The Best Field Trip Ever, Part 2: Nowhere to go but Down
A systematic study of exposure ages of soils and surface deposits
Jaakko is a process geomorphologist interested in the landscape evolution of the Dry Valleys. He is the PI and leader of the expedition.
Current Research:
My research ideally involves a strong field component, on the one hand consisting of the identification of structures and relations, as well as sampling and data gathering, and on the other hand computer modeling which provides a rigorous framework to analyze and organize observations. These two aspects allow effective testing of hypotheses and guide my research to sensitive areas of a particular problem.
Specific research interests:
- Analysis of Quaternary landscape evolution through computer modeling and cosmogenic isotope analysis of field samples.
- Analysis of orographic precipitation in relation to mountain range evolution in Nepal.
- Studying the periglacial processes and the effects of climate change on Arctic and Antarctic environment.
Personal Website:
http://depts.washington.edu/qrc/putkonen.html
Current Research:
I'm generally interested in Quaternary stratigraphy, geomorphology and landscape evolution, and geochronology. I'm currently: 1) dating late Pliocene-early Pleistocene glacial (and other) deposits via Be-10 and Al-26 measurements; 2) studying erosion and sediment transport in the Pacific Northwest and south Utah; 3) sorting out cosmogenic-nuclide systematics, in particular low-energy neutron transport near snow-covered surfaces; 4) studying landscape geomorphology with high-resolution digital topography; 5) reconstructing Antarctic ice sheet retreat using glacial geology and cosmogenic-nuclide measurements, and 6) applying cosmogenic-nuclide geochemistry in a variety of other projects, mostly to do with geochronology.
Here is a link to the Cosmogenic Nuclide Laboratory at the University of Washington:
Dan is a third-year graduate student in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences. This is his second trip down to Antarctica, and in the past year he has gone from the Antarctic, to the Arctic, and is now back down in the Antarctic. Dan is working on using exposure dating with cosmogenic nuclides to construct the glacial history of the Dry Valleys.
Personal Website
Brendan is a first-year graduate student at University of Washington in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences. Brendan has been to both the Arctic and Antarctic this year. He spent this last summer at Toolik field station in the Brooks Range of Alaska and this is his first trip to Antarctica. He is interested in landscape evolution, geomorphology and hopes to gain field experience with cosmogenic isotope dating techniques and develop ideas for his phd thesis.
Nathan is an undergraduate student in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences. This is his first trip to Antarctica and he has quickly immersed himself in McMurdo culture. He has made international friends at Scott Base (the New Zealand station 2 miles from McMurdo), he also participated in the McMurdo treasure hunt and recently climbed Observation Hill.
Jon is now a recent graduate from the University of Washington with a major in Earth and Space Sciences in the Summer of 2005. He went to Antarctica during the 2004-05 field season and studied the profiles of moraines in Lower Wright Valley.
Kate is also a recent graduate from the University of Washington with a major in Earth and Space Sciences. She came to Antarctica during the 2004-05 field season and studied boulder weathering and erosion patterns.
Last modified: 12/11/2005 2:24 PM