For an overview of our group’s recent research, click here

Our research focused on investigating plate boundary processes and deformation within the lithosphere using a range of techniques including seismology,  space-based geodesy,  and marine geophysics. One recent major effort focuses on the evolution of North America’s Midcontinent rift.  As discussed in the video below, we learned more about how the rift started, how rifting proceeded, and why it ended. The results are being applied to study the processes that rift continents over time and form new ocean basins.

Another looked at a variety of topics dealing with earthquake hazard mitigation science and policy. We explored how to assess how well earthquake maps work, what causes the large uncertainties involved, and how to do better, as summarized in the video below.

 

Other topics included studies of earthquakes and earthquake zones that give insight into tectonic processes. These included the New Madrid seismic zone, the 2011 Virginia earthquake, the 2001 Bhuj earthquake in India, the 2004 Sumatra earthquake, 2011 Tohoku earthquake, and the Andes. Some studies, focusing on the thermal evolution of oceanic lithosphere  and on continental rifting, were cooperative projects with my wife Carol, professor emerita at University of Illinois, Chicago. We tried to do science, teach, advise students, and survive as a two-geophysicist couple, which was a bit hectic at times.