Blair Professor of Geology

PhD., 1969

Our research focuses on determining the fundamental mechanisms of deformation in the upper crust. Major themes include special emphasis on the large-scale folding mechanisms, the role of large earthquakes as the quanta of upper crustal structural geology and field study of on regions of active deformation, such as the Tien-Shan of western China, southern California and Taiwan.

We survey young deforming strata in regions where we also have excellent control on deep subsurface structure from seismic images and field data to get an understanding of how structures grow incrementally on a geomorphic timescale and on the timescale of single large earthquakes, such as the classic M7.8 Chi-Chi thrust-belt earthquake in Taiwan.  To help in this we have developed methods of imaging active faults in 3D using the thousands of small earthquakes that illuminate some faults.  For example this allowed us to image for the first time the main detachment of the Taiwan mountain belt and thereby test theories of the large-scale structure and mechanics of this mountain belt and to understand why the San Andreas fault disappears in part of southern California. 

At the same time we are developing new theories and techniques for analyzing the growth of active folds. Currently we are working on detachment folding (with examples from the Tian Shan, Nankai Trough, offshore Oregon and Niger delta) and shear fault-bend folding (with examples from Nankai trough, Cascadia, western Taiwan and southern California).  At a finer scale we are surveying and dating fold scarps and fault scarps, which are often the locus of incremental surface deformation in large earthquakes, and developing theories of their progressively changing shapes which is giving a deep understanding of how large structures grow through the summation of many large earthquakes.

In addition to it is focus on active fundamental processes in structural geology, our work has important applications to petroleum structural geology and earthquake hazard assessment.

To Suppe's WEB

Master in Art, Princeton University 2004

I am interested in thrust tectonic and how we can  integrate different data set such as remote sensor, field data, seismicity, and seismic profiles to understand regional and local aspects of the kinematic and dynamic deformation. Also I am interested in how detail analysis  of seismic or surface images can help us to understand  the deformation process  occurred into simple structures as a detachment folds or other fault related fold.
Furthermore my interest involves quantitative and qualitative information from remote sensing to mapping and interpreting structures.

Master in Geology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 1997. Master in Art, Princeton University 2004

My research is focused on relationship between fault models and earthquakes. Due to heavy seismic activities, two areas on both sides of the pacific are chosen; one is Taiwan mainly about Chi-Chi earthquake and the other is Southern California. In both cases show that fault models constructed from surface and subsurface data indeed control the deformation  observed near the surface.

PhD.,1996, Graduate School of Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, Beijing, P.R. China

Researcher of the Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development,
PetroChina Limited Company, Beijing, P.R. China

My research focuses on the dynamics formation of sedimentary basins, the deformation of foreland fold and thrust belts, and the key controls of tectonics on the distribution of oil and gas in the Central and Western China. I make use of the 2D & 3D seismic data, the gravitational data, the magnetic data, and the field data to interpret the structures and reconstruct the evolution of structures that may be oil and gas traps. At present, I am interested in the fold and thrust structures on the northern boundary of Qinhai-Tibet Plateau, and the transpressional structures in the southern Jungar Basin.

PhD., 1998, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris

my research involves seismotectonic, geomorphology, structural geology and stress modelling.

I have been working at the interface of structural geology, geomorphology and earthquake geology to study the evolution of the North Anatolian Fault (Turkey) and the Tian Shan Mountain Range (China), in addition my research is also focus on stress transfer (Coulomb criterion) to model short-term change in seismicity and the kinematics of the deformation processes over the long-term. This approach can also give some clues on the deformation mechanics of the lithosphere. To My WEB
 

PhD., 2003, Princeton University

 My research interest is focus on 3-D imaging of geological structures, tectonics of mountain belts, problems whose solution requires combining tools and methods of both seismology and structural geology. to My Web

Professor, Zhejiang University, China

PhD., 1988, Nanjing University, China

My research is concentrated in the structure of the southern Tian Shan, with Prof. Suppe .  We use data of seismic lines, wells, remote sense, and surface field to understand the geometry, kinematic,  and dynamic evolution of the Cenozoic deformation of the southern Tian Shan.
 

Students,  some Former PhD Students and Post-doctoral fellows of John Suppe, Photo 2005