|
Pakistan, 1995 |
Dr. Alan Whittington Department of Geological Sciences email: whittingtona@missouri.edu phone: +1 (573) 884-7625 |
Antarctica, 2003 |
Click here for information on the 9th Silicate Melts Workshop, October 4-8, 2011
Research:
I regard the combination of field- and lab-based studies as essential to much research in the geosciences. Doing both enhances my understanding of geological processes and increases my enjoyment of both kinds of work. My research has spanned crustal melting and granitic plutonism in orogenic belts; shallow basaltic sheet emplacement in sedimentary basins; measurements of the viscosity, other physical properties and thermodynamics of silicate liquids; metamorphic petrology in high-grade metamorphic rocks.
Research field areas to date include the western Himalaya, Antarctica, the Rocky Mountains, Brazil and Guatemala. Current projects include the rheology and thermodynamics of volatile-bearing arc magmas, experimental astromineralogy, thermal budget of incrementally assembled plutons, and the rheology of basaltic lava flows - please contact me for more information.
Recent and ongoing projects include:
•
NSF CAREER award: Enhancing Thermodynamic Applications and Learning in Petrology
(EnThALPy) *
• Rheology
of dacite-rhyodacite block and ash "stealth" flows: Santiaguito
Dome, Guatemala *
• Transport properties of silicate glasses,
liquids and magmas *
• Intrusive Architecture and Flow Directiions
in the Ferrar Large Igneous Province, Southern Victoria Land *
• Crustal
contamination of basaltic magma / Emplacement of magma at Spanish Peaks, Colorado
**
* funded
by the NSF
** funded by the MU Research Council and University of Missouri Research
Board
Techniques:
• Field observations
and measurements (Himalaya, Brazil, Antarctica, USA, Guatemala, etc.). My favorite
kind of work.
• Viscometry: we have both concentric cylinder and parallel plate viscometers
to measure viscosity at high and low temperatures, from ~1 to 105 Pas and from ~108 to 1013 Pas, and a high temperature (1700°C) muffle furnace for sample synthesis
• Differential Scanning Calorimetry: we have a new high-temperature Differential Scanning Calorimeter / Drop Calorimeter, capable of enthalpy and heat capacity measurements to 1300°C
• Thermal diffusivity: in collaboration with Anne Hofmeister, at Washington
University (St. Louis)
• Infrared spectroscopy of circumstellar dust shells: in collaboration with Angela Speck, MU Physics and Astronomy
• Thinking (generally under-rated)
More information (and pictures) for specific research projects available here
Teaching:
links to syllabi for most recent semester
GEOL 1100 Principles of Geology - Fall 2005
GEOL 1200 Environmental Geology - Spring 2003
GEOL 1400 Themes in Geology: "Natural Disasters" - Fall 2008
GEOL 2500 Regional Geology Field Trip - Spring 2013
GEOL 3300 Introduction to Geochemistry - Fall 2011
GEOL 4180 / 7180 Solar System Science - Fall 2013
GEOL 4700 / 7700 Theoretical Geochemistry - Fall 2006
GEOL 4900 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology - Spring 2013
GEOL 4992 Field Camp (hard rock week) - Summer 2013
GEOL 8085 Problems (seminar classes):
- Spring 2003 Mafic Dike Emplacement
- Fall 2004 Physics and Chemistry of Silicate Liquids
GEOL 8140 Metamorphic Petrology - Spring 2009
GEOL 8160 Igneous Petrology - Fall 2013
GEOL 8750 Silicate Glasses, Liquids and Magmas - Fall 2012
Cosmic Conversations - monthly public lecture series on astronomy, including scientific and cultural issues
Saturday Morning Science - for those who just don't get enough science during the week...
American Geological Institute guide to Geoscience Careers
Geological photos:
St. Francois Mountains Petrology field trip to south-east Missouri, March 2011
Pictures from previous years:
| 2008 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 |
Guatemalan Volcanoes
Above: Looking south from the summit of Santa Maria (3772 m) towards Santiaguito (~2600 m)
Other things:
Weather in Columbia, MO |
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