SEDIMENTOLOGY AND SURFICIAL PROCESSES

The sedimentology program is strongly rock oriented with current research focusing on the Eocene Green River Formation of Colorado and Wyoming and carbonate rocks in the northeastern states. We study modern sedimentary systems to better understand physical, chemical and biological processes at the Earth's surface. Current research focuses on the chemistry of ancient seawater; long-term survival of extreme microorganisms in fluid inclusions; and brine evolution, evaporate deposition and microbial ecosystems in high-salinity closed basin sedimentary systems and other "extreme" environments. Research on surficial processes include computer modeling studies of ocean-atmosphere interactions and computer models of earthquake wave – unconsolidated sediment interactions, and factors affecting preservation of organic matter in sedimentary basins.

Faculty

Jeff Barker– earthquake seismology
Steve Dickman– whole Earth geophysics
Bob Demicco– carbonate sedimentology, computer modeling of sedimentary systems, paleoseawater chemistry
Peter Knuepfer– geomorphology/Quaternary geology/paleoclimate
Tom Kulp– Heavy metal metabolism in microbial ecosystems
Tim Lowenstein– Green River Formation, microbes in fluid inclusions, paleoseawater chemistry

Recent theses and dissertations in Sedimentology and Surficial Processes

John Bigolski (MS) – Thesis title: An Inferred Sea Level Curve from Carbonate Depositional Facies of the Middle Cambrian Elbrook Formation, Western Maryland, U.S.A.
Kathryn E. Gragg (MS) – Thesis title: Preservation of Microorganisms within Halite Fluid Inclusions from the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia.
Kuo-chen Hao (PhD) – Dissertation title: Imaging Deep Structure Under the Taiwan Orogen: Toward Tectonic Model Testing.
En-Jui Lee (MS) – Thesis title: Joint Local/Teleseismic Tomographic Inverstion in Taiwan Using Taiger and Other Data.
Nicolas Miller (MS) – Thesis title: Historic Channel Change on Esopus Creek, Upstream of the Ashokan Reservoir, Catskills, New York.
Arnold Reesink (PhD) – Dissertation title: Influence of Superimposed Bedforms and Flow Unsteadiness on the Formation of Cross Strata in Dunes and Unit Bars.
Brian Schubert (PhD) – Dissertation title: Long-term Survival of Prokaryotes in Subsurface Halite, Death Valley, California.
Jason Smith (MS) – Thesis title: A Reinterpretation of the Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of the Upper Silurian – Lower Devonian Manlius Formation in Upstate New York.