Dr. Wouter Schellart

 

Supervisor(s): Wouter Schellart , Sandy Cruden and Louis Moresi
Field of study: Geodynamics, tectonics
Support offered: Facilities - Geodynamic Modelling Lab, thesis preparation costs
Preferred Programme: Honours or MSc 
 
Subduction zones are the most dramatic and enigmatic features on Earth that drive the tectonic plates, are responsible for the growth of continental crust, and are the source of the largest earthquakes on Earth (e.g. Japan 2011, Chile 2010, Sumatra 2004). The Australian plate is bordered by subduction zones to the north and east, and as such, a deep understanding of subduction zone dynamics is highly relevant to Australian society. Projects are available to investigate the kinematics and dynamics of subduction with analogue models (scaled laboratory models). The student will have the opportunity to learn how to set up laboratory models of subduction, conduct experiments, learn about the physical properties of the model materials involved, learn about scaling of the models, and learn how to extract quantitative information from the experiments. The predictions made by the models can be compared with observations on Earth, such as provided by kinematic studies of subduction zone behaviour, Wadati-Benioff zone geometry, subduction zone earthquakes, seismic tomography and plate reconstructions. With this study the student will get an integrated view of the fundamental geodynamic processes involved in subduction zone behaviour and plate tectonics.
For further information contact: Wouter Schellart.