text: rramalho | Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
  123 Comer
  (845) 365-8916
  rramalho@ldeo.columbia.edu
  My research interests are mostly focused on oceanic hotspot dynamics and the origins and evolution of ocean island volcanoes. I am particularly interested on long-term ocean island uplift reconstructions using relative sea-level tracers, in order to gain
  As an earth scientist, I aspire to provide a solid and substantial contribution to the comprehension of oceanic hotspots, ocean island systems, volcanic/igneous systems, the evolution of volcanic landscapes and the link between surface processes and deep mechanisms. I am particularly committed towards a multidisciplinary aproach combining direct geological observations, geomorphology, isotope geochronology, geophysical imaging, numerical and analogue modeling, and with a strong physical footing on the geological record. During my academic and professional course I have done extensive field work in the Atlantic Islands, namely in Madeira, Cape Verde and the Azores Archipelagos, in subjects spanning volcanostratigraphy, tectonics, geomorphology, geochronology and uplift studies. This allowed me to gather and advanced knowledge on the geology of these archipelagos, whose internal diversity provides a unique window on the processes affecting ocean island edifices. The interdisciplinary approach necessary to gain insight on the vertical movements affecting ocean islands lead me to acquire skills in areas as diverse as: volcanostratigraphy; geophysics and numerical modeling; Ar-Ar, strontium isotope stratigraphy, U-Th desiquilibrium and surface exposure geochronology techniques; sedimentology and palaeontology; igneous petrology; and eustatic studies.
  I am currently funded by a FP7-PEOPLE-2011 Marie Curie Postdoctoral Research International Outgoing Fellowship, with LDEO as my outgoing host and Bristol University as my return host. The project title is What can island isostasy tell us about hotspot dynamics? and aims to investigate a regional vs local quaternary uplift in the Cape Verde Archipelago as means to probe dynamic topography effects. Whith this insight we are currently applying surface exposure geochronology techniques to date old wavecut surfaces and track island uplift. We are also pioneering the use of these techniques to investigate tsunami and storm deposits, as well as recent volcanism and other erosion surfaces.
  MSc in Dynamic Geology
  Springer Thesis Award 2011
  Runners-up Best Talk at the British Geophysical Association Postgraduate Research in Progress Meeting, 2007