Shallow crustal processes theme
Shallow crustal processes research seeks to understand the geodynamic and tectonic drivers of the Earth System. Our work on crust-lithosphere-mantle interactions includes volcanic and magmatic processes, geochronology and thermochronometry, and aims to understand the links between deep Earth processes and the formation and erosion of topography and the low-temperature thermal evolution of the crust. Current areas of research include:
Low temperature thermochronology
- Development of new ways of inverting fission track and (U-Th-Sm)/He thermochronometry data to obtain robust, quantitative constraints on the thermal histories of rocks for investigating geomorphic and tectonic processes affecting the shallow crust
- Using thermochronometry to investigate the dynamics and topographic consequences of continental rifting and intra-continental deformation (current projects in East African Rift and southern Africa)
- Understanding the interaction of deep Earth processes, such as mantle convection, and the evolution of regional surface topography
Crustal tectonics
- Fluid flow in the crust and its links to brittle and ductile deformation
Volcanic processes
- Exploring the role of volcanism in sedimentary basins, interaction between magma and sediment, and the architecture of continental flood lava sequences
- Understanding pyroclastic density currents and the sedimentation of ignimbrites, ash aggregation and caldera-forming eruptions
Theme members
Based in the School of Geographical & Earth Sciences (GES):
Brian Bell, David Brown, Rod Brown, Tim Dempster, Daniel Koehn, Martin Lee, Cristina Persano
Based at the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Center (SUERC):
Dan Barfod, Adrian Boyce, Rob Ellam, Tony Fallick, Angus MacKenzie, Darren Mark, Fin Stuart
Current postgraduate students
Katarzyna Luszczak, Charlotte McLean, Heather Rawcliffe, Mark Wildman, David Webster
Collaborative projects
- Fracturing, fluid flow and fracture sealing (FRACS)
- Extreme horst uplift in East Africa (Riftlink)
- Tectonics of the continental margins of Namibia and Brazil
- FlowTrans Marie Curie Initial Training Network
- Volcanic Margins Research Consortium
- Resolving the age of the first-order topography of Africa
Facilities and resources