Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2009. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 63-66). / In April of 2008, there were reports of elevated lead levels in several AstroTurf surfaced fields in New Jersey that motivated this investigation of MIT's synthetic turf field and other athletic facilities for elevated lead levels. I have analyzed samples of chalk, paint, dust, water, air, and synthetic turf fibers for lead concentration and isotopic composition by thermal ionization mass spectrometry. Additionally, blood lead levels were tested in a student-athlete and a non-athlete for control. The synthetic turf, water, chalk, and air analyzed from the athletic facilities were found to pose no significant lead hazard for student-athletes using the facilities, and the tested student-athlete had a normal blood lead level. The dust and paint did not pose a significant hazard to student athletes, but hazardous levels of lead were found in some dust and paint samples. It is recommended that further studies of the lead in duPont Gymnasium paint and Rockwell and duPont Gymnasium dust be performed and the potential hazards to be investigated. / by Alison M. Barnard. / S.B.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, 1988. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Philippe C. Gurriet. / M.S.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-120). / by Kwok-Lin Lee. / Ph.D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 273-278). / by Chun-Chieh Wu. / Ph.D.

Thesis (S.M. in Earth and Planetary Sciences)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 149-153). / This thesis involves locating and interpreting earthquakes from the Sichuan Province, China. The main contributions of this research are: successfully fitting the travel time data of three explosions to a two-layer crust model; and the improvement in locating earthquakes. To achieve these objectives, the Gauss-Newton method is applied iteratively to find the nonlinear least squares solution. The Monte Carlo method and the Gauss- Newton method were jointly used to locate events and simultaneously optimize the crust model. The iterative station correction method is adopted to compensate the incorrectness of the velocity model and to improve the event locations. The joint master event method can improve the location of the events near the master event. The modified Hypoinverse not only can locate events based on the spherical crust model, but can also jointly improve the crust model used. A three-dimensional crust model is next to be optimized and to improve event locations further. We also present geological interpretation about earthquake locations in Sichuan and their tectonic implications. / by Youshun Sun. / S.M.in Earth and Planetary Sciences

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 107). / This thesis presents a two-dimensional finite-difference model of subduction, which is used to explore the characteristics of subduction that are most closely related to deformation in the overriding plate. The model focuses on how the angle, a, at which the slab subducts and the rate, Vr , at which the subduction boundary "retreats" are affected by the negative buoyancy of the subducting lithospheric slab and the viscous forces that arise where the mantle and subducting slab are in motion relative to one another ... / by Matthew Walter Dawson. / S.M.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 389-300). / by Matthijs W. Haartsen. / Ph.D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 157-158). / by Jane Luu. / Ph.D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 270-281). / by Chengbin Peng. / Ph.D.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 1987. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science. / Bibliography: leaves 64-65. / by Stephen D. Pierce. / M.S.