Department of Earth Sciences

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

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

Earthquake Mechanics

In the earthquake mechanics group, we are interested in the physics of slip on faults: in why some faults slip slowly and steadily, others slip in large earthquakes, and still others slip in episodic

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tectonics of Asia

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

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

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

GGREW

The Greenhouse Gas Removal by Enhanced Weathering (GGREW) project is a multi-institutional project funded by the NERC-led "Greenhouse Gas Removal from the Atmosphere" programme. The project brings tog

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.

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

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;

Environmental Proxies In Karst

The Environmental Proxies In Karst group develops and applies proxies for understanding environmental processes in the top few tens of meters of the Earth’s surface. This small subset of the Earth�

Beneath Britain

About Beneath Britain is a joint initiative between UKOGL and the Department of Earth Sciences at Oxford, led by Malcolm Butler and Joe Cartwright. Its aim is to broaden the use of UKOGL’s databa

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

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

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

EMeRG - Eastern Mediterranean Research Group

This group comprises a multi-disciplinary approach to Eastern Mediterranean tectonics and basin evolution. Members in the department include: Claudia Bertoni Joe Cartwright Chris

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

Ocean Biogeochemistry - Oceanbug

Welcome to the Oxford OceanBug research page! OceanBug is the Oxford group based in the Earth Sciences department researching marine biogeochemistry. Our research interests span from developing i

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

Ocean Overturning

Could You Survive a Natural Disaster?

Climate Clues

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Research Groups