Geophysics & Tectonics

The G&G department has a large group studying problems in marine geophysics and tectonics including oceanic crustal structure, mid-ocean ridge processes, continental rifting, oceanic subduction and upper mantle dynamics. Researchers utilize a variety of approaches in this work including sea-going observational studies (high-resolution multibeam bathymetric mapping, deep submergence studies, seismic reflection, refraction and earthquake investigations, magnetic and gravity studies), laboratory experimental work, and geophysical modeling. This group has close ties to the department’s geochemistry and petrology group, and the Deep Ocean Exploration Institute.

Related Web Sites

WHOI Arctic Group
This is an interdisciplinary website of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution scientists currently involved in Arctic studies.

Marine Seismology and Geoacoustics Group
This group focuses on all aspects of borehole seismology in the deep sea and forward modeling of acousitc and elastic wave propagation in complex marine environments.

Ocean Bottom Seismic Instrumentation Pool
This group provides instrumentation to support research to further our understanding of marine geology, seismology and geodynamics.

Ocean Bottom Seismometer Laboratory
WHOI has been developing, building and operating instrumentation for ocean-bottom seismology since 1975. These projects have ranged from on-bottom seismic experiments to onshore-offshore continental margin transects, and from mid-ocean ridge crustal tomography experiments to microseismic and teleseismic earthquake studies.

Ocean Bottom Magnetology Laboratory
Scientific research on magnetism here in the Geology and Geophysics Department at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution centers on various aspects of how the magnetism is recorded by the crust, what the magnetic recording can tell us about past history of Earth’s tectonic plates and how Earth’s magnetic field itself has varied in the past.