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Brandon Lars Graham, Ph.D.

I am a geologist conducting surficial geologic mapping and research of the Northeast. At present, this work is focused on the deglacial history of the Laurentide ice sheet based on stratigraphy, geomorphology, chronology, and geophysics such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and seismic resonance. I am working to expand cosmogenic nuclide exposure for dating and complex exposure modeling.

Brandon recently finished up his PhD at the University at Buffalo in Glacial Geology with a focus on the deglacial history of the western section of the Greenland Ice Sheet and quantifying its erosion rate.  This research uses sub-bottom profiling seismic reflection to quantify sediment thickness isopach maps in lakes, as well as complex cosmogenic radionuclide exposure modeling for Beryllium-10 and in situ Carbon-14 in bedrock and boulders. His work with the USGS focuses on the Quaternary surficial mapping of the glaciated regions in the Northeast United States and applying near surface geophysical techniques to improving the 3D framework.

Professional Experience

  • 2023: U.S. Geological Survey Geologist, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Great Lakes Geologic Mapping Project. 

  • 2022: U.S. Geological Survey Pathways Student, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Great Lakes Geologic Mapping Project. 

  • 2015-2017: Kansas Geologic Survey, Lawrence, KS. Seismicity monitoring for an active oil field CO2 injection pilot study and 3D seismic inversion of AVAz for fracture analysis.

  • 2012-2014: Geologist, New York State Geologic Survey, Albany, NY. Surficial geologic mapping in the Finger Lakes and Adirondacks regions.

  • 2011: Intern, McKean County Emergency Management Agency 

  • 2010: Intern, Vermont Geologic Survey

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. in Geology - University at Buffalo (2022)

  •  B.S. in Geology - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2012)

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • 2012-Present: GSA

  • 2014-2017: SEG

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Sbarra, C.M., Briner, J.P., Graham, B.L., Poinar, K., Thomas, E.K., and Young, N.E. (2022). Evidence for a more extensive Greenland Ice Sheet in southwestern Greenland during the Last Glacial Maximum. Geosphere, 18(4), 1316–1329. https://doi.org/10.1130/GES02432.1
Balter-Kennedy, A., Young, N. E., Briner, J. P., Graham, B. L., & Schaefer, J. M. (2021). Centennial- and Orbital-Scale Erosion Beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet Near Jakobshavn Isbræ. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 126(12), e2021JF006429. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JF006429
Young, N. E., Lesnek, A. J., Cuzzone, J. K., Briner, J. P., Badgeley, J. A., Balter-Kennedy, A., Graham, B. L., Cluett, A., Lamp, J. L., Schwartz, R., Tuna, T., Bard, E., Caffee, M. W., Zimmerman, S. R. H., & Schaefer, J. M. (2021). In situ cosmogenic 10Be–14C–26Al measurements from recently deglaciated bedrock as a new tool to decipher changes in Greenland Ice Sheet size. Climate of the Past, 17(1), 419–450. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-419-2021
Graham, B. L., Briner, J. P., Schweinsberg, A. D., Lifton, N. A., & Bennike, O. (2019). New in situ 14C data indicate the absence of nunataks in west Greenland during the Last Glacial Maximum. Quaternary Science Reviews, 225, 105981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.105981
Schweinsberg, A.D., Briner, J.P., Licciardi, J.M., Bennike, O., Lifton, N.A., Graham, B.L., Young, N.E., Schaefer, J.M., and Zimmerman, S.H. (2019). Multiple independent records of local glacier variability on Nuussuaq, West Greenland, during the Holocene. Quaternary Science Reviews, v. 215, p. 253-271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.05.007
Schweinsberg, A. D., Briner, J. P., Miller, G. H., Lifton, N. A., Bennike, O., & Graham, B. L. (2018). Holocene mountain glacier history in the Sukkertoppen Iskappe area, southwest Greenland. Quaternary Science Reviews, 197, 142–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.06.014
Kozlowski, A. L., Bird, B. C., Lowell, T. V., Smith, C. A., Feranec, R., & Graham, B. L. (2018). Minimum age of the Mapleton, Tully, and Labrador Hollow moraines indicates correlation with the Port Huron Phase in central New York State. Geological Society of America Special Paper, 530(Quaternary Glaciation of the Great Lakes Region: Process, Landforms, Sediments, and Chronology), 191–216. https://doi.org/10.1130/2018.2530(10)

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Science and Products

  • Publications

    Non-USGS Publications**

    Sbarra, C.M., Briner, J.P., Graham, B.L., Poinar, K., Thomas, E.K., and Young, N.E. (2022). Evidence for a more extensive Greenland Ice Sheet in southwestern Greenland during the Last Glacial Maximum. Geosphere, 18(4), 1316–1329. https://doi.org/10.1130/GES02432.1
    Balter-Kennedy, A., Young, N. E., Briner, J. P., Graham, B. L., & Schaefer, J. M. (2021). Centennial- and Orbital-Scale Erosion Beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet Near Jakobshavn Isbræ. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 126(12), e2021JF006429. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JF006429
    Young, N. E., Lesnek, A. J., Cuzzone, J. K., Briner, J. P., Badgeley, J. A., Balter-Kennedy, A., Graham, B. L., Cluett, A., Lamp, J. L., Schwartz, R., Tuna, T., Bard, E., Caffee, M. W., Zimmerman, S. R. H., & Schaefer, J. M. (2021). In situ cosmogenic 10Be–14C–26Al measurements from recently deglaciated bedrock as a new tool to decipher changes in Greenland Ice Sheet size. Climate of the Past, 17(1), 419–450. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-419-2021
    Graham, B. L., Briner, J. P., Schweinsberg, A. D., Lifton, N. A., & Bennike, O. (2019). New in situ 14C data indicate the absence of nunataks in west Greenland during the Last Glacial Maximum. Quaternary Science Reviews, 225, 105981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.105981
    Schweinsberg, A.D., Briner, J.P., Licciardi, J.M., Bennike, O., Lifton, N.A., Graham, B.L., Young, N.E., Schaefer, J.M., and Zimmerman, S.H. (2019). Multiple independent records of local glacier variability on Nuussuaq, West Greenland, during the Holocene. Quaternary Science Reviews, v. 215, p. 253-271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.05.007
    Schweinsberg, A. D., Briner, J. P., Miller, G. H., Lifton, N. A., Bennike, O., & Graham, B. L. (2018). Holocene mountain glacier history in the Sukkertoppen Iskappe area, southwest Greenland. Quaternary Science Reviews, 197, 142–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.06.014
    Kozlowski, A. L., Bird, B. C., Lowell, T. V., Smith, C. A., Feranec, R., & Graham, B. L. (2018). Minimum age of the Mapleton, Tully, and Labrador Hollow moraines indicates correlation with the Port Huron Phase in central New York State. Geological Society of America Special Paper, 530(Quaternary Glaciation of the Great Lakes Region: Process, Landforms, Sediments, and Chronology), 191–216. https://doi.org/10.1130/2018.2530(10)

    **Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

*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