Education

Ph.D., Geophysics, 1986, California Institute of Technology
Thesis title: Dynamical models for the Earth's geoid
M.S., Applied Physics, 1978, California Institute of Technology
B.S., Engineering Science, 1977, University of Texas, Austin, Highest honors

Professional Experience

Executive Dean, College of Letters and Science, Univ. of California, Berkeley (2006-2014)
Dean of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Univ. of California, Berkeley (2002-2014)
Chair, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Science, Univ. of California, Berkeley (1997-99)

Professor of Geophysics, University of California, Berkeley (April 1994- )
Associate Professor of Geophysics, University of Washington (1993)
Associate Professor of Geophysics, University of California, Berkeley (1992)
Assistant Professor of Geophysics, University of California, Berkeley (1989-1991)
Assistant Professor of Geophysics, University of Oregon (1987-1989)

Visiting Professor, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile (2009)
Visiting Professor, Johns-Hopkins Univ. (2000-2002)
Visiting Scientist, Carnegie Institution of Washington (2000-2002)
Visiting Professor, École Normale Supérieure, Paris, France (1994)

Postdoctoral and Visiting Fellow, Australian National University (1986-1987, 1988)
Research Assistant in Geophysics, Caltech (1980-1986)
Geophysical Consultant, Woodward-Clyde Consultants (1984-1986)
Spacecraft Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1979-1980)
Research Assistant in Applied Physics, Caltech (1977-1978)
Electronics Engineer, Tektronix Inc. (1977-1978)
Electronics Engineer, Sandia National Laboratories (1976)

Mantle convection and large-scale dynamics of the Earth’s interior
Internal dynamics of Venus, Mars, and the Moon
Rotational dynamics and gravity fields of the terrestrial planets
History and dynamics of global plate motions
Computational geophysics
Igneous processes in the mantle and large-scale volcanism
Geological evolution of the Galápagos Archipelago and ridge system
Tectonics and dynamics of the Andean continental margin
Geological causes of mass extinction

Chancellor’s Award for Advancing Institutional Excellence, for contributions to STEM diversity at Berkeley (2014)
Fellow, California Academy of Sciences (elected 2013)
Leon Henkin Citation for Distinguished Service and contributions to diversity, UC Berkeley Academic Senate (2013)
Lux Award for Contributions to Diversity in Higher Education, Level Playing Field Institute (2011)
Elsasser Lecturer, Johns-Hopkins University (Spring 2001)
Fellow, American Geophysical Union (elected 1998)
Distinguished Visiting Scientist, Los Alamos National Laboratory (1998)
Presidential Young Investigator (National Science Foundation (1990-1995)

 PUBLICATIONS

Richards, M. A., United States patent for storage cathode ray tube design, invented 1977, issued 1979 (with Tektonix, Inc.)

Born, G. H., M. A. Richards, and G. Rosborough, 1982, An empirical determination of the effects of sea state bias on SEASAT altimetry, J. Geophys. Res., 87, 3226.

Richards, M. A., and B. H. Hager, 1984, Geoid anomalies in a dynamic Earth, J. Geophys. Res., 89, 5987-6002.

Hager, B. H., R. W. Clayton, M. A. Richards, R. P. Comer, and A. M. Dziewonski, 1985, Lower mantle tomography, dynamic topography and the geoid, Nature, 313, 541-545.

Kiefer, W. S., M. A. Richards, B. H. Hager, and B. G. Bills, 1986, A dynamic model of Venus's gravity field, Geophys. Res. Lett., 13, 14-17.

Gubbins, D., and M. A. Richards, 1986, Core dynamo-mantle coupling: Thermal or topographic?, Geophys. Res. Lett., 13, 1521-1524.

Richards, M. A., and B. H. Hager, 1988, The Earth's geoid and the large-scale structure of mantle convection in The Physics of the Planets, S. K. Runcorn (editor), pp. 247-272.

Richards, M. A., B. H. Hager, and N. H. Sleep, 1988, Dynamically supported geoid highs over hotspots: Observation and theory, J. Geophys. Res., 93, 7690-7780.

Sleep, N. H., M. A. Richards, and B. H. Hager, 1988, Origin of mantle plumes from broad-scale flow: No old hotspot tracks?, J. Geophys. Res., 93, 7672-7689.

Richards, M. A., 1988, Seismic evidence for a weak basal layer during the 1982 surge of Variegated Glacier, Alaska, U.S.A., J. Glaciology, 34, 111-120.

Richards, M. A. and R. W. Griffiths, 1988, Deflection of plumes by mantle shear flow: Experimental results and a simple theory, Geophys. J. Roy. Astron. Soc., 94, 367-376.

Richards, M. A., and B. H. Hager, 1989, Effects of lateral viscosity variations on geoid anomalies and topography, J. Geophys. Res., 94, 10299-10313.

Hager, B. H. and M. A. Richards, 1989, Long-wavelength variations in Earth's geoid: Physical models and dynamical implications, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., A 328, 209-327.

Griffiths, R. W. and M. A. Richards, 1989, The adjustment of mantle plumes to changes in plate motion, Geophys. Res. Lett., 16, 437-440.

Richards, M. A. and G. F. Davies, 1989, On the separation of relatively buoyant components from subducted lithosphere, Geophys. Res. Lett., 16, 831-834.

Richards, M. A., R. A. Duncan, and V. E. Courtillot, 1989, Flood basalts and hotspot tracks: Plume heads and tails, Science, 246, 103-107.

Richards, M. A. and R. W. Griffiths, 1989, Thermal entrainment by deflected mantle plumes, Nature, 342, 900-902.

Richards, M. A. and C. W. Wicks, 1990, S-P Conversion from the transition zone beneath Tonga and the nature of the 670 km discontinuity, Geophys. J. Roy. Astron. Soc., 101, 1-35.

Duncan, R.A. and M.A. Richards, 1991, Hotspots, mantle plumes, flood basalts and true polar wander, Rev. Geophys., 29, 31-50.

Richards, M.A., 1991, Hotspots and the case for a high viscosity lower mantle, in Glacial Isostasy, Sea-Level and Mantle Rheology (R. Sabadini et al., eds.), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp. 571-587.

Wicks, C. W. and M. A. Richards, 1991, Effects of shear-wave radiation patterns on S-P conversion beneath Tonga, Geophys. J. Roy. Astron. Soc., 107, 279-290.

Richards, M.A., D.L. Jones, D.J. DePaolo, and R.A. Duncan, 1991, A mantle plume initiation model for the formation of Wrangellia and other oceanic flood basalt plateaus, Science, 254, 263-267.

Christie, D.M., R.A. Duncan, A.R. McBirney, M.A. Richards, W.M. White, and Chris Fox, 1992, Drowned islands downstream from the Galapagos hotspot imply extended speciation times, Nature, 355, 246-248.

Davies, G.F. and M.A. Richards, 1992, Mantle convection, J. Geology, 100, 151-206.

Richards, M.A. and D.C. Engebretson, 1992, Large-scale mantle convection and the history of subduction, Nature, 355, 437-440.

Engebretson, D.C., K.P. Kelly, H.J. Cashman, and M.A. Richards, 1992, 180 million years of subduction, GSA Today, 2, 95-100.

Lithgow-Berteloni, C., M.A. Richards, Y. Ricard, R.J. O'Connell, and D.C. Engebretson, 1993, Toroidal-poloidal partitioning of plate motions since 120 Ma, Geophys. Res. Lett.., 20, 375-378.

Ricard, Y., M.A. Richards, C. Lithgow-Berteloni, and Y. LeStunff, 1993, A simple dynamical model of mantle heterogeneity, J. Geophys. Res., 98, 21895-21909.

Geist, D. and M.A. Richards, 1993, The origin of the Columbia Plateau and Snake River Plain: Deflection of the Yellowstone plume, Geology, 21, 789-792.

Wicks, C.W. and M.A. Richards, 1993, Depression of the seismic 670 km discontinuity beneath the Izu-Bonin and Marianas subduction zones, Science, 261, 1424-1427.

Feighner, M.A. and M.A. Richards, 1994, Lithospheric structure and compensation mechanisms of the Galapagos Archipelago, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 6711-6729.

Mitchell, C.E., P. Vincent, R.J. Weldon, III, and M.A. Richards, 1994, Present-day vertical deformation of the Çascadia margin, Pacific northwest, USA, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 12257-12277.

Farnetani, C.G. and M.A. Richards, 1994, Numerical investigations of the mantle plume initiation model for flood basalt events, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 13813-13833.

Feighner, M.A. and M.A. Richards, 1995, The fluid dynamics of plume-ridge and plume-plate interactions: An experimental investigation, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 129, 171-182.

Navrotsky, A., B. Romanowicz, M. Richards, and D. Weidner, 1995, Creating the Next Generation of Reference Earth Models, EOS, 76, 121-122.

Lithgow-Bertelloni, C. and M.A. Richards, 1995, Cenozoic plate driving forces, Geophys. Res. Lett., 22, 1317-1320.

Renne, P.R., Z. Zichao, M.A. Richards, M.T. Black, and A.R. Basu, 1995, Synchrony and causal relations between Permian-Triassic boundary crises and Siberian flood volcanics, Science, 269, 1413-1416.

Farnetani, C.G. and M.A. Richards, 1995, Thermal entrainment and melting in mantle plumes, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett, 136, 251-267.

Bunge, H.-P., M.A. Richards, and J.R. Baumgardner, 1996, Mantle convection with depth-dependent viscosity, Nature, 379, 436-438.

Richards, M.A. and C. Lithgow-Bertelloni, 1996, Plate motion changes, the Hawaiian-Emperor bend, and the apparent success of dynamical models, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 137, 19-27.

Bunge, H.-P. and M.A. Richards, 1996, The origin of long-wavelength structure in mantle convection: Effects of plate motions and viscosity stratification, Geophys. Res. Lett., 23, 2987-2990.

Farnetani, C.G., M.A. Richards, and M.S. Ghiorso, 1996, Petrological models of magma evolution and deep crustal structure beneath hotspots and flood basalt provinces, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 143, 81-94.

Richards, M.A., Y. Ricard, C. Lithgow-Bertelloni, G. Spada, and R. Sabadini, 1997, An explanation for the long-term stability of Earth’s rotation axis, Science, 275, 372-375.

Megnin, C., H.-P. Bunge, B. Romanowicz, and M.A. Richards, 1997, Imaging 3-D spherical convection models: What can seismic tomography tell us about mantle dynamics?, Geophys. Res. Lett., 24,1299-1302.

Bunge, H.-P., M.A. Richards, and J.R. Baumgardner, 1997, A sensitivity study of 3-D spherical mantle convection at 10**8 Rayleigh number: Effects of depth-dependent viscosity, heating mode, and an endothermic phase change, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 11991-12007.

Thoraval, C. and M.A. Richards, 1997, The geoid constraint in global geodynamics: Viscosity structure, mantle heterogeneity models, and boundary conditions, Geophys. J. Int., 131, 1-8.

Richards, M.A. and J.M. Stock, 1997, Follow the roving hotspots, EOS Trans. AGU, 78, 599-603.

Lithgow-Bertelloni, C. and M.A. Richards, 1998, The dynamics of Cenozoic and Mesozoic plate motions, Rev. Geophy., 36, 27-78.

Bunge, H.-P., M.A. Richards, C. Lithgow-Bertelloni, B.A. Romanowicz, and S.P. Grand, 1998, Time scales and heterogeneous structure in geodynamic Earth models, Science, 280, 91-95.

Richards, M.A., 1999, Prospecting for Jurassic Slabs, Nature, 397, 203-204.

Richards, M.A., H.-P. Bunge, Y. Ricard, and J.R. Baumgardner, 1999, Polar wandering and inertial interchange events in mantle convection models, Geophys. Res. Lett., 26, 1777-1780.

Richards, M.A., R.G.Gordon, and R. Van der Hilst, 2000, Introduction: Plate tectonics three decades later, in The History and Dynamics of Global Plate Motions, AGU Monograph Series, v. 121, p. 1-4.

Bercovici, D., Y. Ricard, and M.A. Richards, 2000, The relation between mantle dynamics and plate tectonics: A somewhat biased primer, in The History and Dynamics of Global Plate Motions, AGU Monograph Series, v. 121, p. 5-46.

Richards, M.A., H.-P. Bunge, and C. Lithgow-Bertelloni, 2000, Mantle convection and plate motion history: Toward general circulation models, in The History and Dynamics of Global Plate Motions, AGU Monograph Series, v. 121, p. 289-308.

Lithgow-Bertelloni, C., M.A. Richards, R.W. Griffiths, and C.P Conrad, 2001, Plume generation in natural thermal convection at high Rayleigh and Prandtl numbers, J. Fluid Mech., 434, 1-21.

Zatman, S.A., R.G. Gordon, and M.A. Richards, 2001, Analytic models for the dynamics of diffuse oceanic plate boundaries, Geophys. J. Int., 145, 145-156.

Richards, M.A., W.-S. Yang, and J.R. Baumgardner, 2001, The role of a low viscosity zone in stabilizing plate tectonics: Implications for comparative terrestrial planetology, Geochem., Geophys., and Geosystems, 2 (2000GC000115).

Lynch, J.C. and M.A. Richards, 2001, Finite element models of stress orientations in well-developed strike-slip fault zones: Implications for the distribution of lower crustal strain, J. Geophys. Res, 106, 26,707 (2001JB000289).

Stegman, D.R., M.A. Richards, and J.R. Baumgardner, 2002, Effects of depth dependent viscosity and plate motions on maintaining a relatively uniform mid-ocean ridge basalt reservoir in whole mantle flow, J. Geophys. Res., 107, 10.1029/2001JB000192.

Zatman, S.A. and M.A. Richards, 2002, On the evolution of motion across diffuse plate boundaries, in Plate Boundary Zones, AGU Geodynamics Series, 30, 265-281.

Bunge, H.-P., M.A. Richards, and J.R. Baumgardner, 2002, Mantle-circulation models with sequential data assimilation: inferring present-day mantle structure from plate-motion histories, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A, 360, 2545-2567.

Stegman, D.R., A.M. Jellinek, S.A. Zatman, J.R. Baumgardner, and M.A. Richards, 2003, An early lunar core dynamo driven by thermochemical mantle convection, Nature, 421, 143-146.

Jellinek, A.M., H. M. Gonnermann, and M.A. Richards, 2003, Plume capture by divergent plate motions: Implications for the distribution of hotspots, geochemistry of mid-ocean ridges, and estimates of the heat flux across the core-mantle boundary, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 205, 361-378.

Lynch, J.C., R. Burgmann, M.A. Richards, and R. Firencz, 2003, When faults communicate: Viscoelastic coupling and earthquake clustering in a simple two-fault system, Geophys. Res. Lett., 30, 2002GL016765.

Johnson, C.L. and M.A. Richards, 2003, A conceptual model for the relationship between coronae and large-scale mantle dynamics on Venus, J. Geophys. Res., 108, 2002JE001962.

Gonnermann, H.M., A.M. Jellinek, M.A. Richards, and M. Manga, 2004, Modulation of mantle plumes and heat flow at the core-mantle boundary by plate-scale flow: Results from laboratory experiments, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 226, 432-435.

F. H. Busse, M.A. Richards, and A. Lenardic, 2006, On a model of mantle convection with symmetric low-viscosity layers, Geophysical Journal International, 164, 160-167.

Lenardic, A., M.A. Richards, and F. H. Busse, 2006, Depth-dependent rheology and the horizontal length-scale of mantle convection, J. Geophys. Res., 111, 10.1029/2005JB003639.

Matsuyama, I., J.X. Mitrovica, J.T. Perron, M. Manga, and M.A. Richards, 2006, Rotational stability of dynamic planets with elastic lithospheres, J. Geophys. Res., 111, E02003.

Dombard, A.J., C.L. Johnson, M.A. Richards, and S.C. Solomon, 2007, A magmatic loading model for coronae on Venus, J. Geophys. Res., 112, E04006, doi:10.1029/2006JE002731.

Perron, J.T., J.X., Mitrovica, M. Manga, I. Matsuyama, and M.A. Richards, 2007, Evidence of an ancient Martian ocean in the topography of deformed shorelines, Nature, 447, 840-843.

Daradich, A., J.X. Mitrovica, I. Matsuyama, J.T. Perron, M. Manga, and M.A. Richards, 2008, Equilibrium rotational stability and figure of Mars, Icarus, 194, 463-475.

Paulson, A. and M.A. Richards, 2009, On the resolution of radial viscosity structure in modeling long-wavelength post-glacial rebound data, Geophys. J. Int., 179, 1516-1526.

Ridley, V. A., and M. A. Richards, 2010, Deep crustal structure beneath large igneous provinces and the petrologic evolution of flood basalts, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 11, Q09006, doi:10.1029/2009GC002935.

Rhoden, A.R., B. Militzer, E.M. Huff, T.A. Hurford, M. Manga, and M.A. Richards, 2010, Constraints on Europa’s rotational dynamics from modeling of tidally-driven fractures, Icarus, 186, 218-233.

Karlstrom, L. and M.A. Richards, 2011, On the evolution of large ultramafic magma chambers, or sills, and timescales for flood basalt eruptions, J. Geophys. Res., 116, B08216.

L.J. O’Driscoll, M.A. Richards, and E.D. Humphreys, 2012, Nazca (Farallon)-South America interactions and the late Eocene-late Oligocene flat slab episode in the central Andes, Tectonics, 31, TC2013, doi:10.1029/2011TC003036.

Hoink, T., A. Lenardic, and M. Richards, 2012, Depth-dependent viscosity and mantle stress amplification: implications for the role of the asthenosphere in maintaining plate tectonics, Geophys. J. Int., 191, 30-41, doi:10.1111/j1365-24X2012.o5621.x.

Richards, M.A., E. Contreras-Reyes, C. Lithgow-Bertelloni, M. Ghiorso, and L. Stixrude, 2013, Petrological interpretation of deep crustal intrusive bodies beneath oceanic hotspot provinces, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 14, 604-619, doi:10.1029/2012GC004448.

Richards, M.A., W.C. Alvarez, S. Self, L. Karlstrom, P.R. Renne, M. Manga, C.J. Sprain, J. Smit, L. Vanderkluysen, and S.A. Gibson, 2015, Triggering of the largest Deccan eruptions by the Chixulub impact, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull, doi:10.1130/B3116b7.1.

Gibson, S.A., D. Geist, and M.A. Richards, 2015, Mantle plume capture, anchoring, and outflow during Galápagos plume-ridge interaction, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., doi: 10.1002/2015GC005723.

Renne, P.R., C.J. Sprain, M.A. Richards, S. Self, and L. Vanderkluysen, 2015, A state-shift in Deccan volcanism at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, possibly induced by impact, Science, 350, pp. 76-78, DOI: 10.1126/science.aac7549.

Martin-Short,. R., R. Allen, I. Bastow, E. Totten, and M. Richards, 2015, Mantle flow geometry below the Pacific Northwest: results from the Cascadia initiative, Nature Geoscience, 8, pp. 965-968, DOI: 10.1038/ngeo2569.

Orellana-Rovirosa, F. and M.A. Richards, 2016, Evidence and models for lower crustal flow beneath the Galápagos Platform, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 17, 113-142, doi: 10.1002/2015GC006136.

Hawley, W.B., R.M. Allen, and M.A. Richards, 2016, Tomography reveals buoyant asthenosphere accumulating beneath the Juan de Fuca plate, Science, 353, 1406-1408, DOI: 10.1126/science.aad8104.

Mendoza-Denton, R., C. Patt, A. Fisher, A. Eppig, I. Young, A. Smith, and M.A. Richards, 2016, Differences in STEM doctoral publication by ethnicity, gender and academic field at a large public research university, submitted to Science.

Mittal, T., and M.A. Richards, 2016, Evidence for plume-ridge interaction via melt channelization at Galápagos and other near-ridge hotspot tracks, submitted to Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst.

Richards, M.A., W.C. Alvarez, S. Self, L. Karlstrom, P.R. Renne, M. Manga, C.J. Sprain, J. Smit, L. Vanderkluysen, and S.A. Gibson, 2016, Triggering of the largest Deccan eruptions by the Chixulub impact: Reply, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull, doi:10.1130/B3645.1.

Richards, M.A. and A. Lenardic, 2016, The influence of the low viscosity zone on mantle dynamics and plate tectonics, in preparation for Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst.