Matlab as a tool for geophysical research: Examples from studies of the Greenland
ice sheet, melting beneath mid-ocean ridges, and continental rifting
Mark D. Behn, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Computation is an integral part of all geophysical research, enabling efficient data
analysis, visualization, and forward and inverse modeling. In my talk, I will discuss how
the WHOI Geodynamics Group uses Matlab a computational tool for geophysical
research focusing on three examples in which MIT/WHOI Joint Program students have
played a leading role: (1) the response of the Greenland ice sheet to surface melting, (2)
the release of CO2 due to mantle melting beneath mid-ocean ridges, and (3) the
interaction between surface processes and faulting during continental rifting. These
examples are meant to highlight the use of Matlab in different Earth systems, as well as
how Matlab can be used for different computational purposes. For example, in our
Greenland research we used Matlab to invert and visualize geodetic data in order to
determine how the ice sheet responds to the introduction of melt water into the basal
hydrologic system on time scales ranging from hours to years. By contrast, in the other
two examples, Matlab was used to construct forward models, from which testable
hypotheses were developed and tested against available geophysical and geochemical
data sets. Within the context of these studies, I will discuss the advantages of using
Matlab over other computational tools, as well as the challenges involved in
computational research.