Ryan Crow, Ph.D.
Ryan Crow is a Research Geologist at the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, in Flagstaff, Arizona. He did his graduate work at the University of New Mexico, where he studied the tectonic geomorphology of the Grand Canyon. Coming to the USGS in 2014 as a Mendenhall Postdoc, he focused on the landscape evolution of the lower Colorado River corridor and the Colorado River.
Ryan is pursuing a better understanding of the processes modulating Earth’s surface in the southwestern U.S. He is currently interested in integrating analytical and field-based geologic mapping approaches to understand the effect of fluvial systems, tectonics, exogenous events, and climate on landscape evolution. To arrive at a holistic view, he employs a multi-disciplinary approach utilizing a diverse range of geologic, geochronologic, tectonic, geophysical, and geochemical datasets, integrated through custom-designed geographic information system (GIS) tools.
His current work is focused on:
- Surficial geologic mapping along the lower Colorado River (CA, NV, and AZ)
- Effects of epeirogenic uplift and faulting on river systems and landscapes in the Grand Canyon, Zion Plateau, and Lake Mead areas (AZ, UT, and NV)
- Mantle evolution under and around the Colorado Plateau as constrained with geochemistry, geochronology, and mantle tomography (AZ, UT, NM, and CO)
- The processes and timing of Colorado River inception and evolution in and downstream from Grand Canyon (CA, NV, and AZ)
- Geomorphic effect of lava damming in Grand Canyon, AZ
Professional Experience
2018 to current, Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ
2014 to 2018, Mendenhall Postdoctoral Scholar / Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ
2013 to 2014, Postdoctoral Scholar, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
2002 to 2005, Profession Research Associate, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
1999 to 2002, Peace Corps Volunteer, Guatemala
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., 2012, University of New Mexico
M.S., 2008, University of New Mexico
B.A.,1999, University of Colorado
Affiliations and Memberships*
2003-present, Geological Society of America
2005-present, American Geophysical Union
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 18
Birth and evolution of the Virgin River fluvial system: ∼1 km of post–5 Ma uplift of the western Colorado Plateau Birth and evolution of the Virgin River fluvial system: ∼1 km of post–5 Ma uplift of the western Colorado Plateau
The uplift history of the Colorado Plateau has been debated for over a century with still no unified hypotheses for the cause, timing, and rate of uplift. 40Ar/39Ar and K/Ar dating of recurrent basaltic volcanism over the past ∼6 Ma within the Virgin River drainage system, southwest Utah, northwest Arizona, and southern Nevada, provides a way to reconstruct paleoprofiles and quantify...
Authors
Cory Walk, Karl Karlstrom, Ryan S. Crow, Matt Heizler
Carving Grand Canyon’s inner gorge: A test of steady incision versus rapid knickzone migration Carving Grand Canyon’s inner gorge: A test of steady incision versus rapid knickzone migration
A recent study posits that much of the 240-m-deep inner gorge of Grand Canyon was carved between 500 and 400 ka via passage of a migrating knickzone with incision rates of ~1600 m/Ma during that time period; this was based on dating of a ca. 500 ka travertine deposit perched on the rim of the inner gorge, near Hermit Rapid, and a ca. 400 ka travertine drape that extends to within 60 m of...
Authors
Ryan S. Crow, Karl E. Karlstrom, Laura J. Crossey, Victor Polyak, Yemane Asmerom, William C. McIntosh
The Colorado River and its deposits downstream from Grand Canyon in Arizona, California, and Nevada The Colorado River and its deposits downstream from Grand Canyon in Arizona, California, and Nevada
Understanding the evolution of the Colorado River system has direct implications for (1) the processes and timing of continental-scale river system integration, (2) the formation of iconic landscapes like those in and around Grand Canyon, and (3) the availability of groundwater resources. Spatial patterns in the position and type of Colorado River deposits, only discernible through...
Authors
Ryan S. Crow, Debra L. Block, Tracey J. Felger, Kyle House, Philip A. Pearthree, Brian F. Gootee, Ann M. Youberg, Keith A. Howard, L. Sue Beard
Post-9.45 Ma depositional and structural history of the Bear Canyon conglomerate between Indian Pass and Picacho State Recreation Area, southeastern California Post-9.45 Ma depositional and structural history of the Bear Canyon conglomerate between Indian Pass and Picacho State Recreation Area, southeastern California
No abstract available.
Authors
Jason Ricketts, L. Sue Beard, Ryan S. Crow, Kevin Coffey, Gordon B. Haxel
Steady incision of Grand Canyon at the million year timeframe: A case for mantle-driven differential uplift Steady incision of Grand Canyon at the million year timeframe: A case for mantle-driven differential uplift
The Grand Canyon region provides an excellent laboratory to examine the interplay between river incision, magmatism, and the geomorphic and tectonic processes that shape landscapes. Here we apply U-series, Ar–Ar, and cosmogenic burial dating of river terraces to examine spatial variations in incision rates along the 445 km length of the Colorado River through Grand Canyon. We also...
Authors
Ryan S. Crow, Karl Karlstrom, Andrew Darling, Laura Crossey, Victor Polyak, Darryl E. Granger, Yemane Asmerom, Brandon Schmandt
Comment on “Apatite 4He/3He and (U-Th)/He Evidence for an Ancient Grand Canyon” Comment on “Apatite 4He/3He and (U-Th)/He Evidence for an Ancient Grand Canyon”
Flowers and Farley (Reports, 21 December 2012, p. 1616; published online 29 November 2012) propose that the Grand Canyon is 70 million years old. Starkly contrasting models for the age of the Grand Canyon—70 versus 6 million years—can be reconciled by a shallow paleocanyon that was carved in the eastern Grand Canyon 25 to 15 million years ago (Ma), negating the proposed 70 Ma and 55 Ma
Authors
Karl E. Karlstrom, John P. Lee, Shari A. Kelley, Ryan S. Crow, Richard A. Young, Ivo Lucchitta, L. Sue Beard, Rebecca Dorsey, Jason Ricketts, William R. Dickinson, Laura Crossey
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 18
Birth and evolution of the Virgin River fluvial system: ∼1 km of post–5 Ma uplift of the western Colorado Plateau Birth and evolution of the Virgin River fluvial system: ∼1 km of post–5 Ma uplift of the western Colorado Plateau
The uplift history of the Colorado Plateau has been debated for over a century with still no unified hypotheses for the cause, timing, and rate of uplift. 40Ar/39Ar and K/Ar dating of recurrent basaltic volcanism over the past ∼6 Ma within the Virgin River drainage system, southwest Utah, northwest Arizona, and southern Nevada, provides a way to reconstruct paleoprofiles and quantify...
Authors
Cory Walk, Karl Karlstrom, Ryan S. Crow, Matt Heizler
Carving Grand Canyon’s inner gorge: A test of steady incision versus rapid knickzone migration Carving Grand Canyon’s inner gorge: A test of steady incision versus rapid knickzone migration
A recent study posits that much of the 240-m-deep inner gorge of Grand Canyon was carved between 500 and 400 ka via passage of a migrating knickzone with incision rates of ~1600 m/Ma during that time period; this was based on dating of a ca. 500 ka travertine deposit perched on the rim of the inner gorge, near Hermit Rapid, and a ca. 400 ka travertine drape that extends to within 60 m of...
Authors
Ryan S. Crow, Karl E. Karlstrom, Laura J. Crossey, Victor Polyak, Yemane Asmerom, William C. McIntosh
The Colorado River and its deposits downstream from Grand Canyon in Arizona, California, and Nevada The Colorado River and its deposits downstream from Grand Canyon in Arizona, California, and Nevada
Understanding the evolution of the Colorado River system has direct implications for (1) the processes and timing of continental-scale river system integration, (2) the formation of iconic landscapes like those in and around Grand Canyon, and (3) the availability of groundwater resources. Spatial patterns in the position and type of Colorado River deposits, only discernible through...
Authors
Ryan S. Crow, Debra L. Block, Tracey J. Felger, Kyle House, Philip A. Pearthree, Brian F. Gootee, Ann M. Youberg, Keith A. Howard, L. Sue Beard
Post-9.45 Ma depositional and structural history of the Bear Canyon conglomerate between Indian Pass and Picacho State Recreation Area, southeastern California Post-9.45 Ma depositional and structural history of the Bear Canyon conglomerate between Indian Pass and Picacho State Recreation Area, southeastern California
No abstract available.
Authors
Jason Ricketts, L. Sue Beard, Ryan S. Crow, Kevin Coffey, Gordon B. Haxel
Steady incision of Grand Canyon at the million year timeframe: A case for mantle-driven differential uplift Steady incision of Grand Canyon at the million year timeframe: A case for mantle-driven differential uplift
The Grand Canyon region provides an excellent laboratory to examine the interplay between river incision, magmatism, and the geomorphic and tectonic processes that shape landscapes. Here we apply U-series, Ar–Ar, and cosmogenic burial dating of river terraces to examine spatial variations in incision rates along the 445 km length of the Colorado River through Grand Canyon. We also...
Authors
Ryan S. Crow, Karl Karlstrom, Andrew Darling, Laura Crossey, Victor Polyak, Darryl E. Granger, Yemane Asmerom, Brandon Schmandt
Comment on “Apatite 4He/3He and (U-Th)/He Evidence for an Ancient Grand Canyon” Comment on “Apatite 4He/3He and (U-Th)/He Evidence for an Ancient Grand Canyon”
Flowers and Farley (Reports, 21 December 2012, p. 1616; published online 29 November 2012) propose that the Grand Canyon is 70 million years old. Starkly contrasting models for the age of the Grand Canyon—70 versus 6 million years—can be reconciled by a shallow paleocanyon that was carved in the eastern Grand Canyon 25 to 15 million years ago (Ma), negating the proposed 70 Ma and 55 Ma
Authors
Karl E. Karlstrom, John P. Lee, Shari A. Kelley, Ryan S. Crow, Richard A. Young, Ivo Lucchitta, L. Sue Beard, Rebecca Dorsey, Jason Ricketts, William R. Dickinson, Laura Crossey
*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