The departmental research interests fall under the general areas outlined below. In general, the research is interdisiplinary, collaborative, and employs techniques ranging from traditional field-based studies to advanced geochemical analytical work to sophisticated remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) analysis to advanced computer modelling of natural systems. Much of this work is carried out in recently renovated state-of-the-art laboratories for isotope geochemistry, remote sensing and GIS, hydrogeology, and paleomagnetics. You can get more information on many of the research facilities by clicking on the links below.

Geochemistry and Hydrogeology The department's isotope geochemistry and hydrogeology laboratories form the core of research programs that address a wide range of surface and subsurface processes. Research topics include weathering and soil formation as related to climate and paleoclimate, ground- water geochemistry as controlled by mineral reactions and reactants, the response of paleohydrologic systems to the Alleghanian Orogeny, the timing of Andean uplift and erosion as recorded in Amazon sediments, the petrogenisis of island arc igneous rocks in the Caribbean region, and the origin of kimberlites in Pennsylvania. Biogeochemistry Lab | Stable Isotope Lab | Hydrology Lab

Geographic Information Systems GIS research tools are used extensively in diverse fields such as geology, environmental hazard mitigation, archaeology, city and regional planning, national defense, economic market evaluation, and resource exploration. G&PS faculty offer several courses in GIS presenting a theoretical background and extensive hands-on experience with state-of-the-art software and techniques, leading to an undergraduate certificate. Faculty and students are actively involved in research utilizing these tools. Pro-M.S. Program | Remote Sensing Lab

Geophysics/Tectonics Major research projects involve the geological and chronological evolution of mountain belts, the response of continental crust to extension and strike-slip faulting, the assembly of accreted terranes, the tectonic history of the Appalachian Mountains, and the response of geologic fluids to the Alleghanian Orogeny . These multi-disciplinary studies involve aspects of structural geology, sedimentology and stratigraphy, geophysics, petrology, and remote sensing. Current field areas are located in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains, California, Alaska, the Caribbean, northern Mexico and Kamchatka. Paleomag Lab | Seismology Research

Sedimentology/Paleoclimatology Paleobiological and paleoclimatological research within the department includes field and lab studies to document and date late Quaternary climate changes from lake sediments and other terrestrial records. The emphasis is to identify lakes that contain high- resolution sediment records to investigate recent environmental change. The interdisciplinary nature of this ongoing research allows for a wide range of projects and collaborations with geologists, biologists, chemists, and archeologists in geographically diverse locations from the tropics to the arctic. Sedimentological Research | Paleoenvironmental Research

Planetary Science Planetary science has been a long- standing specialty of the department. The current research focus is on planetary surface processes and the tools needed to carry out those studies. Topics include studies of the Martian surface processes of lava/ice interaction, impact and volcanological cratering, and eolian transport. In addition, remote sensing research and spectroscopy centers on developing new image processing tools, theoretical modeling, laboratory experiments, and studies of terrestrial analog sites. Researchers in the Department are also involved in the NASA Astrobiology program, instrument design, and meteorite recovery from Antarctica. Planetary Science Lab (site under redesign)

Volcanology and Remote Sensing The primary research focii in remote sensing lies in thermal infrared remote sensing of volcanological processes, desertification, urban growth and geolgical mapping. The Department has a research focus in Volcanology dealing specifically with the detailed investigations of the linkage between the renewal of activity at an explosive volcano, and the ability of remote sensing to detect that activity and mitigate the resulting hazards. Of importance, are the tools and problems associated with monitoring a volcanic dome for explosive collapse. This work currently relies on field mapping, dGPS surveys, laboratory modeling and image visualization. Direct access to new ASTER spaceborne data (in addition to numerous other data sets) provides near-real time information for hundreds of volcanoes. Other volcanological research focii include the interaction of magma and water/ice/sediment, the evolution of basaltic sub-glacial volcanoes, and flood basalt volcanism on Earth and Mars. Volcanology Program | IVIS Remote Sensing Lab