Glenn Spinelli

Glenn Spinelli is a Professor in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences at New Mexico Tech. He holds a courtesy appointment and is actively involved in marine hydrogeology and subduction zone research. His work spans fluid and heat transport in oceanic crust, fault zone permeability, and sediment diagenesis. He is a Co-PI of the NSF-funded CHINOoK project, conducting fieldwork offshore Oregon and Washington.

Research Interests:

• Marine Hydrogeology and fluid circulation in oceanic crust
• Thermal effects on subduction zone seismogenic zones
• Dehydration reactions and fluid pressure in subduction zones
• Fault zone cementation and groundwater flow
• Sediment physical properties and diagenesis

His recent publications focus on hydrothermal circulation, heat flow, and fluid seepage in subducting plates, particularly in the Cascadia, Nankai, and Chile margins. These studies integrate field data, thermal modeling, and seismic analysis to understand crustal permeability and its geodynamic implications.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards explicitly mentioned in the text.

Advising and Grants: Dr. Spinelli advises multiple graduate students, including Madeline Fresonke, Tom Kyritz, and Ben Norvell. He leads the CHINOoK project, funded by the National Science Foundation, involving research cruises on the R/V Langseth and R/V Sally Ride. His work includes field-scale studies of the Loma Blanca Fault and IODP expeditions.

Labs and Teams: He is part of the CHINOoK science team with collaborators from Oregon State University, University of Texas, Rutgers, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. The team conducts seafloor heat flux and seismic surveys to study hydrothermal processes in the Cascadia margin.