The College of Arts and Sciences

Douglas Wood

MS Student Earth Sciences

Advisor: Chris Scholz

Research

Before starting as a masters student at Syracuse University, I served for six years as a hydrographic survey technician for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric  Administration.  Currently, I am interested in the basin history of African Great Rift Valley lakes.  Since 2010 my field work with SU has involved the acquisition of seismic data in lakes Turkana (Kenya), Abhe (Djibouti) and Kivu (Rwanda) to examine the faults and sediments for clues on the tectonic and climatic history of the region.  My current research project will focus on the eastern basin of Lake Kivu, a seismically and volcanically active area which has recently experienced dramatic changes in lake level and chemistry. 

August, 2102: Acquiring CHIRP seismic data aboard a 7 meter rigid inflatable boat north of Iwawa Island, Lake Kivu, Rwanda. On the left is Victor Rugambage, our driver and guide.  Idjwi Island, Democratic Republic of Congo is in the background.

Teaching statement

 Everything that is done by individuals, groups or nations affects the equilibrium of the Earth’s systems in some way, therefore  it is important that we all try to learn as much about our relationship with our environment as is practical.  In the future, most decisions to be made by consumers, industry and governments regarding the future of our planet will not be made by earth scientists.  Because of this, I believe that the diverse knowledge and enthusiasm that I bring to my teaching for people from other areas of study is as important as my own research.

Courses taught

TA-recitation EAR-117: Oceanography (Syracuse University, 2011, 2013)

TA-recitation EAR-105: Earth Science (Syracuse University, 2012)

TA-laboratory  EAR-101: Dynamic Earth (Syracuse University,2012)

Introduction to Sound Speed and its Application to Multi-beam Data,

MBES Calibration Procedure,   (NOAA hydrographic training, Norfolk, VA, 2009)

Publications

C.A. Scholz, X. Zhang, D.A. Wood, D. Mburu, 2012, Extension and basin evolution of the East Kivu Graben, Rwanda, East African Rift: results of new multichannel seismic reflection imaging: American Geophysical Union fall meeting.  

L.J. Poppe, K.Y. McMullen, S.D. Ackerman, M.R. Guberski, and D.A. Wood, 2013, Sea-floor character and geology off the entrance to the Connecticut River, northeastern Long Island Sound: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1103.

D.A. Wood, C.A. Scholz, 2012, Evolution of a magmatically active extensional basin: new multichannel seismic data from Lake Kivu, Rwanda, Syracuse University’s Lacustrine and Rift Basin Research sponsors’ meeting, November, 2012, Houston, Texas, (oral presentation).

D.A. Wood, C.A. Scholz, 2011, Rifting and magnetism around South Island, Lake Turkana, Kenya using high resolution, multi-beam SONAR, Syracuse University’s Lacustrine and Rift Basin Research sponsors’ meeting, September, 2011, Woodlands, Texas, (oral presentation).

K.Y. McMullen, L.J. Poppe, S.D. Ackarman, D.S. Blackwood, J.D. Schaer, M.A. Nadeau, and D.A. Wood, 2011, Surficial Geology of the Sea Floor in Central Rhode Island Sound Southeast of Point Judith, Rhode Island, USGS Open-file Report 2011-1005.

K.Y. McMullen,  L.J. Poppe, W.W. Dandorth, D.S. Blackwood, J.D. Schaer, M.R. Guberski, D.A. Wood, and E.F. Doran, 2010, Surficial Gelolgy of the Sea Floor in Long Island Sound Offshore of Orient Point, New York, USGS Open-file Report 2010-1100.