Michelle Lee

Michelle is currently a PhD candidate in the Marine Geology and Geophysics division advised by Dr. Suzanne Carbotte and Dr. Maya Tolstoy. Her research focuses on utilizing seismic data and seismic analysis techniques to understand the geophysical and structural properties associated with seamounts. Her PhD research specifically focuses on using marine seismic data to understand the structure and volcanic processes of Axial Seamount, an active submarine volcano located on the Juan de Fuca Ridge. She is also working on using marine seismic data to understand subseafloor properties and structures at and near passive and burried seamounts along the Cascadia Margin. 

Fields of Interest

Marine Geophysics, Marine Seismology, Seamounts, Mid-Ocean Ridges, Subduction Zones, Seafloor Mapping, Hydrocarbon Seeps, Volcanic Processes, Multi-channel Seismics

Education

M.Phil. Earth and Environmental Science, Columbia University (02/2022)

M.A. Earth and Environmental Science, Columbia Univeristy (10/2021)

B.S. Oceanography, University of Washington (06/2018)

Honors & Awards

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program 

Lee, M. K., Carbotte, S. M., & Arnulf, A. F. (2022). Detection of magma beneath the northern and southern rift zones of Axial Seamount at the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 23, e2022GC010426. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GC010426

Carbotte, S.M., Arnulf, A., Spiegelman, M, Lee, M., Harding, A., Kent, G., Canales,J.P. Nedimović, M.R. (2020). Stacked sills forming a deep melt-mush feeder conduit beneath Axial Seamount, Geology, 48, https:// doi.org/10.1130/G47223.1. 2020.

Johnson, H. P., Merle, S., Salmi, M., Embley, R., Sampaga, E., & Lee, M. (2019). Anomalous concentration of methane emissions at the continental shelf edge of the northern Cascadia margin. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 124, 2829–2843. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB016453