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ECRC Current Projects |
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Project |
Field Images |
Description |
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Geomorphology of Rock Glaciers:
Physical geomorphology and field studies in the La Sal Mountains
Utah (Joe Nicholas Geography) |
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The research involves identification
of areas underlain by permafrost and identification of active
permafrost landforms, especially rock glaciers. The objective is
to better understand hydrological characteristics of talus
permafrost features and to determine the amount of ice contained
in these talus bodies. Also, ice content, if known and
monitored, is a proxy indicator of climate change. |
Water & Sediment History of the Rappahannock
River: Trace
metal & sediment flux analysis (Ben Kisila ES&G and Charlie
Sharpless Chemistry)
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Professors Ben Kisila
and Charlie Sharpless are in the process of beginning a study of
how the chemistry of the Rappahannock River relates to historic
and current land use patterns. This project began in fall 2006 and
presently involves four independent study students. |
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Paleoclimate History of Lago
Enriquillo, Dominican Republic:
Ostracode pore morphometrics & isotope
geochemistry (Neil Tibert ES&G) |
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The southwestern
region of the Dominican Republic (Enriquillo Valley) contains
exceptionally well-preserved deposits of early-to middle Holocene
coral crest, patch, and back reef beds. Conventional morphometric
and geochemical analyses performed on the ostracode C. torosa
indicate an inverse relationship between the abundance of
circular pores and the salinity of the environment. |
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Ireland Holocene Paleoclimate Studies:
Limnic ostracode paleoecology & isotope
geochemistry (Neil Tibert ES&G) |
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Professor Neil Tibert and students have been working on a climate study in
western Ireland. The primary objective of this project is to
identify millennial climatic events in lacustrine deposits.
Ostracode paleoecology and oxygen isotope values serve as climate
proxies for temperature. |
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Archaeology &
Land Use History of
Stratford Hall Plantation:
Excavations of an early colonial plantation; land use history
(Doug Sandford HP & Neil Tibert ES&G) |
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Professors Doug Sanford and Neil Tibert have been pursuing
geoarchaeological avenues in their research to develop a land use
history for a Colonial Millpond at the Stratford Hall Plantation
in Westmoreland, Virginia. |
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Carboniferous Cyclostratigraphy Joggins & Mabou
Nova Scotia: Ostracode taxonomy, paleoecology, & isotope
geochemistry (Neil Tibert, Chuck Whipkey ES&G) |
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Professors Chuck
Whipkey and Neil Tibert have been working with students to
develop paleoenvironmental trends that contributed to the
development of a large shallow sea that desiccated at the
Mississippian-Pennsylvanian transition in Atlantic Canada.
Microfossils, bulk carbonate and strontium geochemistry of
stromatolitc dolostones have been the primary analytical
methods. |
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Cretaceous-Paleocene Iowa:
genetic stratigraphy & sea level (Neil
Tibert, Chuck Whipkey ES&G) |
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Professors Chuck Whipkey
and Neil Tibert have been working with students to develop
cyclostratigraphic (orbitally-forced) climate and sea level trends
from late Cretaceous sedimentary rocks in Iowa. Microfossils and
bulk carbonate geochemistry of calcareous shales have provided the
foundation for this project. |
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Lake Anna
Watershed:
Geochemical assessment & sedimentation rate studies
(Ben Kisila, Grant Woodwell, Chuck Whipkey, Neil Tibert ES&G) |
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Professor Grant Woodwell and students
are creating a GIS model that encompasses the physiographic and
cultural features of the watershed and includes water quality data
from the Virginia DEQ, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Civic
Association. One immediate goal is to identify possible sources of
PCB contamination that has been measured in fish tissue and lake
sediments. |
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Abandoned Mine Drainage
Assessment: Trace metal analysis Contrary
Creek VA (Chuck Whipkey, Grant Woodwell, Ben Kisila ES&G) |
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Professor Grant Woodwell
has been working with a research student, Drew Uglow, to acquire
GPS data related to the Contrary Creek tributary to Lake Anna
which is severely polluted by acid mine runoff from abandoned
mining operations. As part of a collaborative effort, Chuck
Whipkey and students are monitoring the chemistry of the water and
assessing sources of contamination. |
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Stream & Wetland Ecology and Environmental Physiology:
Macrobenthic community analysis (Mike Bass ES&G) |
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Professor Mike Bass and students have been monitoring the macrobenthic community analysis, water chemistry, periphyton
community analysis of wetlands in the greater Fredericksburg area.
Mike is also assessing the interaction of temperature and toxicity
on the macro benthic organisms. |
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Avian Behavioral Ecology:
Catbird song performance and brood
pairing & Trace element geochemistry owl feathers (Andrew Dolby
Biology & Charlie Sharpless Chemistry) |
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Professor Dolby is studying
song performance in male Gray Catbirds to determine their
potential quality as breeding partners. He is also applying ICP-Mass Spectrometry
on Saw-whet Owl feathers to identify
elemental profiles that nay be used to determine
geographical breeding ranges. |
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Evolution of pedogenic calcite and
dolomite on the Big Island of Hawaii:
(Jodie Hayob and Chuck Whipkey ES&G)
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Professors Jodie Hayob and Chuck
Whipkey are examining occurrences of the minerals dolomite and
calcite in semi-arid soil profiles developed on the Big Island
of Hawaii. They are using SEM imaging and electron microbe
analysis to delineate the fine structure and composition of the
soil minerals. |
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