Tectonics relates to the broad architecture of the outer part of the earth, that is, the major structural or deformational features and their relations, origin, and historical evolution*. It is closely related to structural geology, but tectonics generally deals with larger features such as mountain belts and their components (‘orogens’). Essentially, any field that helps us understand how the lithosphere evolves and behaves may be considered ‘tectonics’. 

A group of faculty in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at UK investigate a spectrum of processes that further our understanding of the tectonic evolution of mountain belts. 

For example, Professor Bill Thomas uses the principles of stratigraphy, sedimentology, structural geology, and seismic stratigraphy to understand how thick sequences of sedimentary strata respond to deformation in foreland fold and thrust belts (FFTB).  FFTBs are a relatively shallow manifestation of plate collision.  Professor Thomas uses the same methods also investigates the processes that lead to the break up continental crust. 

Professor Frank Ettensohn relates the stratigraphy, sedimentology, and paleontology of the Appalachian foreland basin and U.S. mid-continent platform to the dynamics of mountain belts and relatively stable continental interiors.

Professor Kieran O’Hara employs geochemistry, petrology and structural geology in understanding the behavior of rocks in ductile and brittle fault zones that bound blocks of continental crust in mountain belts. 

In addition to these methods, Professor Dave Moecher uses geochronology as applied to crystalline rocks in the roots of mountain belts to understand deep crustal deformation, which can ultimately be related to the relatively shallow crustal processes studied by Professors Thomas, Ettensohn, and O’Hara. Professor Paul Howell also employs sequence and seismic stratigraphy to investigate the subsidence history of continental basins (Michigan Basin) and margins (Gulf Coast). 

All such studies require a component of field work; projects are currently underway in the Appalachian orogen in the southeastern and northeastern U.S., Grenville orogen of southern Canada, Andean orogen in Argentina, Cordilleran orogen of western North America, and the eastern U.S. mid-continent. 

An emerging field of tectonics is termed “Neotectonics” and deals with active crustal deformation process. Professor Ed Woolery uses geophysical methods such as shallow reflection seismology to investigate the behavior of the New Madrid Seismic zone of the U.S. mid-continent area.

*see http://www.eps.mcgill.ca/~litho/glossary.html for glossary of geologic terms