Dr. Michael Kaplan
Lamont Assistant Research Scientist Geochemistry
mkaplan@ldeo.columbia.edu
Originally presented Oct 2013
Dr. Kaplan’s presentation: Kaplan2013
Research interests:
Quaternary and glacial geology, geomorphology, geochronology, paleoclimatology, ice sheet dynamics, limnogeology, cosmogenic surface exposure dating
Field research studies:
* Glacier and climate history of southern South America, New Zealand, Antarctica, and
eastern North America. Whether past climate changes are in phase around the globe
at low and high frequency timescales
* Quantifying rates of landscape change in southern South America using cosmogenic nuclide
measurements and understanding these changes in relation to development of the Andes
PIs: Joerg M. Schaefer, Michael Kaplan
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/cosmo
Humans live on the earth’s surface and Earth Surface Processes (ESP) are cornerstones defining fundamental boundaries for civilization. Many of these processes occur so rapidly and unexpectedly that they have daunting consequences. We are poorly equipped to predict their nature and possible impacts due to the lack of scientific understanding.
In particular, the impact of current environmental change on the nature of ESP is hardly predictable. It is a high priority challenge for modern earth sciences to better understand such processes.
One of the most promising approaches to this task is the quantitative investigation of ESP from the past to the present, and to apply the insight to current and future environmental challenges. The leading technique to realize this is the application of terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide.
The LDEO Cosmogenic Nuclide Group develops terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide techniques and applies those as chronometers and tracers in the Earth Sciences. Terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides are produced by interactions between secondary cosmic rays and near surface rocks.
Our research interests cover a wide spectrum of earth scientific disciplines and include timing of ice ages, subglacial erosion rates, uplift rates of Pleistocene terraces, and a better understanding of the production systematics of cosmogenic nuclides.
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/research/geochemistry/cosmogenic-dating-group
Rock Paper Glacier: An Appreciation of Glacial Landscapes”
RELATED NEWS STORIES:
American Museum of Natural History “Science Bulletins”
http://www.amnh.org/explore/science-bulletins
Featured in this July 2012 Science Bulletin:
Related Links:
Glacier advance in southern middle-latitudes during the Antarctic Cold Reversal
http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/v3/n10/full/ngeo962.html
Glacier retreat in New Zealand during the Younger Dryas stadial
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20829791
The Last Glacial Termination
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/328/5986/1652.full
GNS Science
http://www.gns.cri.nz/
University of Maine: Department of Earth Sciences
http://umaine.edu/earthsciences/research/
“GlacierHub” (research/communities near glaciers/impact of retreats)
Other Useful Resources:
PBS Learning Media: “Glaciers”
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ess05.sci.ess.earthsys.glaciers/glaciers/
Nova : Vanishing into Thin Air
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/vanishing-into-thin-air.html
USGS Benchmark Glaciers
http://ak.water.usgs.gov/glaciology/index.html
Melting Glaciers Threaten Peru
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3172572.stm
Agenda: E2C Workshop 5 Oct 2013 Dr. Michael Kaplan
9:30 – 10:30 Dr. Kaplan’s presentation
10:30 – 10:45 Break
10:45 – Noon Resource exploration and discussion
Noon – 1 p.m. “Lunch with the Scientist”
1:00 – 3:30 Networking: Preparing to implement the NGSS and Common Cores in Science Classes