Students and Post-doctoral Researchers
Current
Jana Schierjott (Post-doctoral scholar) obtained her Ph.D. from the Institute for Geophysics, ETH
Zurich in 2020. Her dissertation is
entitled “Influence of grain size evolution
on global and regional mantle convection models”. She is currently developing high-performance
computational models to study how the mechanical interaction of magmatism and
faulting controls the style and morphology of mid-ocean ridge segment offsets.
Lautisha McKinney (M.S.) Tisha obtained her B.S.in Geology from UH Hilo in 2018. She is modeling the impacts of giant Hawaiian
landslides on the vertical motion of the Hawaiian Islands and the impacts on
the coastlines.
Daniel Douglas (M.S.) Daniel earned his B.S. in Physics and Astronomy from the University of
Toronto in 2019. Daniel is constructing
3-D dynamic models that simulate the flexing of lithosphere beneath the
Hawaiian chain. Quantitative comparisons
of model predictions with new active- source seismic data will be used to
constrain the rheology of the Pacific lithosphere.
McKenzie Lach (M.S.) earned her B.S. in Physics from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities
in 2018. Kenzie’s M.S. project involves
using the new GMM-3 Mars Global gravity model to examine the crustal and
lithospheric structure of Martian volcanoes.
Alumni
Alexandra Pleus (M.S. 2018) Alexandra used new shipboard gravity and bathymetry data with a
Bayesian inverse method to quantify the rheology of the flexing oceanic
lithosphere in response to loading by volcanoes along the Hawaiian Ridge. (link
to thesis)
Elise Leroux (MGeo 2018) Elise’s MGeo projected involved
collecting and analyzing data and making a risk map of slow moving landslides
around Honolulu. (link
to MGeo report)
Sam Howell
(Ph.D. 2016, now at JPL Pasedena) Sam used topographic data to examine the interrelationships between
faulting, magmatism, and morphology of the Chile Ridge. He isolated a tectonic signal of vertical
motion in GPS data around the San Andreas Fault. He carried out a 3D modeling study of the
effects of varying magma supply on the pattern of faulting and the creation of
detachment faults at mid-ocean ridges. (link to dissertation)
Olive, J.-A., M. D. Behn, G.
Ito, W. R. Buck, J. Escartin, S. Howell (2015),
Sensitivity of seafloor bathymetry to climate-driven fluctuations in
mid-ocean ridge magma supply, Science, doi:10.1126/science.aad0715 (Link to
reprint).
Howell, S., B. Smith-Konter, N.
Frazier, X. Tong, D. Sandwell (2016), The vertical
fingerprint of earthquake cycle loading in Southern California, Nature
Geoscience, doi:10.1038/ngeo2741.
B. Boston and S. Howell, G. Moore, University
of Hawaii Geophysical Society (2014), A miniature research vessel: A
small-scale ocean-exploration demonstration of geophysical methods, The
Leading Edge, SEG, doi:10.1190/tle33121408.1
Howell, S. M., G. Ito, A. J. Breivik, A. Rai, R. Mjelde, B.
Hanan, K. Sayit, and P. Vogt (2014), The origin of the asymmetry in the Iceland
hotspot along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from continental breakup to present-day, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 392, 143-153 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2014.02.020).
Sam Howell (M.S. 2013) Howell, S. M., G.
Ito, A. J. Breivik, A. Rai, R. Mjelde, B. Hanan, K. Sayit, and P. Vogt (2014),
The origin of the asymmetry in the Iceland hotspot along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
from continental breakup to present-day, Earth
Planet. Sci. Lett., 392, 143-153
(PDF)
David Waller (MGeo, 2015) David analyzed
groundwater chemistry indicators to search for evidence for geothermal energy
resources across Hawaii
Waller, D. (2015), Identification of geothermal resources in Hawaii
utilizing aqueous geochemistry, MGeo, Project Report
(PDF)
Maxim Ballmer (Post-doc, Ph.D. 2009 ETH Zurich Switzerland) Dr. Ballmer
used high performance computing to simulate thermochemical convection
associated with hotspots such as Hawaii as well as for examining the
large-scale chemical evolution of the lower mantle.
Ballmer, M. D., L. Schumacher, V. Lekic, C. Thomas, G. Ito (2016), Compositional
layering within the large low shear-wave velocity provinces in the lower
mantle, Geochem. Geophys. Geosys., doi: 10.1002/2016GC006605
(URL).
Ballmer, M. D., G. Ito, C. Cheng (2015), Asymmetric dynamical behavior of
thermochemical plumes and implications for Hawaiian lava composition, in Hawaiian volcanoes: From Source to Surface, eds. R. Carey, V.
Cayol, M. Poland, D. Weis, Chapter 3, Geophys. Monogr 208,
Amer. Geophys. Union, John Wiley & Sons, Inc,
Washington D.C., 10.1002/9781118872079.ch3, (PDF of preprint,
URL).
Ballmer, M. D., P. E. van Keken, G. Ito (2015), Hotspots, Large Igneous Provinces, and Melting Anomalies, in: Treatise of Geophysics, 2nd edition, (editor G. Schubert), volume 7 "Mantle Dynamics", (editor D. Bercovici), 393-459, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Ballmer,
M. D., G. Ito, C. J. Wolfe, S. C.
Solomon (2013), Double layering of a thermochemical plume in the upper mantle
beneath Hawaii, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.,
376, 155-164 (URL).
Ballmer,
M., G. Ito, J. van Hunen, P. J. Tackley
(2011) Spatial and temporal variability in Hawaiian hotspot volcansim
induced by small-scale convection, Nature Geosc.,
doi:10.1038/NGEO1187 (PDF)
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Alejandro Gallego (Post-doc, 2010-2013) Gallego, A., G. Ito, R. A. Dunn (2013) Investigating seismic anisotropy beneath the Reykjanes Ridge using models of mantle flow, crystallographic evolution, and surface wave propagation, Geochem. Geophys. Geosys., doi:10.10002/ggge.20204. (URL) (Supplement) |
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Ashton
Flinders (M.S. 2009) Flinders, A., G.
Ito, M. O. Garcia (2010), Gravity anomalies of the Northern Hawaiian
Islands: Implications on the shield
evolutions of Kauai and Niihau, J. Geophys. Res. 115, B08412, doi:10.1029/2009JB006877.
(PDF) Flinders, A. F., G. Ito, M. O. Garcia, J. M. Sinton, J. Kauahikaua, B. Taylor (2013), Intrusive dike complexes, cumulate cores, and the extrusive growth of Hawaiian volcanoes, 40 (13), 3367-3373, doi:10.1002/grl.50633. (URL) |
click image for more information |
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Todd
Bianco (Ph.D. 2008) Bianco,
T. A., G. Ito, J.
van Hunen, J. J. Mahoney, M. D. Ballmer (2013) Geochemical variations at ridge-centered hotspots
caused by variable melting of a veined mantle plume, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 371-372, 171-201 (URL) Bianco, T. A., G.
Ito, J. van Hunen,
M. D. Ballmer, J. J. Mahoney (2011) Geochemical variations at intraplate hot
spots caused by viable melting of a veined mantle plume, Geochem. Geophys. Geosys.,
12, 7, Q0AC13, doi:10.1029/20111GC003658 (PDF) Bianco, T. A., G. Ito, J. van Hunen, M. D. Ballmer (2008), J. J. Mahoney, Geochemical variation at the Hawaiian hotspot caused by upper mantle dynamics and melting of a heterogeneous plume, Geochem. Geophys. Geosys,.9, Q11003, doi:10.1029/2008GC002111. (PDF) |
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Eric Mittelstaedt (Ph.D. 2008) Mittelstaedt, E. G. Ito,
and J. van Hunen (2011) Repeat ridge jumps
associated with plume-ridge interaction, melt transport and ridge migration, J. Geophys.
Res.116, B01102, doi:10.1029/2010JB007604 (PDF) Mittelstaedt, E., G. Ito,
and M. Behn (2008), Mid-ocean ridge jumps associated
with hotspot magmatism, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 266, 256-270. (PDF) Mittelstaedt, E. and G. Ito (2005), Plume-ridge interaction, lithospheric stresses, and the origin of near-ridge volcanic lineaments, Geochem. Geophys. Geosys., 6, Q06002, doi:10.1029/2004GC000860. (PDF) |
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Stephanie Ingle
(SOEST Young Investigator 2005-2007) Ingle,
S., G. Ito, J. J. Mahoney, W. Chazey III, J. Sinton, M. Rotella, D. M. Christie (2010)
Mechanisms of geochemical and geophysical variations along the western
Galapagos Spreading Center, Geochem. Geophys. Geosys. Q04003, doi:10.1029/2009GC002694.
(PDF)
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Tanya Blacic (Ph.D. 2005) Blacic, T. , G. Ito,
A. K. Shah, J. P. Canales (2008), J. Lin, Axial high topography and partial melt
in the crust and mantle beneath the Blacic, T.M., G. Ito, J.P. Canales, R. Detrick, and J. Sinton (2004), Constructing the crust of the Galapagos Spreading Center 91.3° - 95.5° W: Correlation of seismic layer 2A with axial magma lens and topographic characteristics, J. Geophys. Res.,109 (B10310), doi:10.1029/2004JB003066. (PDF) |
