Research

Geophysics, Tectonics, & Structural Geology

 

Delores Robinson hiking a mountain in Nepal

The Geophysics discipline focuses on investigating the internal structure and composition of the Earth and other planets/moons using approaches such as seismology, geodesy, gravity, magnetics, and electrical resistivity. These techniques are also employed on Earth in the exploration for natural resources, in environmental studies, and to mitigate geologic hazards.

Tectonics is a broad field that encompasses physical and chemical processes that shape our planet. This includes interactions between the Earth’s crust and the underlying mantle, subduction of oceanic crust, formation of the continents, mountain building, and basin formation.

Structural Geology deals with the form, arrangement, and internal structure of rocks, particularly the description and analysis of small to moderate geologic structures, such as folds, faults, shear zones that result from the application of deforming forces.

For more about our research specialties, visit the Research Overview.

Faculty

Name Job Title Email
Alain Plattner Assistant Professor amplattner@ua.edu
Bo Zhang Associate Professor bzhang33@ua.edu
Harold Stowell Professor hstowell@ua.edu
Delores M. Robinson Professor
Department Chair
dmr@ua.edu
Samantha E. Hansen George Lindahl III Endowed Professor shansen@geo.ua.edu
Ibrahim Çemen Professor icemen@ua.edu