Rick Saltus
Research Interests
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Magnetic maps and models for use in alternative navigation
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Methodologies for quantification of magnetic map uncertainty
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Communication of strategy and approach for the U.S. delineation of extended continental shelf (Law of the Sea, Article 76)
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Innovative display of geophysical information
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Geologic/tectonic/geodynamic interpretation of potential field data (magnetics and gravity)
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Innovative uses of CrowdMag to incease citizen involvement in the geophysical sciences
Current Research
- Research in support of magnetic maps and models to support alternative navigation in the absense of GPS
- Completion and release of the US reports for definition of continental margin components with application to Article 76 of the Law of the Sea Treaty (State Department/NOAA/USGS cooperative project)
- Improvement of EMAG2 global model of lithospheric magnetic anomalies for improvement of global full field magnetic models (CIRES Geomagnetic Team project)
- Continued development of CrowdMag for (1) citizen scientist involvement, (2) mapping of local urban magnetic anomalies, and (3) input to global magnetic models

As part of the Research Experience for Community College Students (RECCS) program we conducted a "CrowdMag Day" data collection activity. The pictured students and mentors each used their smartphones to collect 3-component magnetic data along a 1.5 mile traverse on the east campus of the University of Colorado. The data were analyzed by Anjelique Morine (at left in the photo) as part of her RECCS research project.

Group photo of US and Canadian scientists and diplomats at a bi-lateral meeting in Boulder to discuss issues relating to continental shelf definition.

Icebreakers USCGC Healy and CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent conducting joint ECS studies in the Arctic Ocean.
View Publications
- Saltus R; Alken P; Balmes A; Boneh N; Califf S; Chulliat A; Meyer B; Nair M. (Jan 2023). Magnetic Maps and Models for Alternative Navigation. 10.1109/PLANS53410.2023.10140025
- Saltus RW; Hudson TL. (Apr 2022). There is more Wrangellia - magnetic characterization of southern Alaska crust. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences , 59(4), 243-257. 10.1139/cjes-2020-0209
- Saltus R; Chulliat A; Meyer B; Bates M. (Mar 2022). Examination of magnetic map variability and uncertainty: crustal magnetic anomalies in oceanic areas. 10.5194/egusphere-egu22-6615
- Saltus R; Chulliat A; Meyer B; Amante C. (Mar 2021). Uncertainty Estimation for Magnetic Maps. 10.5194/egusphere-egu21-3541
- Szafir DA; Samsel F; Zeller S; Saltus R. (Jan 2021). Enabling Crosscutting Visualization for Geoscience. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications , 41(1), 49-57. 10.1109/mcg.2020.3043982
- Meyer, B, A Chulliat and R Saltus. (Dec 2017). Derivation and Error Analysis of the Earth Magnetic Anomaly Grid at 2 arc min Resolution Version 3 (EMAG2v3). GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS , 18(12). 10.1002/2017GC007280
- Hutchinson, DR, HR Jackson, DW Houseknecht, Q Li, JW Shimeld, DC Mosher, D Chian, RW Saltus and GN Oakey. (Nov 2017). Significance of Northeast-Trending Features in Canada Basin, Arctic Ocean. GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS , 18(11). 10.1002/2017GC007099
- Haeussler, PJ, RW Saltus, RG Stanley, N Ruppert, K Lewis, SM Karl and A Bender. (Oct 2017). The Peters Hills basin, a Neogene wedge-top basin on the Broad Pass thrust fault, south-central Alaska. GEOSPHERE , 13(5). 10.1130/GES01487.1
- Chian D; Jackson HR; Hutchinson DR; Shimeld JW; Oakey GN; Lebedeva-Ivanova N; Li Q; Saltus RW; Mosher DC. (Nov 2016). Distribution of crustal types in Canada Basin, Arctic Ocean. Tectonophysics , 691, 8-30. 10.1016/j.tecto.2016.01.038
- Oakey GN; Saltus RW. (Nov 2016). Geophysical analysis of the Alpha-Mendeleev ridge complex: Characterization of the High Arctic Large Igneous Province. Tectonophysics , 691, 65-84. 10.1016/j.tecto.2016.08.005
- Saltus RW; Stanley RG; Haeussler PJ; Jones JV; Potter CJ; Lewis KA. (Oct 2016). Late Oligocene to present contractional structure in and around the Susitna basin, Alaska-Geophysical evidence and geological implications. Geosphere , 12(5), 1378-1390. 10.1130/GES01279.1
- Catalán M; Dyment J; Choi Y; Hamoudi M; Lesur V; Thébault E; de Santis A; Ishihara T; Korhonen J; Litvinova T. (Jun 2016). Making a Better Magnetic Map. Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union , 97. 10.1029/2016eo054645
- Fuis GS; Moore TE; Plafker G; Brocher TM; Fisher MA; Mooney WD; Nokleberg WJ; Page RA; Beaudoin BC; Christensen NI. (Mar 2008). Trans-Alaska Crustal Transect and continental evolution involving subduction underplating and synchronous foreland thrusting. Geology (Boulder) , 36(3), 267-270. 10.1130/G24257A.1
- Saltus RW. (Jun 2007). Regional magnetic survey compilations - Current issues. Gondwana Research , 11(4), 580-581. 10.1016/j.gr.2006.11.004
- Saltus RW; Hudson TL. (Jun 2007). Regional magnetic anomalies, crustal strength, and the location of the northern Cordilleran fold-and-thrust belt. Geology (Boulder) , 35(6), 567-570. 10.1130/G23470A.1
- Farris DW; Haeussler P; Friedman R; Paterson SR; Saltus RW; Ayuso R. (Nov 2006). Emplacement of the Kodiak batholith and slab-window migration. Geological Society of America Bulletin , 118(11-12), 1360-1376. 10.1130/B25718.1
- Saltus RW; Potter CJ; Phillips JD. (Oct 2006). Crustal insights from gravity and aeromagnetic analysis: Central North Slope, Alaska. American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Bulletin , 90(10), 1495-1517. 10.1306/05090605066
- Okuma S; Saltus RW. (Jan 2005). Earth, Planets and Space - Preface. Earth, Planets and Space , 57(8), 679-679. 10.1186/BF03351847
- Saltus RW; Hudson TL; Karl SM; Morin RL. (Jan 2003). Rooted Brooks Range ophiolite: Implications for Cordilleran terranes: Comment and reply - Reply. Geology (Boulder) , 31(1), 92-92. 10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0092:>2.0.CO;2
- Saltus RW; Hudson TL; Karl SM; Morin RL. (Dec 2001). Rooted Brooks Range ophiolite: implications for Cordilleran terranes. Geology (Boulder) , 29(12), 1151-1154. 10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<1151:RBROIF>2.0.CO;2
- Clow GD; Saltus RW; Waddington ED. (Jan 1996). A new high-precision borehole-temperature logging system used at GISP2, Greenland, and Taylor Dome, Antarctica. Journal of Glaciology , 42(142), 576-584. 10.3189/S0022143000003555
- Saltus RW; Thompson GA. (Dec 1995). Why is it downhill from Tonopah to Las Vegas? A case for mantle plume support of the high northern Basin and Range. Tectonics , 14(6), 1235-1244. 10.1029/95TC02288
- CUFFEY KM; CLOW GD; ALLEY RB; STUIVER M; WADDINGTON ED; SALTUS RW. (Oct 1995). LARGE ARCTIC TEMPERATURE-CHANGE AT THE WISCONSIN-HOLOCENE GLACIAL TRANSITION. Science , 270(5235), 455-458. 10.1126/science.270.5235.455
- SALTUS RW. (Aug 1994). UPPER-CRUSTAL STRUCTURE BENEATH THE COLUMBIA-RIVER-BASALT-GROUP, WASHINGTON - GRAVITY INTERPRETATION CONTROLLED BY BOREHOLE AND SEISMIC STUDIES - REPLY. Geological Society of America Bulletin , 106(8), 1102-1105. 10.1130/0016-7606(1993)105<1247:UCSBTC>2.3.CO;2
- SALTUS RW; LACHENBRUCH AH. (Apr 1991). THERMAL EVOLUTION OF THE SIERRA-NEVADA - TECTONIC IMPLICATIONS OF NEW HEAT-FLOW DATA. Tectonics , 10(2), 325-344. 10.1029/90TC02681
- SIMPSON RW; JACHENS RC; BLAKELY RJ; SALTUS RW. (Jul 1986). A NEW ISOSTATIC RESIDUAL GRAVITY MAP OF THE CONTERMINOUS UNITED-STATES WITH A DISCUSSION ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ISOSTATIC RESIDUAL ANOMALIES. Journal of Geophysical Research , 91(B8), 8348-8372. 10.1029/JB091iB08p08348