Current Research:
Hotspots and their associated volcanic chains have been amongst the most convincing observations supporting the plate tectonic theory and have fundamental implications for understanding past plate motions and mantle geodynamics. My research encompasses many aspects in this broad field, ranging from 40Ar/39Ar geochronology and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope geochemistry of hotspot volcanism to the modeling of absolute plate motions and the possible motion of hotspots. It now can been shown that motions between hotspots are necessary for explaining the observed ages in seamount trails and that lithospheric extension may be important as a secondary process in other cases.
Since 1999 I also has been active as the webmaster for the http://earthref.org website, where we make available online databases containing large amounts of scientific data for geochemistry, paleo- and rock magnetism, seamount research and education.
I earned my M.Sc. degree (1993) and Ph.D. degree (1998) in the Earth Sciences at the Free University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Before joining COAS, I worked for 9 years at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla.
For a detailed curriculum vitae and my latest publications, please visit my Personal Web Page ...
For info about 40Ar/39Ar geochronology at COAS, please visit the Noble Gas Mass Spectrometry Lab web page ...
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