Each
faculty member associated with the Earth Surface Processes focus has active research
in both physical and environmental geology. Below are links to possible
thesis projects related to each professor's active research.
Physical
Track Thesis Projects
Mark
Camp, Invertebrate Paleontologist, Quaternary
Geologist: Projects
Dr.
Camp's Home Page
Timothy
Fisher, Geomorphologist, Glacial and Quaternary Geologist: Projects
Dr. Fisher's
Home Page
David
Krantz, Coastal and Marine Geologist, Oceanographer: Projects:
Dr. Krantz's
Home Page
Donald
Stierman, Geophysicist: Projects
Dr.
Stierman's Home Page
Environmental
Track Thesis Projects
David
Krantz, Coastal and Marine Geologist, Oceanographer: Projects
Dr. Krantz's
Home Page
James
Martin-Hayden, Hydrogeologist: Projects
Dr. Martin-Hayden's
Home Page
Alison
Spongberg, Environmental Geochemist: Projects
Dr.
Spongberg's Home Page
Donald
Stierman, Environmental Geophysicist: Projects
Dr.
Stierman's Home Page
Dr.
Camp
Mollusca of Wisconsinan lacustrine deposits of Logan County, Ohio
A paleontological study of Ohio marl lakes
A paleo-limnologic comparison of lakes and lacustrine deposits from
northern Ontario to northern Ohio
Glacial geology of Fulton County, Ohio (also other counties)
Geology of Monroe County, Michigan--then and now-a comparison of from
1900 to 2000
The fauna and ecology of limestone bedrock streams in northern Ohio
Building stone use and historic quarrying sites in the Lake Erie
Basin (also other locations)
Dr.
Fisher
Chronology of the Kaiashk system channels, the
earliest Nipigon phase eastern outlets of Lake Agassiz. This project
would involve working with cores from lakes and bogs in eastern Ontario
and examining the deglacial landscape in the area. Funding for this
project is in hand.
Chronology of the northwestern outlet spillway
channels of Lake Agassiz in northwestern Saskatchewan.
This project would involve working with cores from lakes and bogs
in northern Saskatchewan and examining the deglacial landscape in the
area. Funding for this project is in hand.
Chronology and sedimentology of the Au Train
Whitefish channel, Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This project would (1)
determine when meltwater last drained across the UP and (2) describe
gravel megaripples at the south end of the spillway.
Duration and age of the Algonquin phase of Lake
Michigan on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This project would involve
lake coring to determine when the Algonquin Lake drained off the UP and
examine rhythmites to estimate the lakes duration.
Flooding of the Indian River lowlands, northern
Lower Peninsula of Michigan. This project would determine the chronology
of these lowlands in comparison with the Mackinaw channel and possibly
aid in constraining the Nipissing transgression of Lake Michigan.
Investigating lake level change in Lake Erie
related to the rise to the Nipissing level in Lake Huron.
Investigate the deglacial chronology of the Saginaw
Lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet.
Investigate glacial lacustrine sediments at Grand
Marais, Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This ~100m stack of
glaciolacustrine units is likely associated with the Marquette readvance
of ice in Lake Superior, but its relationship to either ice advance or
retreat is unknown.
Dr.
Krantz
Physical
U.S. East Coast
Holocene stratigraphy of the shoreface, Atlantic coast of the
Delmarva Peninsula (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia), from
high-resolution marine seismic surveys. Emphasis on the
stratigraphic record and facies preserved during the Holocene
sea-level rise.
Influence of antecedent geology and modern shoreface processes on
shoreline change,
Atlantic coast of the Delmarva Peninsula.
Internal structure and evolution of shoreface sand ridges,
Atlantic coast of the Delmarva Peninsula.
Hydrogeology of the coastal bays along the Atlantic coast of the
Delmarva Peninsula.
Geomorphology, hydrogeology, and Holocene evolution of Assateague
Island, Maryland and Virginia.
Evolution of Delaware Bay and adjacent continental shelf during
the Holocene transgression.
Geologic setting and history of incised valleys associated with
the “Chincoteague Bight” along the Virginia Eastern Shore.
Great Lakes Region
High-resolution seismic stratigraphy and the deglacial history of
the Western Basin of Lake Erie.
Geomorphology, subsurface stratigraphy, and processes associated
with the formation of the Oak Openings sand ridge, northwest Ohio
and southeast Michigan.
Nipissing and post-Nipissing lake-level changes and development
of coastal dune fields, western coast of Michigan.
The history of the Lake St. Clair delta, eastern Michigan and
western Ontario.
Environmental
Geophysical characterization of the subsurface at landfill and
industrial sites in support of bioremediation research.
Wetland design to enhance removal of fecal coliform and pathogenic
bacterial and viral contaminants from ditched waterways draining into
Maumee Bay, western Lake Erie.
Shallow sand resources in Maumee Bay for beach nourishment and
remediation projects.
Dr.
Martin-Hayden
Physical
Characterize
the hydrogeology and groundwater geomorphology of seepage erosion gullies
forming within glacial-lake beach ridges, northwest Ohio.
Investigate
surface-water/groundwater interactions between Lake Erie and the regional
carbonate aquifer.
Environmental
Investigate
flow-weighted averaging in groundwater monitoring wells and the
implications on groundwater sample representativeness, plume
characterization, and model predictions.
Characterize
thermal convection within monitoring wells and boreholes and investigate
the affects on groundwater sampling and monitored natural attenuation.
Dr.
Spongberg
Soil
studies: In conjunction with bioremediation studies, several soil
investigations are needed to determine a soil’s ability to retain
contaminants to prevent their migration into groundwater.
Additional studies will determine the delicate balance between a
soil’s retentive capacity and the ability of plants to access those
contaminants by sorption into their root systems. Various
techniques can be attempted to manipulate this system.
Global
energy flux: As human population grows and land cover is changes,
the energy flux between the soil and surrounding environment will be
altered. We are currently investigating how the soil’s heat
retention is changing with time and urban sprawl.
Dr.
Stierman
Physical
Environmental
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