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I study how Alaska's landscapes adjust to earthquake-related rock uplift, climatic change, and human action. My science is strongly fieldwork-oriented, and also uses geographic information systems, digital topography analysis, simple models, and collaborations with academic experts in cosmogenic isotope geochemistry and luminescence dating. Results from my work provide the general public and scientific community with basic information about how, when, where, and how fast or slow Alaska's land surface has uplifted, eroded, and produced mineral resources such as placer gold.
A USGS scientist is conducting geologic mapping and collecting a sample of bedrock for new geochronologic analysis on the flanks of Victoria Mountain in the Yukon-Tanana upland of eastern interior Alaska.
A USGS scientist is conducting geologic mapping and collecting a sample of bedrock for new geochronologic analysis on the flanks of Victoria Mountain in the Yukon-Tanana upland of eastern interior Alaska.
A USGS scientist is conducting geologic mapping and collecting structural measurements from a bedrock outcrop in the West Crazy Mountains in eastern interior Alaska. The rock is metamorphosed chert that was originally deposited more than 350 million years ago in an ocean basin that was likely separated from present-day North America.
A USGS scientist is conducting geologic mapping and collecting structural measurements from a bedrock outcrop in the West Crazy Mountains in eastern interior Alaska. The rock is metamorphosed chert that was originally deposited more than 350 million years ago in an ocean basin that was likely separated from present-day North America.
A scientist takes field notes on glacier mass change after measuring an ablation stake installed on the surface of South Cascade Glacier, Washington.
A scientist takes field notes on glacier mass change after measuring an ablation stake installed on the surface of South Cascade Glacier, Washington.
Sunset illuminates Sentinel Peak in the Cascade Range above South Cascade Glacier. Bright white seasonal snow is visible along the upper right flank of the glacier and banded bare ice is exposed toward the glacier terminus.
Sunset illuminates Sentinel Peak in the Cascade Range above South Cascade Glacier. Bright white seasonal snow is visible along the upper right flank of the glacier and banded bare ice is exposed toward the glacier terminus.
USGS scientists conduct an aerial inspection of a line of sand vents along the Cook Inlet tide flat at Earthquake Park in Anchorage. Cook Inlet coastal plain liquefaction and bluff raveling near Earthquake Park. These vents opened and ejected sand due to liquefaction triggered by strong shaking during the M7.1 November 30, 2018 Anchorage earthquake.
USGS scientists conduct an aerial inspection of a line of sand vents along the Cook Inlet tide flat at Earthquake Park in Anchorage. Cook Inlet coastal plain liquefaction and bluff raveling near Earthquake Park. These vents opened and ejected sand due to liquefaction triggered by strong shaking during the M7.1 November 30, 2018 Anchorage earthquake.
Minnesota Blvd off-ramp failure under repair. Construction crews rebuild the Minnesota Drive onramp in Anchorage on December 1, 2018. Engineered fill beneath the onramp failed the day before as a result of strong shaking during the M7.1 November 30, 2018 Anchorage earthquake.
Minnesota Blvd off-ramp failure under repair. Construction crews rebuild the Minnesota Drive onramp in Anchorage on December 1, 2018. Engineered fill beneath the onramp failed the day before as a result of strong shaking during the M7.1 November 30, 2018 Anchorage earthquake.
Slumping along the Alaska Railroad right-of-way evolved into long-runout landslides. The same area failed in earthquakes in 1954 and 1964.
2018 Anchorage Earthquake
Slumping along the Alaska Railroad right-of-way evolved into long-runout landslides. The same area failed in earthquakes in 1954 and 1964.
2018 Anchorage Earthquake
A scientist investigates a bedrock canyon cut by the North Fork Fortymile River in response to human mining activity in 1900. The smooth grooves on the rock in the lower right corner were formed by river erosion in the last century.
A scientist investigates a bedrock canyon cut by the North Fork Fortymile River in response to human mining activity in 1900. The smooth grooves on the rock in the lower right corner were formed by river erosion in the last century.
A scientist standing on the pre-1900 riverbed that is now 20 feet above the rapids at The Kink on the North Fork Fortymile River. The Kink resulted from human mining activity that diverted the river in 1900.
A scientist standing on the pre-1900 riverbed that is now 20 feet above the rapids at The Kink on the North Fork Fortymile River. The Kink resulted from human mining activity that diverted the river in 1900.
A USGS scientist standing on the pre-1900 riverbed that is now the rim of the bedrock canyon at The Kink on North Fork Fortymile River. The Kink resulted from human mining activity that diverted the river in 1900.
A USGS scientist standing on the pre-1900 riverbed that is now the rim of the bedrock canyon at The Kink on North Fork Fortymile River. The Kink resulted from human mining activity that diverted the river in 1900.
A USGS scientist is conducting geologic mapping and collecting a sample of bedrock for new geochronologic analysis on the flanks of Victoria Mountain in the Yukon-Tanana upland of eastern interior Alaska.
A USGS scientist is conducting geologic mapping and collecting a sample of bedrock for new geochronologic analysis on the flanks of Victoria Mountain in the Yukon-Tanana upland of eastern interior Alaska.
A USGS scientist is conducting geologic mapping and collecting structural measurements from a bedrock outcrop in the West Crazy Mountains in eastern interior Alaska. The rock is metamorphosed chert that was originally deposited more than 350 million years ago in an ocean basin that was likely separated from present-day North America.
A USGS scientist is conducting geologic mapping and collecting structural measurements from a bedrock outcrop in the West Crazy Mountains in eastern interior Alaska. The rock is metamorphosed chert that was originally deposited more than 350 million years ago in an ocean basin that was likely separated from present-day North America.
A scientist takes field notes on glacier mass change after measuring an ablation stake installed on the surface of South Cascade Glacier, Washington.
A scientist takes field notes on glacier mass change after measuring an ablation stake installed on the surface of South Cascade Glacier, Washington.
Sunset illuminates Sentinel Peak in the Cascade Range above South Cascade Glacier. Bright white seasonal snow is visible along the upper right flank of the glacier and banded bare ice is exposed toward the glacier terminus.
Sunset illuminates Sentinel Peak in the Cascade Range above South Cascade Glacier. Bright white seasonal snow is visible along the upper right flank of the glacier and banded bare ice is exposed toward the glacier terminus.
USGS scientists conduct an aerial inspection of a line of sand vents along the Cook Inlet tide flat at Earthquake Park in Anchorage. Cook Inlet coastal plain liquefaction and bluff raveling near Earthquake Park. These vents opened and ejected sand due to liquefaction triggered by strong shaking during the M7.1 November 30, 2018 Anchorage earthquake.
USGS scientists conduct an aerial inspection of a line of sand vents along the Cook Inlet tide flat at Earthquake Park in Anchorage. Cook Inlet coastal plain liquefaction and bluff raveling near Earthquake Park. These vents opened and ejected sand due to liquefaction triggered by strong shaking during the M7.1 November 30, 2018 Anchorage earthquake.
Minnesota Blvd off-ramp failure under repair. Construction crews rebuild the Minnesota Drive onramp in Anchorage on December 1, 2018. Engineered fill beneath the onramp failed the day before as a result of strong shaking during the M7.1 November 30, 2018 Anchorage earthquake.
Minnesota Blvd off-ramp failure under repair. Construction crews rebuild the Minnesota Drive onramp in Anchorage on December 1, 2018. Engineered fill beneath the onramp failed the day before as a result of strong shaking during the M7.1 November 30, 2018 Anchorage earthquake.
Slumping along the Alaska Railroad right-of-way evolved into long-runout landslides. The same area failed in earthquakes in 1954 and 1964.
2018 Anchorage Earthquake
Slumping along the Alaska Railroad right-of-way evolved into long-runout landslides. The same area failed in earthquakes in 1954 and 1964.
2018 Anchorage Earthquake
A scientist investigates a bedrock canyon cut by the North Fork Fortymile River in response to human mining activity in 1900. The smooth grooves on the rock in the lower right corner were formed by river erosion in the last century.
A scientist investigates a bedrock canyon cut by the North Fork Fortymile River in response to human mining activity in 1900. The smooth grooves on the rock in the lower right corner were formed by river erosion in the last century.
A scientist standing on the pre-1900 riverbed that is now 20 feet above the rapids at The Kink on the North Fork Fortymile River. The Kink resulted from human mining activity that diverted the river in 1900.
A scientist standing on the pre-1900 riverbed that is now 20 feet above the rapids at The Kink on the North Fork Fortymile River. The Kink resulted from human mining activity that diverted the river in 1900.
A USGS scientist standing on the pre-1900 riverbed that is now the rim of the bedrock canyon at The Kink on North Fork Fortymile River. The Kink resulted from human mining activity that diverted the river in 1900.
A USGS scientist standing on the pre-1900 riverbed that is now the rim of the bedrock canyon at The Kink on North Fork Fortymile River. The Kink resulted from human mining activity that diverted the river in 1900.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government