March 1, 2019
Geology department head publishes article in Nature Geoscience
Pamela Kempton, head of the College of Arts and Sciences' geology department, recently published a News and Views article titled "Geodynamics: Map of the Underworld" in Nature Geoscience.
The article discusses the dynamic nature of Earth's mantle and the way in which geologists attempt to unravel Earth's 4.6-billion-year history through study of volcanic rocks erupted at the surface along mid-ocean ridges — essentially "mapping the underworld." The article highlights the discovery of a new mantle domain located in a remote section of Earth's southern ocean between Australia and Antarctica — the Australian-Antarctic Ridge. The new mantle domain formed millions of years ago in response to break-up of the super-continent known as Gondwana.
Nature Geoscience is a monthly top-rated journal dedicated to high-quality Earth sciences research from all disciplines within the geosciences.
Kempton joined geology as head of department in fall 2013. She came to K-State from the U.K. Natural Environment Research Council, the U.K. equivalent of the U.S. National Science Foundation, where she served as head of research and director of science. She holds a doctorate in igneous petrology and a master's degree in sedimentology from Southern Methodist University.
To learn more about the geology department, visit its website.