The more I tried to learn the more I realised that in order to understand the earth process you need to start deciphering them one by one, and in doing that you need a good grasp of the inverse theory. At that juncture in my life where I was surrounded by confusions of all kind, I decided to get back into academics. Right from the start I was interested in various geophysicl methods but I was totally awed by seismology and decided to dive right into it. I worked towards my Masters at Kansas State University under the guidance of Dr Steve Gao and Dr Kelly Liu. At KSU I learned different methods that can be applied in measuring dynamic forces on the earth that help you extrapolate processes that control the structure and composition of the different layers of the earth. I have been working on using receiver functions to estimate the crustal thickness and composition of the crust beneath continents (refer to research section).

    Currently I am working with Dr Matt Fouch and Dr Caroline Beghein at ASU on the two station method using surface waves to invert pase velocities to estimate the structure beneath the Basin and Range, Colorado Plateau and the trasition zone in Arizona. I also intend to use this method on data derived from the newly installed USArray stations, collaborating with Dr Arthur Snoke. In addition to the surface wave analysis i am also using receiver functions to provide a better crustal model for the Cascades.

    Besides all the above I have been involved in the installation of broadband seismic stations as a part of the High Lava Plains Seismic Experiment. I also had a great time working on siting stations for the Big Foot deployment of USArray stations in Arizona. I drive around a lot and have been places where no man would dare go :)

Pictures from my various field trips can be found in Photo Album. 

  

Shaji K Nair shaji {dot}nair {at} asu {dot} edu School of Earth and Space Exploration Arizona State University Tempe, AZ 85281

©Shaji Nair