World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Earth Science

D-Index
75
Citations
18308
World Ranking
727
National Ranking
345

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2004 - Penrose Medal, The Geological Society of America
  • 1981 - Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • 1980 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 1976 - Fellow of American Geophysical Union (AGU)
  • 1975 - Fellow of John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
  • 1975 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences

Overview

What is he best known for?

The fields of study he is best known for:

  • Basalt
  • Igneous rock
  • Mineral

W. G. Ernst mainly investigates Geochemistry, Metamorphism, Subduction, Metamorphic rock and Eclogite. The Geochemistry study combines topics in areas such as Lawsonite, Metamorphic facies and Oceanic crust. His biological study spans a wide range of topics, including Tectonics, Craton, Continental collision and Geomorphology.

Subduction is often connected to Terrane in his work. His Metamorphic rock research integrates issues from Coesite and Recrystallization. His work investigates the relationship between Eclogite and topics such as Peridotite that intersect with problems in Whiteschist, Hadean, Jack Hills and Igneous rock.

His most cited work include:

  • Tectonic history of subduction zones inferred from retrograde blueschist P-T paths (363 citations)
  • EXPERIMENTAL PHASE-EQUILIBRIUM STUDY OF AL- AND TI-CONTENTS OF CALCIC AMPHIBOLE IN MORB : A SEMIQUANTITATIVE THERMOBAROMETER (339 citations)
  • Tectonic contact between the Franciscan Mélange and the Great Valley Sequence—Crustal expression of a Late Mesozoic Benioff Zone (280 citations)

What are the main themes of his work throughout his whole career to date?

W. G. Ernst mostly deals with Geochemistry, Metamorphism, Terrane, Subduction and Metamorphic rock. The study incorporates disciplines such as Eclogite and Petrology in addition to Geochemistry. Glaucophane is closely connected to Blueschist in his research, which is encompassed under the umbrella topic of Metamorphism.

The various areas that W. G. Ernst examines in his Terrane study include Crust, Ophiolite, Geomorphology and Continental margin. His Subduction research is multidisciplinary, incorporating perspectives in Continental crust, Mantle and Lithosphere. His Metamorphic rock study frequently draws connections to other fields, such as Coesite.

He most often published in these fields:

  • Geochemistry (63.33%)
  • Metamorphism (27.04%)
  • Terrane (20.00%)

What were the highlights of his more recent work (between 2007-2021)?

  • Geochemistry (63.33%)
  • Subduction (19.63%)
  • Zircon (10.37%)

In recent papers he was focusing on the following fields of study:

The scientist’s investigation covers issues in Geochemistry, Subduction, Zircon, Paleontology and Terrane. His research integrates issues of Petrology and Pluton in his study of Geochemistry. W. G. Ernst interconnects Lithosphere, Geomorphology and Clastic rock in the investigation of issues within Subduction.

His Zircon research focuses on subjects like Archean, which are linked to Leucogranite. His Terrane research incorporates themes from Continental margin, Terrigenous sediment, Island arc and Geochronology. His Metamorphism research includes elements of Continental crust, Eclogite, Craton and Metamorphic facies.

Between 2007 and 2021, his most popular works were:

  • Ultrahigh-pressure minerals and metamorphic terranes – The view from China (247 citations)
  • The Dabie–Sulu continental collision zone: A comprehensive review (243 citations)
  • Lawsonite blueschists and lawsonite eclogites as proxies for palaeo‐subduction zone processes: a review (111 citations)

In his most recent research, the most cited papers focused on:

  • Basalt
  • Igneous rock
  • Mineral

His primary scientific interests are in Geochemistry, Subduction, Metamorphism, Zircon and Eclogite. W. G. Ernst studies Geochemistry, namely Metamorphic rock. His work focuses on many connections between Subduction and other disciplines, such as Geomorphology, that overlap with his field of interest in Terrane, Accretion and North American Plate.

W. G. Ernst has included themes like Coesite, Metamorphic facies and Craton in his Metamorphism study. His studies in Zircon integrate themes in fields like Trace element and Lile. His research in Continental collision focuses on subjects like Continental crust, which are connected to Rodinia and Collision zone.

Best Publications

  • EXPERIMENTAL PHASE-EQUILIBRIUM STUDY OF AL- AND TI-CONTENTS OF CALCIC AMPHIBOLE IN MORB : A SEMIQUANTITATIVE THERMOBAROMETER

    W. G. Ernst;Jun Liu

  • Tectonic history of subduction zones inferred from retrograde blueschist P-T paths

    W. G. Ernst

  • Tectonic contact between the Franciscan Mélange and the Great Valley Sequence—Crustal expression of a Late Mesozoic Benioff Zone

    W. G. Ernst

  • High-pressure minerals from deeply subducted metamorphic rocks

    J. G. Liou;R. Y. Zhang;W. G. Ernst;Douglas Rumble

  • The Dabie–Sulu continental collision zone: A comprehensive review

    R.Y. Zhang;J.G. Liou;W.G. Ernst

  • Ultrahigh-pressure minerals and metamorphic terranes – The view from China

    J.G. Liou;W.G. Ernst;R.Y. Zhang;T. Tsujimori

  • Contrasting plate-tectonic styles of the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu and Franciscan metamorphic belts

    W. G. Ernst;J. G. Liou

  • Metamorphic zonations on presumably subducted lithospheric plates from Japan, California and the Alps

    W. G. Ernst

  • Comparative study of low-grade metamorphism in the California Coast Ranges and the outer metamorphic belt of Japan

    W. G. Ernst;Y. Seki;H. Onuki;M. C. Gilbert

  • Permo-Triassic Collision, Subduction-Zone Metamorphism, and Tectonic Exhumation Along the East Asian Continental Margin

    W. G. Ernst;Tatsuki Tsujimori;Ruth Zhang;J. G. Liou

  • Significance Of Phengitic Micas From Low-Grade Schists

    W. G. Ernst

  • Buoyancy-driven, rapid exhumation of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphosed continental crust

    W. G. Ernst;S. Maruyama;S. Wallis

  • Subduction, ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism, and regurgitation of buoyant crustal slices — implications for arcs and continental growth

    W.G. Ernst

  • Stability of hydrous phases in subducting oceanic crust

    Jun Liu;S.R. Bohlen;W.G. Ernst

  • Mineral Parageneses in Franciscan Metamorphic Rocks, Panoche Pass, California

    W. G Ernst

  • Alpine and Pacific styles of Phanerozoic mountain building: subduction‐zone petrogenesis of continental crust

    W. G. Ernst

  • Metamorphic evolution of diamond‐bearing and associated rocks from the Kokchetav Massif, northern Kazakhstan

    R. Y. Zhang;J. G. Liou;W. G. Ernst;R. G. Coleman

  • Systematics of large-scale tectonics and age progressions in Alpine and Circum-Pacific blueschist belts☆

    W.G. Ernst

  • Blueschist metamorphism and P-T regimes in active subduction zones

    W.G. Ernst

  • Metamorphism and crustal evolution of the western United States

    W. G. Ernst;Rubey Colloquium

  • The Geotectonic development of California

    W. G. Ernst;William Walden Rubey

  • Chapter 2. HIGH-PRESSURE MINERALS FROM DEEPLY SUBDUCTED METAMORPHIC ROCKS

    J. G. Liou;R. Y. Zhang;W. G. Ernst;Douglas Rumble

Frequent Co-Authors

Juhn G. Liou
Juhn G. Liou Stanford University
Tatsuki Tsujimori
Tatsuki Tsujimori Tohoku University
Bor-ming Jahn
Bor-ming Jahn National Taiwan University
Bradley R. Hacker
Bradley R. Hacker University of California, Santa Barbara
Shigenori Maruyama
Shigenori Maruyama Tokyo Institute of Technology
Yoshiyuki Iizuka
Yoshiyuki Iizuka Academia Sinica
Michael McWilliams
Michael McWilliams Stanford University
Trevor A. Dumitru
Trevor A. Dumitru Stanford University
Robert G. Coleman
Robert G. Coleman Stanford University
Marty Grove
Marty Grove Stanford University

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Pursuing an online degree can open numerous career opportunities related to Earth Science, especially for those seeking flexibility or balancing other commitments. For military veterans, specialized programs like an online photography degree for military veterans provide tailored support and can enhance skills in scientific documentation and environmental observation.

Language skills are also highly valuable in Earth Science fields, particularly for international research and collaboration. Exploring spanish degrees online offers a practical route to bilingual proficiency. Veterans interested in this path can specifically benefit from online spanish degree programs for veterans, which provide optimized resources and support systems.

Creative skills are equally essential in areas such as science communication and environmental advocacy. Earning an online mfa degree combines artistic expression with scientific storytelling, helping professionals convey complex Earth Science concepts in engaging ways.

By combining technical knowledge with diverse online degree options, students can tailor their careers to meet evolving industry demands and personal interests within Earth Science and related fields.

Best Scientists Citing W. G. Ernst

Trending Scientists