Dr Stephan Thiel

Biography/ Background

In 2002, I graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Adelaide as an International student, supported by a DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) scholarship. In 2005, I was awarded a Master degree from the Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, Germany. Subsequently, I was funded by an IPRS scholarship to undertake a PhD, titled "Modelling and inversion of magnetotelluric data for 2-D and 3-D lithospheric structure, with application to obducted and subducted terranes" at Adelaide University. The PhD work was completed in May 2008.

I am currently employed as a Research Associate at the Auscope MT facility at Adelaide University under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Scheme (NCRIS).

Research Interests

Generally, my interests are in improving the understanding of magnetotelluric impedance data, starting from processing of time-series, analysing the MT impedance tensor in terms of dimensionality and distortion, as well as different aspects of modelling in two and three dimensions.

My current research involves incorporation of static shift correction into the three-dimensional inversion scheme of MT data. The corrections enable a better fit of the resistivity model to the measured MT data leading to a more realistic model. Large-scale three-dimensional models are compared to two-dimensional modelling results, which usually incorporate a denser site spacing.

The above-mentioned techniques are currently applied to the Late Archaean - early Proterozoic Gawler Craton, South Australia.

Publications

peer-reviewed

Thiel, S., Heinson, G., 2009. Crustal imaging of a mobile belt using magnetotellurics: an example of the Fowler Domain, South Australia. Journal of Geophysical Research, accepted.

 Thiel, S., Heinson, G., Gray, D.R., Gregory, R.T., 2009. Ophiolite emplacement in NE Oman: constraints from magnetotelluric sounding. Geophysical Journal International, vol 176, pp 753-766.

Maier, R., Heinson, G., Thiel, S., Selway, K., Gill, R. & Scroggs, M., 2007, A 3D lithospheric electrical resistivity model of the Gawler Craton, Southern Australia. Applied Earth Science, vol. 116, 13-21.

Thiel, S., Heinson, G., White, A., 2005. Tectonic evolution of the Southern Gawler Craton, South Australia, from electromagnetic sounding. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, vol. 52, 887-896.

Abstracts

Thiel, S., Peacock, J., Heinson, G., McAllister, L., 2009. Magnetotelluric monitoring of geothermal fluid flow. Extended abstract, 2nd Australian Geothermal Conference, Brisbane, Australia.

Thiel, S., Heinson, G., 2009. Regional MT survey across an Archaean Craton in South Australia - influence of sedimentary basins and plate boundaries. Abstract, 11th IAGA Scientific Assembly, Sopron, Hungary.

Thiel, S., McAllister, L., Heinson, G., 2008. Geothermal exploration using magnetotellurics: a forward modelling example from Tenerife, Canary Islands. Abstract, 19th Electromagnetic Induction Workshop, Beijing, China.

Thiel, S., Maier, R., Heinson, G., Selway, K., Greenhalgh, S., Direen, N., 2008. Three-dimensional magnetotelluric imaging of the Central-Western Gawler Craton.  Australian Earth Science Convention, Perth, Australia.

Thiel, S., Maier, R., Selway, K., Heinson, G., 2007, Static shift corrected three-dimensional inversion: an example of the Gawler Craton, South Australia. 4th International Symposium on ThreeDimensional Electromagnetics, Freiberg, Germany

Thiel, S., Heinson, G., Gray, D.R., Gregory, R.T., 2006, Constraining ophiolitic emplacement in NE Oman: a case study from magnetotelluric sounding. Extended Abstract, 18th Electromagnetic Induction Workshop, El Vendrell, Spain.

Thiel, S., Heinson, G., 2006, A MT array on the edge of an old Australian Craton: first results of strike analysis and modelling. 18th Electromagnetic Induction Workshop, El Vendrell, Spain.

Thiel, S., Gill, R., Petrick, C., Scroggs, M., Heinson, G., Direen, N., White, A., Milligan, P., Peacock, W., 2004. Developing a tectonic framework for the Gawler Craton, South Australia: Paving the way for successful exploration programs. 17th Electromagnetic Induction Workshop, Hyderabad, India.

Thiel, S., Heinson, G., White, A., 2003. 2D-GDS-measurements in the Southern Gawler Craton, SA Australia and derived tectonics. In A. Junge & A. Hrdt (Eds.), Tagungsband Elektromagnetische Tiefenforschung.

Professional Associations

Member of American Physical Society
Member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG)

Member of the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (ASEG)

Member of the Geological Society Australia (GSA)

Files

• Thiel et al., Geophysical Journal International, 2009, 176, 753-766 - OmanGjiFinal.pdf [2.9MB] (application/pdf)
• Sunspot number prediction -- looking good for 2010 - ssn_predict_l.gif [208.3K] (image/gif)

Entry last updated: Friday, 2 Oct 2009