Dr. Charles H. Langmuir

CHL

Professor of Geochemistry
Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences
20 Oxford Street, Room 109
Cambridge, MA 02138
Tel: 617-384-9948
Fax: 617-496-6958
email: langmuir@eps.harvard.edu

News!

Date: April 25, 2006
Professor Langmuir has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences!

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is an honorific society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare.

Profile

Charles "Charlie" Langmuir has discovered hydrothermal sites in three ocean basins, and recently co-led the first investigation of the Arctic Ocean ridge system. He has carved a distinguished career in the international science arena investigating many aspects of the solid earth geochemical cycle. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Geochemical Society, and the American Geophysical Union, from which he received the N. L. Bowen Award in 1996. He received the Holmes Medal of the European Union of Geosciences in 2003. Charlie received his B.A. from Harvard University and Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where his dissertation research focused on major and trace elements in basalts. He has been at Harvard since 2002, after 20 years at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Charlie has explored the seafloor through some 20 research cruises over the last two decades.

Courses

Fall

SCI-B35

How to Build a Habitable Planet (Fall 06/07)

Catalog Number: 7621
Tu., Th., 10-11:30, and a weekly section to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
The steps involved in creation of our habitable planet: the Big Bang, origin of the elements, formation of minerals, origin of the solar system, formation of planets, origin of life, co-evolution of ocean, atmosphere, solid earth and biosphere, development of plate tectonics, operation of the modern whole earth system, and climate regulation. Finally we consider the arising of intelligent life that can understand and influence the planetary system, and whether Earth may be a microcosm reflecting laws of planetary evolution that are common to a class of planets throughout the universe, or alternatively may be a low probability accident.

Spring

EPS 145

Introduction to Igneous Petrology and Petrogenesis

Catalog Number: 5940
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 2:30-4 and a weekly section to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
How igneous rocks form and reveal the processes and fluxes involved in the circulation of the solid Earth. The course begins with the essential elements of igneous petrology-rock description and nomenclature, mineralogy, phase diagrams, processes of melting and crystallization, trace elements. We then consider the formation of igneous rocks at modern igneous settings - spreading centers, convergent margins and ocean islands. We conclude with investigations of igneous phenomenon of the past, such as large igneous flood basalt provinces, anorthosites, komatiites and the igneous history of the Moon.

Note: Given in alternate years.

Recent Publications

For a full listing of Dr. Langmuir's articles please see his CV.

Langmuir, C., Bezos, A., Escrig, S., Parman, S. (2006). Chemical systematics and hydrous melting of the mantle in Back-Arc Basins. For submission to AGU Geophysical Monograph Back Arc Basin Volume

German, C.R., Baker E.T., Connelly, D.P., Lupton, J.E., Resing, J., Prien, R.D., Walker, S.L., Edmonds, H.N., & Langmuir, C.H. (2006). Hydrothermal Exploration of the Fonualei Rift & Spreading Centre & NE Lau Spreading Centre. In Review Geochem., Geophys., Geosystems

Asimow P. D., J. E. Dixon, C. H. Langmuir (2004), A hydrous melting and fractionation model for mid-ocean ridge basalts: Application to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near the Azores, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 5, Q01E16, doi:10.1029/2003GC000568. PDF

Donnelly KE, Goldstein SL, Langmuir CH, et al. (2004). Origin of enriched ocean ridge basalts and implications for mantle dynamics Earth and Planetary Science Letters 226: 347-366 PDF