Lamont Research Professor
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Marine Geology and Geophysics
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Associate Director-Marine Geology and Geophysics
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
61 Route 9W - PO Box 1000
Fields of interest:
Development of theoretical models for processes that affect the solid earth.
My research interests lie in developing theoretical models for processes that affect the solid earth. Recently, my students and I have been creating computer models of mantle upwelling in the region of melting below a mid-ocean ridge and investigating how it leads to the structural and topographic features we observe on ridges.
We are also trying to understand how and why extension of the earth's crust occurs in such a wide variety of ways. In particular, I am interested in the effect of a weak lower crust on patterns of deformation that occur at the surface. For example, a weak lower crust may allow active normal faulting in the core of a mountain belt while thrusting occurs in the outer parts of the belt. My interests extend to deformation patterns and topography on other planets such as Venus, which has a very different style of tectonics than is seen on earth.
I believe theorists need to get out and see where the data come from. In recent years I have been fortunate to participate in such diverse field work as collecting rocksamples for radiometric dating in Egypt and in the Mojave Desert, diving on the Reykjanes Mid-Ocean Ridge in a Russian submersible, and helping with GPS surveys on Iceland.
Education List of degrees from highest to lowest:
Referenced in the Following News Items:
Featured in the Following Videos:
Selected Publications:
September 2005 mega-dike emplacement in the Manda-Harraro nascent oceanic rift (Afar depression) ,
Ayele, A; Keir, D: Ebinger, C; Wright, T J; Stuart, G W; Buck, W R; Jacques, E; Ogubazghi, G; Sholan, J , Geophys Res Letts, Volume 36, p.101029/2009GL039605, (2009)
Why meter-wide dikes at oceanic spreading centers? ,
Qin, R.; Buck, W. R. , Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Jan 30, Volume 265, Issue 3-4, p.466-474, (2008), DOI 10.1016/j.epsl.2007.10.044
Capturing magma intrusion and faulting processes during continental rupture: seismicity of the Dabbahu (Afar) rift ,
Ebinger, C. J.; Keir, D.; Ayele, A.; Calais, E.; Wright, T. J.; Belachew, M.; Hammond, J. O. S.; Campbell, E.; Buck, W. R. , Geophysical Journal International, Sep, Volume 174, Issue 3, p.1138-1152, (2008), DOI 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2008.03877.x
Role of melt supply in oceanic detachment faulting and formation of megamullions ,
Tucholke, B. E.; Behn, M. D.; Buck, W. R.; Lin, J. , Geology, Jun, Volume 36, Issue 6, p.455-458, (2008), Doi 10.1130/G24639a.1
Comment on "Mechanics of tidally driven fractures in Europa's ice shell" by S. Lee, R.T. Pappalardo, and N.C. Makris [2005. Icarus 177, 367-379] ,
Qin, R.; Buck, W. R.; Germanovich, L. , Icarus, Aug, Volume 189, Issue 2, p.595-597, (2007), DOI 10.1016/j.icarus.2007.01.013
Plateau collapse model for the transantarctic mountains-west Antarctic rift system: Insights from numerical experiments ,
Bialas, R. W.; Buck, W. R.; Studinger, M.; Fitzgerald, P. G. , Geology, Aug, Volume 35, Issue 8, p.687-690, (2007)
Control of rheological stratification on rifting geometry: a symmetric model resolving the upper plate paradox ,
Nagel, T. J.; Buck, W. R. , International Journal of Earth Sciences, Nov, Volume 96, Issue 6, p.1047-1057, (2007), DOI 10.1007/s00531-007-0195-x
Channel flow and the development of parallel-dipping normal faults ,
Nagel, T. J.; Buck, W. R. , Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, Aug 24, Volume 111, Issue B8, p.-, (2006), Doi 10.1029/2005jb004000
Crustal architecture of the Transantarctic Mountains between the Scott and Reedy Glacier region and South Pole from aerogeophysical data ,
Studinger, M.; Bell, R. E.; Fitzgerald, P. G.; Buck, W. R. , Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Oct 15, Volume 250, Issue 1-2, p.182-199, (2006), DOI 10.1016/j.epsl.2006.07.035
Flexing is not stretching: An analogue study of flexure-induced fault populations ,
Supak, S.; Bohnenstiehl, D. R.; Buck, W. R. , Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Jun 15, Volume 246, Issue 1-2, p.125-137, (2006), DOI 10.1016/j.epsl.2006.03.028
The rise and fall of axial highs during ridge jumps ,
Shah, A. K.; Buck, W. R. , Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, Aug 17, Volume 111, Issue B8, p.-, (2006), Doi 10.1029/2005jb003657
Tectonic stress and magma chamber size as controls on dike propagation: Constraints from the 1975-1984 Krafla rifting episode ,
Buck, W. R.; Einarsson, P.; Brandsdottir, B. , Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, Dec 9, Volume 111, Issue B12, p.-, (2006), Doi 10.1029/2005jb003879
Topographic controls on dike injection in volcanic rift zones ,
Behn, M. D.; Buck, W. R.; Sacks, I. S. , Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Jun 30, Volume 246, Issue 3-4, p.188-196, (2006), DOI 10.1016/j.epsl.2006.04.005
Effect of lithospheric geometry on rift valley relief ,
Qin, R.; Buck, W. R. , Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, Mar 19, Volume 110, Issue B3, p.-, (2005), Doi 10.1029/2004jb003411
Flexural uplift of a lithospheric slab near the Vema transform (Central Atlantic): Timing and mechanisms ,
Bonatti, E.; Brunelli, D.; Buck, W. R.; Cipriani, A.; Fabretti, P.; Ferrante, V.; Gasperini, L.; Ligi, M. , Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Dec 15, Volume 240, Issue 3-4, p.642-655, (2005), DOI 10.1016/j.epsl.2005.10.010
Modes of faulting at mid-ocean ridges ,
Buck, W. R.; Lavier, L. L.; Poliakov, A. N. B. , Nature, Apr 7, Volume 434, Issue 7034, p.719-723, (2005), Doi 10.1038/Nature03358
Sub-ice geology inland of the Transantarctic Mountains in light of new aerogeophysical data ,
Studinger, M.; Bell, R. E.; Buck, W. R.; Karner, G. D.; Blankenship, D. D. , Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Apr 15, Volume 220, Issue 3-4, p.391-408, (2004), Doi 10.1016/S0012-821x(04)00066-4
Symmetric alternative to asymmetric rifting models ,
Nagel, T. J.; Buck, W. R. , Geology, Nov, Volume 32, Issue 11, p.937-940, (2004), Doi 10.1130/G20785.1
A numerical model of lithospheric extension producing fault-bounded basins and ranges ,
Buck, W. R.; Lavier, L. L.; Babeyko, A. , International Geology Review, Aug, Volume 45, Issue 8, p.712-723, (2003)
Plate bending stresses at axial highs, and implications for faulting behavior ,
Shah, A. K.; Buck, W. R. , Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Jun 30, Volume 211, Issue 3-4, p.343-356, (2003), Doi 10.1016/S0012-821x(03)00187-0
Half graben versus large-offset low-angle normal fault: Importance of keeping cool during normal faulting ,
Lavier, L. L.; Buck, W. R. , Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, Jun, Volume 107, Issue B6, p.-, (2002), Doi 10.1029/2001jb000513
Near-axis subsidence rates, hydrothermal circulation, and thermal structure of mid-ocean ridge crests ,
Cochran, J. R.; Buck, W. R. , Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, Sep 10, Volume 106, Issue B9, p.19233-19258, (2001)
Factors controlling normal fault offset in an ideal brittle layer ,
Lavier, L. L.; Buck, W. R.; Poliakov, A. N. B. , Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, Oct 10, Volume 105, Issue B10, p.23431-23442, (2000)
The dynamics of extensional sedimentary basins: constraints from subsidence inversion - Discussion ,
Buck, W. R.; White, N.; Gallagher, K.; Watts, A. B.; McKenzie, D.; Kusznir, T.; Geli, L. , Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series a-Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences, Apr 15, Volume 357, Issue 1753, p.830-834, (1999)
How to make a rift wide ,
Buck, W. R.; Lavier, L. L.; Poliakov, A. N. B. , Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series a-Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences, Apr 15, Volume 357, Issue 1753, p.671-690, (1999)
Self-consistent rolling-hinge model for the evolution of large-offset low-angle normal faults ,
Lavier, L. L.; Buck, W. R.; Poliakov, A. N. B. , Geology, Dec, Volume 27, Issue 12, p.1127-1130, (1999)
Controls on extrusion at mid-ocean ridges ,
Buck, W. R.; Carbotte, S. M.; Mutter, C. , Geology, Oct, Volume 25, Issue 10, p.935-938, (1997)
Some Theoretical Predictions on the Relationships among Spreading Rate, Mantle Temperature, and Crustal Thickness ,
Su, W. S.; Mutter, C. Z.; Mutter, J. C.; Buck, W. R. , Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, Feb 10, Volume 99, Issue B2, p.3215-3227, (1994)
Fission-Track Analysis of Basement Apatites at the Western Margin of the Gulf-of-Suez Rift, Egypt - Evidence for Synchroneity of Uplift and Subsidence ,
Omar, G. I.; Steckler, M. S.; Buck, W. R.; Kohn, B. P. , Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Sep, Volume 94, Issue 3-4, p.316-328, (1989)
Convective Partial Melting .1. A Model for the Formation of Thick Basaltic Sequences during the Initiation of Spreading ,
Mutter, J. C.; Buck, W. R.; Zehnder, C. M. , Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth and Planets, Feb 10, Volume 93, Issue B2, p.1031-1048, (1988)
Thermal Consequences of Lithospheric Extension - Pure and Simple ,
Buck, W. R.; Martinez, F.; Steckler, M. S.; Cochran, J. R. , Tectonics, Apr, Volume 7, Issue 2, p.213-234, (1988)
Uplift and Subsidence of the Suez Rift - Constraints from Fission-Track Analysis and Sediment Backstripping ,
Steckler, M. S.; Omar, G. I.; Buck, W. R. , Aapg Bulletin-American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Aug, Volume 72, Issue 8, p.1025-1025, (1988)
