Alan Levander

Carey Croneis Professor of Geology

Chairman, Department of Earth Science


Lithosphere Seismology and Wave Propagation

 

I study the structure and tectonics of ocean-continent plate margins and mountain belts using active source seismic methods. I have been PI on reflection/refraction investigations in the San Andreas transform fault system in southeastern, central, and northern California, and in the Brooks Range, Arctic Alaska. My collegues and I have recently completed analysis of a large seismic data set from the Mendocino Triple Junction, northern Califorina, to understand tectonics within the triple junction region.

A large part of my research is devoted to developing seismic data processing methods for deep crustal data, including depth migration algorithms for vertical-incidence and wide-angle seismic data, and synthetic seismogram algorithms for 2 and 3-dimensionally heterogeneous media. To characterize the highly heterogeneous rocks found in the crystalline crust we have developed stochastic models of igneous and metamorphic rocks, providing a statistical description of rock fabrics and seismic velocities.

I currently have several projects:

  1. Continental Dynamics of the Rocky Mountains (CDROM) is sponsored by the National Science Foundation Continental Dynamics Program. This project, led by the University of New Mexico and involving 20 researchers at 12 institutions, is designed to investigate the Proterozoic and subsequent development of southwestern North America using geochemical sampling, active and passive source seismology, and geological field studies. Our role in the project has been to acquire and interpret deep seismic reflection/refraction data across the Jemez lineament, and across the Laramide uplifts in the Sangre de Cristo range of north-central New Mexico.
  2. Advanced High Resolution Seismic Imaging of the Shallow Subsurface (3-D REFLECTION, 3-D TOMOGRAPHY) is sponsored by the Department of Energy’s EMSP program. We are developing high resolution seismic imaging technology to characterize the upper 30 meters of the Earth for assessing environmental hazard. Under the auspices of this program we have conducted extensive 2-D and 3-D surface and borehole seismic investigations at a groundwater contamination site at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, a location of ongoing groundwater remediation efforts.
  3. SE Caribbean Plate Boundary Continental Dynamics Project, sponsored by the NSF Continental Dynamics Program, is a Rice led multi-institutional project that includes researchers at 6 US and 3 Venezuelan institutes. The SE Caribbean plate boundary, separating the South American craton from the Caribbean plate is a site of accretion of an island arc, the Lesser Antilles, to the South American landmass. Arc accretion has been ongoing for ~50Ma, from west to east, producing a time transgressive fold and thrust belt on the northern edge of SA containing belts of exhumed Hi-P metamorphic rocks, and a system of related foreland basins. This project is designed to examine the geodynamics of island arc-continent accretion from outcrop to sub-plate scales, Hi-P rock exhumation, and sedimentary basin development by examining the margin extensively with field mapping, structural analysis, age dating, active source land and marine seismology, teleseismic land and marine seismology, and geodynamic modeling.

STUDENTS: Past & Present

POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS: Past & Present

email alan@esci.rice.edu