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Dept. of Geology & Geophysics
University of Hawaii 2525 Correa Rd. Honolulu, HI 96822 email: mogarcia@hawaii.edu phone: 808-956-6641 fax: 956-5512 |
Current Position (since 1988): Professor of Geology
Education
B.A., Geology, California State University at Humboldt, 1971 - Senior Thesis: Petrography of the Josephine Ophiolite, No. California.
Field Camp in Colorado, University of Kansas, 1970
Ph.D. Geology, UCLA, 1976 - Dissertation: Criteria for Recognition of Ancient Island Arcs in the Rock Record: Rogue River Complex, Oregon
Research Interests
Volcanology, Igneous Petrology, Hawaiian and Marine Geology
Positions Held
Honors
Professor, Geology and Geophysics Dept., University of Hawai‘i, 1988 to present
Visiting Professor, Yamagata University, Japan, 2012
Visiting Professor, Macquarie University, Australia, Fall 2008
Technical Judge, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2007-present
Visiting Professor, University of the Philippines, Spring 2006, Fall, 2009
Visiting Scholar, Australian National University, 2002 & 2004
Head, Volcanology-Geochemistry-Petrology Div., Univ. of Hawai‘i, 1983-5, 2000-02
Associate Chair & Undergrad Advisor, Geology-Geophysics Dept., Univ. of Hawai‘i, 2000-01
Core Processing Supervisor for Hawaiian Scientific Drilling Project, 1999-present
Chair, Geology and Geophysics Dept., Univ. of Hawai‘i, 1990-91
Visiting Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1989
Associate Professor, Geology and Geophysics Dept., Univ. of Hawai`i, 1982-7
Mapper, U.S.G.S. Big Island Mapping Project, Summers of 1984 -87
Visiting Associate Professor, U.C. Santa Barbara, 1982-83
Assistant Professor, Geology and Geophysics Dept., Univ. of Hawai`i, 1976-81
Fellow, American Geophysical Union, 2014
President, Hawai`i Academy of Science, 1999-2001
Fellow, Geological Society of America, 1999
Teaching Excellence Award, SOEST, Univ. of Hawai‘i, 1995
Personal Background
Mike’s current research is focused on understanding how volcanoes work. Specifically, he is using the mineralogy and geochemistry of lavas to delineate the magmatic plumbing systems of volcanoes. Basaltic lavas provide essential clues into their subterranean history and are one of our best "windows" into the mantle.
Active volcanoes are a particularly important site for study because we can combine many different types of research (e.g., petrology, deformation, earthquakes, gas chemistry, field observations) to better understand how these volcanoes work. This type of cooperative study is essential if we are to be able to predict volcanic eruptions. It also of use to those finding ore deposits associated with volcanoes (e.g., gold). This research is part of a timeseries experiment to better understand mantle melting processes, source heterogeneity and crustal processes. It respresents the most intensive study of any active volcano and is in cooperation with student Jared Marske and colleagues Aaron Pietruszka (Calif. State Univ. at San Diego), Mike Rhodes (University of Massachusetts), Marc Norman (Australian National University), and John Eiler (Caltech). Garcia’s research involves field work on the active volcanoes Kilauea and Mauna Loa, submersible dives to examine the submarine flanks of these volcanoes and their young submarine sister, Lo`ihi. Rejuvenated or secondary volcanism is another area of current research is the that occurs in Hawaii and other oceanic islands. The Honolulu Volcanics are a prime example. This volcanism occurs after a gap in volcanism of about 1 million years and is well downstream from the uprising mantle plume. The cause of the volcanism is hotly debated. Mike is investigating with current and former students Chris Gandy, Lisa Swinnard and Ashton Flinders and colleagues Garrett Ito and Brian Taylor, the what, where and when of rejuvenated volcanism in order to better explain why it is occurring.
Dry Valleys of Antarctica is a new area of research for Garcia after attending a field workshop looking at Jurassic sill complexes in 2005. With colleagues at Univ. of Idaho and Colgate University, he developed a follow up project to work on the Ordovician Vanda Dike Swarm, which is spectacularly exposed in the Dry Valleys. A University of Hawai`i undergraduate, Carolyn Parchetta, joined him in the field work and is working on the structural interpretation of the dikes.
Current Research Projects
Students (both undergraduates and graduates) play an active and critical role in these research activities. They are involved in field work (both on land and at sea) and laboratory analyses using a wide variety of analytical tools that are available at the University of Hawaii
(Electron Microprobe, TIMS, ICP-MS, and XRF).
Past Research Projects
A listing of Garcia's publications is available on line.
Teaching
Garcia teaches at all levels within the university; from undergraduate, nonmajor introductory labs (GG101L) and junior-level igneous petrology (GG302-rocks) to graduate level courses in igneous petrology (GG603) and seminars in special topics (e.g., GG733- Cenozoic evolution of California with field trip, GG711- Scientific paper writing) and Hawaiian Volcanoes (GG711). He taught the undergraduate field geology course for 10 years. Teaching is what makes working at a university fun and exciting for him.
Volcanological and Other Field Experience
Marine Experience
Core Logging Experience
Professional Service
Community Service
Other sites to visit
Mike was born and raised in coastal southern California where he developed a love for working outside and near the ocean. He attended Humboldt State University in Northern California to specialize in coastal processes but switched to metamorphic petrology during his senior year. During graduate studies at UCLA he ultrametamorphosed to an igneous petrologist because of the excitement related to the plate tectonic paradigm. The study of volcanic rocks was an important piece of the puzzle that helped demonstrate the universal application of this paradigm to understanding the Earth. His Ph.D. dissertation focused on establishing criteria for the recognition of ancient island arcs in the rock record. Since joining the University of Hawai‘i, Mike has concentrated on hotspot volcanism, especially on the active Hawaiian volcanoes Kilauea, Mauna Loa and Lo‘ihi.
Research
Hawaii Center for Volcanology home page
Page last modified on: 9 July, 2015