Associate Research Scientist, LDEO
I conduct rearch in the areas of (i) rock and ice friction; (ii) fault mechanics; (iii) and compaction of porous media. I use a combination of numerical/theoretical techniques and experimental work. Below is a list of my active projects.
- The Influence of Fault Geometry on Shallow Frictional Sliding in Subduction Zones, NSF-EAR
For this project I am using theoretical analysis and nunerical models to understand the spatial and temporal relationships between different types of slip behavior in the shallow region of subduction zones. - Understanding Firn Rheology Through Laboratory Compaction Experiments and Radar Data, NSF-OPP
This project is a collaboration with Elizabeth Case, Jonny Kingslake, and Christine McCarthy. We are using laboratory experiments, numerical modeling, and geophysical techniques to determine the rheology of firn as it compacts to form ice. - Laboratory Study of Frictional Stability and Tidal Triggering in Ice Mixtures, NASA-ROSES
This project is a collaboration with Christine McCarthy, Heather Savage, and Maheenuz Zaman. We are combining experimental and numerical methods to better understand the dynamics of localized shear heating and frictional stability on faults of icy satellites under tidal loading conditions.
Publications
- Skarbek, R. M., C. McCarthy and H. M. Savage (2022), Oscillatory loading can alter the velocity rate dependence of ice-on-rock friction, Geochem., Geophys., Geosys. , doi: 10.1029/2021GC009954
- Kingslake, J., R. M. Skarbek, E. Case, and C. McCarthy (2022), Grain-size evolution controls the accumulation dependence of modeled firn thickness, submitted to Cryoshpere.
- McCarthy, C., R. M. Skarbek and H. M. Savage (2021), Tidal modulation of ice streams: Effect of periodic sliding velocity on ice friction and healing, ESSOAr. , doi: 10.1002/essoar.10509831.1
- Skarbek, R. M. and H. M. Savage (2019), RSFit3000: A MATLAB GUI-based program for determining rate and state frictional parameters from experimental data, Geosphere , doi: 10.1130/GES02122.1
- Skarbek, R. M., H. M. Savage, P. B. Kelemen, and D. Yancopoulos (2018), Competition between crystallization-induced expansion and creep compaction during gypsum formation, and implications for serpentinization, J. Geophys. Res., doi: 10.1029/2017JB015369
- Rabinowitz, H. S., H. M. Savage, R. M. Skarbek, M. J. Ikari, B. M. Carpenter, and C. Collettini (2018), Frictional behavior of input sediments to the Hikurangi Trench, New Zealand, Geochem., Geophys., Geosys., doi: 10.1029/2018GC007633
- Skarbek, R. M. and A. W. Rempel (2017), Heterogeneous Coulomb wedges: Influence of fluid pressure, porosity, and application to the Hikurangi subduction margin, New Zealand, J. Geophys. Res., doi: 10.1002/2016JB013497
- Bletery, Q., A. M. Thomas, J. C. Hawthorne, R. M. Skarbek, A. W. Rempel, and R. D. Krogstad (2017), Characteristics of secondary slip fronts associated with slow earthquakes in Cascadia, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. , doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.01.046
- Handwerger, A. L., A. W. Rempel, and R. M. Skarbek (2017), Submarine landslides triggered by destabilization of high-saturation hydrate anomalies, Geochem., Geophys., Geosys. , doi: 10.1002/2016GC006706
- Skarbek, R. M. and A. W. Rempel (2016), Dehydration-induced porosity waves and episodic tremor and slip, Geochem. Geophys. Geosys. , doi: 10.1002/2015GC006155
- Handwerger, A. L., A. W. Rempel, R. M. Skarbek, J. J. Roering, and G. Hilley (2016), Rate-weakening friction characterizes both slow sliding and catastrophic failure of landslides, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. , doi: 10.1073/pnas.1607009113
- Skarbek, R. M., A. W. Rempel, and D. A. Schmidt (2012), Geologic heterogeneity can produce aseismic slip transients, Geophys. Res. Lett. , doi: 10.1029/2012GL053762
- Skarbek, R. M., and D. M. Saffer (2009), Pore pressure development beneath the décollement at the Nankai subduction zone: Implications for plate boundary fault strength and sediment dewatering, J. Geophys. Res. , doi: 10.1029/2008JB006205
