Paula Koelemeijer

Paula Koelemeijer

Associate Professor of Geophysics

As a seismologist I am interested in using seismic waves to understand the world around us, ranging from planetary-scale processes to social seismology. I find it fascinating that the tiny signals recorded at the Earth’s surface allow us to answer fundamental questions about its deep interior, and yet also provide detailed information about human and animal behaviour. To be able to work on such a wide range of applications, I collaborate intensively with geodynamicists and mineral physicists, as well as zoologists and computer scientists. I do not limit myself to particular techniques or methodologies, but aim to use the best tools and data to answer particular research questions.

Research interests

Seismology:

  • Seismological observations
  • Seismic tomography
  • Normal modes
  • Interferometry
  • Seismic noise
  • Uncertainty quantification
  • Inverse methods

Deep Earth structure and dynamics:

  • Seismic observations
  • Imaging thermal and compositional anomalies
  • Linking seismology with mineral physics and geodynamics

Social seismology:

  • Seismic anthropology
  • Impact of COVID-19 on seismic noise
  • Seismic signals of elephant behaviours

Please see my publications or personal website for more information on these research topics.

Research opportunities

Opportunities for PhD studies are generally advertised in December for a start in the next academic year, with the application deadlines typically in January. Applications are primarily invited through the Oxford Doctoral Training Programme.

Researchers looking for postdoctoral opportunities should get in touch to discuss project ideas and funding opportunities. I have ample experience with fellowship and funding applications and can provide advice. It is wise to start discussions early (a year or more in advance) due to funder deadlines.

Undergraduate or other students, looking for a MSc project or a short-term research experience in seismology, please get in touch with me and we can discuss possible projects.

Teaching:

In the Earth Sciences department I teach on undergraduate courses such as “Mathematics for Earth Sciences, “Planet Earth” and “Geophysics of the Deep Earth (seismology)”. As Tutorial Fellow Exeter College I also teach undergraduates in various topics.

  • Richards, F.D., M.J. Hoggard, S. Ghelichkhan, P. Koelemeijer & H.C.P. Lau (2023). Geodynamic, geodetic, and seismic constraints favour deflated and dense-cored LLVPs. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., vol. 602, 117964, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl/2022/117964. Online
  • Koelemeijer, P. (2021). Towards consistent seismological models of the core-mantle boundary landscape. AGU monograph “Mantle Convection and Surface Expressions”, edited by Marquardt, Ballmer, Cottaar & Konter, Chapter 9, pp. 229-255, doi:10.1002/9781119528609.ch9. Online
  • Lecocq, T., S. Hicks, K. Van Noten, K. van Wijk, P. Koelemeijer, R.S.M. De Plaen, F. Massin, G. Hillers et al. (2020). Global quieting of high-frequency seismic noise due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdown measures. Science, Vol. 369(6509), 1338–1343, doi:10.1126/science.abd2438. Online
  • Koelemeijer, P., A. Deuss & J. Ritsema (2017). Density structure of Earth’s lowermost mantle from Stoneley mode splitting observations. Nature Comm., Vol. 8, 15241, doi:10.1038/ncomms15241. Online
  • Koelemeijer, P., J. Ritsema, A. Deuss & H.-J. Van Heijst (2016). SP12RTS: a degree-12 model of shear- and compressional-wave velocity for Earth’s mantle. Geophys. J. Int., Vol. 204(2), 1024-1039, doi:10.1093/gji/ggv481. Online
  • Restelli, F.**, C. Zaroli & P. Koelemeijer (2024). Robust estimates of the ratio between S- and P-wave velocity anomalies in the Earth’s mantle using normal modes. Phys. Earth. Planet. Int., vol. 347, 107135, doi: 10.1016/j.pepi.2023.107135. Online.
  • Trautner, V.E.**, S. Stackhouse, A. Turner*, P. Koelemeijer, D.R. Davies, A.S.J. Mendez, N. Satta, A. Kurnosov, H.-P. Liermann & H. Marquardt (2023). Compressibility of ferropericlase at high-temperature: evidence for the iron spin crossover in seismic tomography. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., vol. 618, 119296, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118296. Online
  • Richards, F.D., M.J. Hoggard, S. Ghelichkhan, P. Koelemeijer & H.C.P. Lau (2023). Geodynamic, geodetic, and seismic constraints favour deflated and dense-cored LLVPs. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., vol. 602, 117964, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl/2022/117964. Online
  • Restelli, F.**, P. Koelemeijer & A.M.G. Ferreira (2022). Normal mode observability of radial anisotropy in the Earth’s mantle. Geophys. J. Int., vol. 233, is. 1, 663-679, doi:10.1093/gji/ggac474. Online
  • A.T. Ringler, R E. Anthony, R.C. Aster, C.J. Ammon, S. Arrowsmith, H. Benz, C. Ebeling, A. Frassetto, W.-Y. Kim, P. Koelemeijer, H.C P. Lau, V. Lekic, J.P. Montagner, P.G. Richards, D. P. Schaff, M. Vallee & W. Yeck (2022). Achievements and Prospects of Global Broadband Seismographic Networks after 30 Years of Continuous Geophysical Observations. Reviews of Geophysics, doi:10.1029/2021RG000749. Online
  • Robson, A.J.S., H.C.P. Lau, P. Koelemeijer & B. Romanowicz (2022). An analysis of core-mantle boundary Stoneley mode sensitivity and sources of uncertainty. Geophys. J. Int., Vol. 228(3), 1962-1974, doi:10.1093/gji/ggab448. Online
  • Cottaar, S. & P. Koelemeijer (2021). The interior of Mars revealed (Perspective). Science, Vol. 373(6553), 388-389, doi:doi:10.1126/science.abj8914. Online
  • Koelemeijer, P. (2021). Towards consistent seismological models of the core-mantle boundary landscape. AGU monograph “Mantle Convection and Surface Expressions”, edited by Marquardt, Ballmer, Cottaar & Konter, Chapter 9, pp. 229-255, doi:10.1002/9781119528609.ch9. Online
  • Koelemeijer, P. & J. Winterbourne (2021). 3D printing the world: developing geophysical teaching material and outreach packages. Frontiers in Earth Science, Vol. 9, doi:10.3389/feart.2021.669095. Online
  • Carlos A.M.C., J. Ritsema & P. Koelemeijer (2020). Comparing ray-theoretical and finite-frequency teleseismic traveltimes: implications for constraining the ratio of S-wave to P-wave velocity variations in the lower mantle. Geophys. J. Int., Vol. 224(3), 1540-1552, doi:10.1093/gji/ggaa534. Online
  • Lecocq, T., S. Hicks, K. Van Noten, K. van Wijk, P. Koelemeijer, R.S.M. De Plaen, F. Massin, G. Hillers et al. (2020). Global quieting of high-frequency seismic noise due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdown measures. Science, Vol. 369(6509), 1338–1343, doi:10.1126/science.abd2438. Online
  • Jones, T., R. Maguire, P. van Keken, J. Ritsema & P. Koelemeijer (2020). Subducted oceanic crust as the origin of seismically slow lower mantle structures. Progress in Earth and Planetary Science, Vol. 7, 17, doi:10.1186/s40645-020-00327-1. Online
  • Koelemeijer, P., B.S.A. Schuberth, D.R. Davies, A. Deuss & J. Ritsema (2018). Constraints on the presence of post-perovskite in Earth’s lowermost mantle from tomographic-geodynamic model comparisons. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., Vol. 494, 226-238, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2018.04.056. Online
  • Mortimer, B., W. Rees, P. Koelemeijer & T. Nissen-Meyer (2018). Classifying elephant behaviour through seismic vibrations. Current Biology, Vol. 28, R547-R548, doi:10.1016/j.cub.2018.03.062. Online
  • Zaroli, C., P. Koelemeijer & S. Lambotte (2017). Toward seeing the Earth’s interior through unbiased tomographic lenses. Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 44, doi:10.1002/2017GL074996. Online
  • Koelemeijer, P., A. Deuss & J. Ritsema (2017). Density structure of Earth’s lowermost mantle from Stoneley mode splitting observations. Nature Comm., Vol. 8, 15241, doi:10.1038/ncomms15241. Online
  • Koelemeijer, P., J. Ritsema, A. Deuss & H.-J. Van Heijst (2016). SP12RTS: a degree-12 model of shear- and compressional-wave velocity for Earth’s mantle. Geophys. J. Int., Vol. 204(2), 1024-1039, doi:10.1093/gji/ggv481. Online
  • Koelemeijer, P., A. Deuss & J. Ritsema (2013). Observations of core-mantle boundary Stoneley modes.
  • Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 40 (11), 2557-2561, doi:10.1002/grl.50514. Online
  • Soldati, G., P.J. Koelemeijer, L. Boschi & A. Deuss (2013). Constraints on core-mantle boundary topography from normal mode splitting. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, Vol. 14(5), 1333-1342, doi:10.1002/ggge.20115. Online
  • Koelemeijer, P.J., A. Deuss & J. Trampert (2012). Normal mode sensitivity to 2012 Earth’s D” layer and topography on the core-mantle boundary: What we can and cannot see. Geophys. J. Int., Vol. 190(1), 553-568, doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.2012.05499.x. Online
  • Koelemeijer, P.J., C.J. Peach & C.J. Spiers (2012). Surface diffusivity of cleaved NaCl crystals as a function of humidity: Impedance spectroscopy measurements and implications for crack healing in rocksalt. J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 117, B01205, doi:10.1029/2011JB008627. Online
    ** = PhD student, * = MSc student under my (co-)supervision