Michael Halford Taylor
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - GeologyRoom 114
Geography and culture, Tibetan plateau
Education
Ph.D., Geology, University of California, Los Angeles
M.S., Geology, University of California, Los Angeles
B.S., Geology, University of North Carolina
Teaching Interests
- Structural Geology
- Field Mapping
- Neotectonics
- Tibet
- Himalaya
Research
I am first and foremost a field geologist. My research focus lies in understanding the processes associated with deformation of the continental lithosphere, and is firmly grounded in the acquisition of field-based observational data. Because orogenic belts span vast areas, remote sensing is required to accurately portray the behavior of an actively deforming mountain range. The integration of field observations, structural analysis, cosmogenic dating, remote sensing, and space geodesy to quantify fault system behavior over various time scales comprises the core of my research. My PhD research has focused on the Himalaya-Karakoram-Tibet collision zone and addresses four highly debated topics regarding the deformation of continents: 1) The relationship between the present day and ancient kinematics of the Tibetan orogen, 2) testing models of intracontinental deformation: microplate vs. thin-viscous sheet, 3) The function of strike-slip faulting during orogenesis, and 4) the mechanics of conjugate strike-slip faults.
Research Interests
- Geometry, kinematics, and earthquake potential for active fault systems
- Mechanics of continental deformation with emphasis on the Himalaya, Tibet, and the Andes
