I am currently involved in several research projects, which are discussed below.
Master's Thesis:The Effects of Slope on Bifurcation in Braided Distributive Fluvial Systems
Facies models used to interpret ancient fluvial stratigraphy are largely based on modern fluvial systems in tributary or degradational settings, yet because these system are not in basins they will not be preserved. An assessment of >700 active continental sedimentary basins show distributive fluvial systems (DFS) to be the dominant river pattern. Channel patterns of DFS evolve through bifurcation and avulsion. I hypothesize that (1) bifurcation and avulsion commonly occurs on braided DFS because their channels experience long-profile decreases in slope and are not laterally confined and (2) bifurcations occur on DFS with lower slopes and avulsions occur on DFS with higher slopes. For my study I will use Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation models (DEMs) as well as Landsat satellite imagery to build a large DFS database. I will be using several filters, including aspect, slope, curvature, and standard deviation on the DEMs to analyze the surface geomorphology of DFS to determine if there is a correlation between slope and type of bifurcation. A preliminary analysis of braided DFS using Google Earth and ArcGIS show that bifurcations occur on braided DFS ~80% of the time, and lends support to the hypothesis that topography affects bifurcation and avulsion on braided DFS. In addition, these analyses show the overall geomorphology of braided DFS in a way that has never been performed at a global level. My study will help provide a better understand of variations of geomorphology of braided DFS in continental sedimentary basins through the use of remote sensing. What is more, once this database is compiled it can then be used for future studies to help us understand fundamental characteristics of braided DFS.
Treeline Project
In addition to my Master's work, I am currently working with Dr, Louis Scuderi to compile and analyze a timeseries of Landsat and MODIS satellite images in an effort to document the effects of global climate change on treeline elevation around the world.
Large Database Project
I am also part of an NSF funded research group that is involved in the design, management, and storeage of large databases.
Senior Honors Thesis: Oxygen Isotopes and Transgressive-Regressive Carbonate Sequences of the Eocene Guara Formation, North-Central Spain
As an undergraduate I was fortunate to be able to participate in an Honors Thesis. For my thesis, I measured and analyzed the oxygen isotope values of benthic foraminifera in Eocene marine carbonate sequences to determine if cyclical stratigraphic patterns could be attributed to glacio-eustatic fluctuations. The data did not show the pattern expected through glacio-eustacy, suggesting the trangressive-regressive sequences were not related to glacio-eustacy or that the rocks sample were diagenetically altered.
