Seismic Exploration of Friction Fracture and Flow Lab

Research

Using the tools of experimental geophysics, we explore the seismic behavior of geologic materials and interfaces under a range of stress, temperature, and flow settings. These boundaries control dynamic earth processes of societal significance across scales. Our work is applied to: 

- glacier beds controlling the flow and mass balance of ice sheets and future sea level rise; 

- fractures controlling permeability and seismicity in energy/water/waste reservoirs; 

- tectonic faults controlling continental scale deformation and damaging earthquakes, 

by improving interpretation of geophysical processes and properties, as well as their dependence on evolving conditions. We carry out lab experiments utilizing natural and analog materials, both towards better constraining the physics underlying exciting new observations and improving constitutive relations for representing these processes in large-scale models. We also work to bridge experimental developments into novel field techniques to shed light on the underlying mechanics of these key geologic problems. Improved connections between lab scale insights and field observations, as well as across scientific disciplines, are vital for predicting and managing our interaction with important earth systems.