Geological Fluid Dynamics
Most Earth surface processes depend on an understanding of the dynamics of various fluids – from pyroclastic flows, to turbidity currents in the depths of the ocean basins, to water movement and the biotic composition of coral reefs. Sue Keiffer focuses on events where the fluid dynamics requires the incorporation of strongly nonlinear effects that occur in some “extreme” events: such as meteorite impacts, geyser and volcanic eruptions, and major river floods. She currently is working on modelling studies of events ranging from the explosion of Mt. Saint Helens to the geyser activity of Yellowstone to the eruption of gas and vapor plumes on Enceladus (a moon of Saturn) to the formation of meteor craters on Mars. Gary Parker, Jim Best, Marcelo Garcia and Bruce Rhoads focus on the fluid dynamics of river and deep sea sedimentary environemnts, addressing such issues as the nature of river confluences, river channel planform, the consequences of dam removal, the evolution and stability of bedforms and the nature of deep sea sedimentation. They address these problems theoretically, experimentally (using physical modelling in the Ven Te Chow Hydrosystems Laboratory) and in the field. Jim Best's research concerns both the mechanics of sediment transport, the investigation of modern sedimentary environments and the interpretation of ancient alluvium, with close links to industry in understanding the controls on subsurface sedimentary architecture.
- Prof. Bruce Fouke Diagenesis and petrologyof carbonates, impact ejecta deposition
- Prof. Sue Kieffer Dynamics of volcanic eruptions and of meteorite impacts
- Prof. Gary Parker Evolution of landscapes and seascapes in response to erosion and deposition
- Prof. Jim Best Process sedimentology and the fluid dynamics of clastic sedimentary systems
- Prof. Marcelo Garcia River Mechanics & Sediment Transpo
- Prof. Bruce Rhoads Fluvial Dynamics, Geomorphology
