Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
MBARI Research
Marine Geology research at MBARI

Marine geologists at MBARI study geologic processes and geologic features that occur in the ocean.

Some specific areas of research include:

Undersea volcanoes and seamounts

MBARI geologist David Clague studies undersea volcanoes, trying to find out how they evolve over time and where their lava comes from.
    MBARI principal investigator in this field:
    David Clague (Geologist)
Undersea hydrothermal vents

MBARI geologist David Clague studies the geologic and chemical processes that occur around deep-sea hydrothermal vents, where superheated water flows out of the seafloor.
    MBARI principal investigator in this field:
    David Clague (Geologist)
Submarine canyons

MBARI geologists Charles Paull and Gary Greene (retired) study submarine canyons, trying to figure out how they form, and how much sediment and organic material they carry into the deep sea.
    MBARI principal investigator in this field:
    Charles Paull (Geologist)
Methane in seafloor sediment

MBARI geologists Charles Paull and Bill Ussler study how methane (natural gas) forms and moves within seafloor sediments.
    MBARI principal investigator in this field:
    Charles Paull (Geologist)
Undersea faults and earthquakes
Some MBARI geologists study undersea geologic faults—places where rocks in the Earth's crust slide past one another. Sometimes this sliding produces undersea earthquakes, which damage structures on land and can also cause tsunamis (popularly known as "tidal waves").
    MBARI principal investigator in this field:
    Gary Greene (Geologist)
Undersea landslides

Although infrequent, undersea landslides can cause large tsunamis that pose a serious hazard to many coastal areas.
Last updated: Jun. 23, 2008