Dr Gerald Roberts
Dr Gerald Roberts: Reader in Earthquake Geology School of Earth Sciences,
Birkbeck College,
University of London,
Malet St. London
WC1E 7HX
Tel 020 7679 7713
Fax 020 7383 2867
email: gerald.roberts@ucl.ac.uk
Teaching
• Structural Geology I (2nd year)
• Structural Geology II (3rd/4th year)
• Selected lectures for Geological Hazards (3rd/4th year)
• Selected lectures for the MRes
• 2nd Year Fieldclass to Greece
Research interests
I am interested in the growth of active normal faults and how their slip-rates and growth control earthquake recurrence and seismic hazards.
I am currently working in Italy and Greece and studying Mars.
The work involves:
(1) Structural geology fieldwork and mapping, concentrating on the geometry, kinematics and rates of deformation of active normal faults, and utilising kinematic measurements, shallow geophysics and LiDAR laser scanning;
(2) Quaternary and Holocene dating of deformed geomorphology, through study of Holocene fault scarps and Quaternary marine terraces, using 36Cl cosmogenic exposure dating and U/Th coral dating;
(3) Observations and modelling of rivers deformed by active normal faults;
(4) Mapping deformation of the surface of Mars using NASA (MOLA; MOC; VIKING; HiRISE) data;
(5) Developing theoretical and numerical models of fault growth.
Funding through NERC Grants
6) NERC Urgency Grant NE/H003266/1. A LiDAR and field study of surface rupture and post-seismic slip for the 6th April 2009 L’Aquila Earthquake (M6.3). Dr. K. McCaffrey, Dr. G. Roberts, Prof. P. Cowie. £67,184. (April 2009-May 2010).
5) NERC Standard Grant NE/E01545X/1. Testing Theoretical models for Earthquake Clustering using 36Cl Cosmogenic Exposure Dating of Active Normal Faults in Central Italy. Dr. P. Cowie, Dr. G. Roberts. Dr. K. McCaffrey £554,466. (October 2007-2010).
4) NERC Standard Grant NE/B504165/1. Integrated field and numerical test of stream erosion models using the transient response of bedrock rivers to tectonic forcing. Dr. P. Cowie, Dr. G. Roberts. £149,476. (October 2004-2007 with a 1 year no-cost extension).
3) NERC Small Grant GR9/02995. Understanding non-uniform earthquake recurrence intervals associated with rupture of small portions of larger faults: implications for evaluating seismic risk. Dr. G. Roberts. £21,882. (July 1997-July 1999)
2) NERC Small Grant GR9/01034. Deformation processes in transfer zones along active normal faults. Dr. G. Roberts. £6697. (July 1993-July 1995).
1) NERC Research Fellowship GTS/F/90/GS/8. Deformation and diagenetic histories around neotectonic and ancient extensional fault zones. Dr. Gerald Roberts. (1990-1992) (£6000 field work money, £2000 lab-costs and £28000 for two years salary). Deformation and diagenetic histories around active and ancient normal faults.
Publications
46) Vetterlein, J., Roberts, G. P., Structural Evolution of the Northern Cerberus Fossae graben system, Elysium Planitia, Mars. Journal of Structural Geology. In press.
45) Walters, R. J., J. R. Elliott, N. D’Agostino, P. C. England, I. Hunstad, J. A. Jackson, B. Parsons, R. J. Phillips, and G. P. Roberts (2009), The 2009 L’Aquila earthquake (central Italy): A source mechanism and implications for seismic hazard, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L17312, doi:10.1029/2009GL039337
44) Vetterlein, J., and G. P. Roberts (2009), Postdating of flow in Athabasca Valles by faulting of the Cerberus Fossae, Elysium Planitia, Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 114, E07003, doi:10.1029/2009JE003356.
43) Faure Walker J., Roberts G.P., Cowie P.A., Papanikolaou I., Michetti A.M., Sammonds P. and Phillips R., Horizontal strain-rates and throw-rates across breached relay-zones, central Italy: implications for the preservation of throw deficits at points of normal fault linkage, Journal of Structural Geology, 31, 1145-1160, doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2009.06.01, 2009
42) Roberts, G. P., S. L. Houghton, C. Underwood, I. Papanikolaou, P. A. Cowie, P. van Calsteren, T. Wigley, F. J. Cooper, and J. M. McArthur (2009), Localization of Quaternary slip rates in an active rift in 105 years: An example from central Greece constrained by 234U-230Th coral dates from uplifted paleoshorelines, J. Geophys. Res., 114, B10406, doi:10.1029/2008JB005818.
41) Podolsky, D. M. V., Roberts, G. P., 2008. Growth of the volcano-flank Koa’e Fault System, Hawaii. Journal of Structural Geology, 30, 1254-1263. doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2008.06.006.
40) Attal, M., Tucker, G. E., Whittaker, A. C., Cowie, P. A., Roberts, G. P., 2008. Modeling fluvial incision and transient landscape evolution: influence of dynamic channel adjustment. Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, F03013, doi:10.1029/2007JF000893.
39) Whittaker, A. C., Attal, M., Cowie, P. A., Tucker, G. E., Roberts, G. P., 2008. Decoding temporal and spatial patterns of uplift using transient river long profiles. Geomorphology, 100, 506-526.
38) Cowie, P.A., Whittaker, A. C., Attal, M., Roberts, G. P., Tucker, G. E., Ganas, A., 2008. New constraints on sediment-flux-dependent rivers incision: implications for extracting tectonic signals from river profiles. Geology, 36, 535-538, doi: 10.1130/G24681A.1.
37) Roberts, G. P. 2008. Visualisation of active normal fault scarps in the Apennines, Italy: a key to assessment of tectonic strain release and earthquake rupture.. In: (ed.) De Paor, D., Google Earth Science, Journal of the Virtual Explorer, Electronic Edition, ISSN 1441-8142, Volume 30, Paper 3.
36) Koukovelas, I., Roberts, G. P., 2007. Deep structure, fault arrays and surface processes within an active graben: The Gulf of Corinth. Tectonophysics, 440, 1-4, doi:10.1016/S0040-1951(07)00207-7.
35) Whittaker, A. C., Cowie, P. A., Attal, M., Tucker, G. E., Roberts, G. P. 2007. Contrasting transient and steady-state rivers crossing active normal faults: new observations from the central Apennines. Basin Research, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2117.2007.00337.x.
34) Cooper, F.J., Roberts, G. P., Underwood, C.U., 2007. A comparison of 103 – 105 year uplift rates on the South Alkyonides Fault, central Greece: Holocene climate stability and the formation of coastal notches. Geophysical Research Letters, 34, L14310, doi:10.1029/2007GL030673, 2007.
33) Roberts, G. P., Crawford, I. A., Peacock, D., Vetterlein, J., Parfitt, E., Bishop, L., 2007. Possible evidence for on-going volcanism on Mars as suggested by thin, elliptical sheets of low-albedo particulate material around pits and fissures close to Cerberus Fossae. Earth, Moon and Planets. DOI10.1007/s11038-007-9140-z.
32) * Roberts, G. P. 2007. Fault orientation variations along the strike of active normal fault systems in Italy and Greece: Implications for predicting the orientations of subseismic-resolution faults in hydrocarbon reservoirs. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 91, No. 1, 1-20.
31) Papanikoloau, I., Roberts, G. P., 2007. Geometry, kinematics and deformation rates along the active normal fault system in the southern Apennines: implications for fault growth. Journal of Structural Geology, 29, 166-188.
30) Cowie, P. A., Roberts, G. P., Mortimer, E., 2007. Strain localisation within fault arrays over timescale of 100-107 years – Observations, explanations and debates. In: Handy, M.R., G. Hirth, and N. Hovius, eds. 2007. Tectonic Faults: Agents of Change on a Dynamic Earth. Dahlem Workshop Report 95. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Chapter 3, pages 47-77.
29) Whittaker, A. C., Cowie, P. A., Attal, M., Tucker, G. E., Roberts, G. P., 2007. Bedrock channel adjustment to tectonic forcing: Implications for predicting river incision rates. Geology, 35, No. 2, 103-106; doi: 10.1130/G23106A.1
28) * Roberts, G. P., 2006. Multi-seismic cycle velocity and strain fields for an active normal fault system, central Italy. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 252, 44-51.
27) Cowie, P. A., Attal, M., Tucker, G. E., Whittaker, A. C., Ganas, A., Roberts, G. P., 2006. Investigating the surface process response to fault interaction and linkage using a numerical modeling approach. Basin Research, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2117.2006.00298.x
26) Papanikolaou, I, Roberts, G. P., Michetti, A. M., 2005. Fault scarps and deformation rates in Lazio-Abruzzo, Central Italy: Comparison between geological fault slip-rate and GPS data. Tectonophysics, 408, 147-176.
25) Roberts, G. P., P. Cowie, I. Papanikoloau, Michetti. A. M., 2004. Fault scaling relationships, deformation rates and seismic hazards: an example from Lazio-Abruzzo region, central Italy. Journal of Structural Geology, 26, 377-398.
24) *Roberts, G. P., Michetti, A. M., 2004. Spatial and temporal variations in growth rates along active normal fault Systems: an example from Lazio-Abruzzo, central Italy. Journal of Structural Geology, 26, 339-376.
23) Houghton, S. L., Roberts, G. P., Papanikolaou, I. D., McArthur, J. M., Gilmour, M. A., 2003. New 234U-230Th coral dates from the western Gulf of Corinth: Implications for extensional tectonics, Geophysical Research Letters, VOL. 30, NO. 19, 2013, doi:10.1029/2003GL018112, 2003.
22) Vetterlein, J. Roberts, G. P. 2003. Cracking up: faulting on Earth and Mars. Astronomy and Geophysics, 44, 4.22.
21) Kosa, E., Hunt, D., Fitchen, W., Bockel-Rebelle, M.-O., Roberts, G. P. 2003. The heterogeneity of palaeocavern systems developed along syndepositional fault zones: upper Permian Capitan Platform, Guadalupe Mountains, U.S.A., In: Permo-Carboniferous Carbonate Platforms and Reefs SEPM Special Publication No. 78 and AAPG Memoir 83, Copyright © 2003 SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology), American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), ISBN 1-56576-087-5, p. 291–322.
20) Morewood, N. C., Roberts, G. P., 2002. Surface observations of active normal fault propagation: implications for growth. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 159, 263–272.
19) Roberts, G.P., Michetti, A. M., Cowie, P. A., Morewood, N. C., Papanikolaou. I., 2002. Fault slip-rate variations during crustal-scale strain localisation, central Italy. Geophysical Research Letters. 29, No. 8, 10.1029/2001GL013529, 2002.
18) Cowie, P. A., Roberts, G. P., 2001. Constraining slip rates and spacings for active normal faults, Journal of Structural Geology, 23, 1901-1915.
17) Morewood, N. C., Roberts G. P. 2001. Comparison of surface slip and focal mechanism data along normal faults: an example from the eastern Gulf of Corinth. Journal of Structural Geology, 23, 473-488.
16) Roberts, G. P., Ganas, A. 2000. Fault-slip directions in central-southern Greece measured from striated and corrugated fault planes: comparison with focal mechanism and geodetic data. Journal of Geophysical Research, 105, 23,443-23,462.
15) Michetti, A.M., Ferreli, L., Esposito, E., Porfido, S., Blumetti, A., Vittori, E., Serva, L. and Roberts, G. P. 2000. Ground effects during the September 9, 1998 ML = 5.5 Lauria Earthquake in southern Italy and the seismic potential of the "aseismic" Pollino region: preliminary report. Seismological Research Letters, 71, 31-46.
14) Morewood, N.C., Roberts G. P. 2000. The geometry, kinematics and rates of deformation within an en echelon normal fault segment boundary, central Italy. Journal of Structural Geology, 22, 1027-1047.
13) Morewood, N.C., Roberts G. P. 1999. Lateral propagation of the South Alkyonides normal fault segment, central Greece: its impact on models of fault growth and displacement-length relationships. Journal of Structural Geology, 21, 635-652.
12) Ganas, A., Roberts, G. P., Memou, T. 1998. Segment boundaries, the 1894 ruptures and strain patterns along the Atalanti Fault, Central Greece. Journal of Geodynamics, 26, 461-486.
11) Morewood, N.C., Roberts G. P. 1997. The geometry, kinematics and rates of deformation in a normal fault segment boundary, Greece. Geophysical Research Letters, 24, No. 23, 3081-3084.
10) Pilcher, R.S., Roberts, G. P., Buckley, R., Harbury, N.A. 1996. The structure of the Mahatta Humaid, Huqf Uplift: implications for the tectonics of the eastern Oman. Journal of African and Arabian Earth Sciences, 22, 311-321.
9) Roberts, G. P., Koukouvelas, I. 1996. Structural and seismological segmentation of the Gulf of Corinth Fault System: implications for models of fault growth. Annali di Geofisica, XXXIX, 619-646.
8) Roberts, G. P. 1996. Noncharacteristic earthquake ruptures from the Gulf of Corinth, Greece. Journal of Geophysical Research, 101, 25,255-25,267.
7) Roberts, G. P. 1996. Variation in fault-slip directions along active normal faults. Journal of Structural Geology, 18, 835-845.
6) Roberts, G. P., Gawthorpe, R.L. 1995. Strike variation in deformation and diagenesis along segmented normal faults: an example form the Gulf of Corinth. In Lambiase, J. (Ed.), Hydrocarbon Habitat in Rift Basins. Geological Society Special Publication 80, pp. 57-74.
5) Roberts, G. P., Stewart, I. 1994. Uplift, deformation and fluid involvement within an active normal fault zone in the Gulf of Corinth, Greece. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 151, 531-542.
4) Roberts, G. P. 1994. Displacement localization and palaeo-seismicity of the Rencurel Thrust Zone, French Sub-Alpine Chains. Journal of Structural Geology, 16, 633-646.
3) Roberts, G. P., Gawthorpe, R.L., Stewart, I. 1993. Surface faulting within active normal fault zones: examples from the Gulf of Corinth Fault System, Greece. In: Stewart, I., Vita-Finzi, C. and Owen, L. (Eds.) Neotectonics and Active Faulting. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, Neue Folge Supplementband, 94, 303-328.
2) Roberts, G. P. 1991. Structural controls on fluid migration through the Rencurel Thrust Zone, Vercors, French Sub-Alpine Chains. In England, W. and Fleet, A. (eds.), Petroleum Migration. Special Publication of the Geological Society, London, 59, 245-262.
1) Roberts, G. P. 1990. Structural controls on fluid migration in Foreland Thrust Belts. In: Letouzey, J. (Ed.) Petroleum and Tectonics in Mobile Belts. Editions Technip, Paris, pp. 193-210.
Published Book Reviews
3) Roberts, G. P. 1994. Book review: Foreland basins and fold belts, A.A.P.G. Memoir 55. Journal of Structural Geology, 16, 143-144.
2) Roberts, G. P. 1996. Book review: Basins of the Rio Grande Rift: Structure, Stratigraphy and Tectonic Setting. The Geological Society of America Special Paper, 291. Journal of Structural Geology, 18, p.1286.
1) Roberts, G. P. 1996.
Book review:
Seismotectonics of the Central California Coast Ranges. The Geological Society of America Special Paper, 292. Journal of Structural Geology, 18, 1285-1286.
Professional associations
• Member of the American Geophysical Union
• Professional Member of the Geological Society of America