Award Abstract #0453264
REU Site: A Field-Based Study of Landscape Evolution in Western Colorado

NSF Org:	EAR Division of Earth Sciences
Initial Amendment Date:	May 12, 2005
Latest Amendment Date:	February 6, 2007
Award Number:	0453264
Award Instrument:	Continuing grant
Program Manager:	Lina C. Patino EAR Division of Earth Sciences GEO Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	May 1, 2005
Expires:	April 30, 2009 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$362586
Investigator(s):	Andres Aslan aaslan@mesastate.edu (Principal Investigator) Rex Cole (Co-Principal Investigator) Verner Johnson (Co-Principal Investigator) Richard Livaccari (Co-Principal Investigator) Lawrence Jones (Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	Mesa State College 1100 North Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501 970/248-1424
NSF Program(s):	EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES
Field Application(s):	0000099 Other Applications NEC
Program Reference Code(s):	SMET, 9178
Program Element Code(s):	1575

ABSTRACT

This is a field-based study focusing on surficial processes and landscape evolution in western Colorado. This region is a spectacular natural field laboratory, and the location in Grand Junction, CO, makes Mesa State College (MSC) an excellent base for the proposed research activities. The importance of this topic is two-fold: 1) given the significant past and ongoing research in surficial processes in these regions it is highly appropriate that undergraduate geology students learn about landscape evolution in this classic geological setting, and 2) the proposed student research activities will provide students with in-depth exposure to aspects of surficial processes (e.g., geomorphology, soils, neotectonics) that are not typically required for undergraduate geology majors in the U.S. (these topics are typically electives). MSC faculty have extensive experience mentoring undergraduate students and supervising research projects. Novel aspects of this proposal include 1) its emphasis on field-based research, 2) research activities that examine landscape evolution at multiple time scales, and 3) the goal of working with students that are in the earliest stages of their research careers (e.g., sophomores or juniors; students that have not yet completed major requirements such as field camp). Research by MSC faculty has identified a series of viable, cutting-edge student projects ranging from studies of arroyo entrenchment to the origin of the Colorado River. The outstanding geology of western Colorado will serve as the natural field laboratory for all projects, and provides an ideal hands-on learning environment for project participants.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

Next (Showing: 1 - 20 of 21).

Aslan, A. and Kirkham, R.K..  "Origin of the upper Colorado River system: the view from western Colorado.,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.39,  2007,  p. 194.

Becker, A., DiPerna, L., Ladig, K., Wellik, J., and Richard, G..  "Channel morphology of No Thoroughfare Canyon, Colorado.,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.39,  2007,  p. 306.

Brown, E., Grant, D., Pendleton, M., and Aslan, A..  "Incision history of the Colorado River in western Colorado and its implications for climate vs. tectonic driven incision.,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.39,  2007,  p. 306.

Cobin, P.F., Hayden, A.E., Hess, A.V., Morgan, P.T., Pryor, A.L., Young, E.M., and Aslan, A.  "Holocene arroyo history of the Little Dolores River, western Colorado,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.38,  2006,  p. 61.

Cole, R.D..  "Grand Mesa: An important control point for establishing the late Cenozoic history of western Colorado.,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.39,  2007,  p. 194.

Cole, R.D..  "The Grand Mesa basalt field, western Colorado.,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.39,  2007,  p. 307.

Darling, A., Aslan, A., Betton, C.W., Cole, R.D., and Karlstrom, K..  "Late Quaternary incision rates and drainage evolution of the confluence of the Uncompahgre and Gunnison Rivers based on terraces date with Lava Creek B ash, western Colorado.,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.39,  2007,  p. 306.

Darling, A., Rider, K., Gloyd, J., and Cole, R.D..  "Sedimentologic characteristics of late Cenozoic gravel-armored surfaces on the southwestern flank of Grand Mesa, western Colorado.,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.39,  2007,  p. 307.

Hayden, A., Morgan, P., Cobin, P.F., Hess, A., Pryor, A.L., Young, E.M., Darling, A., Houghton, J., and Aslan, A..  "Late Holocene climate variability and implications for the onset of arroyo incision along the Little Dolores River, western Colorado.,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.39,  2007,  p. 306.

Hudson, A.M., Kaproth, B., Kelley, S., Landman, R.L., and Aslan, A..  "Late Pleistocene gravel deposits of ancient Bostwick Creek in the Uncompahgre River Valley of southwestern Colorado.,"  Abstracts with Programs, 2006 GSA Rocky Mountain Section meeting, Gunnison, CO,  v.58,  2006,  p. 27.

Jones, L.S..  "Landscape evolution of western Colorado: A tale of two arroyos.,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.39,  2007,  p. 195.

Karlstrom, K.E., Kirby, E., Kelley, S., Aslan, A., Sandoval, M.M., and Crow, R..  "Neotectonic influences on the longitudinal profile of the Colorado River system in Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains.,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.39,  2007,  p. 194.

Kelley, S.E., Hudson, A.M., Kaproth, B.M., Landman, R.L., and Aslan, A..  "Long profile analysis of the Pleistocene Bostwick River with implications for the incision of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.39,  2007,  p. 306.

Livaccari, R..  "Laramide-age left-lateral strike-slip deformation along the northern Uncompahgre Plateau, western Colorado.,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.39,  2007,  p. 195.

Noble, J.R., Bock, D., Benage, M., Martin, S., Crompton, O., Schoepfer, S.D., and Cole, R.D..  "Comparative geomorphology of Unaweep Canyon and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, western Colorado,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.36,  2006,  p. 61.

Richard, G.A..  "Flash flooding history in the Colorado National Monument.,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.39,  2007,  p. 194.

Rider, K., Darling, A., Gloyd, J., and Cole, R.D. 2006.  "Relative ages and origins of Late Cenozoic pediments on the south Flank of Grand Mesa.,"  Abstracts with Programs, 2006 GSA Rocky Mountain Section meeting, Gunnison, CO.,  v.58,  2006,  p. 27.

Rosenburg, M., Figueroa, M., McKee, K., Haravitch, B., Hunter, J., and Jones, L.S..  "Geometry and Quaternary history of Gibbler Gulch arroyo, western Colorado,"  Abstracts with Programs, 2006 GSA Rocky Mountain Section meeting, Gunnison, CO.,  v.58,  2006,  p. 27.

Schoepfer, S.D., Martin, S., Benage, M. Bock, D., Noble, J.R., Crompton, O., and Cole, R.D..  "Quaternary abandonment and sedimentary fill history of Cactus Park and Unaweep Canyon, Uncompahgre Plateau, Colorado.,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.39,  2007,  p. 307.

Schoolmeesters, N., Hawes, E., Bonner, W., Kelley, J., Bruce, L., and Livaccari, R..  "Laramide-age structure of Little Park Road Monocline, northern Uncompahgre Plateau, western Colorado.,"  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,  v.39,  2007,  p. 307.


Next (Showing: 1 - 20 of 21).

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.