Sediment Projects
Sediment Loads From the Upper Copeland Creek Watershed
2012-present
Due to the erosive geology in the headwaters of Copeland Creek, the tiny watershed (only 5.1 square miles) produces an astonishing amount of sediment. How much and what kind of sediment are produced? Where does it come from? How has the amount and type of sediment changed with settlement?
Photo: sediment analysis on alluvial fan (from Takajo 2013)
Sedimentation Rates in Fairfield Osborn Preserve Marsh
Fall 2012
A marsh at the Fairfield Osborn Preserve has been gradually filling with sediment. We quantify rates of sedimentation and successional infilling by dating cores taken from the marsh.
Photo: Kristi Yost 2012
Russian River Flood Impacts
Spring 2013
Geography students (GEOG 375 Natural Hazards -Michelle Goman) look at documentary evidence (e.g., newspaper articles) for flooding impacts on the Russian River mainstem over the last 100 years. Working in groups, they investigate whether documentary evidence can be used to create maps of impacts. The role of atmospheric rivers in climate change processes is explored.
Photo: Rhonert Park during 2005 Flood