Climate - Surface Interactions Research
Studies of the processes affecting the surface of the Earth on which we live have clear relevance for society, particularly in light of recent revelations regarding global climate change. Department research in this area spans the globe from the world's oceans, to the Hawaiian Islands, the glacial valleys of Antarctica and on the dynamic shorelines of New England, Louisiana, and Brazil. Current research even involves the climate history of Mars and tsunami impact on the shoreline of Thailand. Some of the questions we are asking include: How does climate influence weathering processes? How is water cycled through soils and the atmosphere? How old is the polar ice sheet in Antarctica? How do coastal barriers and tidal inlets evolve? Is there a relationship between biological productivity in the oceans and climate? Does mountain building enhance climate change? How do vegetation and sea-level rise influence the morphology of salt marshes?
Faculty in Climate - Surface Interactions Research
| Fagherazzi | Geomorphology, hydrology, coastal and marine geology |
| FitzGerald | Shallow marine geology and barrier morphostratigraphy |
| Kurtz | Low-temperature geochemistry, biogeochemical cycles, evolution of Earth's climate, silicate weathering, soil chemistry |
| Mahadevan | Physical oceanography; biogeochemistry; fluid mechanics |
| Marchant | Glacial and planetary geomorphology, Antarctic ice-sheet evolution, Cenozoic climate change, and ice ages on Mars. |
| Murray | Geochemical paleoceanography; marine geochemistry; tectonic - climate interactions |
| Raymo | Paleoceanography; paleoclimatology |
| Salvucci | Vadose zone hydrology; hydroclimatology |