The Geology and Geophysics Research Group includes about 60 staff and PhD students. We are among the most active research groups in this field in Europe.
Our specific research strengths include:
Our work is underpinned by world-class facilities for controlled source electromagnetic sounding, ocean bottom seismology, high resolution sea floor imagery, and the analysis of cores and other sea-bottom samples.
To find out more about our current activities please visit the Geology & Geophysics Blog
Contact: Dr Justin Dix
We have over 20 years experience of collecting high resolution geophysical data for research projects as diverse as small object detection (including forensic work); wreck based surveys, Quaternary natural and archaeological landscape studies, neotectonics, and large scale sedimentological and structural analysis.
3d Chirp is a surface-towed sub-bottom profiling system capable of imaging the upper tens of metres of the sub-surface on three dimensions with decimetric horizontal and centimetric vertical resolution.
The geology and geophysics research group operates three labs focusing on the study of coastal and shelf sea hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics. Our Coastal Processes and the Coastal Dynamics labs host a range of straight, recirculating and annular flumes equipped with a variety of high-frequency instruments and sensors, and are used for teaching and research into boundary layers, sediment transport and scour, submarine gravity flows and flow/sediment interactions with biota. The Sediment Analysis Lab is equipped with a range of tools used to analyse cohesive and non-cohesive sediment samples, including particle size distribution, grain texture and composition, and bulk sample properties; including a settling column and a Laser Sizer.
The Ocean Bottom Instrumentation Consortium aims to provide the academic and commercial communities with access to multi-sensor, versatile seabed instruments to enable sub-surface geophysical imaging at high vertical and lateral resolution.
The university is equipped to carry out field research programmes in CSEM surveys - for both academic and applied research topics.
GAU-Radioanalytical is an industry and government-agency focussed organisation that offers specialist radioanalytical research and analytical services.
This facility primarily focuses on making high quality sections of a range of materials for teaching and research. Cutting services, vacuum impregnation and staining techniques are also available.
We have two vessels based at NOCS that are available to staff and students of Ocean and Earth Science. R.V. Callista and R.V. Bill Conway.
This facility houses state-of-the-art instrumentation as well as a shielded room to support paleomagnetism, rock and mineral magnetism, magnet stratigraphy, and palaeoenvironment related research.
The XRD facility located at NOCS provides a service for the qualitative or quantitative analysis of rock samples to determine bulk mineralogy and/or clay mineralogy
PhD Project Titles
3D Modelling of Heat Dissipation from Offshore High Voltage Cables *
A Global Seismic Investigation of the Tectonic Plate
Automating the analysis of high-resolution sidescan sonar data to support marine habitat monitoring *
Bayesian inversion of controlled source electromagnetic data for a laterally variable subsurface
BEACHNUT: an active wireless sensor to measure granular dynamics of gravel transport
Caribbean Subduction: Seismic Imaging Melt and Volatiles in the Lesser Antilles
Characterising the volcanic and geochemical record of continental breakup in Afar
Characterising seabed surface layer dynamics: Modelling bed changes in estuaries
High-resolution seismic imaging of fluid escape structures in the North Sea *
The Weakest Link: Triggering of giant submarine landslides
Using cluster analysis to quantify earthquake patterns in space and time globally
* signifies projects with additional CASE funding.