Rain clouds at twilight over the Norhtern Bristol Mountains. THese types of winter storms provide water to the desert ecosystem, but are not usually intense enough to transport sediment or do other geomorphic work.
Andrew Cyr
Andy is a Research Geologist in the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. He earned a B.S. from Allegheny College, a M.S. from Miami University, and a Ph.D. from Purdue University, in Geology. Since joining the USGS as a Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellow in 2008 in Menlo Park, CA, Andy has focused on geomorphologic and tectonic problems.
Andy is currently the Project Chief for the Neotectonics of the Northern Mojave Desert effort, which is supported by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. In addition to coordinating the project team's geologic mapping, surface processes, and groundwater resources studies, Andy is helping to improve our understanding of earthquake hazards by evaluating recently active faults and folds related to the tectonics of the Pacific-North American plate boundary. A long-term goal of the team's work is to arrive at a new tectonic synthesis of the northeastern portion of the Eastern California Shear Zone.
Andy also conducts geomorphologic studies on the Channel Islands, southern California, in cooperation with the Channel Islands National Park. He applies surficial geologic mapping and cosmogenic nuclide analysis as part of a research team evaluating both 1) the impacts of grazing on the Channel Islands Landscape, and 2) earthquake and landslide hazards in this high-relief landscape.
Finally, Andy is also using cosmogenic nuclide surface exposure ages of glacial moraine boulders in the southern Rocky Mountains, Colorado, to provide the timing of fault rupture and rate of fault slip on range front faults in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, as well as evaluate the timing of alluvial fan activity relative to the timing of deglaciation. Understanding when these different geomorphic and depositional systems are active relative to one another will improve our understanding of paleoclimate variability in the southern Rocky Mountains.
Science and Products
Western Basin & Range - Eastern California Shear Zone
The Eastern California Shear Zone (ECSZ) Mapping project, funded by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, combines surficial and bedrock geologic mapping, geophysical surveys, and high-resolution topographic data analysis with neotectonic, geomorphic, structural, volcanic, and geochronologic studies to better understand the tectonic framework and landscape evolution of the ECSZ in the...
FEDMAP
FEDMAP develops new ways to understand basic earth science processes and produces high-quality, multipurpose digital geologic maps, regional analyses, and multidimensional geologic models. Geologic maps are the primary database for virtually all earth-science applications and issues including mitigation of natural hazards, ground- and surface-water management, land-use management, assessment, and...
Twilight in the Northern Bristol Mountains
Rain clouds at twilight over the Norhtern Bristol Mountains. THese types of winter storms provide water to the desert ecosystem, but are not usually intense enough to transport sediment or do other geomorphic work.
Lineations on a strand of the Soda-Avawatz Fault Zone northern Soda Mt
Lineations on a vertical fault strand of the Soda-Avawatz Fault Zone, exposed in the northern Soda Mountains, Mojave Desert, southern California. The fault can be seen cutting both late Tertiary sand and gravel units, but is buried by an overlying mid-Pleistocene alluvial gravel deposit.
Lineations on a vertical fault strand of the Soda-Avawatz Fault Zone, exposed in the northern Soda Mountains, Mojave Desert, southern California. The fault can be seen cutting both late Tertiary sand and gravel units, but is buried by an overlying mid-Pleistocene alluvial gravel deposit.
Soda-Avawatz Fault, eastern Avawatz Mountains
This is a view to the southwest from the top of the piedmont on the eastern side of the Avawatz Mountains, ~25 km northwest of Baker, CA.
This is a view to the southwest from the top of the piedmont on the eastern side of the Avawatz Mountains, ~25 km northwest of Baker, CA.
Sampling soil carbon dioxide on Santa Rosa Island
USGS Scientist sampling soil gasses from a grassy hilltop soil on Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands National Park, California. The composition of soil gasses is indicative of the number and variety of microorganisms in the soil and what type of material they are digesting.
USGS Scientist sampling soil gasses from a grassy hilltop soil on Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands National Park, California. The composition of soil gasses is indicative of the number and variety of microorganisms in the soil and what type of material they are digesting.
Collecting glacial moraine boulder samples
This is an example of a boulder that is part of a glacial deposit in the southern Sawatch Mountains of Colorado. The moraine slopes down to the left side of the frame; this slope is modified from teh original depositional shape of the moraine deposit.
This is an example of a boulder that is part of a glacial deposit in the southern Sawatch Mountains of Colorado. The moraine slopes down to the left side of the frame; this slope is modified from teh original depositional shape of the moraine deposit.
Digital mapping supported by mule team
Research Geologist Kevin Schmidt and Geoff Phelps examine satellite imagery on tablet computers during geologic mapping field work near Broadwell Mesa while supported by mule pack train.
Research Geologist Kevin Schmidt and Geoff Phelps examine satellite imagery on tablet computers during geologic mapping field work near Broadwell Mesa while supported by mule pack train.
Surficial Geologic Mapping in the northern Bristol Mountains, CA
USGS geologic mappers walkinbg out an intermediate age (likely middle Pleistocene) alluvial fan surface near Broadwell Mesa, in the northern Bristol Mountains, Kelso Dunes Wilderness Area, Mojave Desert, California.
USGS geologic mappers walkinbg out an intermediate age (likely middle Pleistocene) alluvial fan surface near Broadwell Mesa, in the northern Bristol Mountains, Kelso Dunes Wilderness Area, Mojave Desert, California.
Science and Products
Western Basin & Range - Eastern California Shear Zone
The Eastern California Shear Zone (ECSZ) Mapping project, funded by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, combines surficial and bedrock geologic mapping, geophysical surveys, and high-resolution topographic data analysis with neotectonic, geomorphic, structural, volcanic, and geochronologic studies to better understand the tectonic framework and landscape evolution of the ECSZ in the...
FEDMAP
FEDMAP develops new ways to understand basic earth science processes and produces high-quality, multipurpose digital geologic maps, regional analyses, and multidimensional geologic models. Geologic maps are the primary database for virtually all earth-science applications and issues including mitigation of natural hazards, ground- and surface-water management, land-use management, assessment, and...
Twilight in the Northern Bristol Mountains
Rain clouds at twilight over the Norhtern Bristol Mountains. THese types of winter storms provide water to the desert ecosystem, but are not usually intense enough to transport sediment or do other geomorphic work.
Rain clouds at twilight over the Norhtern Bristol Mountains. THese types of winter storms provide water to the desert ecosystem, but are not usually intense enough to transport sediment or do other geomorphic work.
Lineations on a strand of the Soda-Avawatz Fault Zone northern Soda Mt
Lineations on a vertical fault strand of the Soda-Avawatz Fault Zone, exposed in the northern Soda Mountains, Mojave Desert, southern California. The fault can be seen cutting both late Tertiary sand and gravel units, but is buried by an overlying mid-Pleistocene alluvial gravel deposit.
Lineations on a vertical fault strand of the Soda-Avawatz Fault Zone, exposed in the northern Soda Mountains, Mojave Desert, southern California. The fault can be seen cutting both late Tertiary sand and gravel units, but is buried by an overlying mid-Pleistocene alluvial gravel deposit.
Soda-Avawatz Fault, eastern Avawatz Mountains
This is a view to the southwest from the top of the piedmont on the eastern side of the Avawatz Mountains, ~25 km northwest of Baker, CA.
This is a view to the southwest from the top of the piedmont on the eastern side of the Avawatz Mountains, ~25 km northwest of Baker, CA.
Sampling soil carbon dioxide on Santa Rosa Island
USGS Scientist sampling soil gasses from a grassy hilltop soil on Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands National Park, California. The composition of soil gasses is indicative of the number and variety of microorganisms in the soil and what type of material they are digesting.
USGS Scientist sampling soil gasses from a grassy hilltop soil on Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands National Park, California. The composition of soil gasses is indicative of the number and variety of microorganisms in the soil and what type of material they are digesting.
Collecting glacial moraine boulder samples
This is an example of a boulder that is part of a glacial deposit in the southern Sawatch Mountains of Colorado. The moraine slopes down to the left side of the frame; this slope is modified from teh original depositional shape of the moraine deposit.
This is an example of a boulder that is part of a glacial deposit in the southern Sawatch Mountains of Colorado. The moraine slopes down to the left side of the frame; this slope is modified from teh original depositional shape of the moraine deposit.
Digital mapping supported by mule team
Research Geologist Kevin Schmidt and Geoff Phelps examine satellite imagery on tablet computers during geologic mapping field work near Broadwell Mesa while supported by mule pack train.
Research Geologist Kevin Schmidt and Geoff Phelps examine satellite imagery on tablet computers during geologic mapping field work near Broadwell Mesa while supported by mule pack train.
Surficial Geologic Mapping in the northern Bristol Mountains, CA
USGS geologic mappers walkinbg out an intermediate age (likely middle Pleistocene) alluvial fan surface near Broadwell Mesa, in the northern Bristol Mountains, Kelso Dunes Wilderness Area, Mojave Desert, California.
USGS geologic mappers walkinbg out an intermediate age (likely middle Pleistocene) alluvial fan surface near Broadwell Mesa, in the northern Bristol Mountains, Kelso Dunes Wilderness Area, Mojave Desert, California.
*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