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Anahita Tikku, PhD

Anahita Tikku is a geophysicist within the Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Science Center in Denver, CO.

Anahita joined the USGS in 2022 and is currently working on the Earth MRI project mapping critical minerals in the United States with airborne geophysical data including modeling and interpretation of volcanic and sedimentary economic mineral deposits. She has diverse experience and interests within the geosciences, and has worked in academia, industry and government. Anahita’s projects primarily focus on using geophysical techniques to elucidate geological processes or structure with applications in tectonics, basin structure, glaciology, volcanology, petroleum geology, and CO2 sequestration, though she has also focused on seismic interpretation, hydrocarbon play mapping, salt tectonics, rock physics, and structural geology. Anahita also has an interest in science outreach, public information and DEI. She was chair of the AGU David Perlman Award from 2008-2012.

Professional Experience

  • Geophysicist, USGS, 2022-present

  • Principal, Mount Kolahoi Geophysics Consulting, 2020-2022

  • Senior Geoscience Advisor, ExxonMobil, 2007-2020

  • Adjunct Faculty Member, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2007-2009

  • Research Scientist, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2004-2007

  • JSPS Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 2003-2004 

  • Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory - Columbia Univ., 2001-2003

  • NRC Postdoctoral Research Associate, NOAA Laboratory for Satellite Altimetry, 1999-2001

Education and Certifications

  • Certified Professional Geologist: CPG-12077

  • PhD, Earth Sciences, Scripps Institution of Oceanography – University of California San Diego, 1999

  • BS, Geology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1992

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • American Geophysical Union

  • Geological Society of America 

  • American Institute of Professional Geologists

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Swift, S.A., Reichow, M.K., Tikku, A.A., Tominaga, M. and L. Gilbert, Vertical velocity structure of Upper Ocean crust at ODP Hole 1256D, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, v. 9 , no. 10, Q10O13, doi:10.1029/2008GC002188, 2008.
Tikku, A.A. and N.G. Direen, Comment on “Major Australian-Antarctic plate reorganization at Hawaiian-Emperor bend time”, Science, v. 321, 490c, doi:10.1126/science.1157163, 2008.
Tikku, A.A., McAdoo, D.C., Schenewerk, M.S. and E.C. Willoughby, Temporal fluctuations of microseismic noise in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin from a continuous gravity observation, Geophys. Res. Lett., v. 33, L11306, doi:10.1029/2006GL026113, 2006.
Wilson, D.S. et al., Drilling to gabbro in intact oceanic crust formed at the East Pacific Rise, Science, v. 312, p. 1016-1020, doi: 10.1126/science.1126090, 2006.
Tikku, A.A., Bell, R.E., Studinger, M., Clarke, G.K.C., Tabacco, I. and F. Ferraccioli, Influx of meltwater to subglacial Lake Concordia, East Antarctica, J. Glaciology, v. 51 no. 172, p. 96-104, 2005.
Bell, R.E., Studinger, M., Tikku, A.A. and J.D. Castello, Comparative biological analyses of accretion ice from subglacial Lake Vostok, in S.O. Rogers and J.D. Castello, eds., Life in Ancient Ice, Princeton University Press, p. 251-267, 2005.
Tikku, A.A., Bell, R.E., Studinger, M. and G.K.C. Clarke, Ice flow over Lake Vostok, East Antarctic inferred by structure tracking, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. v. 227, p. 249-261, 2004.
Studinger, M., Bell, R.E., and A.A. Tikku, Estimating the depth and shape of subglacial Lake Vostok’s water cavity from aerogravity data, Geophys. Res. Lett., v. 31, doi: 10.1029/2004GL019801, 2004.
Studinger, M., Bell, R.E., Karner, G.D., Tikku, A.A., Holt, J.W., Morse, D.L., Richter, T.G., Kempf, S.D., Peters, M., Blankenship, D.D., Sweeney, R.E., and V.L. Rystrom, Ice cover, landscape setting, and geological framework of Lake Vostok, East Antarctica, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v. 205, p.195-210, 2003.
Bell, R.E., Studinger, M., Tikku, A.A., Clarke, G.K.C., Gutner, M.M., and C. Meertens, Origin and fate of Lake Vostok water accreted to the base of the East Antarctic ice sheet, Nature, v. 416, p. 307-310, 2002.
Tikku, A.A., Marks, K.M., and L.C. Kovacs, An Early Cretaceous extinct spreading center in the northern Natal Valley, Tectonophysics, v. 347, no. 1-3, p. 87-108, 2002
Kovacs, L.C., Morris, P., Brozena, J., and A. Tikku, Seafloor spreading in the Weddell Sea from magnetic and gravity data, Tectonophysics, v. 347, no. 1-3, p. 43-64, 2002.
Marks, K.M. and A.A. Tikku, Cretaceous reconstructions of East Antarctica, Africa and Madagascar, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett, v. 186, p. 479-495, 2001.
Tikku, A.A. and S.C. Cande, On the fit of Broken Ridge and Kerguelen Plateau, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v. 180, p. 117-132, 2000.
Müller, R.D., Gaina, C., Tikku, A., Mihut, D., Cande, S. and J. Stock, Mesozoic/Cenozoic tectonic events around Australia, In “The History and Dynamics of Global Plate Motions”, Eds. Richards, M.A., Gordon, R.G., and R.D. van der Hilst, AGU Geophys. Mono. Ser., v. 121, p. 161-188, 2000.
Tikku, A.A. and S.C. Cande, The oldest magnetic anomalies in the Australian – Antarctic Basin: Are they isochrons?, J. Geophys. Res., v.104, p. 661-677, 1999.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

link
Earth MRI data and applications graphic

Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)

The goal of Earth MRI is to improve our knowledge of the geologic framework in the United States and to identify areas that may have the potential to contain undiscovered critical mineral resources. Enhancement of our domestic mineral supply will decrease the Nation’s reliance on foreign sources of minerals that are fundamental to our security and economy.
By
Mineral Resources Program
link

Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)

The goal of Earth MRI is to improve our knowledge of the geologic framework in the United States and to identify areas that may have the potential to contain undiscovered critical mineral resources. Enhancement of our domestic mineral supply will decrease the Nation’s reliance on foreign sources of minerals that are fundamental to our security and economy.
Learn More

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Swift, S.A., Reichow, M.K., Tikku, A.A., Tominaga, M. and L. Gilbert, Vertical velocity structure of Upper Ocean crust at ODP Hole 1256D, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, v. 9 , no. 10, Q10O13, doi:10.1029/2008GC002188, 2008.
Tikku, A.A. and N.G. Direen, Comment on “Major Australian-Antarctic plate reorganization at Hawaiian-Emperor bend time”, Science, v. 321, 490c, doi:10.1126/science.1157163, 2008.
Tikku, A.A., McAdoo, D.C., Schenewerk, M.S. and E.C. Willoughby, Temporal fluctuations of microseismic noise in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin from a continuous gravity observation, Geophys. Res. Lett., v. 33, L11306, doi:10.1029/2006GL026113, 2006.
Wilson, D.S. et al., Drilling to gabbro in intact oceanic crust formed at the East Pacific Rise, Science, v. 312, p. 1016-1020, doi: 10.1126/science.1126090, 2006.
Tikku, A.A., Bell, R.E., Studinger, M., Clarke, G.K.C., Tabacco, I. and F. Ferraccioli, Influx of meltwater to subglacial Lake Concordia, East Antarctica, J. Glaciology, v. 51 no. 172, p. 96-104, 2005.
Bell, R.E., Studinger, M., Tikku, A.A. and J.D. Castello, Comparative biological analyses of accretion ice from subglacial Lake Vostok, in S.O. Rogers and J.D. Castello, eds., Life in Ancient Ice, Princeton University Press, p. 251-267, 2005.
Tikku, A.A., Bell, R.E., Studinger, M. and G.K.C. Clarke, Ice flow over Lake Vostok, East Antarctic inferred by structure tracking, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. v. 227, p. 249-261, 2004.
Studinger, M., Bell, R.E., and A.A. Tikku, Estimating the depth and shape of subglacial Lake Vostok’s water cavity from aerogravity data, Geophys. Res. Lett., v. 31, doi: 10.1029/2004GL019801, 2004.
Studinger, M., Bell, R.E., Karner, G.D., Tikku, A.A., Holt, J.W., Morse, D.L., Richter, T.G., Kempf, S.D., Peters, M., Blankenship, D.D., Sweeney, R.E., and V.L. Rystrom, Ice cover, landscape setting, and geological framework of Lake Vostok, East Antarctica, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v. 205, p.195-210, 2003.
Bell, R.E., Studinger, M., Tikku, A.A., Clarke, G.K.C., Gutner, M.M., and C. Meertens, Origin and fate of Lake Vostok water accreted to the base of the East Antarctic ice sheet, Nature, v. 416, p. 307-310, 2002.
Tikku, A.A., Marks, K.M., and L.C. Kovacs, An Early Cretaceous extinct spreading center in the northern Natal Valley, Tectonophysics, v. 347, no. 1-3, p. 87-108, 2002
Kovacs, L.C., Morris, P., Brozena, J., and A. Tikku, Seafloor spreading in the Weddell Sea from magnetic and gravity data, Tectonophysics, v. 347, no. 1-3, p. 43-64, 2002.
Marks, K.M. and A.A. Tikku, Cretaceous reconstructions of East Antarctica, Africa and Madagascar, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett, v. 186, p. 479-495, 2001.
Tikku, A.A. and S.C. Cande, On the fit of Broken Ridge and Kerguelen Plateau, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v. 180, p. 117-132, 2000.
Müller, R.D., Gaina, C., Tikku, A., Mihut, D., Cande, S. and J. Stock, Mesozoic/Cenozoic tectonic events around Australia, In “The History and Dynamics of Global Plate Motions”, Eds. Richards, M.A., Gordon, R.G., and R.D. van der Hilst, AGU Geophys. Mono. Ser., v. 121, p. 161-188, 2000.
Tikku, A.A. and S.C. Cande, The oldest magnetic anomalies in the Australian – Antarctic Basin: Are they isochrons?, J. Geophys. Res., v.104, p. 661-677, 1999.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

link
Earth MRI data and applications graphic

Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)

The goal of Earth MRI is to improve our knowledge of the geologic framework in the United States and to identify areas that may have the potential to contain undiscovered critical mineral resources. Enhancement of our domestic mineral supply will decrease the Nation’s reliance on foreign sources of minerals that are fundamental to our security and economy.
By
Mineral Resources Program
link

Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)

The goal of Earth MRI is to improve our knowledge of the geologic framework in the United States and to identify areas that may have the potential to contain undiscovered critical mineral resources. Enhancement of our domestic mineral supply will decrease the Nation’s reliance on foreign sources of minerals that are fundamental to our security and economy.
Learn More

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government