Louise H. Kellogg
Professor of Geophysics
Department of Geology
University of California
Davis, CA 95616
e-mail: kellogg (at) ucdavis.edu
Curriculum
vitae | Research
Interests | Research Group | Classes
Computational Infrastructure for
Geodynamics
W.M. Keck Center for
Active Visualization in Earth Sciences (KeckCAVES)
Curriculum
Vitae
Publications
My Research
The primary focus of my research is on understanding the flow in the
Earth's mantle that drives plate tectonics, and observing and
interpreting
deformation in the Earth's crust.
Within these broad catagories are a variety of projects:
Mantle convection: At the
elevated
pressures and temperatures in the Earth's deep interior, rock responds
to stress by slow, creeping flow. This flow drives plate tectonics,
mountain building, earthquakes, and volcanic activity. Because the
mantle is inaccessible to direct observation, we must use a variety of
remote techniques and
modeling to study mantle convection. At U.C.Davis, we use numerical
methods to
model aspects of mantle convection.
Earthquake Physics and Crustal
deformation : Understanding
the behavior
of the crust is essential to assessing seismic hazard of faults. It is
important to know, for instance, what deformation takes place during
the
years between earthquakes on
seismogenic
faults. Yet, because large earthquakes occur relatively infrequently
and
because the rate of motion is small, the earthquake cycle remains
poorly
understood. Using space-based methods such as Global
Positioning System (GPS), it has recently become possible to
measure
small motions in the Earth's crust inexpensively and quickly. Combining
geodetic measurements with numerical modeling of deformation in the
crust
is enabling us to understand the way faults behave and how they
interact.
Visualization
of
geoscience
data in an immersive environment: We are developing
methods of interactive visualization, with a special focus on using
immersive virtual reality (VR) environments to interact with models of
Earth’s surface and interior. Virtual mapping tools allow virtual
“field studies” in regions that are inaccessible to human geologists.
Interactive tools allow us to manipulate shapes, while feature
extraction tools support quantitative measurement of structures that
emerge from numerical simulation. Visualizing stress and strain in
high-resolution computer simulations of elastic-plastic deformation
improves our interpretation of the dynamical processes that drive
earthquakes. Reaping the full intellectual benefits of immersive VR
requires us to tailor our approach to scientific problems that build on
the visualization method's strengths, including both 3D perception and
interaction with data and models, to take advantage of the skills and
training of the geological scientists exploring their data in the VR
environment. In doing so, we are developing a suite of tools that
areadaptable to a range of problems.
- The Geology Graduate Program at U.C. Davis is always
looking for
good students.
- Click here
for information on how to apply to graduate school at U. C. Davis.
- Or here
for
the
UCDavis online graduate admissions application.
- Click here
to find out about the research of other Geology
faculty at U. C. Davis.
Teaching
- Winter 2010: GEL 217:
Topics in Geophysics
- Spring 2010: GEL 17 Earthquakes and Volcanoes
Arts collaboration
COLLAPSE:
Suddenly
Falling
Down, a performance at the Mondavi
Center by Della
Davidson's SideShow
Physical
Theater featuring a unique Art-Science-Technology
collaboration, October-November 2007
This performance was part of the Mondavi Center's 2007 Creativity
Project.
June
8, 2007, report in Dateline
October
12,
2007,
report Dateline
Podcast
by
Della
Davidson
Sideshow
Physical
Theater
Review in the
Sacramento Bee
A few other activities
CSEDI
Science
Plan
CIDER
Arts events in Davis and Winters
Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center
for the Performing Arts
The Palms Public Playhouse
Pamela Trokanski Dance Workshop and
Theatre
Women in Science
20th Century Women in
Physics
Status of Women in
Geosciences
National Academy of
Sciences Committee on Women in Science and Engineering
Favorite Modern Dance Companies:
Merce Cunningham
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance
Company
Mark Morris Dance Group
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Sideshow
Physical
Theater
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