Kirk McIntosh

Research Scientist

Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz (1992);
B.Sc., Colorado School of Mines (1980)

Telephone: 512-471-0480
email: kirk at ig.utexas.edu

Kirk is interested in the structure and development of continental margins along convergent and transpressive plate boundaries. His work investigates the structures and processes ranging from crustal scale to (large) outcrop scale that can be studied using seismic reflection and refraction data, sidescan sonar, and other geological and geophysical tools. Among these processes are sediment accretion, subduction, and erosion at convergent margins, forearc and backarc extension and compression, fluid dynamics in accretionary prisms, and shallow-subduction seismicity. McIntosh's primary research sites are currently the Middle America Trench system offshore Costa Rica (where seamount subduction, the subduction of the Cocos Ridge, backarc thrusting, forearc extension, and a migrating triple junction pose exciting challenges) and Taiwan's continent-collision zone (one of the world's few sites of an ongoing continent/island-arc collision). To address a paucity of deep-structure data from this region, McIntosh and UTIG colleague Yosio Nakamura participated in a collaborative U.S.-Chinese seismic imaging project on which deep MCS profiling and seismic refraction studies were carried out with a suite of UTIG's OBS instruments.