Research interests
Specialisms: Active tectonics, geohazards, marine geophysics, subduction zones, active rifting
My primary current research interests are the active tectonics of subduction zones and continental rifts, and their associated geological hazards. Specifically I’m interested in how these active regions evolve tectonically, the interactions between tectonics, sedimentation and environment, and fault slip behaviour and history. My research involves a range of methodologies, from marine geophysics, sediment coring and ocean drilling offshore to geomorphology and paleoseismology onshore.
Subduction zone research includes: the evolution and structure of the subduction forearc; the relationship between structure, fault properties, earthquake behaviour and tsunami generation; and the role of sedimentary inputs on fault slip behaviour and sediment flux within subduction zones. Current studies are on the Sumatra (Indonesia), Hikurangi (New Zealand), Cascadia (USA-Canada), Nankai (Japan), and Makran (Pakistan-Iran) subduction zones.
Active continental rift studies are focused on the Gulf of Corinth, Greece, one of the fastest extending regions on Earth, with comparisons to the volcanic East African Rift. In the Corinth Rift, onshore and offshore data have been compiled to determine the evolution of this young rift system at ultra-high resolution, the slip rates of major earthquake generating faults, and the analyzing how interactions between rift tectonics, climate and sea level control sediment fluxes, surface processes and basin environment.
I have had extensive involvement with the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). Related to subduction zone research, I have co-led as Co-Chief Scientist a drilling expedition to explore the role of the input sediments on fault slip and earthquake behaviour at the Sumatra subduction zone (IODP Expedition 362, 2016) and was one of the Co-Chief Scientists for the major NanTroSEIZE drilling project investigating fault properties and seiemogenic behaviour on the Nankai margin, SW Japan (IODP Expedition 319, 2009). I was also Co-Chief Scientist for IODP Expedition 381 which drilled the syn-rift sediments of the Corinth Rift to investigate its evolution and environment at high resolution (2017-18).
External research projects
Integrated Ocean Drilling Program
Research group
Geology and Geophysics
Research project(s)
Controls on Megathrust Earthquake Segmentation
Active-source seismic refraction across the Sumatra subduction zone
Professor Lisa McNeillOcean and Earth Science
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
University of Southampton Waterfront Campus
European Way
Southampton SO14 3ZH
UK
Room Number : NOCS/786/05
Facsimile: (023) 8059 3059