​COSA: CONVERGENT OROGEN SYSTEM ANALYSIS

During my Master's research, I was part of a large interdisciplinary project investigating the evolution of the central Andean cordillera to test a provocative hypothesis: The spatial-temporal patterns of crustal shortening, basin development, surface uplift, lithospheric foundering, and magmatism in the central Andes exhibit cyclic behavior (see DeCelles et al, 2009). In addition to my own work on the mafic lavas of the Puna Plateau, I also contributed to the thermochronologic and paleoelevation aspects of this project with Peter Reiners and Jay Quade, which led to several unexpected side projects—including our observations of the strange rubbing boulders of the Atacama Desert. 

GSA Memoir 212 Geodynamics of a Cordilleran Orogenic System: The Central Andes of Argentina and Northern Chile includes many of our papers.