• Neogene and Active Rift Tectonics from Geophysical Surveys
Together with colleagues at the University of Texas at Austin and in New Zealand and Italian research institutes, we use marine and airborne geophysical data (magnetics and seismic profiling in particular) to map the distribution of young and active faults and volcanic features on the sea floor. The results will help to understand the patterns of neotectonic rifting, and if there is active rifting occurring, in the interior of Antarctica, and how this relates to seafloor spreading processes in the Southern Ocean. This project involved acquiring new marine geophysical data from the U.S. Antarctic Program research icebreaker NB Palmer in 2004. We continue to work with our New Zealand and Italian colleagues on interpretation of existing and new marine seismic reflection profiles and on airborne magnetic data. An educational grant from Schlumberger has provided us with industry-standard seismic analysis software for this research. ADD WEB LINK TO TERROR RIFT

• Neogene Rifting, Fault History, Palestress History and Modern Stress Field: the ANDRILL Project
A major initiative in Antarctic stratigraphic drilling, called ANDRILL, will carry out drilling projects in 2006 at the McMurdo Ice Shelf near Ross Island and in 2007 on the sea ice in Southern McMurdo Sound (see: www.andrill.org). Together with colleagues, we will study natural fractures in the drillcore to analyse faulting and stress field history, and will carry out the first borehole hydrofracture measurement of the contemporary stress regime in the interior of the Antarctic continent. The new data on stratigraphic ages will be applied to the regional rift basin framework derived from seismic profiles (see above) to constrain the regional tectonic evolution of this part of the West Antarctic rift system. ADD WEB LINK TO ANDRILL CORE STRUCTURE MEASUREMENTS GROUP

• Geodetic measurement of active crustal motions in Antarctica
We are using the Global Positioning System (GPS) to measure motions of the crust due to tectonic activity (rifting, volcanic loading) and due to isostatic rebound of the crust due to unloading since the last glacial maximum. We started a new measurement program late in 2003 that continued for 3 field seasons, with some sites continuing to record continuous measurements. Graduate students are using the results of prior and ongoing measurement campaigns to test models for tectonic and isostatic motions, and to do geodetic research on tropospheric and ionospheric properties over the Antarctic. The GPS results will help to constrain how much the Antarctic ice sheets have changed in the last 10,000 years or so, and test whether active tectonic motions are occurring within the continent today. A new collaborative project to deploy GPS and seismic sensors at remote sites around Antarctica with international partners is being developed for the International Polar Year (March 2007-2009).

For information on the GPS project and photos of our field work click here