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Stephen Martel
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Project title: Mechanics of geomorphic surfaces and its impact on landscapesSponsor: Peter Molnar Stephen Martel is a professor at the University of Hawaii. Steve’s interests are diverse but center around the mechanics of fracture phenomena in the Earth, especially those that pertain to structural geology, engineering geology, and geomorphology. While at CIRES, he will be working with Peter Molnar and Greg Tucker on sheeting joints, fractures that open near to and nearly parallel to the topographic surface in rock. These fractures are widespread and play a critical role in landscape development, slope stability, shallow groundwater flow, and weathering of rock. Their cause has remained enigmatic for more than two centuries. Steve is testing a new physically based explanation for these fractures that blends detailed geologic mapping, stress measurements, differential geometry, digital signal processing, and lidar data. Results to date indicate that sheeting joints reflect strong compressive stresses parallel to the topographic surface and that topographic shape data can constrain the magnitude of near-surface stresses in areas with sheeting joints. Dr. Martel completed his fellowship at CIRES. He can contacted at: smartel@hawaii.edu
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