<< back to Faculty
<< back to Research

Geophysics and Tectonics
Faculty: R. Bauer, M.-H. Cormier, F. Gomez, M. Liu, E. Sandvol, M. Underwood, A. Whittington
 

Over the long geological history, tectonic forces have been deforming and reshaping the earth's crust. Investigating these forces and their resultant geological processes is not only fascinating, it is essential for reconstructing the earth's tectonic history and providing the framework for interpretation of many geological and geochemical data.

One group of faculty members is engaged in studies of a broad range of tectonic and geodynamic processes. One research topic of this group is ancient mountain-building processes, involving both field mapping and laboratory analysis. By studying deformation fabrics and metamorphic minerals, the pressure-temperature history of rocks and the associated deformation history can be determined.

A second group is addressing tectonic processes at convergent plate boundaries within the framework of marine sedimentology. Projects include the analysis of sedimentary environments in submarine fans, trenches and accretionary prisms; the synthesis of the evolution history of tectonic terranes and the study of hydrothermal activity at convergent continental margins.

Other researchers are using the Global Position System to determine strain accumulation near the New Madrid Seismic Zone, and model stress field near ridge-transform systems. Satellite imagery is being employed for environment monitoring and the tracking of continental deformation.

Because most tectonic processes are controlled by thermal structure and driven by heat transfer, a fourth set of studies involves thermal-tectonic processes. Analytic techniques range from computer simulation of mantle convection to thermomechanical modeling of mountain-building and crustal extension.

Field work in Turkey E. Sandvol (right) photo courtesy of the Institute for the Study of the Continents, Cornell University

Last Modified: winter 2008