Physical Oceanography

The Physical Oceanography group uses analytical theory, numerical models and ocean observations to understand the circulation of the oceans and their role in the climate system. It includes scientists

Mineral Chemistry

Reactions at the mineral-fluid interface control the rates of almost all geochemical reactions. These reactions determine the rates of geochemical mass transport at both low and high temperatures and

Stratigraphy and Sedimentology

Stratigraphy and sedimentology are fundamental to our understanding of Earth history because sedimentary strata form the principal archive of past events, climates and environments. Research in Oxford

Marine Geology and Geophysics

We are an active group interested in the structure and evolution of the world's ocean basins and their margins. To date, we have participated in ten research cruises on the RRS Charles Darwin, RRS

Hard Rock

Oxford's Hard Rock Group studies the structural and metamorphic geology of the Earth’s crust and its mineral resources. We address problems in tectonics and the origin of ore deposits through the a

Volcanology and Igneous Petrology

Oxford is a leading centre for research in volcanology. Much of our work builds on collaborations with researchers in the UK, Europe and beyond. Within Oxford, volcanology is an important component of

Shell-Oxford Research Collaboration

Shell and Oxford University signed a major collaborative research agreement in 2012 in which Shell generously undertook to support fundamental research into the deposition, diagenesis, deformation and

Earthquake Geology and Geodesy

We investigate deformation of the continents from the scale of individual earthquakes to entire mountain belts, from seconds to millennia. Our group focuses on remote sensing techniques to detect c

Isotopes and Climate

Our Group uses isotope geochemistry to study the surface environment of the Earth, both now and in the past. Our Research has a broad focus. We are interested in what drives natural climate change;

Oxford Biological Oceanography

Our research team studies the microscopic flora of the oceans (phytoplankton) which account for half of the photosynthesis on our planet and provide the base of the marine food chain.  Our group inve

Cosmotope

We use the stable isotope geochemistry of transition metals to investigate the origins of planets and to understand the processes and conditions under which the Earth developed and operates today.

Geodynamics

The FoaLab is a group of researchers and students working together to elucidate geophysical processes involving fluid mechanics and phase changes. Our research interests include magma/mantle dynamics

Ocean Biogeochemical Modeling

We use numerical models, mathematical theory and analysis of data to study the ocean's carbon cycle and its interaction with physical circulation and climate. Our research ranges from exploiting obser

Ocean Biogeochemistry - Oceanbug

OceanBug is the Oxford group researching marine biogeochemistry, comprising interests that span from developing inventive ways to reconstruct oceans of the past, to understanding adaptation of organis

Vertebrate Palaeobiology

Vertebrates play key ecological roles in virtually all Earth's surface environments today, and have a rich fossil record spanning more than 500 million years of deep time. Vertebrate Palaeobiology res

Seismology

Welcome! We perch so thin and fragile here upon the land And the earth that moves beneath us, we don't understand Justin Sullivan We work on various interesting aspects of seismology

Palaeomagnetism and Rock Magnetism

Our Research in the Palaeomagnetism and Rock Magnetism Group at the University of Oxford addresses a broad spectrum of the Earth Sciences. The laboratory was set up in the Department of Earth Sciences

Rock Rheology

The Rock Rheology Lab in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford uses laboratory-based experiments to learn about the manner in which rocks deform. We are interested in a wide ran

Noble Lab

Our group uses the unique properties of the noble gases (helium, neon, argon, krypton and xenon) to understand the role that fluids and gases play in geological systems. The noble gas abundance and

Experimental Petrology

Experimental petrology is a field of research concerned with experimentally determining the physical and chemical behaviour of rocks and their constituents. Since the Earth's mantle and core are no

Tectonics of Asia

Research projects include: Oman Mountains and the Arabian plate Himalaya Karakoram and Tibet Southeast Asia Scotland