- B523 Portland Square, Drake Circus
- +44 1752 584766
- A.Morris@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Professor Tony Morris
Professor
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Role
Professor of Geophysics and Geodynamics
Qualifications
B.Sc. (Hons.) Environmental Sciences, majoring in Geological Sciences (University of East Anglia)
M.Sc. Geophysics (University of Durham)
Ph.D. Geophysics/Geology (University of Edinburgh)
Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (University of Plymouth)
Accredited Teacher in Higher Education (UK Staff and Educational Development Association)
Professional membership
Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fellow of the Geological Society of London
Member of the British Geophysical Association
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Member of the American Geophysical Union
Roles on external bodies
- Chair of the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling Science Support and Advisory Committee (ESSAC) 2018-2019. In this capacity I lead the Program Management Office for European (and Canadian) involvement in the International Ocean Discovery Program, responsible for selection of scientists to participate in IODP expeditions and for a wide range of grants, scholarships and outreach events
- UK Representative on ESSAC (2015-)
- Member of the Program Advisory Group, UK-IODP
- Natural Environment Research Council Peer Review College member (2005-2008)
- Treasurer of the British Geophysical Association (2004-2011)
Teaching interests
As a geophysicist I am interested in applying physical methods to look at plate tectonic and geodynamic processes. In addition, I use field studies to examine the evidence for oceanic crustal processes preserved in ophiolites. I have worked mainly in the eastern Mediterranean orogenic belt, but also have extensive experience of engagement with the International Ocean Discovery Program (that collects rock and sediment samples from the present-day ocean basins via scientific ocean drilling). I use my wide range of interests to inform my teaching. For example, I organise an annual nine-day field excursion to the Troodos ophiolite, Cyprus, drawing upon my research interests in this globally significant ophiolite.
Research interests
The main focus of my research has been the magnetic analysis of samples of oceanic lithosphere recovered from the world's oceans by the International Ocean Discovery Program and innovative investigations of major ophiolites (slices of oceanic lithosphere that have been emplaced tectonically on to land).
In January-February 2008 I sailed on an IODP Site Survey cruise to the tectonic exposures of fast-spreading rate oceanic crust at Hess Deep, as part of a NERC funded cruise aboard the (then) new James Cook research vessel (cruise JC21). This provided essential site survey data (bathymetric swath-mapping and sampling using the NERC remotely operated vehicle ISIS) to support future IODP drilling at this key locality (IODP Proposal #551).
In December 2012-February 2013 I was Lead Shipboard Palaeomagnetist on IODP Expedition 345 to Hess Deep in the Pacific Ocean. This recovered a suite of cores from primitive lower crustal layered gabbros for the first time, confirming the broad features of the ophiolite paradigm and providing a complete picture of the bulk geochemistry of fast-spreading EPR crust. Post cruise research is focusing on the development of magnetic fabrics in these layered gabbros and the origin of multicomponent remanences in these rocks.
Most recently, in December 2015 - January 2016 I sailed as Lead Palaeomagnetist on IODP Expedition 360 "Indian Ridge Moho", that drilled into the footwall of the Atlantis Bank oceanic core complex on the SW Indian Ridge. This long-term project offers the prospect of drilling vertically through a geomagnetic reversal boundary in the oceanic crust for the first time, although we did not reach this level during Expedition 360 unfortunately.
In addition to research in oceanic lithosphere via the IODP, I have also focused on the application of palaeomagnetic and magnetic fabric techniques to a range of geodynamic and tectonic problems within ophiolites of the Tethyan orogenic belt and elsewhere. Field areas have included Albania, Canada, Cyprus, Oman, Syria and Turkey. In most cases, this has involved using advanced net tectonic rotation analysis methods to interpret paleomagnetic magnetisation data (a novel approach that out-performs standard structural corrections in complex ophiolite settings). Examples of these projects include:
Grants & contracts
RECENT SUCCESSFUL GRANT APPLICATIONS:
2016 - NERC Standard Grant, “Magnetization and tectonic evolution of ultraslow-spreading rate lower oceanic crust, Atlantis Bank, SW Indian Ridge (IODP Expedition 360)” (PI: Morris) (£35,878)
2015 - EU Marie Curie IF Award, Jan 2015, "PASS: Palaeozoic Seafloor Spreading" (PI: Morris, CI: Anderson, Research Fellow: di Chiara)(183,000 Euros)
2014 - NERC Standard Grant, "Rotation of the Philippine Sea Plate (IODP Expedition 351)" (PI: Morris)(£35,828)
2012 - NERC Standard Grant, "Palaeomagnetic constraints on lower oceanic crustal processes (IODP Expedition 345 Hess Deep Plutonic Crust" (PI: Morris)(£25,456)
2011 - NERC Standard Grant, "Superfast spreading rate crust 4: magnetism of the lower oceanic crust" (PI: Morris)(£12,425)
2010 - EU Marie Curie IEF Award, Jan 2010, "DEFOrm: Detachment Faults in Ophiolites" (PI: Morris, CI: Anderson, Research Fellow: Maffione)(176,000 Euros)
2007 - NERC Standard Grant, July 2006, "Spatial and temporal scales of crustal accretion in slow-spreading rate oceanic crust (Atlantis Massif, Mid Atlantic Ridge - IODP Site U1309D)" (PI: Morris, CI: MacLeod (Cardiff), Project Partners: Gee (Scripps), John (Wyoming))(£217,400)
2006 - NERC UK IODP Rapid Response Grant, May 2006, "Palaeomagnetic constraints on the construction of the lower oceanic crustal section recovered at Hole U1309D, Atlantis Massif, Mid-Atlantic Ridge (IODP Expedition 304/305)" (£1890)
2004 - NERC UK IODP Site Survey Initiative Standard Grant, May 2004, "Accretion of the lower oceanic crust at fast-spreading ridges: a rock drill and near-bottom seafloor survey in support of IODP drilling in Hess Deep" (PI: MacLeod (Cardiff) CI: Teagle (Soton), RR: Morris + Project Partners)(£474,413)
Research groups
- Geodynamics and Palaeomagnetism