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Our research in geophysics is focused in two main areas, the science of earthquake genesis and forecasting and fluid flow in complex media; both are underpinned by the understanding that heterogeneity and non-linearity are of first order importance in natural processes.  We collaborate widely and attempt to integrate our work in international and multi-disciplinary teams.

Over the last few years earthquake studies have addressed the problem of forecasting regions of particularly high seismic by attempting to understand earthquake interaction by perturbation of the stress field around large earthquakes. This work has involved both studies of seismic sequences in varied tectonic environments as well as the development of numerical modelling of earthquakes on synthetic distributed fault networks.

Calculations of stress interaction between the recent great earthquakes on the Sunda megathrust west and north of Sumatra have contributed to a growing understanding of the recurrence behaviour of subduction zone earthquakes and in particular to explaining the lack of regularity which is exhibited by these events between seismic cycles.

The work in Sumatra has resulted in international collaborations contributing to the understanding of tsunami risk there. This work has predicted order in the timing and height of tsunamis generated by subduction zone earthquakes. In November 2007 the group lead an international team to carry out field measurements of tsunami heights following the September 12 2007 M8.4 Mentawai Islands, Sumatra earthquake which appears to confirm these predictions. This work may have real consequences in preparing coastal communities for future earthquakes. We are now also researching the social uptake of recent scientific advances in seismic risk assessment in communities on Sumatra.

Research in fluid transport in complex media has spanned theoretical development, numerical simulation and has lately focused on experimental measurement and tracing fluids in the field.