My research in marine geophysics has been concentrated in two areas. My
principal area of research in marine geophysics has been in the study of the
structure and tectonic evolution of mid-ocean ridges. Dr. Nancy Grindlay
(Univ. of North Carolina, Wilmington) and I recently had a NSF funded project,
and our research is continuing in which we are using geophysical methods
(SeaBeam 2112 bathymetry and backscatter, gravity, and magnetics) to
study the Southwest Indian Ridge. The research cruise portion of the project
was completed in February-March, 1996. The purpose of the 48-day leg onboard
the R/V Knorr was to investigate one of the slowest spreading rate segments of
the world-encircling mid-ocean ridge system. Shane Detweiller (M.S.) and
Dana Vitek (M.S.) are analyzing and interpreting the bathymetry and
gravity collected during this cruise for their master's research projects.
In addition, Dick Selby (M.S.) is currently working on an investigation
of depth anomalies between the Cocos and Pacific plates along the northern
East Pacific Rise ridge segment for his thesis project.
Click here for information about our
Southwest Indian Ridge research cruise
The second area of my research in marine geophysics is in the use of high-
resolution seismic reflection data to study the Middle Atlantic continental shelf. This work involves several investigators from the University of Delaware
and the Delaware Geological Survey in an effort to better understand the Neogene
history of the continental shelf. As a group we received support in 1990 and
1992 from the University of Delaware Ship Advisory Council to use the R/V Cape
Henlopen to conduct two research cruises in which we collected an extensive
seismic reflection data set on the Delaware continental shelf. Stephanie Murphy
(M.S.) used this data for her thesis.
