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The grant was awarded for research in geophysics of pyroxene. Interest in this mineral results from the large amount that exists within the earth 100 to 400 kilometers deep. Although little is known about pyroxene, it is a key aspect in further understanding the earth's interior. The grant money will supply equipment, as well as travel for Isaak to Japan, where he will work with and learn from Japanese researchers. APU students will also be involved in the project, doing summer research with Isaak.
This three-year grant will provide Isaak with the resources and time to become better acquainted with pyroxene and its role in the makeup of the earth. Isaak also believes this research will benefit the study of earthquakes.
"Our primary goal is to study how seismic waves travel through different types of pyroxenes at different temperatures," said Isaak. "Since most earthquakes occur in the upper 400 kilometers of the earth, the more we know about the composition of this layer, the better equipped we will be to understand earthquakes."
