Research Interests
My current research interests are in structural geology, specifically forward and inverse numerical modeling of fault-related folding, seismic interpretation of complex structures, and the development of growth strata associated with fault-related folding. I am studying the tectonic evolution of Arctic Alaska as part of the Alaska energy group within the USGS, with a particular emphasis on seismic interpretation. I have field projects underway integrating surface remote-sensing data with conventional mapping in the Southern Central Appalachians and growth structures in the Catalan Coastal Ranges of Spain. My previous work in the extraction of quantitative information from remote sensing data to constrain structural interpretation and modeling has seen its most recent manifestation in the use of lidar-derived digital elevation models and structure-from-motion 3-D data to augment traditional field mapping in otherwise inaccessible areas, such as vertical cliffs or highly vegetated terrain.
Publications (* student co-authors)
Gabor T., Connors, C., Flinch, J., Granath, J., Pace, P., Sobornov, K., Soto, J., 2023, Negative structural inversion: an overview, Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 152, doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106223.
Connors, Christopher, D., Houseknecht, David W., 2022 Structural inheritance in the Chukchi shelf, Alaska, Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 143, p. 1-17, doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2022.105812. PDF
Connors, C. D., A. N. Hughes*, and S. M. Ball*, 2021, Kinematic Forward Modeling of Fault-bend Folding, Journal of Structural Geology, v. 143, p. 1-21, doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2020.104252. PDF
Houseknecht, David and Christopher Connors, 2016, Pre-Mississippian tectonic affinity across the Canada Basin–Arctic margins of Alaska and Canada, Geology, v. 44, p. 507-510, doi:10.1130/G37862.1. PDF
Houseknecht, David and Christopher Connors, 2015, Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous Inversion Of Rift Structures, And Linkage Of Petroleum System Elements Across Post-Rift Unconformity, U.S. Chukchi Shelf, Arctic Alaska, GCSSEPM Perkins Conference Transactions, v. 34, p. 724-743. PDF
Vidal-Royo, Oskar, Thomas E. Hearon IV, Christopher D. Connors, Stuart Bland, Frauke Schaefer, Oriol Ferrer, Andrés Mora, José de Vera, Chris A. Guzofski, Fernando Rodríguez, Eric Jean-Philippe Blanc, and Alan Vaughan, 2015, Introduction to special section: Balancing, restoration, and palinspastic reconstruction: Interpretation, v. 3(4), 2 p., SAAi-SAAiii, doi: 10.1190/INT2015-0916-SPSEINTRO.1. PDF
Connors, Christopher D. and B. J. Radovich, 2014, Multiage Plays in Offshore Nigeria: Hidden Plays of Neogene Shale Structures, and Robust Lower Miocene to Paleogene Deposition, GCSSEPM Perkins Conference Transactions, v. 33, p. 187-196. PDF
Stier*, Natalie E., Christopher D. Connors, and David W. Houseknecht, 2014, Influence of the Kingak Shale Ultimate Shelf Margin on Frontal Structures of the Brooks Range in National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska, USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5056, 12 p. PDF
Martínez-Loriente, Sara, Eulàlia Gràcia, Rafael Bartolomé, Christopher Connors, Hector Perea, Claudio lo Iacono, Dirk Klaeschen, Pedro Terrinha, Juan José Dañobeitia, Nevio Zitellini, 2013, Active deformation in old oceanic lithosphere and significance for earthquake hazard: Seismic imaging of the Coral Patch Ridge area and neighboring abyssal plains (SW Iberian Margin): Geochemistry, Geophysics and Geosystems, v. 14, doi:10.1002/ggge.20173. PDF
McColloch*, A.L., M.P. Braunscheidel*, C.D. Connors, and S.D. Levy, 2010, Automation of Cross Section Construction and Forward Modeling of Fault-bend Folds from Integrated Map Data, vol. 30, p. 63-68, Trabajos de Geología, Oviedo, Spain. PDF
Connors, C. D., B. J. Radovich, A. Danforth, S. Venkatraman, 2009, Structure of the Offshore Niger Delta, vol. 29, p. 182-188, Trabajos de Geología, Oviedo, Spain. PDF
Radovich B. J., C. D. Connors, J. Moon 2007, Deep Imaging of the Paleogene, Miocene Structure and Stratigraphy of the Western Gulf of Mexico using 2D Pre-Stack Depth Migration of Mega- Regional Onshore to Deep Water, Long-Offset Seismic Data, GCSSEPM Perkins Conference Transactions, vol. 27, p. 307-322. PDF
Radovich B. J., J. Moon, C. D. Connors, D. Bird, 2007, Insights into Structure and Stratigraphy of the Northern Gulf of Mexico from 2D Pre-Stack Depth Migration Imaging of Mega-Regional Onshore to Deep Water, Long-Offset Seismic Data, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, vol. 57, p. 633-637. PDF
Hardy, Stuart and Christopher D. Connors, 2006, A Velocity Description of Shear Fault-Bend Folding, Journal of Structural Geology, v. 28, p. 536-543. PDF
Knapp, Elizabeth P. , M. Lisa Greer, Christopher D. Connors, and David Harbor, 2006, Field-Based Instruction As Part Of A Balanced Geoscience Curriculum At Washington And Lee University, Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 54, p. 103-108. PDF
Levy, S.D., P. Djalaliev*, J.M. Shrestha*, A. Khasymski* and C. D. Connors, 2005, Cheap and Easy Parallelism for Matlab on Linux Clusters, Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Computing Systems, p. 301-306. PDF
Shaw, John H., Christopher D. Connors and John Suppe, 2005, editors, Seismic Interpretation of Contractional Fault-related Folds: An AAPG Seismic Atlas, Studies in Geology #53: Amer. Assoc. of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, OK, 156 p. INFO
Shaw, John H., Christopher D. Connors and John Suppe, 2005, Part 1, Interpretation Methods, in John H., Shaw, Christopher D. Connors and John Suppe, eds., Seismic Interpretation of Contractional Fault-related Folds: An AAPG Seismic Atlas, Studies in Geology #53: Amer. Assoc. of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, OK, p 1-58.
Shaw, John H., Enrique Novoa and Christopher D. Connors, 2004, Structural controls on growth stratigraphy in contractional fault-related folds, in K. R. McClay, ed., Thrust Tectonics and Hydrocarbon Systems: AAPG Memoir 82, p. 400-412. PDF
Suppe, John, Christopher D. Connors and Yikun Zhang, 2004, Shear fault-bend folding, in K. R. McClay, ed., Thrust Tectonics and Hydrocarbon Systems: AAPG Memoir 82, p. 303-323. PDF
Connors, Chris and John Suppe, 2001, Constraints on magnitudes of extension on Venus from slope measurements: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 106, p. 3237-3260. PDF
Connors, Chris, 1995, Determining heights and slopes of fault scarps and other surfaces on Venus using Magellan stereo radar: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 100, p. 14361-14381. PDF
Williams, C. A., Chris Connors, F. A. Dahlen, E. J. Price, and John Suppe, 1994, Effect of the brittle-ductile transition on the topography of Compressive Mountain Belts on the Earth and Venus: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 99, p. 19947-19974. PDF
Suppe, John and Chris Connors, 1992, Critical-taper wedge mechanics of fold-and-thrust belts on Venus: initial results from magellan: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 97, p. 13545-13561. PDF