The Basin Fill Group members study sedimentary processes in both modern and ancient sedimentary systems to quantify earth surface processes through deep time and inform how they are preserved and identified in the stratigraphic record.
The group has a wide range of skills that combine to produce a cohesive approach to understanding earth surface processes, their impact on sediment dispersal and their resultant control on stratigraphy. This approach gives an improved insight into sedimentary processes in the rock record through the creation of testable, quantitative predictive models.
Research highlights include:
- novel approaches to understanding controls on sediment accumulation and dispersal from continental to deep water systems
- high resolution climatic reconstructions that give important insights into key periods of environmental and atmospheric change in Earth’s history
- reconstruction of shallow crustal stress history and shallow hazard potential through sediment burial and remobilisation
- changes in sea water chemistry through deep time
The group continues to develop it’s active research themes including developing novel technologies for high-resolution in situ analysis of enhanced oil recovery in porous media. Deep biosphere research success uses combinations of S-isotopes, fluid inclusion and thermal modelling to track bio-colonization of impact sites, and organic chemical traces to track microbial life in hydrothermal systems.
Opportunities for PhD research are numerous, with funding for UK nationals available through Aberdeen’s involvement in the NERC Oil and Gas doctoral training centre, as well as other opportunities. The PhD cohort in the department is large and multi-national. If you are interested in studying a PhD please follow the information and guidelines on the PhD opportunities page.