Frederick W Taylor

Frederick W Taylor
Senior Research Scientist Emeritus, Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences

Email: fred@ig.utexas.edu
Work: +1 512 471 0453
Office: ROC
Mailcode: R2200

Dr. Frederick Taylor presently focuses on Quaternary and contemporary crustal motions in the Southwest Pacific using coral reefs as recorders of tectonic deformation in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. The main objective is to determine the relationship between the elastic earthquake cycle surrounding the main interplate thrust zone and longer-term net vertical deformation of the forearc. He also is working with colleagues to investigate both general late Holocene sea level trends and climate driven sea-level anomalies in the western tropical Pacific. The Federated States of Micronesia, Pohnpei, Chuuk, and Kosrae should be good recorders of mean global sea level and are the host for large coral microatolls that should retain precise records of both the amount and precise timing of paleosea level.

Areas of Expertise

Tectonic geomorphology, stratigraphy, and paleogeodesy/paleoseismology at convergent plate margins Paleoclimate, fossil corals as a proxy for past sea-surface temperatures. Corals as recorders of relative sea level for vertical tectonics and sea-level history.


Research Locations



Chief Scientist, Antarctic Peninsula GPS Tectonics, R/V LM Gould LMG02-9 (2002)

Field Project, Coral Tectonics where the Woodlark Rift Propagates into Australian plate (2002)

Field Project, Installation and First measurements, West Antarctic GPS Network (2002)

Field Work, GPS work out of South Pole using Twin Otter (2002)

Field Work, Coral Tectonics of Propagating Woodlark Rift, PNG (2002)

Chief Scientist, GPS crustal motion of Bransfield, R/V LMGould Cruise (2002)

Principal Organizer, Climate Change , Minisymposium (2002)

Lecturer , Tectonics Course, Mosher and Frohlich's (2002)

Judge, Texas State Science Fair, Arlington, Texas (2002)

Member, Science Review Committee, State Science Fair, Arlington, TX (2002)

Field Project, Coring Fossil Corals from Surface Outcrops, Western Solomon Islands (2001)

Chief Scientist, GPS Antarctic Peninsula, ARSVL.M Gould Cruise LMG98-10 (1998)

Chief Scientist, GPS Antarctic Peninsula, R/V Abel-J Cruise (1997)

Field Project, Paleoseismology and Crustal motions of the Sumatran Subduction Zone (1993 - 1997)

Field Project, Drilling live corals for Paleoclimate studies of the Western Pacific (1992)

Field Project, Deep drilling of reefs for the coral climate record from present to 30 Ka: Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Soloman Islands (1990)

Field Project, ODP Leg 134 Proponet and Shipboard Sedimentologists (1990)

Field Project, Tectonics of SW Pacific Arc Systems, Global Positioning System Project (1988)

Co-Chief Scientist, North Atlantic Transect MCS Cruise (1981)

Field Project, Neotectonics and Paleoseismology, Dominican Republic (1980 - 1981)

Member, Science Staff, Old Bahama Channel MCS Cruise (1980)

Field Project, Tectonics and Paleoseismology, Unplifted Coral Reefs, Vanuatu &Soloman Islands (1976)

Field Project, Emerged Coral Reefs and Neotectonics, Tonga anf Fiji (1974 - 1978)

Field Project, Emerged Coral Reefs and Paleosea Levels, Barbados, W.I. (1971 - 1974)

Member, American Geophysical Union

Member, American Quanternary Association

Member, Geological Scoiety of America

Member, International Scoiety for Reef Studies

Co-Chair, Climate Change Working Group, ESI

Member, Advisory Committee, ESI

Scientific Advisor, Earth and Sky , w/ Debrea Byrd and Joel Block

Talk Given , Liberty Hill Middle School

Talk Given , Geology Department, University PNG

Support to Ellins', Information and Advice; Avail for Presentations, GMO