overview

• Dr. Farris's current research focuses on the broad topic of past and present lithospheric evolution with special emphasis on arc and convergent margin processes, but he has have also worked in a variety of different tectonic settings. He is particularly interested in projects in which the outcomes have implications for other disciplines such as paleo-oceanography, paleoclimate and biologic evolution. Other research interests include disparate topics such as: 1) The physical and chemical evolution of magmatic systems, 2) The use of gravity and magnetics to analyze faults, sedimentary basins and igneous systems, and 3) Magmatic aspects of tectonic change in arc systems that are driven by processes such as slab-window formation, slab break-off and lower crustal delamination. All these various interests are linked together to help better understand joint lithospheric and climatic evolution.
  
  The two most extensive geographic focuses of Dr. Farris's work have been in Panama and Alaska, but he has also worked in Colombia, southern California, northern New Mexico /Colorado, Saudi Arabia and the Appalachians. Most recently at ECU, he has worked on EDMAP funded projects the goal of which is to better understand the nature of Appalachian terrane boundaries and how such crustal boundaries can be reactivated throughout multiple orogenic episodes. Understanding long-lived crustal boundaries is important to understanding how orogenic systems work globally and play a role in understanding the current topography of our planet.
  David W. Farris Personal Website
  Google Scholar Profile