Quaternary Research Center

Rolf Aalto

Ph.D. Student, University of Washington, 1995-present

M.S. University of Washington, 1995

I study fluvial and hillslope geomorphology at the University of Washington's Department of Geological Sciences. I am particularly interested in erosion, sediment transport, and deposition within the Amazon basin. Intra-cratonal mass flux, meso-scale geomorphic theory, global climate change, sediment transport mechanics, and planetary geomorphology comprise my other academic interests.

John Hedges has been a big help with my recent work, as he knows a lot about Corg burial and the carbon-oxygen cycle. It turns about that black carbon from terrestrial wildfires is a very important part of myhypothesis, and that the available data very strongly support my story. Thus, I have tied up a remaining loose end about how exactly the carbon isburied and why preservation would be enhanced. Pieces continue to fallinto place, without too much effort on my part. This is a good sign that I may be heading in the right direction!