Current Research Interests
Post-Fire Sediment Transport Processes
Wildfires enhance sediment transport, especially in over-steepened (slopes above the angle of repose) mountainous terrain. Most of the sediment is transported as dry ravel during and immediately after the fire. The availability of multitemporal, high resolution lidar allows us to track sediment transport and storage of dry ravel in multiple burned landscapes in Southern California. We aim to determine the controls on dry ravel loading and their relation to post-fire debris flow generation.
Collaborators: Dr. Roman A. DiBiase, Dr. Alexander B. Neely
Figure Credit: BTF
Slot Canyon Morphology
Slot canyons, bedrock rivers that are deeper than they are wide, are found on homogenous sandstone substrates in arid climates with highly variable precipitation. Previous work on slot canyon morphology has provided few insights into the controls on slot canyon formation and morphology. We aim to determine what erosional regime best allows for slot canyon formation.
Collaborators: Michael J. Robinson, Dr. Tingan Li, Dr. Roman A. DiBiase, Dr. Joel S. Scheingross
Figure Credit: Tingan Li
Previous Research Interests
Previous Research Interests
Post-Fire Hydrologic Processes
Wildfires adversely affect the landscape especially in semi-arid, steep mountainous terrain, leading to landslides and debris flows. We have studied the hydrological and sedimentological response of a small watershed after the 2018 Holy Fire in the Santa Ana Mountains, California and determined the sediment provenance (inter-rills, rills, or gullies) that supply post-fire debris flows to determine whether or not sediment availability is a key control on debris flow volume. Check out the article below!
Collaborators: Dr. James J. Guilinger, Dr. Andrew B. Gray, & Dr. Nicolas C. Barth.
Figure Credit: JJG
Microplastic Concentration Depth Profiles
The current approach to assessing and modeling the fluvial transport of microplastics in riverine systems is limited to surface sampling. This approach does not account for all microplastics, some of which are neutral or negatively buoyant. Here, we modified the Rouse profile to account for all microplastics and use this adaptation to estimate the bias and uncertainty from from the use of surface samples compared to depth stratified sampling in estimating depth-averaged concentrations. Check out the article below!
Collaborators: Win C. Cowger, Dr. Andrew B. Gray, James J. Guilinger, & Dr. Kryss Waldschläger.
Figure Credit: WCC
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Hillslope Boulder Displacement
In December 2010, an atmospheric river produced multiple storms that saturated the Box Springs and Blue Mountains, California, leading to soil slips and the transport of boulders along the hillslope and channels. The main objective of this project is to track boulders displaced from landslides from source to sink and quantify boulder movement. Further analyses were done to understand the process of landform remodeling and determine the lithological controls on total boulder runout distance.
Collaborators: James J. Guilinger, Dr. Andrew B. Gray, & Dr. Nicolas C. Barth
Figure Credit: BTF (mapping), Landsat Imagery 2009/2011 (aerial imagery)