Joann M. Stock
Professor of Geology and Geophysics
Research Options
Research Areas
Ongoing Research in Tectonics
Joann Stock's research interests involve a wide range of tectonic problems, including global and regional plate tectonic questions, and geological and geophysical field studies related to plate boundary evolution.
Recent Ocean Drilling Projects
I sailed as a structural geologist on IODP Expedition 385 to the Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California (mid September to mid November 2019). We drilled numerous holes in young sediments for tectonics and geobiology studies. We just received our samples from the core repository and so I will be collaborating with other US and Mexican scientists on the correlation of ash layers and the core-log-seismic integration.
I sailed as co-chief scientist on IODP Expedition 367 to the South China Sea Rifted Margin (Feb. 9 to April 9, 2017). This was a two-expedition project, followed by Expedition 368 for the 2nd half of the work now. Due to mechanical problems during Expedition 368, one of the drill holes will be drilled this Nov.-Dec. 2018, to finish the data acquisition for the project. The recent publication with highlights of the results is Larsen et al., 2018.
Another Recent Marine Geophysics Project
I sailed on Marcus G. Langseth cruise 1803 in Feb. and March 2018, south of the South Island of New Zealand. The chief scientist, Dr. Michael Gurnis, is the lead investigator on the South Island Subduction Initiation Experiment (SISIE). We collected OBS and MCS seismic data as well as some gravity, magnetics, and multibeam bathymetry. This is a collaboration with scientists and students from UT Austin and Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand). Four Caltech students sailed on this cruise, and research is ongoing. Some results were presented by Gurnis et al. (2019) and Patel et al (2020).
Ongoing Geology Project
We have a collaboration with Seulgi Moon of UCLA and Arturo Martin of CICESE to study the process of continental microplate formation on Isla Angel de la Guarda, Gulf of California, Mexico. This involves field mapping of faults and faulted bedrock and terrace surfaces; OSL dating of the offset surfaces; and drone flights to collect air photos for use in constructing high resolution DEMs using structure-from-motion. Graduate student Leah Sabbeth from Caltech just finished her PhD on this project.
New Project with the Resnick Sustainability Initiative: Diffuse CO2 Emissions and Ecosystem Response at Costa Rican Volcanoes
This project is an interdisciplinary collaboration between Caltech and JPL for CO2/Lidar data collection and analysis examining spatial variations in diffuse emissions of carbon dioxide from volcanic areas in Costa Rica. The tropical CO2 fertilization effect is the single largest uncertainty in the terrestrial contribution to projections in climate. This pilot study will address how tropical ecosystems respond to increasing CO2, by surveying a modern ecosystem where local CO2 increases are measurable and can be related to vegetation response. We will also use the dataset for volcanic hazards studies to evaluate links between the observed pattern of CO2 variations and the tectonic structure and seismicity of the regions around the volcanoes. Initial data collection is scheduled for the next dry season - February/March 2021.
New SURF project
We are hoping to have a SURF student in summer 2021 to analyze thermal infrared hyperspectral data collected by The Aerospace Corporation along some active faults in southern California. This data was collected using the MAKO airborne sensor. This project will be available to US Citizens only.
Recent undergraduate projects on Tectonics of Venus
Two students in the Caltech WAVE program worked under my supervision in summer 2020 on projects related to the tectonics of Venus. I hope to be involved in similar opportunities for students in summer 2021 (US Citizens or permanent residents only).
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Note to undergraduate students interested in applying for summer internships:
I cannot take any new interns in the months of May or June. If you send me an email asking about this, I will know you have not read my web site.
If you are an undergraduate (NOT in a combined master's program) and you are available to come for an internship during the time of the Caltech SURF program (mid June to mid August) then you have to apply through the SURF program, WAVE program, or similar Caltech program in January or early February each year. Please see above for the likely SURF and WAVE opportunities that I expect to have in 2021.
Instructors: Avouac (a), Kirschvink (b), Stock (c)
Instructor: Stock
Instructor: Stock
Instructor: Stock
Instructor: Stock
Instructors: Lamb (a), Stock (b), Grotzinger (c)
Instructor: Stock
Instructor: Stock
Course Website: http://web.gps.caltech.edu/CITonly/classes/ge016
Instructor: Stock
Course Website: http://web.gps.caltech.edu/~jstock/161/index.html
Instructor: Stock