Steve Constable

Professor In Residence

Room: Munk Lab 326

Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics,
Scripps Institution of Oceanography,
University of California San Diego,
La Jolla, CA 92093-0225, USA.

Telephone: (858) 534-2409

Email: sconstable@ucsd.edu

Website: http://mahi.ucsd.edu/Steve/

Research Summary for 2006: Download PDF (632.726KB)

Research Interests:

• Electrical conductivity of crust and mantle
• Seafloor instrumentation
• Geophysical data analysis and inversion

Courses Taught:

• ERTH180 (Geophysics/Natural Resources)
• ERTH182 (Field Geophysics)
• ERTH182B (Applied Geophysics)
• ERTH211 (Research Seminar)
• SIO182B (Envr & Exploration Geophys B)
• SIO199 (Special Studies)
• SIO231 (Intro EM Methods in Geophysics)
• SIO232 (Environmental Geophysics)
• SIO239 (Special Topics in Geophysics)
• SIO298 (Spec Studies/Marine Sciences)
• SIO299 (Research)

Recent publications: ^†

• Weitemeyer, K.A., S.C. Constable, K.W. Key, and J.P. Behrens, 2006. First results from a marine controlled-source electromagnetic survey to detect gas hydrates offshore Oregon. Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L03304, doi:10.1029/2005GL024896.
• Weitemeyer, K., S. Constable, and K. Key, 2006. Marine EM techniques for gas-hydrate and hazard mitigation. The Leading Edge, 25, 629–632.
• Weiss, C.J., and S. Constable, 2006. Mapping thin resistors in the marine environment, Part II: Modeling and analysis in 3D. Geophysics, 71, G321–G332.
• Webb, S.C., Constable, S.C., Cox, C.S., and Deaton, T.K., 1985. A seafloor electric field instrument. Geomag. Geoelectr., 37, 1115-1129.
• Webb, S.C. and Constable, S.C., 1986. Microseism propagation between two sites on the deep sea floor. Bull. Seis. Soc. Am., 76, 1433-1445.
• Tolstoy, M., S. Constable, J. Orcutt, H. Staudigel, F.K. Wyatt, and G. Anderson, 1997. Short and long baseline tiltmeter measurements on Axial Seamount, Juan de Fuca Ridge. Phys. Earth Planet. Inter., 108, 129–141.
• Sinha, M.C., S. Constable, C. Peirce, A. White, G. Heinson, L.M. MacGregor, and D.A. Navin, 1998. Magmatic processes at slow spreading ridges: Implications of the RAMESSES Experiment at 57o 45’ North on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Geophys. J. Int., 135, 731–745.
• Sinha, M.C., D.A. Navin, L.M. MacGregor, S. Constable, C. Peirce, A. White, G. Heinson, and M.A. Inglis, 1996. Evidence for accumulated melt beneath the slow-spreading mid-Atlantic ridge. Phil. Trans. A Roy. Soc., 355, 233–253.
• Popkov, I.,A. White, G. Heinson, S. Constable, P. Milligan, and F.E.M. Lilley, 2000. Electromagnetic investigation of the Eyre Peninsula conductivity anomaly. Exploration Geophysics, 31, 187–191.
• Petersons, H.F., and S. Constable, 1996. Global mapping of the electrically conductive lower mantle. Geophys. Res. Lett., 23, 1461–1464.
• Orange, A., K. Key, and S. Constable, 2008. The feasibility of reservoir monitoring using time-lapse marine CSEM. Geophysics, in press.
• Medin, A.E., R.L. Parker, and S. Constable, 2007. Making sound inferences from geomagnetic sounding. Phys. Earth Planet. Int., 160, 51–59.
• McFadden, P.C. and Constable, S.C., 1983. The estimation and removal of a linear drift from stacked data. J. Geophys., 53, 52-58.
• MacGregor, L.M., S. Constable, and M.C. Sinha, 1998. The RAMESSES Experiment III: Controlled source electromagnetic sounding of the Reykjanes Ridge at 57o 45’ N. Geophys. J. Int., 135, 773–789.
• MacGregor, L., M. Sinha, and S. Constable, 2001. Electrical resistivity structure of the Valu Fa Ridge, Lau Basin, from marine controlled-source electromagnetic sounding. Geophys. J. Int., 146, 217–236.
• Li, Y., and S. Constable, 2007. 2D marine controlled-source electromagnetic modeling: Part 2 – The effect of bathymetry. Geophysics, 72, WA63–WA71.
• Korte, M., S.C. Constable, and C.G. Constable, 2003. Separation of external magnetic signal for induction studies. In “First CHAMP Mission Results for Gravity, Magnetic and Atmospheric Studies”, ed. C. Reigber, H. Lhr, and P. Schwintzer, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 315-320.
• Key, K.W., S.C. Constable, and C.J. Weiss, 2006. Mapping 3D salt using 2D marine MT: Case study from Gemini Prospect, Gulf of Mexico. Geophysics, 71, B17–B27.
• Key, K., and S. Constable, 2002. Broadband marine MT exploration of the East Pacific Rise at 950’N. Geophys. Res. Lett., 29, 10.1029/2002GL016035.
• Hoversten, G.M., H.F. Morrison and S. Constable, 1998. Marine magnetotellurics for petroleum exploration Part 2. Numerical analysis of subsalt resolution. Geophysics, 63, 826–840.
• Hoversten, G.H., S. Constable, and H.F. Morrison, 2000. Marine magnetellurics for base salt mapping: Gulf of Mexico field-test at the Gemini structure. Geophysics, 65, 1476–1488.
• Heinson, G., S. Constable, and A. White, 2000. Episodic melt transport at a mid-ocean ridge inferred from magnetotelluric sounding. Geophys. Res. Lett., 27, 2317–2320.
• Heinson, G., S. Constable and A. White, 1996. Seafloor Magnetotelluric Sounding Above Axial Seamount. Geophys. Res. Lett., 23, 2275-2278.
• Heinson, G., S. Constable and A. White, 1993. The Electrical Conductivity of the Lithosphere and Asthenosphere beneath the Coastline of Southern California. Bull. Aust. Soc. Explor. Geophys., 24, 195–200.
• Heinson, G., A. White, S. Constable, and K. Key, 1999. Marine self potential exploration. Bull. Aust. Soc. Explor. Geophys., 30, 1–4.
• Heinson, G. and Constable, S.C. , 1992. The electrical conductivity of the oceanic upper mantle. Geophys. J. Int., 110, 159–179.
• Fullekrug, M. and S. Constable, 2000. Global triangulation of intense lightning discharges. Geophys. Res. Lett., 27, 333–336.
• Flosadottir, A.H. and S. Constable, 1996. Marine controlled source electromagnetic sounding 1. Modeling and experimental design. J. Geophys. Res., 101, 5507–5517.
• Everett, M.E., S. Constable, and C.G. Constable, 2003. Effects of near-surface conductance on global satellite induction responses. Geophys. J. Int., 153, 277-286.
• Everett, M.E., and S. Constable, 1999. Electric dipole fields over an anisotropic seafloor: theory and application to the structure of 40 Ma Pacific Ocean lithosphere. Geophys. J. Int., 136, 41–56.
• Evans, R.L., M.C. Sinha, S.C. Constable, and M.J. Unsworth, 1994. On the electrical nature of the axial melt zone at 13o N on the east Pacific rise. J. Geophys. Res., 99, 577–587.
• Ellingsrud, S., T. Eidesmo, S. Johansen, M.C. Sinha, L.M. MacGregor, and S. Constable, 2002. Remote sensing of hydrocarbon layers by seabed logging (SBL): Results from a cruise offshore Angola. The Leading Edge, 21, 972-982.
• Eidesmo, T., S. Ellingsrud, L.M. MacGregor, S. Constable, M.C. Sinha, S. Johanson, F.N. Kong, and H. Westerdahl, 2002. Sea Bed Logging (SBL), a new method for remote and direct identification of hydrocarbon filled layers in deepwater areas. First Break, 20, 144–152.
• Duba, A, and S.C.Constable, 1993. The electrical conductivity of a lherzolite. J. Geophys. Res., 98, 11885–11899. Constable, S.C., Shankland, T.J. and Duba, A., 1992. The electrical conductivity of an isotropic olivine mantle. J. Geophys. Res., 97, 3397–3404.
• deGroot-Hedlin, C. and S. Constable, 2004. Inversion of magnetotelluric data for 2D structure with sharp resistivity contrasts. Geophysics, 69, 78–86.
• deGroot-Hedlin, C. and S. Constable, 1993. Occam’s inversion and the North American Central Plains electrical anomaly. J. Geomag. Geoelect., 45, 985–1000.
• deGroot-Hedlin, C. and Constable, S.C., 1990. Occam’s inversion to generate smooth, two-dimensional models from magnetotelluric data. Geophysics, 55, 1613–1624.
• Cox, C.S., Constable, S.C., Chave, A.D., and Webb, S.C., 1986. Controlled source electromagnetic sounding of the oceanic lithosphere. Nature, 320, 52-54.
• Constable, S.C., Parker, R.L., and Constable, C.G., 1987. Occam’s Inversion: a practical algorithm for generating smooth models from EM sounding data. Geophysics, 52, 289–300.
• Constable, S.C., McElhinny, M.W., and McFadden, P.L., 1984. Deep Schlumberger sounding and the crustal resistivity structure of central Australia. Geophys. J. Roy. astr. Soc., 79, 893-910.
• Constable, S.C., and G. Heinson, 1993. In defense of a resistive oceanic upper mantle: reply to a comment by Tarits, Chave and Schultz. Geophys. J. Int., 114, 717–723.
• Constable, S.C., 1993. Constraints on mantle electrical conductivity from field and laboratory measurements. J. Geomag. Geoelect., 45, 707–728.
• Constable, S.C., 1993. Conduction by mantle hydrogen. Nature, 362, 704.
• Constable, S.C., 1992. Electrical studies of the Australian lithosphere. Geol. Soc. Aust. Sspec. Publ., 17, 121–140. Evans, R.L., S.C. Constable, M.C. Sinha, and C.S. Cox, 1991. Upper crustal resistivity structure of the East Pacific Rise near 13o N. Geophys. Res. Lett., 18, 1917–1920.
• Constable, S.C., 1991. Comment on ‘Magnetotelluric appraisal using simulated annealing’ by Dosso and Oldenburg. Geophys. J. Int., 106, 387–388.
• Constable, S.C., 1990. Marine electromagnetic induction studies. Surv. Geophys., 11, 303–327.
• Constable, S.C., 1985. Resistivity studies over the Flinders conductivity anomaly, South Australia. Geophys. J. Roy. astr. Soc., 83, 775-786.
• Constable, S.C. and Duba, A., 1990. The electrical conductivity of olivine, a dunite, and the mantle. J. Geophys. Res., 95, 6967–6978.
• Constable, S., K. Key, and Lewis, L., 2008. Mapping offshore sedimentary structure using electromagnetic methods and terrain effects in marine magnetotelluric data. Geophysical Journal International, in press.
• Constable, S., G. Heinson, G. Anderson, and A. White, 1997. Seafloor electromagnetic measurements above Axial Seamount, Juan de Fuca Ridge. J. Geomag. Geolect., 49, 1327–1342.
• Constable, S., and L.J. Srnka, 2007. An introduction to marine controlled source electromagnetic methods for hydrocarbon exploration. Geophysics, 72, WA3–WA12.
• Constable, S., and J.J. Roberts, 1997. Simultaneous Modeling of Thermopower and Electrical Conduction in Olivine. Phys. Chem. Min., 24, 319–325.
• Constable, S., and C.S. Cox, 1996. Marine controlled source electromagnetic sounding 2. The PEGASUS experiment. J. Geophys. Res., 101, 5519–5530.
• Constable, S., and C.J. Weiss, 2005. Mapping thin resistors (and hydrocarbons) with marine EM methods: Insights from 1D modeling. Geophysics, 71, G43–G51.
• Constable, S., and C. Constable, 2004. Observing geomagnetic induction in magnetic satellite measurements and associated implications for mantle conductivity. Geochem. Geophys. Geosys., 5, Q01006, doi:10.1029/2003GC000634.
• Constable, S., and A. Duba, 2002. Diffusion and mobility of electrically conducting defects in olivine. Phys. Chem. Min., 29, 446-454.
• Constable, S., A. Orange, G.M. Hoversten, and H.F. Morrison, 1998. Marine magnetotellurics for petroleum exploration Part 1. A seafloor instrument system. Geophysics, 63, 816–825.
• Constable, S., 2007. Induction from satellite data. In “Encyclopedia of Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism”, ed. D. Gubbins and E. Herrero-Bervera, Springer, pp. 413–416.
• Constable, S., 2007. Geomagnetism. In “Treatise on Geophysics, Volume 5”, ed. G. Schubert and M. Kono, Elsevier, doi:10.1016/B978-044452748-6.00092-4 , pp. 237–276.
• Constable, S., 2007. Conductivity, ocean floor measurements. In “Encyclopedia of Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism”, ed. D. Gubbins and E. Herrero-Bervera, Springer, pp. 71–73.
• Constable, S., 2006. System and method for hydrocarbon reservoir monitoring using controlled-source electromagnetic fields. US Patent no. 7,109,717.
• Constable, S., 2006. SEO3: A new model of olivine electrical conductivity. Geophys. J. Int., 166, 435–437.
• Constable, S., 2006. Method and system for seafloor geological survey using vertical electric field measurement. US Patent no. 7,116,108.
• Constable, S., 2006. Marine electromagnetic method – A new tool for offshore exploration. The Leading Edge, 25, 438–444.
• Constable, S., 1998. Seafloor Magnetotelluric System and Method for Oil Exploration. US Patent no. 5,770,945.
• Constable, S. and G. Heinson, 2004. Hawaiian hot-spot swell structure from seafloor MT sounding. Tectonophysics, 389, 111-124.
• Constable, C.G. and S.C. Constable, 2004. Satellite magnetic field measurements: Applications in studying the deep Earth. In “The State of the Planet: Frontiers and Challenges in Geophysics, Geophys. Mono. 150”, ed. R.S.J. Sparks and C.T. Hawkesworth, Am. Geophys. Un., pp. 147–159.
• Chave, A.D., Constable, S.C., and Edwards, R.N., 1991. Electrical exploration methods for the seafloor. In “Electromagnetic Methods in Applied Geophysics, Volume 2”, ed. M. Nabighian, Soc. Explor. Geophys., Tulsa., pp. 931–966.
• Anderson, G., S. Constable, H. Staudigel, and F.K. Wyatt, 1997. A seafloor long baseline tiltmeter. J. Geophys. Res., 102, 20,269–20,285.