Texas A&M Department of Geology & Geophysics

 

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Photo of Rick Carlson

M.T. Halbouty Building,
Room 359
Geology & Geophysics, TAMU
College
Station, TX 77843-3115


carlson@geo.tamu.edu

Phone: 979-845-1398
Fax: 979-845-6162

Richard Carlson
Professor and Holder of the Dudley J. Hughes Chair in Geology & Geophysics;
Ph.D., University of Washington, Seattle, 1976

Current Research
Courses Taught
PublicationsAffiliations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Current Research

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Geodynamics; plate motions; thermal evolution of the oceanic lithosphere and the driving mechanism of plate tectonics.

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Physical properties of the rocks and minerals: elastic and anelastic properties of rocks and minerals under in-situ conditions with application to the composition, structure and state of the crust and upper mantle: acoustic properties of deep-sea sediments, causes of elastic anisotripy; rheological properties of ultramafic rocks and their implications for the properties of the lithosphere and plate dynamics.

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Courses Taught

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GEOL XXX, Exploration Geophysics
Seismology (elastic properties related to elastic-wave propagation in a layered half-space, refraction, reflection, interval velocities, introduction of seismic stratigraphy); gravitationalmethods (basis potential field theory, data collection, data reduction, anomalies, model).

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GEOL XXX, Solid Earth Geophysics
The terrestrial planets; introduction to platetectonics; seismology; gravity; magnetics.

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GEOL 666, Priciples of Geodynamics
An introductory course for graduate students in geophysics, geology, and oceanography: Petrology and geochemistry; geochronology; plate tectonics; seismology; gravity and isostasy; magnetics; heat flow, history of the ocean basin; volcanic arcs and marginal seas, paleontology and continental drift.

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GEOL XXX, Kinematic aspects of plate tectonics
Plate margins and plate motions; plate motions on a plane; plate motions on a sphere; finite rotations and reconstructions; application of stereographic projections.

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Publications

R.L. Carlson, and J.D. Miller, Anew assessment of the abundance of serpentinite in the oceanic crust, Geophys, Res. Lett., 24, 457-460, 1997.

Sager, W.W., I.R. McDonald, W.R. Bryant, R.L. Carlson, and D.B. Prior, TAMU digital side-scan sonar survey of Louisiana slope areas containing active oil seeps and halokinetic sediment modification, Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, TX, 1998.

R.L. Carlson, Seismic velocities in the uppermost oceanic crust: age dependence and the fate of layer 2A, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 7069-7078, 1998.

Carlson, R. L. and D. Jay Miller, Unraveling the structure and composition of the oceanic crust, Sea Technology,  46,  10-13, 2005.

 

Kwon, O.***, K. M. Mobley**, and R. L. Carlson, Measured Permeabilities of Diatomaceous Sediments and Pelagic Clay from the Northwest Pacific, ODP Site 1179, Proc. ODP, Sci. Results, 191: College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), 2005.

 

Carlson, R. L. and D. Jay Miller, Influence of pressure and mineralogy on seismic velocities in oceanic gabbros: implications for the composition and state of the lower oceanic crust, J. Geophys. Res., 109, B0925, doi: 10.1029/2003JB002699,  2004.

 

Carlson, R.L., Seismic Properties of Layer 2A at 11 Ma: Results of a VSP at ODP Site 1243, Geophys. Res. Lett,, 31, L17601, doi:10.1029/2004GL020598, 2004.

 

Carlson, R. L., Bound Water Content of the Lower Oceanic Crust Estimated from Modal Analyses and Seismic Velocities of Oceanic Diabase and Gabbro,  Geophys. Res. Lett., v. 30,  no. 22, 2142, doi: 10.1029/2003GL018213,  2003.

 

Orcutt, J., A. Schultz, T. Davies, T, … R. Carlson et al., Proc. ODP. Init Repts., 203 [CD ROM], Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, TX, 2003.

 

Carlson, R. L. and D. Jay Miller,  Mantle Wedge Water Contents Estimated from Seismic Velocities in Partially Serpentinized Peridotites,    Geophys. Res. Lett., 30, 1250-1253,  2003.

 

Mortera, C., D. W. Scholl and R. L. Carlson, Fault trends on the seaward slope of the Aleutian Trench:  Implications for a lateral change of the stress field due to the westward increase in oblique convergence, J. Geophys. Res., 108, B10, pp. 6-1 to 6-20, 2477, doi:10.1029/2001JB001433, 2003.

 

Carlson. R. L., The effects of temperature, pressure, and alteration on seismic properties of diabase dike rocks from DSDP/ODP Hole 504B, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28, 3979-3982,  2001.

 

Kanazawa, T., Sager, W., Escutia, C. …Carlson, R. et al., Proc. ODP. Init Repts., 191 [CD ROM], Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, TX, 2001.

 

Carlson. R. L., Rock and Earth’s Crust, in, Handbook of Elastic Properties of Solids, Liquids, and Gases, Vol. III: Elastic Properties of Solids: Biological and Organic Materials, Earth and Marine Sciences, Levy, M. et. al. (eds), Acadmic Press, 377-461, 2001.

 

Carlson, R. L., The abundance of ultramafic rocks in Atlantic crust, Geophys. J. Int., 144, 37-48, 2001.

 

Cerney*, B. and R. L. Carlson, The effect of cracks on the seismic properties of basalt from the S. E. Greenland margin, Proc. Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, In Larsen, H. C., Duncan, R., A., Allan, J. F., Brooks, K., et al., Proc. Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, 163, 29-35, 1999.

 

Hohertz*, W. L. and R. L. Carlson, An independent test of cooling and mantle flow models for the western South Atlantic, Earth and Planet. Sci. Lett., 161, 73-83, 1998.

 

R. L. Carlson,, Seismic velocities in the uppermost oceanic crust: age dependence and the fate of layer 2A, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 7069-7078, 1998.

 

Sager, W. W., I. R. McDonald, W. R. Bryant, R. L. Carlson, and D. B. Prior, TAMU2 digital side-scan sonar survey of Louisiana slope areas containing active oil seeps and halokinetic sediment modification, Offshore Technology Conference, Houston,TX, 1998.

 

R. L. Carlson,, and J. D. Miller, A new assessment of the abundance of serpentinite in the oceanic crust, Geophys. Res. Lett., 24, 457-460, 1997.

 

Gangi, A. F., and R. L. Carlson, An asperity-deformation model for effective pressure, Tectonophysics, 256, 241-252, 1996.

 

Carlson, R. L., A plate cooling model relating the rate of plate motion to the age of the lithosphere at trenches, Geophys. Res. Lett., 22, 1977-1980, 1995.

 

Carlson, R. L., and H. P. Johnson, Modelling the thermal structure of the oceanic upper mantle: An assessment of the plate cooling model, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 3201-3214, 1994.

 

Carlson, R. L., and R. S. Jacobson, Comment on 'Upper crustal structure as a function of plate age' by Robert Houtz and John Ewing, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 3135-3138, 1994.

 

Johnson, H.P., and R. L. Carlson, Variation of sea floor depth with age: A test of models based on drilling results, Geophys. Res. Lett., 19, 1971-1974, 1992.

 

Carlson, R. L., J. Moore et al., [TAMU]2 - Multispectral sonar swath mapping, U.S. Hydrographic Conference, Proceedings, February, 1992.

 

Gangi, A. F., and R. L. Carlson, An asperity deformation model for effective pressure, Proceedings, 2nd International Congress of the Brazilian Geophysical Society, 1, 90-95, 1991.

 

Hilde, T. W. C., R. L. Carlson, et al., [TAMU]2: New generation of seafloor mapping technology, Sea Technology, 45-48, June, 1991.

 

Hilde, T. W. C., R. L. Carlson, et al., [TAMU]2 - Texas A & M University Topography and Acoustic Mapping Undersea System, IEEE, OCEANS '91 Proceedings, 1, 750-755, 1991.

 

Carlson, R. L., and C. N. Herrick*, Densities and porosities in the oceanic crust and their variations with depth and age, J. Geophys. Res., 95, 9153-9170, 1990.

 

Carlson, R. L., and C. A. Mortera-Gutierrez*, Subduction hinge migration along the Izu-Bonin-Mariana Arc, Tectonophysics, 181, 331-344, 1990.

 

Salisbury, M. H., J. H. Scott, ..., R.L. Carlson, et al., Old oceanic crust: Synthesis of logging, laboratory and seismic data from Leg 102, In Salibury, M. H., J. H. Scott, et al., Proc. Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, 102, 155-169, 1988.

 

Wilkens, R.H., D. Schultz*, and R.L. Carlson, Relationship of resistivity, velocity and porosity of downhole well logging measurements of Hole 418A Basalts, In Salisbury, M. H., J. H. Scott, et al., Proc. Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, 102, 69-76, 1988.

 

Carlson, R. L., K. R. Snow, and R.H. Wilkens, Site 418 downhole logs: implications for the density of the oceanic crust, In Salisbury, M. H., Scott, J. H., et al., Proc. Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, 102, 63-68, 1988.

 

Carlson, R. L., R. H. Wilkens, D. Moos, and C. Broglia, Correlations of sediment lithostratigraphy, downhole logs and seismic reflectors at Site 418, In Salisbury, M. H., Scott, J. G. et al., Proc. Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, 102, 19-28, 1988.

 

Salisbury, M. H., J. H. Scott, ..., R.L. Carlson, et al., Proc. Ocean Drilling Program, Init. Repts. 102, 245 pp., 1986.

 

Carlson, R.L., A. F. Gangi, and K. R. Snow*, Empirical reflection-traveltime/depth and velocity/depth functions for the deep-sea sediment column. J. Geophys. Res., 91, 8249-8266, 1986.

 

Carlson, R. L., and A. F. Gangi, A simple model for the pressure dependence of P-wave velocities in cracked rocks, J. Geophys. Res., 90, 8675-8684, 1985.

 

Salisbury, M. H., J. H. Scott,...R.L. Carlson, et al., Old hole yields new information. Geotimes, 30, 13-15, 1985.

 

Salisbury, M. H., J. H. Scott,...R.L. Carlson, et al., Looking down an old hole, Nature, 3l6, 62, 1985.

 

Carlson, R. L., and G. S. Raskin**, Density of the ocean crust, Nature, 311, 555-558, 1984.

 

Schaftenaar*, C. H. and R. L. Carlson, Acoustic properties of calcareous claystones and clay-rich chalks, Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 79, Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 79, 853-854, 1984.

 

Rabinowitz, P. D., R. L. Carlson, L. Garrison, S. Gartner, S. Herrig, J. Mazzulo, and W. J. Merrell, The ocean drilling program: The next phase in scientific ocean drilling, Offshore Technology Conference, 443-449, 1984,

 

Melia*, P. J., and R. L. Carlson, An experimental test of P-wave anisotropy in stratified media, Geophysics, 49, 374-379, 1984.

 

Carlson, R. L., C. H. Schaftenaar*, and R. P. Moore*, Causes of compressional-wave anisotropy in carbonate-bearing deep-sea sediments, Geophysics, 49, 525-532, 1984.

 

Brooks*, D., R. L. Carlson, D. L. Harry*, P. J. Melia*, R. P. Moore*, J. E. Rayhorn*, and S. G. Tubb*, Characteristics of backarc regions, Tectonophysics, 102, 1-16, 1984.

 

Carlson, R. L., and P. J. Melia*, Subduction hinge migration, Tectonophysics, 102, 399-411, 1984.

 

Schaftenaar*, C.H. and R.L. Carlson, Calcite fabric and acoustic anisotropy in deep-sea carbonates, J. Geophys. Res., 89, 503-510, 1984.

 

Carlson, R. L., Plate motions, boundary forces and horizontal temperature gradients:  Implications for the driving mechanism, Tectonophysics, 99, 149-164, 1983.

 

Carlson, R. L., Reply to a 'Comment on "Cenozoic convergence along the California coast: A qualitative test of the hot-spot approximation"' by Tor H. Nilsen, Geology, 11, 674, 1983.

 

Barker, P. F., and R. L. Carlson, Regional tectonics setting of the southwestern Atlantic. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 72, 5-14, 1983.

 

Carlson, R. L., T. W. C. Hilde, and S. Uyeda, The driving mechanism of plate tectonics: Relation to age of the lithosphere at trenches, Geophys. Res. Lett., 10, 297-300, 1983.

 

Schaftenaar*, C. H., R. P. Moore*, and R. L. Carlson, Summary of shipboard physical properties of mudstones, carbonates and clastic sediments, DSDP Leg 72, Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 72, 551-564, 1983.

 

Gebhard*, S. N., and R. L. Carlson, Compressional-wave velocities in basalts from the Rio Grande Rise, Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 72, 577-580, 1983.

 

Carlson, R. L., C. H. Schaftenaar*, and R. P. Moore*, Causes of compressional-wave anisotropy in calcareous sediments from the Rio Grande Rise, Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 72, 565-576, 1983.

 

Carlson, R. L., and R. H. Wilkens, Seismic crustal structure and the elastic properties of rocks recovered by drilling in the Philippine Sea, In, Hilde, T.W.C. and S. Uyeda, (eds.), Geodynamics of the Western Pacific, Indonesian Region, Geodynamics Series, 11, 127-136, 1983.

 

Carlson, R. L., Acoustic properties of tuffaceous and calcareous sediments, Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 60, Initial Reports of the  Deep Sea Drilling Project, 60, 803-804, 1982.

 

Carlson, R. L., Cenozoic convergence along the California coast: A qualitative test of the hot-spot approximation, Geology, 10, 191-196, 1982.

 

Carlson, R. L., Boundary forces and plate velocities, Geophys. Res. Lett., 8, 958-961, 1981.

 

Carlson, R. L., Late Cenozoic rotations of the Juan de Fuca Ridge and the Gorda Rise: A case study, Tectonophysics, 77, 171-188, 1981.

 

Barker, P. F., R. L. Carlson, D. A. Johnson, et al., Southwest Atlantic paleocirculation and Rio Grand Rise tectonics, Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., 92, 294-309, 1981.

 

Carlson, R. L., Acoustic properties of limestones from the north-central Pacific, DSDP Leg 62, Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 62, 999-1004, 1981.

 

Carlson, R. L., N.I . Christensen, and R. P. Moore**, Anomalous crustal structures in ocean basins: Oceanic plateaus and continental fragments, Earth. Planet. Sci. Lett., 51, 171-180, 1980.

 

Carlson, R. L., N. I. Christensen, and R. H. Wilkens, Acoustic properties of volcaniclastic sediments recovered from the floor of the Philippine Sea, DSDP Leg 59, Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 59, 519-522,1980.

 

Christensen, N. I., R. H. Wilkens, S. C. Blair, and R. L. Carlson, Seismic velocities, densities and elastic constants of volcanic breccias and basalt from DSDP Leg 59, Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 59, 515-518, 1980.

 

Fahlquist, D. A., and R. L. Carlson, Solution to the borehole gravity problem: Comments on a note by J.R. Hearst and R.C. Carlson, Geophysics, 44, 1463-1464, 1979.

 

Carlson, R. L., and N. I. Christensen, Velocity anisotropy in semi-indurated calcarous deep sea sediments, J. Geophys. Res., 84, 205-211, 1979.

 

Carlson, R. L., and N. I. Christensen, Velocities, densities, and elastic constants of basalt and trachytic tuff, DSDP Leg 39, Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 39, 555-561, 1977.

 

Carlson, R. L., and N. I. Christensen, Velocity anisotropy and physical properties of deep sea sediments from the western south Atlantic, Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 39, 493-496, 1977.

 

Fountain, D. M., R.L. Carlson, M. H. Salisbury, and N. I. Christensen, Possible lower crustal rocks recovered on Leg 31 by Deep Sea Drilling in the Philippine Sea., Mar. Geol., 19, 75-80, 1975.

 

Christensen, N. I., R. L. Carlson, M. H. Salisbury, and D. M. Fountain, Elastic wave velocities in volcanic and plutonic rocks recovered on DSDP Leg 31, Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 31, 607-609, 1975.

 

Christensen, N. I., M. H. Salisbury, D. M. Fountain, and R. L. Carlson, Velocities of compressional and shear waves in DSDP Leg 27 basalts, Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 27, 445-449, 1974.

 

Christensen, N.I., D.M. Fountain, R.L. Carlson, and M.H. Salisbury, Velocities and elastic moduli of volcanic and sedimentary rocks recovered on DSDP Leg 25, Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 25, 357-360, 1974.

 

 

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Affiliations

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Tectonophysics/Structural Geology

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