Dr. Joann Stock: Scientific Interests and Approaches

Dr. Stock's major research interests are in tectonics and plate motions. Her research on the Pacific/North America plate boundary in the Gulf of California has involved on-land studies on both sides of the Gulf of California, and marine geophysical studies of the Gulf basins. The on-land studies include detailed field mapping, volcanic stratigraphy, argon geochronology, and paleomagnetic measurements on the late Miocene and Pliocene volcanic rocks that were deformed during rifting. Her research on global plate motions has aimed at solving problems in regional plate tectonics (such as missing or previously unidentified fossil plate boundaries) by doing geophysical surveys of selected areas in the southern Oceans. These results provide important independent information on the history of Pacific/North America plate motion by providing constraints on the global plate circuit.