Scientific Disciplines
Our Research
We investigate the geological processes that govern Earth's oceans and crust — from the dynamics of tectonic plates to the chemistry of deep-sea hydrothermal systems. Our work spans field expeditions, laboratory analysis, and computational modeling.
Marine Geology & Seafloor Processes
Our marine geology program focuses on the geological evolution of ocean basins, including mid-ocean ridge systems, seamount chains, and passive continental margins. We deploy multibeam sonar, ROV systems, and sediment coring equipment to characterize seafloor morphology and stratigraphy at high resolution. Current research targets the Southwest Indian Ridge and Central Pacific seamount provinces.
Methods
How do spreading rate and mantle composition control the architecture of mid-ocean ridge systems?
Tectonic & Structural Geology
Our tectonic research integrates seismic tomography, GPS geodesy, and structural field mapping to understand how tectonic plates interact at convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries. Active projects monitor the Cascadia subduction zone and the Northern Andes, providing critical data for seismic hazard assessment and long-term deformation modeling.
Methods
What controls the spatial and temporal distribution of interseismic coupling along subduction margins?
Hydrothermal Vents & Geochemistry
Hydrothermal vents are windows into Earth's interior and oases of life in the deep ocean. Our geochemistry team analyzes vent fluid compositions, mineral precipitates, and water column anomalies to quantify heat and chemical fluxes at mid-ocean ridges. This work informs global models of ocean chemistry, rare earth element cycling, and the limits of life in extreme environments.
Methods
How do ultra-slow spreading rates alter the geochemical signature and biological productivity of hydrothermal systems?
Paleoclimate & Deep-Sea Sedimentology
Deep-sea sediment cores preserve a continuous record of past ocean conditions, ice volume, and atmospheric composition stretching back millions of years. Our sedimentology program recovers and analyzes cores from the South Atlantic and Western Pacific, using isotope stratigraphy, micropaleontology, and grain-size analysis to reconstruct past climate states and ocean circulation patterns.
Methods
How did deep-water circulation in the South Atlantic respond to abrupt climate transitions during the Pleistocene?
Our Scientific Approach
Every OERI research program integrates field observation, laboratory analysis, and quantitative modeling. We believe that the most durable scientific insights emerge from the intersection of disciplines — where marine geology meets geochemistry, and where field data meets computational simulation.
Field Expeditions
Direct observation and sample collection from the most remote geological environments on Earth.
Laboratory Analysis
State-of-the-art geochemical, isotopic, and sedimentological analysis at our Tortola facility.
Computational Modeling
Numerical models that translate field and laboratory data into testable predictions about Earth system behavior.
Open Data
All OERI datasets are archived and made available to the global research community following publication.
Explore Our Active Projects
See how our research disciplines translate into ongoing fieldwork and laboratory investigations.
View Projects