Daniel Muhs
I study geomorphology, soils and Quaternary stratigraphy to reconstruct paleoclimates over the past two and a half million years of geologic time.
My main study areas are in the central and western USA (Mississippi Valley, Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, desert Southwest, Pacific Coast and Alaska), but I have also worked in the Caribbean, Spain and Israel. My main interests are in origin and paleoclimatic significance of dune fields, stratigraphy and paleopedology of loess, effects of long-range-transported dust on soils, the atmosphere, oceans and ecosystems, and sea level history.
Education:
University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 1977-1980 (Ph.D., Physical geography/Geology)
University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 1973-1975 (M.S., Physical geography/Soil science)
University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 1972-1973 (B.A., Physical geography)
University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 1970-1972 (B.A., English, History)
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 1968-1970 (English)
Professional experience:
1995-date: Geologist, Geology and Environmental Change Science Center, USGS, Denver, CO
1985-1995: Geologist, Branch of Isotope Geology, USGS, Denver, CO
1983-1984: Soil Scientist with USGS while on leave-of-absence with the University of Wisconsin to accept National Research Council Research Associateship, Denver, Colorado.
1980-1985: Assistant and Associate Professor of Geography, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
1978-1980, part-time Soil Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Central Regional Geology.
1977-1979: Instructor (while a Ph.D student), Department of Geography, University of Colorado at Boulder and University of Colorado at Denver
1975-1976: Soil Scientist, U.S. Soil Conservation Service/Iowa State University
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 164
Uranium-series age estimates of corals from Quaternary marine sediments of southern Florida Uranium-series age estimates of corals from Quaternary marine sediments of southern Florida
No abstract available.
Authors
D.R. Muhs, Barney Szabo, L. McCartan, P.B. Maat, C. Bush, R. Halley
Aminostratigraphy and oxygen isotope stratigraphy of marine terrace deposits, Palos Verdes Hills and San Pedro areas, Los Angeles County, California Aminostratigraphy and oxygen isotope stratigraphy of marine terrace deposits, Palos Verdes Hills and San Pedro areas, Los Angeles County, California
No abstract available.
Authors
D.R. Muhs, G. Miller, J. Whelan, G. Kennedy
Dating methods applicable to the Quaternary Dating methods applicable to the Quaternary
No abstract available.
Authors
J.N. Rosholt, S.M. Colman, M. Stuiver, P.E. Damon, C. Naeser, N. Naeser, Barney Szabo, Daniel Muhs, J. Liddicoat, S.L. Forman, M. Machette, K. Pierce
U and Sr Isotopes in ground water and calcite, Yucca Mountain, Nevada: Evidence against upwelling water U and Sr Isotopes in ground water and calcite, Yucca Mountain, Nevada: Evidence against upwelling water
Hydrogenic calcite and opaline silica deposits in fault zones at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, have created considerable public and scientific controversy because of the possible development of a high-level nuclear waste repository at this location. Strontium and uranium isotopic compositions of hydrogenic materials were used to test whether the veins could have formed by upwelling of deep...
Authors
J. S. Stuckless, Z. Peterman, D.R. Muhs
Unpublished letter from U.S. Geological Survey scientists to the editor of the New York Times Magazine regarding William J. Broads' November 18, 1990 article on Yucca Mountain Unpublished letter from U.S. Geological Survey scientists to the editor of the New York Times Magazine regarding William J. Broads' November 18, 1990 article on Yucca Mountain
No abstract available.
Authors
W.W. Dudley, A.J. Buono, M. Carr, J. Downey, E. Ervin, K. F. Fox, E. D. Gutentag, L. Hayes, B.F. Jones, R. Luckey, D.R. Muhs, Z. Peterman, M.C. Reheis, R.W. Spengler, J. S. Stuckless, E. Taylor, J.W. Whitney, W.E. Wilson, I.J. Winograd
Amino acid dating of fossil mollusks Amino acid dating of fossil mollusks
No abstract available.
Authors
D.R. Muhs
Age estimates and uplift rates for late Pleistocene marine terraces: Southern Oregon portion of the Cascadia forearc Age estimates and uplift rates for late Pleistocene marine terraces: Southern Oregon portion of the Cascadia forearc
Interest in the Cascadia subduction zone has increased because recent investigations have suggested that slip along plates at certain types of convergent margins is characteristically accompanied by large earthquakes. In addition, other investigations have suggested that convergent margins can be broadly classified by the magnitude of their uplift rates. The authors generated new uranium...
Authors
Daniel R. Muhs, Harvey M. Kelsey, Joseph Whelan, Galan McInelly
Saline minerals in the Lewis Cliff ice tongue, Buckley Island Quadrangle, Antarctica Saline minerals in the Lewis Cliff ice tongue, Buckley Island Quadrangle, Antarctica
No abstract available.
Authors
J. Fitzpatrick, D.R. Muhs, A.J.T. Jull
Uranium-series dating of secondary carbonates near Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Applications to tectonic, paleoclimatic, and paleohydrologic problems Uranium-series dating of secondary carbonates near Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Applications to tectonic, paleoclimatic, and paleohydrologic problems
Near-surface accumulations of secondary carbonates are common in the soils and sediments of the Yucca Mountain area. These carbonates contain small amounts of uranium that allow dating by the uranium-series disequilibrium method. Preliminary results from the Yucca Mountain area indicate that the U-series methods can (1) identify multiple episodes of tectonic fracturing, (2) provide a...
Authors
D.R. Muhs, J.W. Whitney, R. R. Shroba, E. Taylor, C. Bush
Geochemical evidence of Saharan dust parent material for soils developed on Quaternary limestones of Caribbean and western Atlantic islands Geochemical evidence of Saharan dust parent material for soils developed on Quaternary limestones of Caribbean and western Atlantic islands
Most previous workers have regarded the insoluble residues of high-purity Quaternary limestones (coral reefs and oolites) as the most important parent material for well-developed, clay-rich soils on Caribbean and western Atlantic islands, but this genetic mechanism requires unreasonable amounts of limestone solution in Quaternary time. Other possible parent materials from external...
Authors
D.R. Muhs, C. Bush, K. Stewart, T.R. Rowland, R.C. Crittenden
Non-USGS Publications**
Crittenden, R.C. and Muhs, D.R., 1986, Cliff-height and slope-angle relationships in a chronosequence of marine terraces, San Clemente Island, California: Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, v. 30, p. 291-301.
Muhs, D.R., 1985, Age and paleoclimatic significance of Holocene sand dunes in northeastern Colorado: Annals of the Association of American Geographers, v. 75, p. 566-582.
Muhs, D.R., 1985, Amino acid age estimates of marine terraces and sea levels, San Nicolas Island, California: Geology, v. 13, p. 58-61.
Muhs, D.R., Kautz, R., and MacKinnon, J.J., 1985, Soils and the location of cacao orchards at a Maya site in western Belize: Journal of Archaeological Science, v. 12, p. 121-137.
Muhs, D.R., 1984, Intrinsic thresholds in soil systems: Physical Geography, v. 5, p. 99-110.
Muhs, D.R., 1983, Airborne dust fall on the California Channel Islands, U.S.A.: Journal of Arid Environments, v. 6, p. 223-238.
Muhs, D.R., 1983, Quaternary sea-level events on northern San Clemente Island, California: Quaternary Research, v. 20, p. 322-341.
Gillette, D.A., Adams, J., Muhs, D.R., and Kihl, R., 1982, Threshold friction velocities and rupture moduli for crusted desert soils for the input of soil particles into the air: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 87, p. 9003-9015.
Muhs, D.R., 1982, A soil chronosequence on Quaternary marine terraces, San Clemente Island, California: Geoderma, v. 28, p. 257-283.
Muhs, D.R. and Szabo, B.J., 1982, Uranium-series age of the Eel Point terrace, San Clemente Island, California: Geology, v. 10, p. 23-26.
Muhs, D.R., 1982, The influence of topography on the spatial variability of soils in Mediterranean climates, in Thorn, C.E., ed., Space and Time in Geomorphology: London, George Allen and Unwin, p. 269-284.
Johnson, D.L., Muhs, D.R., and Barnhardt, M.L., 1977, The effects of frost heaving on objects in soils, II: Laboratory experiments: Plains Anthropologist, v. 22, p. 133-147.
**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
Filter Total Items: 164
Uranium-series age estimates of corals from Quaternary marine sediments of southern Florida Uranium-series age estimates of corals from Quaternary marine sediments of southern Florida
No abstract available.
Authors
D.R. Muhs, Barney Szabo, L. McCartan, P.B. Maat, C. Bush, R. Halley
Aminostratigraphy and oxygen isotope stratigraphy of marine terrace deposits, Palos Verdes Hills and San Pedro areas, Los Angeles County, California Aminostratigraphy and oxygen isotope stratigraphy of marine terrace deposits, Palos Verdes Hills and San Pedro areas, Los Angeles County, California
No abstract available.
Authors
D.R. Muhs, G. Miller, J. Whelan, G. Kennedy
Dating methods applicable to the Quaternary Dating methods applicable to the Quaternary
No abstract available.
Authors
J.N. Rosholt, S.M. Colman, M. Stuiver, P.E. Damon, C. Naeser, N. Naeser, Barney Szabo, Daniel Muhs, J. Liddicoat, S.L. Forman, M. Machette, K. Pierce
U and Sr Isotopes in ground water and calcite, Yucca Mountain, Nevada: Evidence against upwelling water U and Sr Isotopes in ground water and calcite, Yucca Mountain, Nevada: Evidence against upwelling water
Hydrogenic calcite and opaline silica deposits in fault zones at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, have created considerable public and scientific controversy because of the possible development of a high-level nuclear waste repository at this location. Strontium and uranium isotopic compositions of hydrogenic materials were used to test whether the veins could have formed by upwelling of deep...
Authors
J. S. Stuckless, Z. Peterman, D.R. Muhs
Unpublished letter from U.S. Geological Survey scientists to the editor of the New York Times Magazine regarding William J. Broads' November 18, 1990 article on Yucca Mountain Unpublished letter from U.S. Geological Survey scientists to the editor of the New York Times Magazine regarding William J. Broads' November 18, 1990 article on Yucca Mountain
No abstract available.
Authors
W.W. Dudley, A.J. Buono, M. Carr, J. Downey, E. Ervin, K. F. Fox, E. D. Gutentag, L. Hayes, B.F. Jones, R. Luckey, D.R. Muhs, Z. Peterman, M.C. Reheis, R.W. Spengler, J. S. Stuckless, E. Taylor, J.W. Whitney, W.E. Wilson, I.J. Winograd
Amino acid dating of fossil mollusks Amino acid dating of fossil mollusks
No abstract available.
Authors
D.R. Muhs
Age estimates and uplift rates for late Pleistocene marine terraces: Southern Oregon portion of the Cascadia forearc Age estimates and uplift rates for late Pleistocene marine terraces: Southern Oregon portion of the Cascadia forearc
Interest in the Cascadia subduction zone has increased because recent investigations have suggested that slip along plates at certain types of convergent margins is characteristically accompanied by large earthquakes. In addition, other investigations have suggested that convergent margins can be broadly classified by the magnitude of their uplift rates. The authors generated new uranium...
Authors
Daniel R. Muhs, Harvey M. Kelsey, Joseph Whelan, Galan McInelly
Saline minerals in the Lewis Cliff ice tongue, Buckley Island Quadrangle, Antarctica Saline minerals in the Lewis Cliff ice tongue, Buckley Island Quadrangle, Antarctica
No abstract available.
Authors
J. Fitzpatrick, D.R. Muhs, A.J.T. Jull
Uranium-series dating of secondary carbonates near Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Applications to tectonic, paleoclimatic, and paleohydrologic problems Uranium-series dating of secondary carbonates near Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Applications to tectonic, paleoclimatic, and paleohydrologic problems
Near-surface accumulations of secondary carbonates are common in the soils and sediments of the Yucca Mountain area. These carbonates contain small amounts of uranium that allow dating by the uranium-series disequilibrium method. Preliminary results from the Yucca Mountain area indicate that the U-series methods can (1) identify multiple episodes of tectonic fracturing, (2) provide a...
Authors
D.R. Muhs, J.W. Whitney, R. R. Shroba, E. Taylor, C. Bush
Geochemical evidence of Saharan dust parent material for soils developed on Quaternary limestones of Caribbean and western Atlantic islands Geochemical evidence of Saharan dust parent material for soils developed on Quaternary limestones of Caribbean and western Atlantic islands
Most previous workers have regarded the insoluble residues of high-purity Quaternary limestones (coral reefs and oolites) as the most important parent material for well-developed, clay-rich soils on Caribbean and western Atlantic islands, but this genetic mechanism requires unreasonable amounts of limestone solution in Quaternary time. Other possible parent materials from external...
Authors
D.R. Muhs, C. Bush, K. Stewart, T.R. Rowland, R.C. Crittenden
Non-USGS Publications**
Crittenden, R.C. and Muhs, D.R., 1986, Cliff-height and slope-angle relationships in a chronosequence of marine terraces, San Clemente Island, California: Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, v. 30, p. 291-301.
Muhs, D.R., 1985, Age and paleoclimatic significance of Holocene sand dunes in northeastern Colorado: Annals of the Association of American Geographers, v. 75, p. 566-582.
Muhs, D.R., 1985, Amino acid age estimates of marine terraces and sea levels, San Nicolas Island, California: Geology, v. 13, p. 58-61.
Muhs, D.R., Kautz, R., and MacKinnon, J.J., 1985, Soils and the location of cacao orchards at a Maya site in western Belize: Journal of Archaeological Science, v. 12, p. 121-137.
Muhs, D.R., 1984, Intrinsic thresholds in soil systems: Physical Geography, v. 5, p. 99-110.
Muhs, D.R., 1983, Airborne dust fall on the California Channel Islands, U.S.A.: Journal of Arid Environments, v. 6, p. 223-238.
Muhs, D.R., 1983, Quaternary sea-level events on northern San Clemente Island, California: Quaternary Research, v. 20, p. 322-341.
Gillette, D.A., Adams, J., Muhs, D.R., and Kihl, R., 1982, Threshold friction velocities and rupture moduli for crusted desert soils for the input of soil particles into the air: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 87, p. 9003-9015.
Muhs, D.R., 1982, A soil chronosequence on Quaternary marine terraces, San Clemente Island, California: Geoderma, v. 28, p. 257-283.
Muhs, D.R. and Szabo, B.J., 1982, Uranium-series age of the Eel Point terrace, San Clemente Island, California: Geology, v. 10, p. 23-26.
Muhs, D.R., 1982, The influence of topography on the spatial variability of soils in Mediterranean climates, in Thorn, C.E., ed., Space and Time in Geomorphology: London, George Allen and Unwin, p. 269-284.
Johnson, D.L., Muhs, D.R., and Barnhardt, M.L., 1977, The effects of frost heaving on objects in soils, II: Laboratory experiments: Plains Anthropologist, v. 22, p. 133-147.
**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.