Research Interests:
Seismic Modeling and Inversion Techniques
Inverse Theory
Wide-Angle Seismic Data Acquisition, Modeling, and Interpretation
Geophysical Studies of the Lithosphere, Sedimentary Basins, and Shallow Environments

Education:
B.Sc. Physics & Applied Math (1984) University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
Ph.D. Geophysics (1989) University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Thesis: "Seismic structure of the crust and upper mantle in the Peace River Arch Region" (Advisor: R. M. Ellis)

Professional Experience:
1989-91: Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
1991-93: Visiting Fellow
Continental Geoscience Division, Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
1993-94: Senior Research Associate
Bullard Laboratories, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK.
2000-present: Associate Professor / 1995-2000: Assistant Professor
Department of Earth Science, Rice University, Houston, TX.

Current and Past Funded Research:
"Advanced high resolution seismic imaging, material properties estimation and full wavefield inversion for the shallow subsurface", Department of Energy, Environmental Management Science Program, 1997-2001 (with extension) [with A. Levander (PI) and W. Symes].
"The S reflector and rifting processes: Iberia Abyssal Plain/Galicia Bank", National Science Foundation, Marine Geology & Geophysics Program, 1997-2002 (with renewal) [with D. S. Sawyer (PI)].
"2D and 3D seismic imaging of seamount collision and subduction across the central Chilean margin", National Science Foundation, Marine Geology & Geophysics Program, 1996-1999.
"Collaborative Research: Crust-mantle Interactions During Continental Growth and High-Pressure Rock Exhumation at an Oblique Arc-Continent Collision Zone: the SE Caribbean margin", National Science Foundation, Continental Dynamics Program, 2001-2004. [with A. Levander (PI), H. G. Ave Lallemant, and A. Lenardic].
"Collaborative Research: Seismic Characterization of a Gas Hydrate System in the Gulf of Mexico - A Novel Approach to Evaluate High-Resolution Wide-Angle Data", National Science Foundation, Marine Geology & Geophysics Program, 2001-2003. [with I. Pecher (UTIG)].

Other Geophysical Experience:
Participation in five land crustal-scale seismic refraction experiments in Canada and Europe
Participation in two marine crustal-scale seismic experiments off Chile and Portugal
Participation in shallow high-resolution seismic surveys in Utah, New Mexico, Washington State, and Texas
Distribution of 2D and 3D seismic modeling, inversion and analysis software to more than 300 scientists in over 40 countries

Professional Membership:
American Geophysical Union
Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Geological Society of America

Referred and Submitted Papers:
Zelt, C. A., K. Sain, J. V. Naumenko, and D. S. Sawyer, Assessment of crustal velocity models using seismic refraction and reflection tomography, Geophys. J. Int., 153, 609-626, 2003.
Morgan, J. V., G. L. Christeson, and C. A. Zelt, 3D velocity tomogram across the Chicxulub crater: Testing the resolution, Tectonophysics, 355, 215-226, 2002.
Sain, K., C. A. Zelt, and P. R. Reddy, Imaging of subvolcanic Mesozoics in the Saurashtra Peninsula of India using travel time inversion of wide-angle seismic data, Geophys. J. Int., 150, 820-826, 2002.
Zelt, B. C., R. M. Ellis, C. A. Zelt, R. D. Hyndman, C. Lowe, G. D. Spence, and M. A. Fisher, Three-dimensional crustal velocity structure beneath the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Geophys. J. Int., 144, 695-712, 2001.
Hojka, A. M., C. A. Zelt, and E. R. Flueh, 3-D seismic refraction tomography of ocean bottom hydrophone data recorded offshore Valparaiso, Chile, Zentralblatt fur Geologie und Palaeontologie, Part 1, 679-693, 2000.
Zelt, C. A., Modelling strategies and model assessment for wide-angle seismic traveltime data, Geophys. J. Int., 139, 183-204, 1999.
Zelt, C. A., A. M. Hojka, E. R. Flueh, and K. D. McIntosh, 3D simultaneous seismic refraction and reflection tomography of wide-angle data from the central Chilean margin, Geophys. Res. Lett., 26, 2577-2580, 1999.
Condi, F. J., C. A. Zelt, D. S. Sawyer, and G. J. Hirasaki, Gravity inversion for rifted margin deep structure using extension and isostatic constraints, Geophys. J. Int., 138, 435-446, 1999.
Zelt, C. A., Lateral velocity resolution from 3-D seismic refraction data, Geophys. J. Int., 135, 1101-1112 , 1998.
Bradford, J. H., D. S. Sawyer, C. A. Zelt, and J. S. Oldow, Imaging a shallow aquifer in complex, glacial sediments using seismic reflection profiling with DMO processing, Geophysics, 63, 1248-1256, 1998.
Flueh, E. R., N. Vidal, C. R. Ranero, A. Hojka, R. von Huene, J. Bialas, K. Hinz, D. Cordoba, J. J. Danobeitia, and C. Zelt, Seismic investigation of the continental margin off and onshore Valparaiso, Chile, Tectonophysics, 288, 251-263, 1998.
Zelt, C. A. and P. J. Barton, 3D seismic refraction tomography: A comparison of two methods applied to data from the Faeroe Basin, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 7187-7210, 1998.
Zelt, C. A., and B. C. Zelt, Study of out-of-plane effects in the inversion of refraction/wide-angle reflection traveltimes, Tectonophysics, 286, 209-221, 1998.
Zelt, B. C., M. Talwani, and C. A. Zelt, Prestack depth migration of dense wide-angle seismic data, Tectonophysics, 286, 193-208, 1998.
von Huene, R., et al., Tectonic control of the subducting Juan Fernandez Ridge on the Andean margin near Valparaiso, Chile, Tectonics, 16, 474-488, 1997. (co-author as part of a large scientific group).
Zelt, C. A. and D. J. White, Crustal structure and tectonics of the southeastern Canadian Cordillera, J. Geophys. Res., 100, 24255-24273, 1995.
Clowes, R. M., C. A. Zelt, J. R. Amor and R. M. Ellis, Lithospheric structure in the southern Canadian Cordillera from a network of seismic refraction lines, Can. J. Earth Sci., 32, 1485-1513, 1995.
O'Leary, D. M., R. M. Ellis, R. A. Stephenson, L. S. Lane and C. A. Zelt, Crustal structure of the northern Yukon and MacKenzie Delta, J. Geophys. Res., 100, 9905-9920, 1995.
Zelt, C. A., 3-D velocity structure from simultaneous traveltime inversion of in-line seismic data along intersecting profiles, Geophys. J. Int., 118, 795-801, 1994.
Zelt, C. A. and D. A. Forsyth, Modeling wide-angle seismic data for crustal structure: southeastern Grenville province, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 11687-11704, 1994.
Zelt, C. A., D. A. Forsyth, B. Milkereit, D. J. White, I. Asudeh and R. M. Easton, Seismic structure of the Central Metasedimentary Belt, southern Grenville Province, Can. J. Earth. Sci., 31, 243-254, 1994.
Forsyth, D. A., B. Milkereit, C. A. Zelt, D. J. White, R. M. Easton and D. R. Hutchinson, Deep structure beneath Lake Ontario: crustal-scale Grenville subdivisions, Can. J. Earth. Sci., 31, 255-270, 1994.
Zelt, C. A. and R. B. Smith, Seismic traveltime inversion for 2-D crustal velocity structure, Geophys. J. Int., 108, 16-34, 1992.
Zelt, C. A. and R.M. Ellis, Crust and upper mantle Q from seismic refraction data: Peace River region, Can. J. Earth Sci., 27, 1040-1047, 1990.
Zelt, C. A. and R. M. Ellis, Comparison of near-coincident crustal refraction and extended Vibroseis reflection data: Peace River region, Canada, Geophys. Res. Lett., 16, 843-846, 1989.
Zelt, C. A. and R. M. Ellis, Seismic structure of the crust and upper mantle in the Peace River Arch region, Canada, J. Geophys. Res., 94, 5729-5744, 1989.
Stephenson, R.A., C. A. Zelt, R. M. Ellis, Z. Hajnal, P. Morel-à-l'Huissier, R. F. Mereu, D. J. Northey, G. F. West and E. R. Kanasewich, Crust and upper mantle structure and origin of the Peace River Arch, Bull. Can. Petrol. Geol., 37, 224-235, 1989.
Zelt, C. A. and R. M. Ellis, Practical and efficient ray tracing in two-dimensional media for rapid traveltime and amplitude forward modelling, Can. J. Expl. Geophys., 24, 16-31, 1988.
Zelt, C. A., J. J. Drew, M. J. Yedlin and R. M. Ellis, Picking noisy refraction data using semblance supplemented by a Monte Carlo procedure and spectral balancing, Bull. Seis. Soc. Am., 77, 942-957, 1987.
Chapman, N. R., C. A. Zelt and A. E. Busch, Geoacoustic modeling of deep water abyssal plains, in Acoustics and the Sea-Bed, conference proceedings, Bath University Press, Bath University, Bath, UK, 297-305, 1983.