Our research encompasses the Earth system, other planets, and the near-earth space environment, covering an extensive range of topics.
Our award-winning faculty lead research programs with the participation of graduate and undergraduate students, postdocs, and staff. We collaborate extensively with UW faculty, and with colleagues across the nation and internationally. Below, we provide an overview of the major research themes in the department. To learn more, you are encouraged to browse individual faculty web pages and to read about our state of the art research facilities.
Meet ESS faculty Read about our Research Facilities
Subduction Zone Processes
ESS’s Pacific Northwest Seismological Network (PNSN) is the authoritative seismological facility for the Pacific Northwest, and has been a leader in developing and implementing earthquake early warning systems. Much of this work is in collaboration with USGS scientists who are housed in our department. We are also involved in the study of the rock record to investigate the relationship between geochemical processes and geophysical processes at subduction zones in the field and laboratory, including the role of metamorphosed sediment in subduction fault strength, the evolution and controls of subduction thermal structure, and the rates of these processes.
Cryosphere and Climate
ESS faculty have pioneered the development and deployment of radar systems for imaging the interior structures of ice sheets and glaciers, and have played a leading role in every major multi-institution ice-core project in the last 30 years. Our faculty have done groundbreaking work in developing our understanding of the the sensitivity of glaciers to climate. Glaciologists and paleoclimatologists in ESS work closely with researchers from multiple others departments, including the Applied Physic Lab, the Department of Civil Engineering, and Atmospheric and Climate Science.
Planetary and Space Sciences
ESS has a long history of research in the near-space environment of Earth’s upper atmosphere, and leads the international Worldwide Lightning Location Network, comprising an array of sensors in more than 40 countries. ESS also has a growing presence in planetary sciences, with extensive work on the Martian landscape and glaciers, with direct involvement NASA’s Mars Phoenix and Perseverance Rover missions. ESS faculty are currently part of the Dragonfly science team, which will eventually reach Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, where it will be used to understand the interior structure and habitability of Titan. ESS is part of the UW Astrobiology program, in which graduate students obtain dual degrees in ESS and Astrobiology.
Earth Surface Dynamics
Our ability to quantify processes and make theoretical advances specific to the near-surface environment is growing at an incredible pace through technology-enabled discovery, allowing us to reconstruct Earth’s past, present, and future landscapes in increasing detail. The study of Earth surface dynamics is an integrative field, enabling collaborations with those who study volcanoes and earthquakes, soil processes, and geobiology. Additionally, there are strong applied-science aspects, ranging from the assessment of geologic hazards to the understanding of processes affecting fisheries, forestry and water resources.
Earth and Life Through Time
ESS faculty work on the the early evolution of life at the intersection of geology, biology and chemistry, examining the oldest and best-preserved rocks available. We also do work on the chemistry of water-rock-microbe interactions, combining interdisciplinary techniques from microbiology and low temperature aqueous geochemistry. By modeling these systems with chemical thermodynamics, this work quantitatively describes these Earth-life interactions and provides predictive power to understand these interactions through time and beyond our own planet: the essence of “geobiology”.
Closely Allied UW Programs and Research Centers
The Department of Earth and Space Sciences has close collaborations with other departments, schools, and research centers at the University of Washington. ESS also works closely with researchers from the United States Geological Survey, several of whom have offices within our department and/or department affiliate status. Many of our faculty, postdocs, and graduate students teach, conduct research, and collaborate with the following:
Pacific Northwest Seismic Network
The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN), headquartered in ESS and operated cooperatively with the University of Oregon, monitors earthquake and volcanic activity across the Pacific Northwest. PNSN is “dedicated to reducing impacts of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the states of Washington and Oregon by providing accurate and fast information about earthquakes and ground motions to scientists, engineers, planners, and the public.” PNSN has over 300 seismograph stations distributed across the region and is the second largest seismic network in the United States. Several ESS faculty, including PNSN Director Harold Tobin, staff, postdocs, and students (undergraduate and graduate) help operate PNSN.
UW Astrobiology Program
ESS is part of the internationally recognized UW Astrobiology Program, in which graduate students obtain a dual-title PhD in ESS and Astrobiology, with two core faculty (Roger Buick and David Catling), three affiliate faculty (Drew Gorman-Lewis, Joshua Krissansen-Totton, and Fang-Zhen Teng) and approximately 10 current graduate students.
Applied Physics Laboratory
UW research center with a focus on engineering applications to the study of the oceans and cryosphere. The Polar Science Center, a division within APL, is closely allied with the glaciology program in ESS, and includes professors Ian Joughin, Ben Smith, and Dale Winebrenner, and Daniel Shapero, all of whom advise ESS graduate students.
Burke Museum
The Burke Museum, located on the UW campus, is an active research museum. The more than 18 million biological, geological and cultural objects in its collections are a respected and relied-upon resource for researchers here and around the globe. Ruth Martin, a lecturer in ESS, holds a primary affiliation with the Burke, where she is research associate on the Geology & Paleontology team.
The Minerals Collection is part of the Burke Museum Paleontology and Geology Department and is associated with the ESS and Biology Department.
Program on Climate Change
The mission of the Program on Climate Change is to provide a framework of intense cross-disciplinary collaboration that furthers research and education in climate science.
The Minor in Climate Science, within the Program on Climate Change, has course requirements within ESS. Find out more about this minor here.
Quaternary Research Center
The Quaternary Research Center (QRC) is the oldest interdisciplinary center at UW and one of oldest Quaternary centers in the country. The QRC draws together UW faculty, students, associates, and visiting researchers in the study of everything from tectonics to climate, hydrosphere to ecosystems, and human evolution/adaptations to environmental impacts over the past 2.6 million years. About half of the faculty in the QRC are from ESS.