Dr. Michelle A. Kominz

Associate Professor of Geology
1133 Rood Hall
Office Phone (269) 387-5340
E-Mail  kominz@wmich.edu

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View anabbreviated recent vita

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EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Ph.D - Geology -         Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of
                                     Columbia University, 1986
M.S. - Oceanography - University of Rhode Island, 1978
B.A. - Mathematics -    Colby College, 1975

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RESEARCH INTERESTS

Have spreading rates changed over the past 160 million years? What is the relationship between depth and age of ocean lithosphere?  Is there a discernable impact due to dynamic tectonics? Are there discernable differences between ocean basins? Have ridge volume changed with time? How has this impacted global sea level? How has this impacted the chemistry of the oceans and atmosphere?  Climatic implications?
Application of geophysical principles to understand the processes behind the sedimentary record. Has sea-level changed on a global basis?  If so, by how much,when? What are the physical responses to lithosphere due to thermal and mechanicalloading? What thermal and mechanical loads have been applied to the lithosphere? How much and when? How do continental interior basins form?  Why do they subside?
What are the driving forces behind the earth's climate record? Are they stochastic, chaotic or periodic? Is there an orbital signal? Have the driving forces changed over geologic time?

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COURSES TAUGHT
Geol 322 -Ocean Systems
Geol 650/502 - QuantitativeStratigraphy
Geol 560 - Introduction to Geophysics

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