Specialty

Thermal geophysics, polar sciences, climate change

Research Interests

Heat-transfer processes in earth & planetary systems, polar climate-change detection (past and present), the cryosphere, planetary studies

Bio

My research focuses on high-precision temperature measurement, analysis, and modeling to better understand processes in cold earth & planetary systems.  This research focuses on climate-change detection, both past and present, the environmental conditions controlling various features of the cryosphere (e.g., permafrost, ice-covered lakes, cryovolcanoes), and the response of those features to climate change.  In support of these investigations, I have done extensive field work in Antarctica, Greenland, and arctic Alaska.  Modeling studies range from the earth's polar regions to Mars and the outer solar system.

Awards

• Excellence in Partnering Award, National Oceanographic Partnership Program, 2010
• USGS Science Strategy Success Stories Award, U.S. Geological Survey, 2008
• Clow Island named in recognition of superior research contributions in Antarctica, U.S. Board on Geographic Names, 2000
• Superior Service Award, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1998
• Antarctic Service Medal of the United States, U.S. Department of Defense, 1986