Summary
I am a structural geologist interested in the evolution of the continents, especially the compositional, thermal, structural, and rheological histories of continental crust along the convergent plate boundaries. I am also interested in how heat and mass (magma, solid rocks, fluid) transfer within the crust, and how tectonic activities interact with long-term climate.
I combine field study with laboratory analysis (LA-ICP-MS, EPMA, EBSD) and numerical modeling w88 casinoto address geological problems/questions. My study areas include the Sierra Nevada Batholith in California, the Gangdese Batholith in southern Tibet, and the Basin and Range Province in Nevada.
Research interests
- Evolution of magmatic orogens
- Heat and mass transfer processes in the crust
- Tectonics and magmatism in Basin and Range
Courses taught
- GEOL 260 Introductory Field Methods
- GEOL 332 Structural Geology and Tectonics
- GEOL 451 Summer Field Camp
- GEOL 497 Senior Research Project
- GEOL 735 Lithospheric Dynamics
Education
- University of Southern California, 2015 PhD
- China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 2009 BS
Publications
- Cao, W., Kaus, J.P.B, Paterson, S.R., Numerical simulations of the incremental Intrusion of granitic magma into the continental crust facilitated by diking and multiple pulses. Tectonics.doi:10.1002/2015TC004076.
- w88 casino games loginCao, W., Paterson, S. R., 2016, A mass balance and isostasy model of continental arcs: Exploring the interplay between magmatism, tectonism and surface erosion using central Sierra Nevada as a case study. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 17, doi: 10.1002/2015GC006229.
- w88 casino games loginCao, W., Paterson, S.R., Saleeby, J., Zalunardo, S., 2016, Bulk arc strain, crustal thickening, magma emplacement, and mass balances in the Mesozoic Sierra Nevada arc. Journal of Structural Geology. v.84, p. 14-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jsg.2015.11.002.
- w88 casino games loginCao, W., Paterson, S.R., Memeti, V., Mundil. R., Anderson, L. and Schmidt, K. 2015, Tracking paleodeformation field in a continental arc: a study of incremental and finite strain in Mesozoic plutons and host rocks, respectively in central Sierra Nevada, California. w88 casino games loginLithosphere. v. 7,no. 3, p. 296-320. doi:10.1130/L389.1.
- Lee, C-T A, Thurner, S., Paterson, S., Cao, W., 2015, The rise and fall of continental arcs: interplays between magmatism, uplift, weathering, and climate, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2015.05.045.
- Davis, G.A., Meng, J., Cao, W., Du, X. 2009, Triassic and Jurassic Tectonics in the Eastern Yanshan Belt, North China: Insights from the Controversial Dengzhangzi Formation and Its Neighboring Units. Earth Science Frontiers. Vol. 16, p.69-86.