Professor John F. Rudge

Theoretical Geophysics, Geochemistry, and Petrology

My research interests encompass a broad spread of geophysics and geochemistry. I use techniques from continuum mechanics, numerical analysis and statistics to tackle a wide variety of problems in the Earth Sciences. Current topics of interest include:

• The dynamics of melt transport in Earth's mantle
• The evolution and differentiation of the Earth from its formation to the present day
• The surface expressions of mantle convection (dynamic topography)
• The growth and dynamics of Earth’s inner core
• The origin and evolution of mantle heterogeneity

Much of my current research is focused on the following questions:

• How does magma make its way from source to surface?
• How does a partially molten rock deform when stressed?
• How do different magmas mix and intermingle during their transport?
• What controls the location of volcanoes?
• How can the chemistry of surface rocks be used to place constraints on the workings of Earth’s deep interior?