Christopher Connors William E. Pritchard III '80 Professor of Earth and Environmental Geoscience

Science Addition 217
540-458-8514
connorsc@wlu.edu
Website
on leave Fall and Spring terms

William E. Pritchard III '80 Professor of Geology, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, 2012 - present.

Associate Professor, Dept. of Geology, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, 2005 - 2012.

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Geology, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, 1999 - 2005.

Head, Dept. of Geology, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, 2009 - 2010, 2011 - 2016.

Research Geologist, United States Geological Survey, Reston, VA 2016 - present.

Visiting Professor, Universitat de Barcelona, Departamento de Geodinàmica i Geofísica, Barcelona, Espanya, 2010-11.

Visiting Professor, Departamento de Geologia, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, España, 2003.

Structural Geologist, Texaco Exploration, Bellaire, TX, 1995 - 1999.

Secondary School Teacher, Millcreek Township School District, Erie, PA, 1986 - 1987.

Education

Princeton University, Ph. D., 1999

Princeton University, M. A., 1993

University of Pittsburgh, M. S., 1990

Edinboro Univ. of Pennsylvania, Teacher Certification, 1986

Pennsylvania State University, B. S., 1984

Research

My current research interests are in structural geology, specifically forward and inverse numerical modeling of fault-related folding, seismic interpretation of complex structures, and the development of growth strata associated with fault-related folding. I am studying the Paleozoic tectonic evolution of Arctic Alaska. I am a part of the Alaska energy group within the USGS, with a particular emphasis on seismic interpretation. I am analyzing the structure of the deep water of several basins in the world using long-offset, prestack depth-migrated seismic data. In addition, I have field projects underway integrating surface and subsurface data in the Southern Appalachians and growth structures in the Catalan Coastal Ranges of Spain. My previous work in the extraction of quantitative information from remote sensing data to constrain structural interpretation and modeling has seen its most recent manifestation in the use of ground-based lidar and structure-from-motion 3-D data to augment traditional field mapping of contractional growth strata in otherwise inaccessible surfaces, such as vertical cliffs.

Selected Publications

(* student co-authors)

Gabor T., Connors, C., Flinch, J., Granath, J., Pace, P., Sobornov, K., Soto, J., 2023, Negative structural inversion: an overview, Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 152, doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106223.

Connors, Christopher, D., Houseknecht, David W., 2022 Structural inheritance in the Chukchi shelf, Alaska, Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 143, p. 1-17, doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2022.105812.

Connors, C. D., A. N. Hughes*, and S. M. Ball*, 2021, Kinematic Forward Modeling of Fault-bend Folding, Journal of Structural Geology, v. 143, p. 1-21, doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2020.104252.

Houseknecht, David and Christopher Connors, 2016, Pre-Mississippian tectonic affinity across the Canada Basin–Arctic margins of Alaska and Canada, Geology, v. 44, p. 507-510, doi:10.1130/G37862.1.

Houseknecht, David and Christopher Connors, 2015, Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous Inversion Of Rift Structures, And Linkage Of Petroleum System Elements Across Post-Rift Unconformity, U.S. Chukchi Shelf, Arctic Alaska, GCSSEPM Perkins Conference Transactions, v. 34, p. 724-743.

Vidal-Royo, Oskar, Thomas E. Hearon IV, Christopher D. Connors, Stuart Bland, Frauke Schaefer, Oriol Ferrer, Andrés Mora, José de Vera, Chris A. Guzofski, Fernando Rodríguez, Eric Jean-Philippe Blanc, and Alan Vaughan, 2015, Introduction to special section: Balancing, restoration, and palinspastic reconstruction: Interpretation, v. 3(4), 2 p., SAAi-SAAiii, doi: 10.1190/INT2015-0916-SPSEINTRO.1.

Connors, Christopher D. and B. J. Radovich, 2014, Multiage Plays in Offshore Nigeria: Hidden Plays of Neogene Shale Structures, and Robust Lower Miocene to Paleogene Deposition, GCSSEPM Perkins Conference Transactions, vol. 33, p. 187-196.

Stier*, Natalie E., Christopher D. Connors, and David W. Houseknecht, 2014, Influence of the Kingak Shale Ultimate Shelf Margin on Frontal Structures of the Brooks Range in National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska, USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5056, 12 p.

Martínez-Loriente, Sara, Eulàlia Gràcia, Rafael Bartolomé, Christopher Connors, Hector Perea, Claudio lo Iacono, Dirk Klaeschen, Pedro Terrinha, Juan José Dañobeitia, Nevio Zitellini, 2013, Active deformation in old oceanic lithosphere and significance for earthquake hazard: Seismic imaging of the Coral Patch Ridge area and neighboring abyssal plains (SW Iberian Margin):  Geochemistry, Geophysics and Geosystems, v. 14, doi:10.1002/ggge.20173.

McColloch*, A.L., M.P. Braunscheidel*, C.D. Connors, and S.D. Levy, 2010, Automation of  Cross Section Construction and Forward Modeling of Fault-bend Folds from Integrated Map Data, vol. 30, p. 63-68, Trabajos de Geología, Oviedo, Spain.

Connors, C. D., B. J. Radovich, A. Danforth, S. Venkatraman, 2009, Structure of the Offshore Niger Delta, vol. 29, p. 182-188, Trabajos de Geología, Oviedo, Spain.

Radovich B. J., C. D. Connors, J. Moon 2007, Deep Imaging of the Paleogene, Miocene Structure and Stratigraphy of the Western Gulf of Mexico using 2D Pre-Stack Depth Migration of Mega- Regional Onshore to Deep Water, Long-Offset Seismic Data, GCSSEPM Perkins Conference Transactions, vol. 27, p. 307-322.

Radovich B. J., J. Moon, C. D. Connors, D. Bird, 2007, Insights into Structure and Stratigraphy of the Northern Gulf of Mexico from 2D Pre-Stack Depth Migration Imaging of Mega-Regional Onshore to Deep Water, Long-Offset Seismic Data, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, vol. 57, p. 633-637.

Hardy, Stuart and Christopher D. Connors, 2006, A Velocity Description of Shear Fault-Bend Folding, Journal of Structural Geology, v. 28, p. 536-543.

Knapp, Elizabeth P. , M. Lisa Greer, Christopher D. Connors, and David Harbor, 2006, Field-Based Instruction As Part Of A Balanced Geoscience Curriculum At Washington And Lee University, Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 54, p. 103-108.

Levy, S.D., P. Djalaliev*, J.M. Shrestha*, A. Khasymski* and C. D. Connors, 2005, Cheap and Easy Parallelism for Matlab on Linux Clusters, Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Computing Systems, p. 301-306.

Shaw, John H., Christopher D. Connors and John Suppe, 2005, editors, Seismic Interpretation of Contractional Fault-related Folds: An AAPG Seismic Atlas, Studies in Geology #53:  Amer. Assoc. of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, OK, 156 p.

Shaw, John H., Christopher D. Connors and John Suppe, 2005, Part 1, Interpretation Methods, in John H., Shaw, Christopher D. Connors and John Suppe, eds., Seismic Interpretation of Contractional Fault-related Folds: An AAPG Seismic Atlas, Studies in Geology #53:  Amer. Assoc. of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, OK,  p 1-58.

Shaw, John H., Enrique Novoa and Christopher D. Connors, 2004, Structural controls on growth stratigraphy in contractional fault-related folds, in K. R. McClay, ed., Thrust Tectonics and Hydrocarbon Systems: AAPG Memoir 82, p. 400-412.

Suppe, John, Christopher D. Connors and Yikun Zhang, 2004, Shear fault-bend folding, in K. R. McClay, ed., Thrust Tectonics and Hydrocarbon Systems: AAPG Memoir 82, p. 303-323.

Connors, Chris and John Suppe, 2001, Constraints on magnitudes of extension on Venus from slope measurements: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 106, p. 3237-3260.

Connors, Chris, 1995, Determining heights and slopes of fault scarps and other surfaces on Venus using Magellan stereo radar: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 100, p. 14361-14381.

Williams, C. A., Chris Connors, F. A. Dahlen, E. J. Price, and John Suppe, 1994, Effect of the brittle-ductile transition on the topography of Compressive Mountain Belts on the Earth and Venus: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 99, p. 19947-19974.

Suppe, John and Chris Connors, 1992, Critical-taper wedge mechanics of fold-and-thrust belts on Venus: initial results from Magellan: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 97, p. 13545-13561.

University Service

I have supervised 30 undergraduate student theses (including 14 honors theses), 52 students in summer research, 49 independent study students.

I have been academic advisor to 152 students, 3 of whom won Goldwater Scholarships, and 1 who won a Fulbright Scholarship.

I have served on 3 Promotion Committees (chaired 2), and 3 Tenure Committees (chaired 1).

I have served the university on the following committees and boards:
Academic Task Force of the Strategic Plan, 2004-2006.
Board of Trustees Faculty Representative (elected), 2006-2008.
College Council (elected), 2005-2007.
Committee to Consider Faculty Handbook Revisions for Undergraduate Tenure and Promotion (elected), 2013-2015.
Employee Benefits Committee, 2005-2017, Chair 2009-2010, 2011-2016, Chair 2020-2021.
Investment Committee, 2011-2016, 2020-2021.
Presidential Task Force on Women, 2007-2008.
President’s Advisory Committee (elected), 2008-2011.
Provost Search Committee, 2006-2007.
Science, Society and the Arts ad-hoc Committee, 2005-2009.
University Library Committee, 2006-2009.

Professional Service

Member of Geological Society of America, American Geophysical Union, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
Member of the Research Committee of AAPG, 2002-2005.
Member of the Computer Applications and Internet Committee of AAPG, 2002-2005.
Session Chair AAPG National Meeting, 2007.