David A. Foster

David A. Foster is a Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Florida, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. His research integrates thermochronology, structural geology, and petrology to investigate tectonic and magmatic processes, with a recent focus on enhanced weathering of basaltic rocks for carbon sequestration. He leads the Thermochronology Lab, providing analytical services for mineral separation, Ar/Ar dating, and thermal modeling.

Research interests span:

• Tectonics & Geodynamics: Orogenic collapse, terrane accretion, and supercontinent cycles.
• Thermochronology: Application of temperature-sensitive isotopic systems to crustal evolution.
• Surface Processes: Links between tectonic uplift, erosion, and carbon capture via rock weathering.

His publications emphasize regional tectonics (e.g., Andes, Appalachians, Cordillera), utilizing geochronology, isotope geochemistry, and structural analysis. Recent work explores collisional orogens, basin provenance, and magmatic arcs, with recurring themes of extensional collapse and paleogeographic reconstructions.

Educational contributions include co-authoring the comprehensive textbook Geology of National Parks, now in its 8th edition, which synthesizes geological features of U.S. national parks in the context of plate tectonics and landscape formation.