Research Interests
Michael Gurnis and associates carry out research in computational geodynamics to provide a basis for interpreting geological and geophysical observations made on local, regional, and global scales. Our goal is to understand how plate tectonics works, how plate tectonics and deep mantle flow are related, how and why mantle convection evolves over long time periods, and how the geology on the continents and in the oceans is related to mantle dynamics. A primary activity is the development of sophisticated forward and inverse models of tectonic processes. In recent years Gurnis has been involved with the ocean drilling program and marine geophysics.
Recent Publications
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Hightower, Erin and Gurnis, Michael and Van Avendonk, Harm (2020) A Bayesian 3-D linear gravity inversion for complex density distributions: application to the Puysegur subduction system. Geophysical Journal International, 223 (3). pp. 1899-1918.
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Wang, Huilin and Gurnis, Michael and Skogseid, Jakob (2020) Continent-wide drainage reorganization in North America driven by mantle flow. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 530 . Art. No. 115910.
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Mao, Xiaolin and Gurnis, Michael and May, Dave A. (2017) Subduction initiation with vertical lithospheric heterogeneities and new fault formation. Geophysical Research Letters, 44 (22). pp. 11349-11356.
