• Subsurface Structures & Properties

Research Interests

• Geophysical investigations of the structure and tectonics of convergent plate boundaries, especially accretionary complexes.
• Interaction between deformation, fluid pressure and flow, in sediments.
• Gas hydrates in submarine continental margins.

Biography

BSc London Geology - 1970; PhD Marine Geophysics - Durham 1974. Senior Demonstrator, University of Durham 1973-1974. Lecturer in Geophysics, University of Keele 1974-1976. Lecturer in Geophysics, University of Durham 1977-1984. Professor of Geophysics, University of Birmingham 1984-. Head of the Department of Geological Sciences 1984-1988. Head of the School of Earth Sciences 1996-1999. Adjunct Senior Research Scientist (part-time) Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, USA. 1985-1999. During his research career, Graham Westbrook has held 27 research grants and contracts and he has participated in 21 marine geological and geophysical research cruises. He has taught a wide range of subjects at both BSc and MSc level in the fields of geophysics and tectonics.

Current / Recent Research

Techniques for the Quantification of Methane Hydrate in European Continental Margins
This project has developed and tested seismic techniques for detecting and quantifying the amount of methane hydrate in the sediments of continental margins. (European Commission), with C. Long, S. Peacock, R. Haacke Birmingham, T. Reston, M. Zillmer, E. Flueh IFM-GEOMAR, (Germany), J-P. Foucher, H. Nouzé, I. Contrucci, F. Klingelhoefer (IFREMER, France), A.I. Best, J.A. Priest (NERC Southampton Oceanography Centre) A. Camerlenghi, J. Carcione, G. Rossi, G. Madrussani, D. Gei (OGS Trieste, Italy), J. Mienert, M. Vanneste, S. Buenz (Tromsoe University, Norway), S. Hetland (RF, Norway), R. Larsen, E. Habetinova (SINTEF, Norway), T.A. Minshull, S. Chand, C.R.I Clayton, S. Dean (Southampton University) web site: http://hydratech.bham.ac.uk

Seismic anisotropy and slope stability on the flank of the Storegga slide
Seismic anisotropy is used to detect the presence of cracks in sediments on the flank of the Storegga slide off Norway, and their orientation and distribution is examined in relation to the stability of the submarine slope in which they occur. (NERC Ocean Margins LINK Programme), with R.A. Exley (research student) and S. Ronen (Veritas-DGC).

HERMES – Hotspot Ecosystem Research on the Margins of European Seas
This project, which is a component of HERMES, uses high resolution seismic techniques to inestigate the 3D structure and properties of chimneys through which fluids, including gas, megrate to the sea floor. (FP6 European Commission), principal collaborators: K. Thomson (Birmingham), H. Nouzé, J.P. Foucher (IFREMER, France), T.A. Minshull (NOC, Southampton University), web site: http://www.eu-hermes.net/

Structure and tectonics of the accretionary wedge of the Gulf of Cadiz
An examination of the seismic and other evidence for recent deformation in this accretionary wedge. A megathrust event at the base of this wedge may have been responsible for the Lisbon earthquake and tsunami of 1755. (CNRS, France), in collaboration with M.A. Gutscher (IUEM, France).

Dynamics of gas hydrates in polar marine environments 2007-10
An investigation of the evidence for the release of methane from gas hydrate in polar continental margins since the last galcial maxiumum, and an assessment of how much would be released by global warming in the future. (NERC), principal collaborators: C. Berndt, T.A. Minshull (NOC, Southampton), E. Nisbet (Royal Holloway, University of London).

Key Publications since 2001

Haacke, R.R., Westbrook, G.K. and Smith, M.S. 2008. Controls on the formation and stability of gas hydrate-related bottom-simulating reflectors (BSRs): A case study from the west Svalbard continental slope, Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, B05104, doi:10.1029/2007JB005200.

Ivanov, M., Westbrook, G.K., Blinova, V., Kozlova, E., Mazzini, A., Nouzé, H. and Minshull, T.A. 2007. First sampling of gas hydrate from the Voring Plateau. Eos, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, 88(19), 209-212.

Haacke, R.R., Westbrook, G.K. and Hyndman, R.D. 2007. Gas hydrate, fluid flow and free gas: formation of the bottom-simulating reflector, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 261(3-4), 407-420, DOI 10.1016/j.epsl.2007.07.008

Haacke, R.R., and Westbrook, G.K. 2006. A fast and robust method for detecting and characterising azimuthal anisotropy with marine PS converted waves, and its application to the continental slope of west Svalbard. Geophysical Journal International. 167, 1402-1412, doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.2006.03186.x

Westbrook, G.K. 2005. Convergent margins and accretionary wedges (In Encyclopedia of Geology, RC Selley, LRM Cocks, IR Plimer (Editors), Amsterdam, Elsevier, 11, ISBN: 0126363803). Publication: 27115.

Westbrook, G.K., Buenz, S., Camerlenghi, A., Carcione, J., Chand, S., Dean, S., Foucher, J-P, Flueh, E. Gei, D., Haacke, R., Klingelhoefer, F., Long, C. Madrussani, G. Mienert, J., Minshull, T.A., Nouzé, H., Peacock, S, Rossi, G., Roux, E., Reston, T., Vanneste, M. and Zillmer, M. 2005. Measurement of P- and S-wave velocities, and the estimation of hydrate concentration at sites in the continental margin of Svalbard and the Storegga region of Norway. Proceedings of 5th International Conference on Gas Hydrates, 2005, 726-735.

Haacke, R.R., Westbrook, G.K., Peacock, S. and Long, C. 2005. Seismic anisotropy from a marine gas hydrate system west of Svalbard. Proceedings of 5th International Conference on Gas Hydrates, 2005, 621-630.

Hayward, N., Westbrook, G.K.,  Peacock, S. 2003. Seismic velocity, anisotropy and fluid pressure in the Barbados accretionary wedge from an offset vertical seismic profile with seabed sources, Journal of Geophysical Research doi:10.1029/2001JB001638, 108, B11, 2515. ISSN: 0148-0227. Publication: 23387.

Sumner, R.H. and Westbrook, G.K. 2001. Mud diapirism in front of the Barbados Ridge accretionary wedge: the influence of fracture zones and North-America-South America plate motions, Marine and Petroleum Geology, 18, 591-613. ISSN: 0264-8172. Publication: 3200.

Research Students since 2001

S. Alexandry – Classification and interpretation of seabed geology from analysis of combined sonar and acoustic profiling data. - (European Commission, and self)

P.G. Wilson – Structural architecture of the ocean-continent boundary at an oblique transform margin: Equatorial Guinea, West Africa. - (Phillips Petroleum, University, and Society of Exploration Geophysicists Ian Jack Postgraduate Scholarship)

H. Sherif – Sequence stratigraphy of evaporites and their development in the late Triassic Ghadames-Berkine basin of North Africa. - (Libyan Government)

G. Gillott – Crustal structure and oblique tectonics of the fore arc of the northern South Sandwich island arc. - (NERC, CASE with British Antarctic Survey)

R. R. Haacke – Multicomponent seismic investigation of elastic anisotropy and gas hydrates in the continental margin of west Svalbard. - (University, and Society of Exploration Geophysicists Ian Jack Postgraduate Scholarship)

R. Exley – Seismic anisotropy in gas-hydrate bearing sediments and continental slope stability. - (NERC, CASE with Veritas DGC)

N. Schofield - Dolerite sill emplacement: shapes, sizes and controls of depth, lithology and structure. (NERC)

Date Profile Last Updated: 26/06/2008