Geodetic Monitoring of the Earth - Student Research Opportunities

Numerical modelling of tectonic processes in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is a very complex tectonic region comprising up to 5 tectonic plates, every possible type of plate boundary zone and at least three known strain accumulation zones resulting from plate collisions. The Geodynamics Group at the Research School of Earth Sciences has been involved in measuring the present-day tectonic motion in Papua New Guinea.

Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements since 1990 have been used to derived a velocity field which describes the movement of the major plates, while ongoing GPS observations on dense geodetic networks in strain accumulation zones will provide additional information on the discrete collisions at some plate boundaries.

Figure 1 shows a tectonic plate configuration model of Papua New Guinea. Observed GPS site velocities are plotted. Coloured regions indicate areas assigned to different tectonic entities.

Background

The student will require a strong mathematical background with an interest in Earth processes and numerical modelling. Since the project could involve some GPS fieldwork and analysis, a geodetic background would be useful but is not essential.

Project Type

The project will involve synthesizing all known geologic and geodetic information to generate numerical models for the present-day tectonic motion in Papua New Guinea. This will involve reconciling the measured surface velocities with the topographic landforms and tectonic features.

Last modified: 2000 August 21 pault@rses.anu.edu.au