Geological Oceanography

This Section includes research into the geological structure, topography and overlying sediments of the sea floor and insights into plate tectonic processes and history, ocean and climate evolution, and ocean and coastal processes utilising geophysical methods, satellite observation, scientific drilling and coastal geological observations.

COASTAL GEOMORPHOLOGY
Topics include rocky shorelines and their differential erosion based on different rock types; barrier islands and other kinds of beaches in relation to changing sea level; tide-water deltas and their progradation in relation to storm events and sea level; mud flats and prevention of erosion by growth of mangrove plantings; and formation of coastal dunes related to seasonal wind patterns.

PLATE TECTONICS
Topics include submarine rift valleys and deep-sea biodiversity related to mineral effluents (smokers); subduction of oceanic plates in trenches adjacent to continents and earthquake patterns; ocean plate to ocean plate collision and related foredeeps like the Mariana Deep; island arc development in island chains like the Aleutians of Alaska; volcanic eruptions at sea—Surtsean, Stromboli, and Hawaiian shield-type volcanoes.

COASTAL HAZARDS (especially events preserved in the rock record)
Topics include landslides triggered by earthquakes and/or excessive rainfall; tsunami events triggered by submarine earthquakes (geologic records); coastal uplift of marine features like coral reefs related to earthquakes; and island volcanoes and marginal flank collapse—submarine debris fields.

PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
Topics include deep-sea sediments and microfossils that reflect changing sea-surface temperatures; long-term patterns in El Niño and La Niño cycles based on storm layers; coastal boulder beds showing the influence of major storms (all geological ages); and documentation of climate-related deposits (like salt beds) now buried far from their origin.

PALEOECOLOGY
Topics include coastal patterns of onshore–offshore biological zones based on fossils; mapping of fossil marsh and/or mangrove deposits; fossil coral reefs preserved intact or disrupted by storm impact; comparisons of fossil and modern rhodolith banks (coralline red algae); and identification and description of carbonate (shell-derived) beaches.

ISLAND BIOGEOGRAPHY FROM ROCK RECORD
Recent and fossil organisms are tracked to show the expanding geographic range.

EVALUATION OF GEOHERITAGE
Geoparks formulated on concepts of “geoheritage” defined by UNESCO rely on detailed evaluations published in the public record to show the value to a local community. Many geoparks are located on islands or in coastal regions around the world. All require detailed descriptions in the planning stage.