Don Forsyth

Don Forsyth is a professor at Brown University in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences. He has conducted research there for decades in the field of marine geophysics and the study of plate tectonic processes.

Forsyth's research focuses on the dynamics of oceanic lithosphere, seafloor spreading, and the structure of mid-ocean ridge systems. He uses seismic methods including surface wave tomography to image the Earth's mantle and crust beneath the ocean floor.

Forsyth applies seismic surface wave tomography and data from ocean-bottom seismometers to map the structure and temperature of the lithosphere beneath the seafloor. This approach has been particularly important for understanding mantle melting and crustal formation at mid-ocean ridges.

Forsyth has participated in numerous oceanographic expeditions to study mid-ocean ridge systems, contributing to collaborative multi-institutional efforts to understand seafloor spreading. His work has helped advance the understanding of how oceanic plates form and evolve over geological time.