "The influence of plate motions on three‐dimensional back arc mantle flow and shear wave splitting". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 105 (B12): 28009–28033. doi:10.1029/2000JB900297. ISSN 0148-0227.
  18. ^ Fischer, Karen M.; Parmentier, E. M.; Stine, Alexander R.; Wolf, Elizabeth R. (2000). "Modeling anisotropy and plate-driven flow in the Tonga subduction zone back arc". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 105 (B7): 16181–16191. Bibcode:2000JGR...10516181F. doi:10.1029/1999JB900441. ISSN 2156-2202. S2CID 18657537.
  19. ^ Smith, G. P.; Wiens, Douglas A.; Fischer, Karen M.; Dorman, Leroy M.; Webb, Spahr C.; Hildebrand, John A. (2001-04-27). "A Complex Pattern of Mantle Flow in the Lau Backarc". Science. 292 (5517): 713–716. Bibcode:2001Sci...292..713S. doi:10.1126/science.1058763. PMID 11326095. S2CID 4822268.
  20. ^ Hoernle, Kaj; Abt, David L.; Fischer, Karen M.; Nichols, Holly; Hauff, Folkmar; Abers, Geoffrey A.; van den Bogaard, Paul; Heydolph, Ken; Alvarado, Guillermo; Protti, Marino; Strauch, Wilfried (February 2008). "Arc-parallel flow in the mantle wedge beneath Costa Rica and Nicaragua". Nature. 451 (7182): 1094–1097. doi:10.1038/nature06550. ISSN 1476-4687.
  21. ^ Abt, David L.; Fischer, Karen M.; Abers, Geoffrey A.; Strauch, Wilfried; Protti, J. Marino; González, Victor (May 2009). "Shear wave anisotropy beneath Nicaragua and Costa Rica: Implications for flow in the mantle wedge". Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 10 (5). doi:10.1029/2009GC002375. ISSN 1525-2027.
  22. ^ Fouch, Matthew J.; Fischer, Karen M.; Parmentier, E. M.; Wysession, Michael E.; Clarke, Timothy J. (2000-03-10). "Shear wave splitting, continental keels, and patterns of mantle flow". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 105 (B3): 6255–6275. doi:10.1029/1999JB900372. ISSN 0148-0227.
  23. ^ Lekic, V.; French, S. W.; Fischer, K. M. (2011-11-11). "Lithospheric Thinning Beneath Rifted Regions of Southern California". Science. 334 (6057): 783–787. Bibcode:2011Sci...334..783L. doi:10.1126/science.1208898. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 21979933. S2CID 19422684.
  24. ^ Ford, Heather A.; Fischer, Karen M.; Lekic, Vedran (April 2014). "Localized shear in the deep lithosphere beneath the San Andreas fault system". Geology. 42 (4): 295–298. doi:10.1130/G35128.1. ISSN 1943-2682. Archived from the original on 2022-01-21.
  25. ^ Gama, Isabella; Fischer, Karen M.; Dalton, Colleen A.; Eilon, Zachary (2022-12-28). "Variations in Lithospheric Thickness Across the Denali Fault and in Northern Alaska". Geophysical Research Letters. 49 (24). doi:10.1029/2022GL101256. ISSN 0094-8276.
  26. ^ a b Hopper, Emily; Fischer, Karen M.; Wagner, Lara S.; Hawman, Robert B. (2017-01-01). "Reconstructing the end of the Appalachian orogeny". Geology. 45 (1): 15–18. doi:10.1130/G38453.1. ISSN 1943-2682.
  27. ^ Fischer, Karen M. (June 2002). "Waning buoyancy in the crustal roots of old mountains". Nature. 417 (6892): 933–936. doi:10.1038/nature00855. ISSN 1476-4687.
  28. ^ Li, Aibing; Fischer, Karen M.; Wysession, Michael E.; Clarke, Timothy J. (September 1998). "Mantle discontinuities and temperature under the North American continental keel". Nature. 395 (6698): 160–163. doi:10.1038/25972. ISSN 1476-4687.
  29. ^ Syracuse, Ellen M.; Abers, Geoffrey A.; Fischer, Karen; MacKenzie, Laura; Rychert, Catherine; Protti, Marino; González, Víctor; Strauch, Wilfried (July 2008). "Seismic tomography and earthquake locations in the Nicaraguan and Costa Rican upper mantle". Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 9 (7). doi:10.1029/2008GC001963. ISSN 1525-2027.
  30. ^ "Scientists reconstruct formation of the Appalachians | Brown University". www.brown.edu. 2016-11-21. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  31. ^ a b "Karen Fischer | Seismological Society of America". www.seismosoc.org. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  32. ^ a b "Karen Fischer is 2023 AGU Inge Lehmann Medal Recipient | Department of Earth, Environmental & Planetary Sciences | Brown University". deeps.brown.edu. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  33. ^ a b "AGU - American Geophysical Union". www.agu.org. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  34. ^ "2025 New Member List | American Academy of Arts and Sciences". www.amacad.org. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  35. ^ "Karen Fischer wins top honor in seismology". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  36. ^ "2016 AGU Section and Focus Group Awardees and Named Lecturers". Eos. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  37. ^ Anonymous (2010). "AGU Fellows Elected for 2010". Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union. 91 (6): 59. Bibcode:2010EOSTr..91...59.. doi:10.1029/2010EO060010. ISSN 2324-9250.
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