Professor Tiago Alves

: Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Tiago Alves

Professor
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Interests

Sustainable Geoscience
Marine Geology and Geophysics
CCS, GeoEnergy and Petroleum Geology
Environmental studies of continental shelves and slopes
Sequence stratigraphy & structural evolution of sedimentary basins
Basin Analysis and Palaeoceanography

Expertise related to the UN Sustainable Goals 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 13 (Climate Action) and 14 (Life Below Water).

Editor-in-Chief at Marine Geoscience and Energy Resources (Elsevier). Associate Editor at Marine Geology (Elsevier) and Buletim de Geociências da Petrobras.

I am a Marine and Petroleum Geologist and Lifetime Member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), having gathered extensive field and offshore experience throughout my career. I first completed a 5-year undergraduate degree in Engineering Geology in 1997 before my PhD in Basin Analysis at the University of Manchester (2002). I am vice-treasurer of of the Energy Group @ the Geological Society of London. I am also part of the UKRI's Marine Facilities Advisory Board.

I lead the 3D Seismic Laboratory, in which a range of datasets is used to understand how sedimentary basins evolve from early rifting to their 'passive' and 'subduction' phases. I undertake project and consultancy work, including environmental studies concerning hydrocarbon-bearing regions and areas posed for GeoEnergy solutions, some of which leading to the supervision of PhD projects sponsored by research councils and industry worldwide. Key study areas include (but are not restricted to): Canada, New Jersey, SE Brazil, Equatorial Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Africa, Gulf of Mexico, South China Sea, West Iberia, France, E Mediterranean, North Sea, West Shetland and Ireland, Norway, Barents Sea, Pakistan, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. I completed and delivered a REF2021 case study on the environmental impact of hydrocarbon exploration on continental margins: 'Addressing the environmental impact of hydrocarbon extraction on continental margins'.

By combining both theoretical and applied aspects in my research, via robust collaborative projects, I am ranked as the most prolific author in the world, from 2001 to 2020, on the subject of submarine landslides and related geohazards: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.982482/full

Sustainable ways of producing Geoenergy that include carbon sequestration, hydrogen and geothermal solutions, environmental aspects of coastal and marine areas, and the de-risking of petroleum E&P prospects, are key themes of my research. I am also part of Stanford University's list of the top 2% scientists worldwide - Ioannidis et al. (2025) Updated Standardised Citation Metrics Author Database Annotated for Scientific Field - https://doi.org/10.17632/btchxktzyw/8

External Examiner at the University of Manchester (Geoscience for Sustainable Energy MSc) - 2021-2025. External Examiner at UiB (University of Bergen, Norway) - 2018-2021. Invited Professor at Department of Earth Sciences - Universidade Nova de Lisboa: https://www.dct.fct.unl.pt/en

First supervisor of 18 PhD projects (2008-25), 22 MESci theses (2008-2025) and two MSc dissertations (2018 and 2023) to completion. Currently supervising 8 PhD projects.

Edited the Basin Research Special Volume on 'Deep-Water Continental Margins' in 2014 - Basin Research 26(1), pp. 3-9. (10.1111/bre.12053). Edited the Special Issue 'Continental Margins Unleashed' in Marine and Petroleum Geology. I have also been awarded the 2022 Outstanding Editor Award at Marine and Petroleum Geology (https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/marine-and-petroleum-geology/about/news#2022-outstanding-editor-awards)

Editor of the new Special Volume '(D)Rifting into the future: the relevance of rifts and divergent margins in the 21st century' in Solid Earth. Deadline for submissions in late 2023.

Participated in IODP Expedition 333 to SE Japan (Nankai Trough)

Research expeditions (cruises)

1999 - TTR9; Contourites offshore Portugal and mud volcanoes in the Gulf of Cadiz (Morocco)

2002 - TTR12; Sedimentary basins offshore the Azores, Atlantis Seamounts and Mid-Atlantic Ridge (Portugal)

2003 - R/V Pelagia cruise to the Nazaré Canyon and Prestige Site (Portugal and Spain)

2004 - R/V Charles Darwin cruise to the Setúbal, Cascais and Nazaré Canyons (Portugal)

2004 - R/V Aegeao cruise to Gulf of Corinth (Greece)

2004 - R/V Aegeao/HERMES cruise to the South Crete Canyons (Greece)

2005 - R/V Aegeao/HERMES to South Crete's transtensional basins (Greece)

2005 - R/V Urania/HERMES cruise to the Ionian Sea, South Crete and Rhodes coral reefs (Italy and Greece)

2006 - R/V Pelagia P336 cruise; Landslides in Northern Crete (Greece)

2010/11 - IODP Exp 333 to Nankai Trough; Landslides on tectonically active margins (Japan)

2016 - R/V L'Atalante-GRACO cruise; Gulf of Cadiz depositional systems (Spain)

2023 - R/V Aegeao-ERODOTO cruise; EROsive Dynamics Of The Squillace Submarine CanyOn (Italy)

Date
Type

2012

Alves, T. 2012. Diachronous gravitational gliding of Albian rafts offshore Brazil. Presented at: Industrial Structure Geology - Principles, Techniques and Integration London 28-30 November 2012.
Alves, T. 2012. Maximising on the potential offered by Portugal's oil and gas production and exploration. Presented at: East Atlantic Oil and Gas Summit Lisbon, Portugal 3-4 December 2012.
Alves, T. M. 2012. Scale-relationships and geometry of normal faults reactivated during gravitational gliding of Albian rafts (Espírito Santo Basin, SE Brazil). Earth and Planetary Science Letters 331-2 , pp.80-96. (10.1016/j.epsl.2012.03.014)
Alves, T. M. and Expedition 333 Scientists, 2012. Site C0011. In: Henry, P. et al., Proceedings of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program. Vol. 333, Tokyo: Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Management International, Inc.(10.2204/iodp.proc.333.104.2012)
Alves, T. M. and Expedition 333 Scientists, 2012. Site C0012. In: Henry, P. et al., Proceedings of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program. Vol. 333, Tokyo: Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Management International, Inc.(10.2204/iodp.proc.333.105.2012)
Alves, T. M. and Expedition 333 Scientists, 2012. Site C0018. In: Henry, P. et al., Proceedings of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program. Vol. 333, Tokyo: Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Management International, Inc.(10.2204/iodp.proc.333.103.2012)
Gamboa, D. A. , Alves, T. M. and Cartwright, J. A. 2012. A submarine channel confluence classification for topographically confined slopes. Marine and Petroleum Geology 35 (1), pp.176-189. (10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2012.02.011)
Gamboa, D. A. , Alves, T. M. and Cartwright, J. A. 2012. Seismic-scale Rafted and Remnant Blocks Over Salt Ridges in the Espirito Santo Basin, Brazil. Presented at: 5th ISSMMTC - 5th International Symposium on Submarine Mass Movements and Their Consequences Kyoto, Japan 24-26 October 2011. Published in: Yamada, Y. et al., Submarine Mass Movements and Their Consequences: 5th International Symposium. Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research Vol. 31/8. Berlin: Springer. , pp.629-638. (10.1007/978-94-007-2162-3_56)
Henry, P. et al., 2012. Scientific drilling. Scientific Drilling (14.), pp.4-17. (10.5194/sd-14-4-2012)
Kokinou, E. , Alves, T. M. and Kamberis, E. 2012. Structural decoupling in a convergent forearc setting (southern Crete, Eastern Mediterranean). Geological Society of America Bulletin 124 (7-8), pp.1352-1364. (10.1130/B30492.1)
Soares, D. M. , Alves, T. M. and Terrinha, P. 2012. The breakup sequence and associated lithospheric breakup surface: their significance in the context of rifted continental margins (West Iberia and Newfoundland margins, North Atlantic). Earth and Planetary Science Letters 355-56 , pp.311-326. (10.1016/j.epsl.2012.08.036)
Sousa Lemos Pereira, R. N. and Alves, T. M. 2012. Tectono-stratigraphic signature of multiphased rifting on divergent margins (deep-offshore Southwest Iberia, North Atlantic). Tectonics 31 TC4001. (10.1029/2011TC003001)

2011

Gamboa, D. and Alves, T. 2011. Submarine channel density and ge ometry at confined confluence areas in the Espirito Santo Basin, SE Brazil. Presented at: Internal architecture, bedforms and geometry of turbidite channels London, UK 20-21 June 2011.
Gamboa, D. A. , Alves, T. M. and Cartwright, J. A. 2011. Distribution and characterization of failed (mega)blocks along salt ridges, southeast Brazil: implications for vertical fluid flow on continental margins. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 116 (B8) B08103. (10.1029/2011JB008357)
Sousa Lemos Pereira, R. N. and Alves, T. M. 2011. Margin segmentation prior to continental break-up: A seismic-stratigraphic record of multiphased rifting in the North Atlantic (Southwest Iberia). Tectonophysics 505 (1-4), pp.17-34. (10.1016/j.tecto.2011.03.011)
Sousa Lemos Pereira, R. N. , Alves, T. M. and Cartwright, J. A. 2011. Post-rift compression on the SW Iberian margin (eastern North Atlantic): a case for prolonged inversion in the ocean–continent transition zone. Journal of the Geological Society 168 (6), pp.1249-1263. (10.1144/0016-76492010-151)

2010

Alves, T. 2010. Salt structures and the petroleum potential of continental margins in West Iberia, Newfoundland and South Atlantic. Presented at: II Central & North Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference Lisbon 2010. Published in: Reis, R. P. and Pimentel, N. eds. II Central & North Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference. Metodo Directo.
Alves, T. , Cartwright, J. A. and Davies, R. J. 2010. Faulting of salt-withdrawal basins during early halokinesis: Structural controls on reservoir distribution in South Atlantic Conjugate Margins. Presented at: II Central & North Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference Lisbon 2010. Published in: Reis, R. P. and Pimentel, N. eds. II Central & North Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference. Metodo Directo.
Alves, T. et al. 2010. Structural evolution and timing of continental rifting in the Northeast Atlantic, West Iberian margin. Presented at: II Central & North Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference Lisbon 2010. Published in: Reis, R. P. and Pimentel, N. eds. II Central & North Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference. Metodo Directo. , pp.9-12.
Alves, T. M. 2010. 3D Seismic examples of differential compaction in mass-transport deposits and their effect on post-failure strata. Marine Geology 271 (3-4), pp.212-224. (10.1016/j.margeo.2010.02.014)
Alves, T. M. 2010. A 3-D morphometric analysis of erosional features in a contourite drift from offshore SE Brazil. Geophysical Journal International 183 (3), pp.1151-1164. (10.1111/j.1365-246X.2010.04827.x)
Alves, T. M. and Cartwright, J. A. 2010. The effect of mass-transport deposits on the younger slope morphology, offshore Brazil. Marine and Petroleum Geology 27 (9), pp.2027-2036. (10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2010.05.006)
Alves, T. M. and Lourenco, S. 2010. Geomorphologic features related to gravitational collapse: submarine landsliding to lateral spreading on a Late Miocene-Quaternary slope (SE Crete, eastern Mediterranean). Geomorphology 123 (1-2), pp.13-33. (10.1016/j.geomorph.2010.04.030)
Gamboa, D. et al., 2010. Characterization and exploration potential of palaeogene mass-transport deposits in the Espirito Santo Basin, Brazil. Presented at: 72nd European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers Conference and Exhibition 2010 Barcelona, Spain 14-17 June 2010.
Gamboa, D. A. et al. 2010. MTD distribution on a 'passive' continental margin: The Espírito Santo Basin (SE Brazil) during the Palaeogene. Marine and Petroleum Geology 27 (7), pp.1311-1324. (10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2010.05.008)
Pereira, R. and Alves, T. 2010. Multiphased syn-rift segmentation on the SW Iberian margin. In: Reis, R. P. and Pimentel, N. eds. II Central & North Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference. Metodo Directo
Pereira, R. , Alves, T. and Cartwright, J. A. 2010. The continent to ocean transition across the SW Iberian margin: The effect of syn-rift geometry on post-Mesozoic compression. Presented at: II Central & North Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference Lisbon 2010. Published in: Reis, R. P. and Pimentel, N. eds. II Central & North Atlantic Conjugate Margins. Metodo Directo. , pp.228-230.
Soares, D. and Alves, T. 2010. Syn- to post-rift transitions on passive margins: The case of the western Iberian margin (NE Atlantic). Presented at: II Central & North Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference Lisbon 2010. Published in: Reis, R. P. and Pimentel, N. eds. II Central & North Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference. Metodo Directo.
Taviani, M. et al., 2010. Pleistocene to recent scleractinian deep-water corals and coral facies in the Eastern Mediterranean. Facies 57 (4), pp.579-603. (10.1007/s10347-010-0247-8)

2009

Alves, T. et al. 2009. Structural evolution and timing of continental rifting in the Northeast Atlantic, West Iberian Margin. Presented at: 71st EAGE Conference and Exhibition incorporating SPE EUROPEC 2009 Amsterdam, The Netherlands 8-11 June 2009. (10.3997/2214-4609.201400468)
Alves, T. M. and Cartwright, J. A. 2009. Volume balance of a submarine landslide in the Espírito Santo Basin, offshore Brazil: quantifying seafloor erosion, sediment accumulation and depletion. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 288 (3-4), pp.572-580. (10.1016/j.epsl.2009.10.020)
Alves, T. M. , Cartwright, J. A. and Davies, R. J. 2009. Faulting of salt-withdrawal basins during early halokinesis: effects on the Paleogene Rio Doce Canyon system (Espírito Santo Basin, Brazil). AAPG Bulletin 93 (5), pp.617-652. (10.1306/02030908105)
Alves, T. M. et al. 2009. Diachronous evolution of Late Jurassic-Cretaceous continental rifting in the northeast Atlantic (west Iberian margin). Tectonics 28 (4) TC4003. (10.1029/2008TC002337)
Cunha, T. et al., 2009. West Iberia margin subsidence-uplift history: constraints from seismic data and well and pseudo-well backstripping. Presented at: 6th Symposium on the Iberian Margin Oviedo, Spain 1-5 December 2009.
Domingos, M. et al., 2009. Deep structure of the south segment of the Mesozoic border of the Iberian Massif (Arrabida to Cape San Vincent) from coincident MCS and wide-angle data. Presented at: 6th Symposium of Metereology and Geophysics Lisbon, Portugal 16-18 March 2009.
Gamboa, D. A. et al. 2009. Documenting a period of widespread collapse of a continental margin (Esperito Santo Basin, SE Brazil). Presented at: 71st EAGE Conference and Exhibition Amsterdam, The Netherlands 8-11 June 2009.
Moulin, M. et al., 2009. Deep structure of the south segment of the continental Iberia margin: the proximal margin from coincident MCS and wide angle data. Presented at: 6th Symposium on the Iberian Margin Oviedo 1-5 December 2009.
Pereira, R. and Alves, T. 2009. Mesozoic rifting of the SW Iberian margin – implications to the hydrocarbon potential of Alentejo Basin. Presented at: 71st EAGE Conference and Exhibition incorporating SPE EUROPEC 2009 Amsterdam, The Netherlands 8-11 June 2009. (10.3997/2214-4609.201400467)

2008

Alves, T. 2008. Economic resources in continental margins: Why is the IODP important?. Presented at: Cycle of Conferences - The Land Under the Sea Faro, Portugal 11 March 2008.

2007

Alves, T. et al. 2007. Constraining the Origin and Evolution of Confined Turbidite Systems: Southern Cretan Margin, Eastern Mediterranean Sea (34°30-36°N). Presented at: AAPG International Conference Athens, Greece 18-21 November 2007.
Alves, T. M. 2007. 3D seismic data and geohazards: Case studies on 'active' and 'passive' margins. Presented at: IODP Geohazards Workshop Portland, OR, USA 26-30 August 2007.
Alves, T. M. et al. 2007. Constraining the origin and evolution of confined turbidite systems: southern Cretan margin, Eastern Mediterranean Sea (34°30–36°N). Geo-Marine Letters 27 (1), pp.41-61. (10.1007/s00367-006-0051-1)

2006

Alves, T. et al. 2006. Comparative stochastic analyses of slope morphology between active and passive margin settings. Presented at: EGU Conference Vienna, Austria 2-7 April 2006.
Alves, T. et al. 2006. First insights on the South Cretan Margin: Structure, depositional processes and future importance to the HERMES project. Presented at: EGU Conference Vienna, Austria 2-7 April 2006.
Alves, T. M. et al. 2006. Meso-Cenozoic evolution of the continental slope basins offshore west Iberia (NW Portugal). Presented at: EGU General Assembly Conference Vienna, Austria 2-7 April 2006.
Alves, T. M. et al. 2006. Mesozoic-Cenozoic evolution of North Atlantic continental slope basins: The Peniche Basin, western Iberian margin. AAPG Bulletin 90 (1), pp.31-60. (10.1306/08110504138)

2005

Alves, T. et al. 2005. Surveying the flanks of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Presented at: MOMAR III Workshop - Long-term monitoring of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge Lisbon, Portugal 7-9 April 2005.
Alves, T. et al. 2005. Surveying the flanks of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Examples of Geosphere-Biosphere coupling in deep-sea areas of the North Atlantic. Presented at: Geosphere-Biosphere coupling processes: the TTR interdisciplinary approach towards studies of the European and North African margins Marrakech, Morocco 2 - 5 February 2005.
Alves, T. M. et al. 2005. Tectono-sedimentary correlations betwen European deep margin basins. Presented at: IODP IMPACTS Workshop Brest, France 16-18 March 2005.

2004

Alves, T. M. et al. 2004. Surveying the flanks of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: the Atlantis Basin, North Atlantic Ocean (36°N). Marine Geology 209 (1-4), pp.199-222. (10.1016/j.margeo.2004.06.002)
De Mol, B. et al., 2004. EUROpean Deep Ocean Margins (EuroDOM): a new training-through-research frontier. Oceanography 17 (4), pp.156-165. (10.5670/oceanog.2004.12)

2003

Alves, T. et al. 2003. Insights on the evolution of mid-ocean basins: The Atlantis Basin of southern Azores. Presented at: EGS-AGU-EUG Joint Assembly Nice, France 7-11 April 2003.
Alves, T. et al. 2003. Evolution of deep-margin extensional basins: The continental slope basins offshore West Iberia. Presented at: AAPG International Conference Barcelona, Spain 21-24 September 2003.
Alves, T. M. et al. 2003. Cenozoic tectono-sedimentary evolution of the western Iberian margin. Marine Geology 195 (1-4), pp.75-108. (10.1016/S0025-3227(02)00683-7)
Alves, T. M. et al. 2003. Post-Jurassic tectono-sedimentary evolution of the Northern Lusitanian Basin (Western Iberian margin). Basin Research 15 (2), pp.227-249. (10.1046/j.1365-2117.2003.00202.x)
Alves, T. M. et al. 2003. The depositional evolution of diapir- and fault-bounded rift basins: examples from the Lusitanian Basin of West Iberia. Sedimentary Geology 162 (3-4), pp.273-303. (10.1016/S0037-0738(03)00155-6)
Kenyon, N. H. et al., 2003. Reassessment of sedimentary evidence for deep contour currents west of Iberia. In: Mienert, J. and Weaver, P. P. E. eds. European Margin Sediment Dynamics: Side-scan Sonar and Seismic Images. Berlin: Springer Verlag. , pp.267-270. (10.1007/978-3-642-55846-7_43)

2002

Alves, T. et al. 2002. Azores Margin: seismic data interpretation. In: Kenyon, N. H. et al., Interdisciplinary Geoscience Research on the North East Atlantic Margin, Meditteranean Sea and Mid-Atlantic Ridge. IOC Technical Series. , pp.92-100.
Alves, T. M. et al. 2002. Jurassic tectono-sedimentary evolution of the Northern Lusitanian Basin (offshore Portugal). Marine and Petroleum Geology 19 (6), pp.727-754. (10.1016/S0264-8172(02)00036-3)

2001

Alves, T. et al. 2001. Tectonic controls on the depositional and erosional processes off western Iberia. Presented at: Geological Processes in Deep-Water Margins Moscow, Russia 28 January - 1 February 2001.

2000

Alves, T. M. et al. 2000. Tertiary evolution of the Sao Vicente and Setubal submarine canyons, Southwest Portugal: insights from seismic stratigraphy. Ciencias da Terra , pp.243-256.
Alves, T. M. et al. 2000. Area west of Lisbon: seismic data:. In: Kenyon, N. H. et al., Multidisciplinary Study of Geological Processes on the North East Atlantic and Western Mediterranean Margins. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Technical Series IOC Technical Series. , pp.49-50.
Alves, T. M. et al. 2000. Seismic and acoustic data: Area west of Porto. In: Kenyon, N. H. et al., Multidisciplinary Study of Geological Processes on the North East Atlantic and Western Mediterranean Margins: Preliminary results of geological and geophysical investigations during the TTR-9 cruise of R/V Professor Logachev June-July, 1999. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Technical Series IOC Technical Series. , pp.42-45.
Alves, T. M. et al. 2000. Tectonics and deposition at the deep-water area adjacent to Porto and Vigo seamount. Presented at: Geological Processes on European Continental Margins Granada, Spain 31 January - 3 February 2000.
Gardner, J. et al., 2000. Gulf of Cadiz/Moroccan margin: seismic data profiling. In: Kenyon, N. H. et al., Multidisciplinary Study of Geological Processes on the North East Atlantic and Western Mediterranean Margins: Preliminary results of geological and geophysical investigations during the TTR-9 cruise of R/V Professor Logachev June-July, 1999. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Technical Series Vol. 56.IOC Technical Series. , pp.57-59.
Pinheiro, L. et al., 2000. Deep-Sea sedimentation in the Tagus Abyssal Plain (West Iberia): sediment transport and tectonic control. Presented at: Geological Processes on European Continental Margins Granada, Spain 31 January - 3 February 2000.

I lead the 3D Seismic Laboratory at Cardiff University, supervising postgraduate students and managing research projects with industry, academia and governmental institutions. At Cardiff, I am closely involved in the supervision of PhD and MESci students, collaborating actively with Industry. Past and present collaborators include Total, Statoil, Petrobras (Brazil), Husky Energy, Repsol and Partex Oil and Gas, which have supported several projects under the general theme of continental margins and basin analysis. I also collaborate with the IODP – Integrated Ocean Drilling Program in a number of projects, namely in Japan, Brazil and in USA's northeast margin. Key geographic areas being studied in the lab at the present include East Canada (Newfoundland, Labrador and W Greenland), the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (Crete and Levantine Basin), West Iberia (Portugal, Spain), NW Africa (Morocco, South Sahara and Canary Islands), UK and Norway, South China Sea (China), Ceará, Pernambuco, Santos and Espírito Santo Basins (SE Brazil), the Amazon Fan and Equatorial Brazil (South America), the Nankai Trough (SE Japan), Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia, West Africa (Angola, Nigeria, Namibia), Gulf of Mexico and Alaska (USA).

Postgraduate Supervision (completed PhD theses)

1. Davide Gamboa, PhD (2012) - Young Scientist Award 2012 (Geol Soc. London) - BGS-Wales, Now a lecturer at University of Aveiro, Portugal.

2. Ricardo Pereira, PhD (2013) - PDO Oman, Senior Geologist at Partex Oil and Gas, Lisbon. Now a PDRA at IDL and FCT/NOVA, Lisbon.

3. Duarte Soares, PhD (2014) - CGG in Llandudno, now at ITOPF in London working on the mitigation of oil spills.

4. Kamal'deen Omosanya, PhD (2014) - NTNU-Trondheim (Norway). Now a consultant for Industry.

5. Aldina Piedade, PhD (2016) - Now at University of Coimbra and ISCIA (Portugal).

6. Qin Yongpeng, PhD (2017) - Researcher at Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Sanya (China).

7. Wei Li, PhD (2017, supervised at Uni Kiel, Germany) - Now a Professor at the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Guangzhou (China).

8. Nathalia Mattos, PhD (2017) - Fault reactivation and salt tectonics - Former PDRA at the 3D Seismic Lab. Previously at UNICAMP's Petroleum Institute, Lagesed-UFRJ and now at Institut de Ciències del Mar - CSIC - Barcelona.

9. Nicholas Ward, PhD (2018) - Differential compaction in sedimentary basins - Now at Amazon, London.

10. Tao Ze, PhD (2018) - Crestal fault reactivation on rising salt diapirs - Now a PDRA at Wuhan's China University of Geosciences.

11. James Van Tuyl, MESci (2019) - Evolution of carbonate shelves in NW Australia - First employed at CGG (North Wales). Now at CCS UK in Manchester.

12. Chantelle Roelofse (2020) - Fluid flow in sedimentary basins - Now at Shell-London.

13. Abubakar Maude - Compressional deformation in sedimentary basins - Successfuly examined in Dec 2021 - Now a senior lecturer at Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola (Nigeria).

14. Jing Song - Structural controls on submarine slope instability - Successfuly examined on 14 Dec 2021 - Now at the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO), Chinese Academy of Sciences.

15. Roberto Espejel - Structural controls on carbonate-platform growth - Successfuly examined on 26 Jan 2022 - Now at Badleys Geoscience.

16. Olivia Walker - Jurassic ocean gateways of the North Atlantic - Successfuly completed her viva voce examination in July 2024. Now at Rock Flow Dynamics.

17. Qiang Zhang - Fluid flow paths around salt diapirs - Successfuly examined in Dec 2023. Now a researcher at the China University of Petroleum (East China).

18. Marco Azevedo - Structural evolution of Nankai's accretionary prism - Successfully examined in Mar 2025. Now a Head of Department at All Hallows Catholic School (Farnham).

19. Ahmed Albrkawy - West Egypt's tectono-stratigraphic evolution - Submitting in Spring 2026!

Second supervisor of:

Daniel Carruthers (PhD on fault families on the flanks of diapirs) - Now at CGG - North Wales.

Bledyn Jones (KESS PhD scholarship on CO2 sequestration) - Now Project Geologist at Reynolds International Ltd.

Chris Kirkham (Mud Volcanoes in the Nile Delta) - Now at KPMG UK.

Peryclys Andrade (Syn-rift evolution of the SE Brazilian continental margin) - Now at Petrobras - Rio de Janeiro.

MESci theses

1. Adam Curtis, MESci (2008) - Geometry of channel-fill deposits

2. Sean Bale, MEsci (2012) - 3rd place at NEFTEX's Earth Model Award (2012) - Gas hydrate distribution in SE Japan

3. Phalene Gowling, MESci (2013) - Recognising fluid flow features in SE Brazil

4. Katherine Jawed, MESci (2013) - Salt tectonics in the Dutch North Sea

5. James Van Tuyl, MESci (2014) - Normal faulting in the Nankai accretionary prism (SE Japan)

6. Ben Thomas, MESci (2014) - Crestal faults of salt diapirs in the North Sea

7. Claire Elliott, MESci (2014) - The Atlantic breakup sequence in the North Sea

8. Sarah Newnes, MESci (2014) - Structural compartmentalisation of Rotliegend strata (Permian)

9. Victoria Howarth (2015) - Fluid flow through carbonate shelves

10. Bethany Cowling (2016) - Fault compartmentalisation of Posidonia Shales in the Southern North Sea

11. Luciana Ferreira (2017) - Simulation of a theoretical oil spill offshore Cyprus using MEDSLIK and comparison with SE Brazil

12. Charles Reynolds (2017) - Igneous intrusions in salt-rich basins

13. Nasser Al-Ismaili (2018; MSc Dissertation) - Tsunami risk in the Makran and SE Japan margins

14. Thomas Francis-Hughes (2021) - Polygonal fault systems in the Southern North Sea: Impacts on gas, oil and carbon-storage prospects

15. Edyta Lapinska (2021) - Sustainable GeoEnergy solutions on the volcanic margin of New Zealand

16. Leah Longley (2021) - Submarine landslides and canyon erosion on the SE Brazilian margin

17. Shania Hughes (2022; MSc Dissertation) - Marine pollution in the Irish Sea

18. Finlay Mullens (2022) - Geothermal potential of a sedimentary basin in the North Sea

19. Oliver Wallis (2023) - Thermal evolution of SE Brazil's deep-offshore basins

20. Dion Clouden (2024) - Provenance of Quaternary sediment in S Italy during Calabrian Orogenesis

21. Eleanor St clair-Smith (2024) - Geothermal potential of the Southern North Sea

22. Jacob Warner (2024) - Geological features inducing continental slope instability

BSc project supervision:

CUROP programme 2012 - Kate Feetham (EARTH); Contourites on continental margins

CUROP programme 2018 - Sinead Goodall (CHEMY); Natural CO₂ distribution in sedimentary basins

Jonathan Mattchet (2019) - CCS sites in Northern Norway

Megan Rayner (2019) - Fault analysis in the Dutch North Sea

CUROP/CUSEIP (2023) - Amy Foster (EARTH); Sources of litter on the Severn Estuary and South Wales

Current PhD supervision:

Cerys Biancardi - Slope instability in salt-rich basins

Ahmed Albrkawy - West Egypt's tectono-stratigraphic evolution

Chanin Maetmueang - Fault systems in the North Sea and their impact on carbon sequestration

Mahmoud Hanafy - Machine learning applied to the structural interpretation of sedimentary basins

Jing Liu - Coastal vulnerability and sustainable coastal zone management

Diya'ulhaq Abdullahi - Geological storage on continental margins

Chris Ashman - Salt tectonics on rifted continental margins

Petroleum, GeoEnergy and Basin Analysis (Year 3) - Module leader
Advanced Stratigraphy and Sedimentology (Year 3)
Exploring Planet Earth (Year 1)
Engineering Geology (Year 3, teaching Reservoir Engineering)
Exploration Case Studies (Year 2)
Structural Techniques field trip (Year 2): N Spain
MESci field trip to SE Spain (Year 4)
Devon and Dorset field trip (Year 2). Penarth/Lavernock final degree field trip (Year 3).
Completed Modules 1, 2 and 3 of Cardiff's PCUTL - Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning in 2009.

Professor in Earth Sciences - School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, UK (2022 - )
Reader in Earth Sciences - School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, UK (2018 - 2022)
Senior Lecturer in Earth Sciences - School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, UK (2015 – 2018)
Lecturer in Earth Sciences – School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, UK (2007 – 2015)
Research Fellow - Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, Athens (2006)
Postdoctoral Associate – EUROpean Deep-water Margins (EURODOM) project (EU), 2004-2006 (based at the Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, Athens)
Postdoctoral Associate – Geological and Mining Institute (Lisbon, Portugal), Marine Geology Department (2002-2003)
PhD – Basin Analysis and Petroleum Geology, University of Manchester, UK (2002)
BSc – Engineering Geology (5 years), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (1992-1997)

Honours and awards

2022 Outstanding Editor Award - Marine and Petroleum Geology

Co-recipient of EAGE's Robert Mitchum Award - best paper in Basin Research in 2020: EAGE Award Winners

2nd most downloaded paper in Marine and Petroleum Geology (2015-16): Oil and Gas Collection

Nov 2017 Outstanding Reviewer Award - Marine Geology (2016/2017)

Nov 2016 Outstanding Reviewer Award - Ocean Engineering (2016)

Apr 2016 Outstanding Reviewer Award - Marine Geology (2014/2015)
May 2005 Luis Saldanha - Young Marine Researcher's award (Portugal)
Feb 2001 UNESCO TTR best presentation - Moscow

Professional memberships

Geological Society of London
American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Geological Association of Canada
SEG - Society of Exploration Geophysicists

Committees and reviewing

Deputy Treasurer for the Energy Group - Geological Society of London
Member of NERC's Marine Facilities Advisory Board
Director for International Recruitment and Impact - School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (2019-2024)
Deputy Leader for International Recruitment and Impact - School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (2017-19)
Deputy Research Leader at the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (2016-17)
Member of the Awards Committee - Geological Society of London (2014-2017)
PhD examiner - Leeds (x3), Manchester (x3), Royal Holloway-University of London (x2), Keele, UCL, Newcastle, Plymouth, University of Western Australia, Aberdeen, University of Nicosia (Cyprus), Universidade Federal Fluminense (Brazil), Universidade of Coimbra (Portugal), Memorial University of Newfoundland (Canada). MSc Examiner (Univ. of Bergen and Manchester).
Proposal reviewer for the NSF (USA), NERC (UK), DFG (Germany), COST actions (EU), KAUST (Saudi Arabia), Dutch Research Council (NWO), Irish Research Council (Ireland), Environment and Conservation Fund (Hong Kong), University of Nicosia (Cyprus) and Institute for Deep-Sea Science and Engineering (China).
Reviewer for more than 25 international scientific journals, including Geology, EPSL, Earth-Science Reviews, Science of the Total Environment, Environmental Pollution, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Scientific Reports, Sedimentology, Geomorphology, Ocean Engineering, Marine Geology, Basin Research, Marine and Petroleum Geology, and many other renowned publications.

Current supervision

Cris Ashman

Cerys Biancardi

Marco Azevedo

Ahmed Albrkawy

Chanin Maetmueang

Mahmoud Hanafy

Diya'Ulhaq Abdullahi Abdullahi

Impact to Industry

My research impact is based on the analysis of a wide range of data on continental margins around the world to highlight the economic benefits of drilling specific stratigraphic sequences and structures. My work has led to improved planning models developed by the industry, helping their decision-making process, staff training, and allowing a sustainable management of proven and potential resources.

Work at Cardiff's 3D Seismic Laboratory develops key studies of multiple areas in the world, allowing the delivery of technical reports, presentations, and field training courses to Industry. The insights provided by Cardiff have led to widespread changes in exploration strategies for the companies sponsoring the 3D Seismic Laboratory, building upon the successful REF2014 CAPROCKS case study.

To date, my research undertaken has resulted in economic benefits of several millions of pounds for companies operating in multiple parts of the world.

Environmental and societal impacts

Environmental studies concerning hydrocarbon-bearing regions, and areas posed for GeoEnergy solutions, are another facet of my work. In the past eight years I have been involved in projects investigating the impact of oil spills in the Eastern Mediterranean (NEREIDs) and a broader analyses of marine polution, including plastic and floating debris, in coastal and marine areas of Europe (Sea4All). The deliverables resulting from Sea4All are now being implemented in classrooms across Europe.

In terms of my contribution to research and the society as a whole, I am a Section Editor in Structural Geology/Tectonics for Marine and Petroleum Geology and have been given the accolade of Oustanding Reviewer and Sustained Reviewer for Marine Geology in four consecutive years (2014/15 to 2018/19). I am also an assiduous reviewer for more than 20 international scientific journals, including Geology, Earth Science-Reviews and Nature Publication Group journals.

Sample publication list

Alves, T.M. et al. 2020. A tectono-stratigraphic review of continental breakup on intraplate continental margins and its impact on resultant hydrocarbon systems. Marine and Petroleum Geology 117, article number: 104341. (10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104341)

Roelofse, C. et al. 2019. An integrated geological and GIS-based method to assess caprock risk in mature basins proposed for Carbon Capture and Storage. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 80, pp. 103-122. (10.1016/j.ijggc.2018.11.007)

Van Tuyl, J. et al. 2019. Geomorphological evidence of carbonate build-up demise on equatorial margins: A case study from offshore northwest Australia. Marine and Petroleum Geology 104, pp. 125-149. (10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2019.03.006)

Alves, T.M. and Abreu Cunha, T. 2018. A phase of transient subsidence, sediment bypass and deposition of regressive-transgressive cycles during the breakup of Iberia and Newfoundland. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 484, pp. 168-183. (10.1016/j.epsl.2017.11.054)

Alves, T.M.et al. 2016. Multidisciplinary oil spill modeling to protect coastal communities and the environment of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Scientific Reports 6, article number: 36882. (10.1038/srep36882)

Ward, N., Alves, T. M. and Blenkinsop, T.G. 2016. Reservoir leakage along concentric faults in the Southern North Sea: implications for the deployment of CCS and EOR techniques. Tectonophysics 690(A), pp. 97-116. (10.1016/j.tecto.2016.07.027)

Alves, T.M. 2015. Submarine slide blocks and associated soft-sediment deformation in deep-water basins: A review. Marine and Petroleum Geology 67, pp. 262-285. (10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2015.05.010)

Contact Details

[email protected]
+44 29208 76754
Main Building, Room 1.57A, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT

Research themes

Specialisms

Marine geoscience
Petroleum and reservoir engineering
Stratigraphy
Structural geology and tectonics
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Ancient landslides could help understand tsunami hazards

Professor Tiago Alves

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