Contacts
I am a geophysicist mostly interested in global observational seismology. My Ph.D. research involves the development and application of different techniques to image the Earth’s deep interior in the light of seismic waves generated by large earthquakes. My studies are primarily focused on investigating 1) P-wave anisotropy in the inner core of the Earth, and also 2) the thermochemical variations in the Earth’s highly heterogeneous upper mantle with implications for mantle convection.
Previously to embracing seismology, my research interest was focused on correlating multiple geophysical observations to the structural geology of cratonic sedimentary basins and reconstructing the history of crustal deformation with implications for hydrocarbon exploration. During my honors and master's degree, I worked with gravity and magnetic geophysical data processing and interpretation, remote sensing, and structural geology.
April 2018-ongoing: Ph.D. in Seismology, RSES, The Australian National University, Australia.
2013-2015: MPhil in Geophysics. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
2009-2012: BSc with honours in Geophysics. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
EMPLOYMENT
2021-ongoing: (Part-time) Seismologist in the Community Safety Branch, Geoscience Australia, Australia.
To know me a bit more: https://seismobunji.com/biography/
Research interests
- Global observational seismology
- Correlation seismology and application to the structure of the deep Earth.
- Characterization of anisotropy in the Earth’s inner core
- Inner core shear properties
- Seismic imaging of upper mantle discontinuities
Groups
Projects
- Researcher, The Earth's Inner Core
PEER REVIEWED
Costa de Lima, T., Phạm, T.-S., Ma, X., and Tkalčić H. (2023). An estimate of absolute shear-wave speed in the Earth’s inner core. Nature Communications 14, 4577. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40307-9
Tkalčić, H., T. Costa de Lima, T.-S. Phạm, and S. Tanaka.(2023). Inner core anisotropy from antipodal PKIKP travel times. In T. Nakagawa, T. Tsuchiya, M. Satish‐Kumar, & G. Helffrich (Eds.), Core-mantle evolution: A multidisciplinary approach, Geophysical Monograph Series (1st ed., pp. 165–189). Wiley. doi:10.1002/9781119526919.ch10.
Costa de Lima, T., H. Tkalčić, and L. Waszek. (2022). A new probe into the innermost inner core anisotropy via the global coda-correlation wavefield. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 127, e2021JB023540. doi. org/10.1029/2021JB023540.
Costa de Lima T., E.F. Jardim de Sá, F.A.P.L. Lins, A.F. Antunes, J.A.M. Moreira. (2017). Gravity and magnetic signature of the Transbrasiliano Lineament in the East-Central portion of the Parnaíba Basin, northeastern Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Geophysics, 35 (1), doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.22564/rbgf.v35i1.970.
BLOGS
Tiny vibrations hours after large earthquakes reveal a solid, low-rigidity inner core
An Adventure on the Southern Ocean – Part I
An Adventure on the Southern Ocean – Part II
SOME OF MY CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Costa de Lima, T., Pham, T.-S., Ma, X., and Tkalčić, H.: New constraints on shear properties of the Earth’s inner core from the global correlation wavefield, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 24–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-16047, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-16047, 2023.
Waszek, L., Costa de Lima, T., Tauzin, B., Tkalčić, H., and Ballmer, M.: Observations of Regional Seismic Discontinuities in the Earth’s Upper Mantle from SS- and PP- precursors, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 24–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-16446, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-16446, 2023.
Costa de Lima T., L. Waszek, H. Tkalčić, B. Tauzin, M. Ballmer (2022), Observations of Regional Seismic Discontinuities in the Earth’s Upper Mantle from SS- and PP- precursors, AGU Fall Meeting, Chicago, United States. Poster presentation.
Costa de Lima T., L. Waszek, H. Tkalčić, B. Tauzin, M. Ballmer (2022), Search for Regional Seismic Discontinuities in the Earth s Upper Mantle using SS- and PP- precursors. Study of the Earth s Deep Interior, Zurich, Switzerland. Poster presentation.
Costa de Lima T., H. Tkalčić and L. Waszek (2022), Seismological observation of innermost inner core anisotropy from the Earth s correlation wavefield. Study of the Earth s Deep Interior, Zurich, Switzerland. Poster presentation.
Costa de Lima T., H. Tkalčić and L. Waszek (2022), Evidence for Distinct Anisotropy in the Innermost Inner Core from Coda-correlation. European Geophysical Union Meeting, Vienna, Austria. Talk. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-3339
Costa de Lima T., L. Waszek, H. Tkalčić, B. Tauzin, M. Ballmer (2021), Global Constraints of Earth s Uppermost Mantle Regional Discontinuities: Insights on Temperature, Composition, and Geodynamics. AGU Fall Meeting, New Orleans, United States. Poster presentation.
Costa de Lima T., L. Waszek, H. Tkalčić, B. Tauzin (2021), Seismic Constraints of Uppermost Mantle Discontinuities in the Australian Region, AuScope Conference, Australia. Talk*
*Awarded the conference's most inspiring Early Career Research talk. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yxDTTHUw-s
Costa de Lima T., H. Tkalčić and L. Waszek (2020), Probing the Inner Core Anisotropic Structure Using Global Coda-correlation Wavefield. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. Online poster.
Costa de Lima T., H. Tkalčić and L. Waszek (2019), Insights on Inner-Core Anisotropy Obtained from the Earth s Correlation Wavefield. 2019 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, United States. Poster presentation.
Costa de Lima T., H. Tkalčić, S. Kim, J. Julia (2017), Bayesian Inversion of Receiver Functions and Surface Wave Dispersion Data in the Brazilian Northeast. 15th International Congress of the Brazilian Geophysical Society, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Poster presentation. https://doi.org/10.1190/sbgf2017-313
PARTICIPATION IN MEDIA
Challenge accepted: talking about my Ph.D. research on the anisotropy in the innermost inner core of the Earth within 2 min at the #20PhDs20Mins program. Broadcasted Sunday across Australia on the 17th of June at 11 am (Melbourne, AEST) at 3RRR FM: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/another-20-phds-in-20-minutes-extr...
In Portuguese only:
https://radios.ebc.com.br/radio-sociedade/2023/03/ciencia-no-radio-evide...
https://www.enfoquems.com.br/estudo-aponta-que-nucleo-da-terra-desaceler...
https://www.gov.br/observatorio/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/nucleo-interno-d...
https://www.gov.br/observatorio/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/ondas-sismicas-r...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dmi6FP4Iink
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUbkbZapJlo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T609yA5l_fg&list=PLxJ7lqtkI9lVfvG8bYrhhv...
During my PhD studies I have worked as demonstrator in several geophysics courses at ANU:
- PHYS3070: Physics of the Earth. Lecturers: Prof. Hrvoje Tkalcic, and Prof. Louis Moresi.
- EMSC2022: Introduction to Global Geophysics. Lecturers: Prof. Meghan S. Miller, Dr. Dave Heslop, and Prof. Louis Moresi. Upon completion of this course, students are expected to have a deeper understanding of the Earth's internal structure and the main concepts applied in seismology, geohazard, and geodynamics.
- EMSC1008: EARTH: The Chemistry and Physics of our Planet. Lecturers: Dr. Caroline Eakin, and Dr. Andrew Berry. In the geophysics module, students gain familiarity with plate tectonics and introductory knowledge of geophysics and mathematics (e.g. isostatic calculations, triangulating earthquake locations, plate motion vectors, and circuits).
Part of the (160) undergraduate students participating in the Blue Planet field trip to the Snowy Mountains! Everyone had a wonderful time looking at the rocks and correlating what they have learned in the classroom with their observations on the field. Thanks to Tiah Penny for the selfie :D
Fieldwork
You can check more about my field trips on my personal webpage seismobunji.com
Demonstrating the immersion suit onboard the Research Vessel Investigator. By my side is Astrid Wilson, the master 2 of this voyage. Photo credits: (left) Dr. Mike Coffin and (right) Dr. Caroline Eakin
Outreach
I am passionate about sharing scientific content with the general public. Please check my personal webpage seismobunji.com to find out!
