Topical Sessions

Invited and Volunteered Papers

These sessions are topically focused with a mix of invited and volunteered papers. Sessions are designed to promote the exchange of interdisciplinary, state-of-the-art information. Papers can be submitted to a specific topical session, and you may choose up to three scientific discipline categories (see pull-down menu below). After each topical description below, the categories are identified as they appear on the abstract form. PLEASE SUBMIT ONLY IN THE MODE (oral or poster) AND CATEGORIES INDICATED in the description. An abstract submitted in the incorrect mode will be transferred automatically to a discipline session.

Papers for topical sessions are to be submitted only in the presentation mode noted in the session description. If a topical abstract is submitted in the incorrect mode, the abstract will be transferred automatically to a discipline session.

T1. Response of Coastal Environments to Accelerated Sea Level Rise
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
John B. Anderson, Antonio B. Rodriguez

This session will focus on case studies that document past response of coastal environments to sea-level rise and on modeling results aimed at improving our understanding of coastal response to sea-level rise.

Environmental Geoscience; Marine/Coastal Science; Quaternary Geology

T2. Coastal and Aeolian Geomorphology Processes and Landforms
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division
Chris Houser

This session will showcase current research in coastal and aeolian geomorphology from both natural and modified systems. Research from turbulence to tectonic–global climate scales is welcome and undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to submit.

Geomorphology; Marine/Coastal Science; Remote Sensing/Geographic Info System

T3. The Coastal Zone—the Air-Land-Sea Interface, where People Like to Live
GSA Engineering Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Christopher Mathewson

The coastal zone is the air-land-sea interface where a significant population lives and works. These people are subjected to both long-term and short-term risks and hazards for which geologic information is critical.

Engineering Geology; Environmental Geoscience; Marine/Coastal Science

T4. Oceanic Geohazards: Distribution, Controls, and Risks
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Brandon Dugan, Julia Morgan

This session will focus on oceanic geohazards and their risks, which could include (a) observations and analyses of deformation and failure; (b) depositional record; (c) experimental or numerical investigations; and (d) risk assessment.

Environmental Geoscience; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology; Marine/Coastal Science

T5. Coastal Tectonics of the Pacific Rim: Geomorphology, Structure, and Hazards
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies; GSA Geophysics Division
Jeff Marshall, Peter Sak

Pacific Rim coastlines are among Earth’s most dynamic and hazardous landscapes, shaped by active tectonics, sea-level fluctuation, and rapid erosion/sedimentation. This session explores the geomorphic, structural, and stratigraphic records of Pacific basin coastal tectonics and hazards.

Geomorphology; Tectonics; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology

T6. Estuarine and Fjord Sedimentary Processes in Modern and Holocene Systems
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; Gulf Coast SEPM; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Timothy Dellapenna, Julia Wellner

This session will focus on linkages between sedimentary process and stratigraphy within estuarine and fjord systems, with special emphasis on records of processes in modern strata and linkages between sedimentary processes.

Marine/Coastal Science; Geomorphology; Quaternary Geology

T7. The Mississippi River Delta as a Natural Laboratory for Evaluating Coastal Response to Relative Sea-Level Rise and Innovations in Transgressive Coastal Management: Shea Penland Memorial Session
U.S. Geological Survey; Louisiana Department of Natural Resources; Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences; New Orleans Geological Society; GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Michael D. Miner, James G. Flocks

Rapid sea-level rise in southern Louisiana drives transgressive processes on human timescales. Results from intensive monitoring and scientific studies providing new insight on transgressive drivers, processes, and form as well as science-based management strategies will be featured.

Marine/Coastal Science; Stratigraphy; Geomorphology

T8. Late Quaternary of the Northern Gulf of Mexico Margin: Climate Change, Sea-Level Change, and the Depositional Record
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Sedimentary Geology Division
Mike Blum

This session will focus on advances in our understanding of Gulf of Mexico sediment dispersal systems, from source-to-sink, and will blend research on terrestrial records and records from the shelf and deepwater.

Quaternary Geology; Sediments, Clastic; Marine/Coastal Science

T9. Crises on the Reefs? Anticipating the Effects of Global Warming on Reefs by Reference to the Fossil Record—Is the Past Really the Key to the Present in the New Field of Conservation Paleobiology?
Paleontological Society; Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM); Paleontologic Research Institute; Cushman Foundation; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Claudia C. Johnson, Jere Lipps, George Stanley, Dennis Hubbard

Today coral reefs are in crisis. This session addresses the unique perspectives that both paleobiology and geology provide for understanding reef ecosystem change and for the development of methods and policies to deal with it.

Paleontology, Diversity, Extinction, Origination; Sediments, Carbonates; Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography

T10. Ancient Polar Ecosystems and Environments: Proxies for Understanding Climate Change and Global Warming
Paleontological Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Anthony Fiorillo, Paul McCarthy

This session focuses on multidisciplinary studies that encompass multiple proxy indicators of ancient high latitude ecosystems, particularly in the northern hemisphere. Papers focusing on reconstructing both local and regional ecosystems are particularly encouraged.

Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy; Stratigraphy; Geochemistry

T11. Global Warming Science: Implications for Geoscientists, Educators, and Policy Makers
GSA Geoscience Education Division; The American Quaternary Association (AMQUA); GSA Geology and Health Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; National Association of Geoscience Teachers; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
George T. Stone, Andrew M. Buddington

The principal goal of the session is to provide geoscientists and geoscience educators reviews of current hard science on global warming, its current and projected impacts, and policy implications for mitigation and adaptation.

Environmental Geoscience; Geoscience Education; Public Policy

T12. Channel Networks as a Template for Earth and Environmental Processes: Toward an Integrative Process Model for Landscape Evolution
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; National Center for Earth Dynamics
David Mohrig, Frank Pazzaglia

We solicit contributions from scientists studying connections between channel networks and landscape attributes, including erosional, depositional, ecological, and geochemical processes. Studies carried out at all scales ranging from individual catchments to entire networks are appropriate.

Geomorphology; Sediments, Clastic; Environmental Geoscience

T13. Sediment in Fluvial Systems: Production, Transport, and Storage at the Watershed Scale
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division
L. Allan James, Michael Slattery, Mark Fonstad

Fluvial sedimentary processes and alluvial reconstructions will be addressed at various spatial and temporal scales ranging from short-term transport mechanics, budgets, and fingerprinting, to intermediate-term anthropogenic or climatic changes, to Quaternary stratigraphy.

Geomorphology; Engineering Geology; Sediments, Clastic

T14. Wood Debris and the Morphology of Alluvial Landscapes
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Engineering Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Tim B. Abbe, Jeremy Bunn, Scott R. Beason

This session presents original work regarding the mechanisms and magnitudes to which wood debris can influence alluvial landscapes in the present and geologic record.

Geomorphology; Paleontology, Biogeography/Biostratigraphy; Engineering Geology

T15. Trends in Geomorphology: Advances and Innovations in Measurement and Analysis
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Chris Houser

Geomorphology has made significant advancements as new and innovative techniques and instruments are developed. Speakers in this session will describe how these new and innovative techniques are used in the study of geomorphic processes and landforms.

Geomorphology; Marine/Coastal Science; Remote Sensing/Geographic Info System

T16. River Response to Climate Change
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Engineering Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Scott R. Beason, Tim B. Abbe, Paul M. Kennard

This session solicits recent empirical and theoretical research conducted in river systems around the world in order to increase the knowledge of the effects of climate change on river morphology and dynamics.

Quaternary Geology; Geomorphology; Engineering Geology

T17. Integration of Soils and Geomorphology in Deserts: A Tribute to the 50 Years of Soil Research of Dan Yaalon
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; S05 Pedology; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Rivka Amit, Eric McDonald, Yehouda Enzel

This session honors Dan Yaalon’s contribution to the study of desert soils and geomorphology. Topics may include models of soil and surface processes, dust (source areas to pedogenesis), the effects of cumulative processes (geomorphic, climate), water balance, and landscape stability on pedogenesis, and stratigraphy of desert soils.

Quaternary Geology; Geomorphology; Hydrogeology

T18. Soil Geomorphology and Chronosequences
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; S05 Pedology; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Scott F. Burns

Soil geomorphology comprises the distribution of soils across the landscape in space and time, and a soil chronosequence comprises distribution of soils on similar landforms of differing ages.

Quaternary Geology; Geomorphology; Environmental Geoscience

T19. Loess and Loess Soils
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Randall Schaetzl, Mark Sweeney

PatternsThis session covers the patterns, processes, rates, and ages associated with the generation and deposition of loess and related eolian sediments, and the soils formed in them. Emphasis, with emphasis on interactions between the eolian and pedologic systems, or on soil development in various types of loess deposits.

Quaternary Geology; Geomorphology

T20. Assessment of Speleothem Paleoenvironment Proxies Using Studies in Modern Karst Systems
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Jay Banner, Andrew Baker

Growing interest in speleothem paleoenvironmental proxies requires assessment of their utility. This session focuses on the examination of physical, chemical, and organic processes in modern karst systems to provide a principal means for such assessments.

Quaternary Geology; Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography; Geochemistry

T21. Lakes, Playas, and Soils
GSA Limnogeology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Sedimentary Geology Division
Elizabeth H. Gierlowski-Kordesch

Alluvial plain sediments associated with lakes and playas record geologic information through non-deposition and soil formation. Sedimentation rates, climatic trends, and lake level changes through time can be inferred from soil processes and groundwater levels.

Limnogeology; Sediments, Carbonates; Sediments, Clastic

T22. Lacustrine, Palustrine, Wetlands, and Ponds: Important Distinctions, Useful Criteria
GSA Limnogeology Division; GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM); Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Stan Dunagan, Daniel Deocampo

This session will focus on identifying key sedimentologic and/or hydrologic criteria useful in differentiating modern and ancient lacustrine, palustrine, pond, wetland, and/or spring deposits.

Limnogeology; Sediments, Carbonates; Sediments, Clastic

T23. Terrestrial Authigenic Minerals: Modern Processes and Ancient Deposits
GSA Limnogeology Division; Sedimentary Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Daniel Deocampo, Daniel Larsen

This session highlights (1) the geochemistry and mineralogy of modern terrestrial environments that produce authigenic minerals; (2) occurrences of ancient deposits containing authigenic minerals,; and (3) related applications to paleohydrology and paleoenvironmental reconstruction.

Limnogeology; Geochemistry; Mineralogy/Crystallography

T24. Lakes in Extreme Environments: Earth and Beyond
GSA Limnogeology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
David B. Finkelstein, Thomas R. Kulp

This session will explore paleoclimate-, geomicrobiology-, and geochemistry-based studies of lakes in extreme environments as potential extraterrestrial or early-earth analogs. Topics will include geochemical and isotopic signatures of waters, microbes, mineral facies, and redox gradients.

Limnogeology; Geomicrobiology; Geochemistry

T25. Terrestrial Response to Climate Variability during the Medieval Warm Period: Lakes, Tree-Rings, and Human Adaptation
GSA Limnogeology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Archaeological Geology Division
David M. Miller, Kenneth D. Adams, Edward R. Cook

The Medieval Warm Period of ~1000 years ago provides an informative example of geomorphic response to rapid climate changes, as well as human adaptations. We encourage studies on the impacts of rapid climate change.

Limnogeology; Quaternary Geology; Archaeological Geology

T26. Lake Cores: Climate Change and Tectonics (Posters)
GSA Limnogeology Division; GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division
Kevin M. Bohacs, Elizabeth H. Gierlowski-Kordesch

Lake sediments contain high-resolution archives of data on climate change as well as hydrologic change induced by tectonics. This session will highlight the newest results from lake core studies.

Limnogeology; Sediments, Carbonates; Sediments, Clastic

T27. From Mud to Mudrock: Use of Modern Depositional Settings as Analogs for the Interpretation of Ancient Mudrocks
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Anna M. Cruse, Stanley T. Paxton

We encourage talks highlighting the sedimentology, geochemistry, and stratigraphy of modern and/or ancient mud-prone depositional settings. The forum will focus on new models for the occurrence and geochemistry of mud and mudrocks.

Sediments, Clastic; Geochemistry; Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography

T28. Permian and Triassic Terrestrial Biotic Responses to Global Perturbations
GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; The Paleontological Society; Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM); Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Robert A. Gastaldo, William A. DiMichele, Isabel P. Montanez, Neil Tabor

This session will provide comprehensive and interdisciplinary approaches to understanding latest Paleozoic terrestrial response(s) across the unidirectional trend from “icehouse” to “hothouse” through the sedimentological, geochemical, and paleontological records of continental basins.

Sediments, Clastic; Geochemistry; Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy

T29. Recent Advances in Deepwater Sedimentology: Science Driven by the Search for Natural Resources
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Stephen M. Hubbard, David R. Pyles

Over the past two decades, the search for energy resources in frontier regions has revealed the need for improved knowledge of sediment transport processes in the deep sea. This session will focus on the application of modern, ancient, and flume data toward the development of improved depositional system models.

Sediments, Clastic; Stratigraphy; Geomorphology

T30. River-Dominated Continental Margin Processes: Modern and Ancient
GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; Gulf Coast Section SEPM, GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Janok P. Bhattacharya, Liviu Giosan, Timothy M. Dellapena, Meade A. Allison

This session will integrate knowledge from modern oceanographic studies with data from ancient sedimentary systems to examine cross- and along-margin sediment dynamics in regions dominated by sedimentary fluxes from large and small rivers.

Sediments, Clastic; Stratigraphy; Geomorphology

T31. The Future of Sedimentary Geology: Student Research (Posters)
Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM); Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Daniel Larsen

As our students are the future intellectual engine for the advancement of sedimentary geology, this session provides a venue for students to present posters on their research in sedimentary geology.

Sediments, Carbonates; Stratigraphy; Sediments, Clastic

T32. Mixed Siliciclastic-Carbonate Systems: Mixing through Time and Space
GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM); Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Jason M. Francis, André W. Droxler

The mixing of siliciclastic and carbonate sediment is an important interaction throughout geologic time. This session will bridge the gap between pure siliciclastic and carbonate systems by addressing mixing on various time and spatial scales.

Stratigraphy; Sediments, Carbonates; Sediments, Clastic

T33. Mesozoic Sedimentary Basins as Archives of Mexican Magmatic History and Paleogeography
GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Elena Centeno García, Timothy F. Lawton, Ira A. Bradford

Sedimentary basins can provide tremendous insight into arc history and regional paleogeography. This session will focus on recent studies in Mesozoic sedimentary basins of Mexico, including detrital zircon analysis, sedimentology, and volcanic stratigraphy, that have shed important new light on paleogeographic reconstructions and tectonic evolution of Mexico and the southwesternmost United States.

Stratigraphy

T34. Paleosol Records as Evidences of Environmental Change in Different Time Scales
GSA International Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division
Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo, Sergey Sedov

Paleosols are an important source of paleogeographical, paleoecological, and pedo-archeologicalarchaeological information, which helphelps us to understand the evolution of the biosphere-geospheres-society interactions in time and the input of paleopedogenic inheritance into the recent pedosphere.

Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography; Archaeological Geology; Environmental Geoscience

T35. Paleozoic Oceanographic and Climatic Changes: Evidence from Seawater Geochemistry and Sedimentology Records
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Ganqing Jiang, Uwe Brand

The Paleozoic witnessed important glaciations, mass extinctions, and fluctuating carbon dioxide and oxygen levels. High-resolution studies on Paleozoic paleoenvironmental and paleoclimate changes may provide critical information for understanding future climate changes and sustainable earth environments.

Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography; Geochemistry; Environmental Geoscience

T36. The Astronomically Forced Sedimentary Record: From Geologic Time Scales to Lunar-Tidal History
GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Linda A. Hinnov, James G. Ogg

This session will be a unique gathering of earth-time workers, planetary scientists, stratigraphers, sedimentologists and paleoclimatologists to discuss recent advances and emerging themes in cyclostratigraphy, astronomical tuning of geologic time, and research on ancient tides.

Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography; Stratigraphy

T37. The Western Interior Seaway (Posters)
Paleontological Society; GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Dee Ann Cooper, Roger W. Cooper

This will be a multidisciplinary session devoted to all studies and aspects of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway and its global correlatives.

Paleontology, Biogeography/Biostratigraphy; Stratigraphy; Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography

T38. Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plain Paleontology
Paleontological Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Louis G. Zachos, Ann Molineux

The session will cover any aspect of paleontology (stressing Cenozoic marine faunas, both vertebrate and invertebrate) of the deposits exposed in the Gulf of Mexico coastal plain, including the region from Yucatán to Florida.

Paleontology, Biogeography/Biostratigraphy; Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy; Paleontology, Diversity, Extinction, Origination

T40. After the Last Ammonite and before the First Horse: Patterns of Ecological and Climatic Change during the Paleocene
Paleontological Society; Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Kirk R. Johnson, Ian Miller

This session focuses on Paleocene climate and biota, emphasizing integration of terrestrial and marine records, utilizing recent advances in geochronology, with the goal of synthesizing disparate datasets to understand patterns of ecological and climatic change.

Paleontology, Diversity, Extinction, Origination; Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography; Paleontology, Biogeography/Biostratigraphy

T41. Recoveries from Mass Extinction: Patterns, Processes, and Comparisons
Paleontological Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Peter J. Harries, Richard J. Twitchett

This session will focus on biotic recovery from mass extinctions that punctuate the Phanerozoic history of life. The emphasis will be on detailing and comparing the biotic responses to different events against the backdrop of environment change that characterizes these important intervals.

Paleontology, Diversity, Extinction, Origination; Paleontology, Phylogenetic/Morphological Patterns; Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography

T42. Breaking the Curve: Historical Development, Current State, and Future Prospects for Understanding Local and Regional Processes Governing Global Diversity
Paleontological Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Leigh M. Fall, Jocelyn Sessa, Austin J.W. Hendy, Thomas D. Olszewski

This session will provide an overview of progress in on the analysis of global diversity with a specific emphasis on how regional- and community -scale processes governing the structure of communities can influence diversity patterns in the fossil record.

Paleontology, Diversity, Extinction, Origination; Paleontology, Biogeography/Biostratigraphy; Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy

T43. Field and Quantitative Paleontology, Micropaleontology, and Taxonomy: A Memorial to Roger L. Kaesler
Paleontological Society; Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM); Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Julie B. Retrum, Stephen T. Hasiotis

This session in memory of Roger L. Kaesler encourages papers in all aspects of micropaleontology, invertebrate quantitative paleontology, and taxonomy was inspired by Kaesler’s innovations in these fields and the Treatise of Invertebrate Paleontology.

Paleontology, Diversity, Extinction, Origination; Paleontology, Phylogenetic/Morphological Patterns; Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy

T44. Deep Time Earth Life Observatories (DETELOs): Focusing on Critical Transitions in the History of Life
Paleontological Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
David J. Bottjer, Lisa E. Park

DETELOs will facilitate major advances in understanding critical transitions in the history of life through integration of paleontological, geochemical, biological, stratigraphic and other information into a comprehensive temporal and spatial framework.

Paleontology, Diversity, Extinction, Origination; Paleontology, Biogeography/Biostratigraphy; Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography

T45. Living Soil in Deep Time
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Gregory J. Retallack, Nathan D. Sheldon

Life in soils was active well back into the Precambrian. Throughout Earth's history, life on land played an important role in global change, such as atmospheric oxidation and onset of ice ages.

Paleontology, Diversity, Extinction, Origination; Precambrian Geology; Quaternary Geology

T46. Leaving Traces—Making Marks: In Honor of H. Allen Curran
Paleontological Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Neil Tibert, Bosiljka Glumac

Like the way organisms leave lasting traces in the geological record, Al Curran has inspired generations of students and colleagues who will gather to celebrate his accomplishments as a paleontologist, sedimentary geologist, and geoscience educator.

Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy; Sediments, Clastic; Sediments, Carbonates

T47. Sclerochronological Archives from Rivers to the Sea: Documentation, Interpretation, and Utility
Paleontological Society
David H. Goodwin, David P. Gillikin, David H. Kesler

This session highlights new sclerochronological research from freshwater and estuarine systems by focusing on elemental, isotopic, and structural data preserved in calcareous skeletons.

Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy; Geochemistry; Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography

T48. Exploring the Role of Endobenthic Organisms in Enhancing Porosity and Permeability of Sedimentary Aquifers and Reservoirs
Paleontological Society; National Ground Water Association; GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Kevin J. Cunningham, H. Allen Curran

Endobenthic organisms and bioturbation within sedimentary substrates will be explored for insights into biogenically enhanced porosity/permeability and new methods for measuring and evaluating its physical characteristics, with emphasis on groundwater aquifers and petroleum reservoirs.

Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy; Hydrogeology; Sediments, Carbonates

T49. What Good Are (Fossil) Plants Anyway? New Methods for Investigating Old Problems
Paleontological Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Caroline A.E. Stromberg, Matthew J. Kohn

This session will discuss new developments in using fossil plants and their proxies for interpreting paleoecologies, paleoclimates, and landscape evolution. Contributions are encouraged that use tissue morphology, fossil assemblages (micro- and megafossils), paleopedology, and/or geochemistry.

Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy; Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography; Geochemistry

T50. Quantifying the Early Evolution of Life: Numerical Approaches to the Evaluation of Precambrian-Cambrian Animals and Ecosystems
Paleontological Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Marc Laflamme, Stephen Q. Dornbos

This session will focus on a broad spectrum of numerical studies on the early animal fossil record, in addition to displaying how modern biological and ecological techniques are increasingly used in the study of early life.

Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy; Paleontology, Diversity, Extinction, Origination; Paleontology, Phylogenetic/Morphological Patterns

T51. Neontological Solutions to Paleontological Problems: Actualistic Studies of the Morphology, Behavior, and Ecology of Modern Analogs for Ancient Organisms
Paleontological Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Daniel I. Hembree, Brian F. Platt, Jon J. Smith

This session will cover a broad range of experimental research involving modern organisms and their application to paleontologic problems. Topics include organism-substrate interactions, microbial activity, taphonomy, morphology, organism behavior, functional morphology, biomechanics, and kinematics.

Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy; Paleontology, Phylogenetic/Morphological Patterns

T52. Paleontological and Sedimentological Consequences of Calcite and Aragonite Sea Dynamics
Paleontological Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Paul D. Taylor, Mark A. Wilson, Noel P. James

This session will investigate how secular alternations between times of calcite and aragonite seas impacted the evolution of biomineralized skeletons, fossil taphonomy, and carbonate facies through geologic time.

Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy; Sediments, Carbonates; Geochemistry

T53. The Sedimentation of Organic Particles: Practical Applications
GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Inc. (AASP); Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM); GSA Coal Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Francine McCarthy, Thomas D. Demchuk

Papers are solicited on any aspect of the study of organic particles leading to a qualitative or quantitative understanding of the behavior of organic particles in various depositional environments and their application to geologic studies.

Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy; Sediments, Clastic; Coal Geology

T54. Integrative Systematic Paleontology for a New Century: Advancing Evolutionary, Phylogenetic, Biogeographic, and Ecologic Theory with Specimen-Based Studies
Paleontological Society
Alycia L. Stigall, Jonathan Hendricks

This session emphasizes the continued importance of systematic research that integrates primary data derived from fossil specimens (including their geological context) for the purpose of reconstructing phylogenetic, paleobiogeographic, and/or paleoecological patterns and events within and among clades.

Paleontology, Phylogenetic/Morphological Patterns; Paleontology, Diversity, Extinction, Origination; Paleontology, Biogeography/Biostratigraphy

T55. Phylogenetic Perspectives on Assembling the Tree of Life in Deep Time
Paleontological Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Colin D. Sumrall, Christopher Brochu, Talia Karim

This session will explore paleontological perspectives of understanding organic evolution using phylogenetic approaches. Topics include addressing paleobiological questions with phylogenetic information, phylogeny reconstruction from multiple datasets, and synthesizing paleontological and molecular divergence time.

Paleontology, Phylogenetic/Morphological Patterns; Paleontology, Diversity, Extinction, Origination; Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy

T56. Spatial and Temporal Evolution of Transform Faults
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Alexander Robinson, Michael Murphy, Gary Axen, John Dewey

Transform faults worldwide show variations in distribution of strain and their evolution. This session brings together observational and theoretical perspectives on issues concerning strain pattern, style, and evolution as recorded by geologic, geomorphic, and geophysical investigations.

Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology; Structural Geology; Geomorphology

T57. Evolution of the Lithosphere and Upper Mantle in the Western U.S.
GSA Geophysics Division
Alan Levander, Cin-Ty Lee, Adrian Lenardic, Fenglin Niu

This session will be an interdisciplinary examination of what we are learning about the evolution of the different provinces in the Western U.S.western United States from geochemical, seismological, geological, geodetic, and geodynamic perspectives.

Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology; Tectonics; Geochemistry

T58. Geophysics in the Shallow Subsurface: Contributions to Studies in Agriculture, Water Resources, Geotechnical Engineering, and Surficial Geology
GSA Geophysics Division; Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society
Bruce D. Smith, Jeffrey G. Paine, John R. Jansen

This intersocietal session gathers researchers who have applied or developed geophysical methods that focus on near-surface issues in hydrogeology, soil science, agriculture, resource management, geotechnical engineering, and surficial geology.

Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology; Environmental Geoscience; Hydrogeology

T59. EarthScope: Bringing Geology and Geophysics Together to Study the 4-D Evolution of the Lithosphere
GSA Geophysics Division; GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; GSA Geoinformatics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Anne Trehu, G. Randy Keller, Ben van der Pluijm

A major goal of EarthScope is the construction of 4-D models of the structure and evolution of Earth's crust and lithospheric mantle beneath North America. This session will catalyze integrated studies and provide a forum for recent results.

Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology; Geoinformatics; Tectonics

T60. Combining Geophysics and Geology: The George P. Woollard Award Session
GSA Geophysics Division
Catherine M. Snelson, Kevin Mickus

This session honors the recipient of the Woollard award for outstanding contributions in geophysics to geology. The recipient will give the keynote talk to a session focused on combining geophysics and geology to solve geologic problems.

Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology

T61. Aspects of the Tectonic Setting and Structural History of Shale Basins that Lead to Unconventional Reservoir Rock
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Julia F. W. Gale, Terry Engelder

This session will explore the differences in tectonic setting of shale basins and will investigate how it is manifest in burial history and structures that allow for the development of unconventional reservoirs in shale.

Structural Geology; Tectonics; Sediments, Clastic

T62. Recent Advances in the Study of the Laramide Orogeny and Related Processes in Mexico and the Southern United States
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; GSA Geophysics Division
Mariano Cerca, Martin Valencia, Gabriel Chávez-Cabello

Laramide orogeny: Understanding Late Cretaceous—Early Cenozoic contractional deformation, magmatism, metamorphism, and metallogenesis in Mexico and neighboring areas.

Structural Geology; Tectonics; Petrology, Metamorphic

T63. Foreland Basins: Their Tectonic Setting, Structural Geology, Sedimentology, and Economic Significance
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division
Ibrahim Çemen, James Puckette, Darwin Boardman

Many research groups have been studying foreland basins in different parts of the world. This session will bring these groups together and provide a formal discussion on important issues related to the Foreland Basins.

Structural Geology; Tectonics; Stratigraphy

T64. Lithospheric Structure and Geologic Evolution of the Gulf of Mexico Passive Margin
GSA Geophysics Division; GSA South-Central Section; GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Elizabeth Y. Anthony, Stephen S. Gao, Robert J. Stern

Geology and geophysics of the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding region: Nature of crust and upper mantle; Triassic and Jurassic rifting and spreading; modification of continental lithosphere and formation of oceanic lithosphere during rifting; rift flank uplift, subsidence, and sedimentary responses.

Tectonics; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology; Petrology, Igneous

T65. Late Jurassic to Recent Geodynamic Evolution of the Caribbean Region
GSA Geophysics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Sandra J. Wyld, James E. Wright

The geodynamic evolution of the Caribbean region, from its origins in the break-up of Pangea to its complex current tectonics, continues to be a topic of widespread and active research, multidisciplinary interest, and ongoing controversy. Houston provides an ideal venue for bringing together the diverse group of earth scientists working on this region. We solicit presentations on all aspects of the geodynamic and tectonic evolution of the Caribbean plate, its fringing arc systems, and adjacent provinces.

Tectonics; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology; Stratigraphy

T66. Caribbean–North America Plate Boundary Region: Arc Evolution, Timing of Collisions and Exhumation, Strike-slip Tectonics and Paleogeography
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; GSA International Division
Uwe Martens, Roberto Molina-Garza, Luigi Solari

This session is devoted to understanding ancient and current plate interactions leading to subduction and arc development, collisions and sutures, sea-floor spreading, strike-slip tectonics, and paleogeography in the region where the North America and Caribbean plates have interacted in the past. We encourage contributions establishing correlations of the plate boundary region with circum-Caribbean areas, such as southern Mexico and northern South America.

Tectonics; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology; Stratigraphy

T67. Geologic Maps, Digital Geologic Maps, and Derivatives from Geologic Maps (Posters)
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Ralph F. Crawford, Michael W. Higgins

Geologic maps are the fundamental tool of the science of geology. Most geologic research is ultimately based on the geologic map. The Geologic MapThis poster session will allow and stimulate scientific discussion.

Structural Geology; Geoscience Education; Tectonics

T68. Brittle Deformation and Diagenesis as Coupled Processes
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; GSA Geophysics Division; GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Stephen Laubach, Peter Eichhubl

Brittle deformation, chemical change, and mass transport are coupled processes in the upper crust. Abstracts are solicited that approach these topics using a combined structural-diagenetic approach, including field and microscale observations and physical and numerical modeling.

Structural Geology; Sediments, Clastic; Geoscience Education

T70. Structural Modeling—Impacts on Hydrocarbon Recovery and Uncertainty Analysis
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Clare E. Bond, Alan D. Gibbs, Zoe K. Shipton

Structural framework models created from equivocal geological data have a high risk for hydrocarbon exploration. This session explores techniques for structural analysis and modeling to create viable structural models and assess hydrocarbon play potential.

Structural Geology; Tectonics; Economic Geology

T71. Extensional Tectonics in the Central Basin and Range Province: Interplay between Science and Society in Assessments of Strain Rates, Seismic Hazards, Groundwater Reserves, and Mineral Resources
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
James A. Carpenter, Christopher David Walker

Integration of cross-disciplinary research in the central Basin and Range Province with an emphasis on the interface between extensional tectonics, geological hazards, resource distribution, and population growth in the Las Vegas–St. George urban corridor.

Structural Geology; Tectonics; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology

T72. Scaling, Spatial Arrangement, and Fractals in Structural Geology
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division
Orlando J. Ortega, Leonel Gomez

Size scaling and patterns of spatial arrangement are of fundamental concern to structural geology. Abstracts are solicited that approach these topics using combined process and statistical approach and physical and numerical modeling.

Structural Geology; Economic Geology; Tectonics

T73. Advances in Discontinuum Numerical Modeling in the Study of Earth Structure and Deformation
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division
Julia K. Morgan, Patrick J. McGovern, David Sparks

Discontinuum numerical methods (e.g., DEM, SPH, LSM) are used increasingly to obtain unique perspectives of earth structure and deformation. This session will showcase the broad range of applications of these methods and the insights gained from them.

Structural Geology; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology; Volcanology

T74. Mathematical Models of Folding: Recent Advances, Applications, and Future Directions
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; GSA Geophysics Division
Stuart Hardy, Chris A. Guzofski, David D. Pollard, John H. Shaw

This session aims to attract contributions from research in the field of mathematical modeling of folding, including kinematic- and mechanics-based forward and restorative modeling approaches. A particular focus will be placed on novel modeling techniques and the application of fold models to case (seismic, field, and analogue) studies.

Structural Geology; Tectonics; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology

T75. Modes of Lithospheric Extension: Oceanic and Continental Core Complexes
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; GSA Geophysics Division; GSA International Division
Yildirim Dilek, Elena A. Miranda

Core complexes are characterized by domal bathymetric/topographic highs composed of lower crustal and upper mantle rocks and represent highly extended terranes in oceanic spreading environments, subduction zones, continental rifts, and continental collision zones. This session will provide a venue for discussions on comparative structural, thermochronologic, petrologic, geochemical, and geophysical studies of lithospheric extension in continental and oceanic core complexes.

Structural Geology; Tectonics; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology

T76. Gondwana-Laurentia Terrane Transfers During the Pangean and Rodinian Supercontinent Cycles
GSA Geophysics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Paul A. Mueller, David A. Foster, William A. Thomas

This session will explore the origins of terranes with Laurentian and Gondwanan affinities within the greater Grenvillian, Appalachian, and other circum-Atlantic systems associated with the Rodinian Pangean supercontinent cycles.

Tectonics; Geochemistry; Precambrian Geology

T77. Recent Advances in the Understanding of Adirondack and Southern Grenville Province Tectonics: In Honor of James McLelland
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Graham B. Baird, Catherine Shrady, Bruce Selleck

This session is in honor of James McLelland, and his career-long contributions to Adirondack Geology. It will focus on recent work in the Adirondacks and Southern Grenville Province, with particular emphasis on current tectonic models.

Tectonics; Petrology, Metamorphic; Structural Geology

T78. From the Forearc to the Foreland: Contrasting Tectonics, Paleogeography, and Paleoenvironments of the North American Cretaceous
GSA Geophysics Division; GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM); Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Claudia Schroder-Adams, James Haggart

Widespread Cretaceous tectonic activity in western North America created extensive sedimentary basins with variable infill histories flanking both sides of the Cordillera. The session will assess depositional histories, paleogeography, and paleoclimate of the Cretaceous basins.

Tectonics; Sediments, Clastic; Stratigraphy

T79. The Himalayan Orogen and Rise of the Tibetan Plateau: An Earth Systems Approach to the Tectonic and Landscape Evolution of Asia
GSA International Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; GSA History of Geology Division; GSA Geophysics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Paul T. Robinson, Yildirim Dilek

This session brings earth scientists together to examine the geodynamic evolution of the Himalayan Mountains and the Tibetan Plateau, to discuss current models and theories on the dynamic feedbacks between the atmosphere, the biosphere, and the crust and mantle during their evolution, and to explore new avenues for research in Asia.

Tectonics; Structural Geology; Geomorphology

T80. Antarctic Science in the International Polar Year—Geologic Evolution of the Antarctic Peninsula: Changes in Tectonics, Biota, and Climate over Time
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Eugene W. Domack, Amy Leventer

This session highlights new geologic developments and discoveries in the Antarctic Peninsula at all time scales, including tectonic, continental margin and biotic evolution, and records of global change, from the marine and terrestrial realms.

Tectonics; Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography; Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy

T81. Continental and Marine Fold and Thrust Belts
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; IUGS Task Group on Structural Geology and Tectonics; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Hermann Lebit, Luke A. Jensen, Terry Pavlis, Rob Butler

This session aims to compare and contrast continental fold and thrust belts with their increasingly explored marine equivalents by integrating academic and industry perspectives. Fold-and-thrust belt boundary conditions, tectonostratigraphic architectures, kinematics, and mechanics will be presented via a multidisciplinary approach.

Tectonics; Structural Geology; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology

T82. Southwest Pacific Cenozoic Tectonics and Comparisons with Other Orogenic Belts
GSA International Division; GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics; GSA Geophysics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
John Wakabayashi, Yildirim Dilek

Southwest Pacific Cenozoic tectonic history is considered the benchmark for orogenic belt development. We seek presentations on the southwest Pacific and other orogenic belts to compare the "best modern analog" to assembled mountain belts.

Tectonics; Structural Geology; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology

T83. Mid- to Lower Crustal Deformation Processes: Strain, Kinematics and Relationships to Upper Crustal Structures
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; GSA Geophysics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Sharon Mosher, Richard D. Law

This session will explore the interaction and genetic relationships between ductile flow in the mid- to lower crust and the formation of upper crustal brittle structures, including the impact of kinematics and strain.

Tectonics; Structural Geology; Neotectonics/Paleoseismology

T84. Exhumation of Continental Ultrahigh-Pressure Terranes
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; UNESCO International Lithosphere Program Task Force IV: Ultra-Deep Continental Crust Subduction; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Jane A. Gilotti, William C. McClelland

Ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism is widely recognized in collisional orogens, but exhumation mechanisms remain enigmatic. This session examines the rates, structures, and possible tectonic scenarios for exhumation of UHP terranes.

Tectonics; Structural Geology; Petrology, Metamorphic

T85. Magmatic and Tectonic Processes at Ultraslow Mid-Ocean Ridges
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Jonathan E. Snow

This session examines the geology of ultraslow-spreading ridges and their relationship to both nonvolcanic continental rifting and faster seafloor spreading.

Tectonics; Petrology, Igneous; Volcanology

T86. Reconciling Geologic and Geodetic Rates of Deformation
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Geophysics Division; GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Kurt L. Frankel, Richard A. Bennett, Frank J. Pazzaglia

This session will focus on comparing rates of deformation over time scales of tens to millions of years based on measurements from GPS, InSAR, Quaternary geochronology (e.g., cosmogenic nuclides, OSL, 14C, etc.), thermochronology, and high-resolution imagery.

Neotectonics/Paleoseismology; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology; Geomorphology

T87. Magnetism of Sedimentary Rocks and Sediments
GSA Geophysics Division; GSA Sedimentology Division, GSA Limnogeology Division, GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Kenneth P. Kodama, John W. Geissman, R. Douglas Elmore

The paleomagnetism and mineral magnetic properties of sediments and sedimentary rocks provide a rich variety of information about the geologic past. The many applications of the magnetism of these materials to understand past geologic and environmental processes will be explored.

Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology; Stratigraphy; Structural Geology

T88. Evolution of Simple Granite Systems (Haplogranites) and Rhyolites: A 50th Anniversary Perspective of the Tuttle and Bowen Studies
Mineralogical Society of America
Bruce William Chappell, Francois Holtz, David London

2008 is the 50th Anniversary of the classic experimental study on granite and rhyolite compositions by Tuttle and Bowen. This session discusses the contribution of those and later studies to understanding origins of those rocks.

Petrology, Experimental; Petrology, Igneous; Geochemistry

T89. Origin of the Alkaline Magmatism of the Coast of the Gulf of Mexico and the Rio Grande Rift
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Juan Alonso Ramírez Fernández, Fernando Velasco Tapia

The aim of the session is to present the latest developments on the origin of the alkaline magmatism and its relationship to the geodynamic processes that occurred during the Tertiary.

Petrology, Igneous; Geochemistry; Volcanology

T90. Whole Earth Systems Science: New Perspectives on the “Rock Cycle” from the Deep Earth to the Atmosphere to Life
Geochemical Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Cin-Ty Lee, Andreas Luttge, Adrian Lenardic, Gerald Dickens

This session takes a new look at the “rock cycle” by stressing the concept of whole earth systems, wherein interdisciplinary tools (petrology, geochemistry, geophysics, biogeochemistry) are used to understand the links between Earth’s deep interior, exosphere and biosphere.

Petrology, Igneous; Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology

T91. Strengthening Links between Metamorphic Conditions and Time: New Advances in High-Temperature Geochronology and Tracing P-T-t Paths of Metamorphic Terranes
Mineralogical Society of America
Thomas J. Lapen, Andrew Kylander-Clark, Erik Scherer

This session will highlight advances in geochronology and thermobarometry with a focus on the P-T-t evolution of metamorphic terranes. Contributions focusing on novel methods for determining the timing and rates of tectonometamorphic processes are encouraged.

Petrology, Metamorphic; Geochemistry; Tectonics

T92. Discovering Petrologic Truth in Minerals: In Honor of Bernard W. Evans
Mineralogical Society of America
Ronald Frost, Donna L. Whitney

This session honors the career of Bernard W. Evans, the recipient of this year’s Roebling Medal, and focuses on studies of mineral composition and structure, with applications to phase equilibria and metamorphic or igneous petrogenesis.

Petrology, Metamorphic; Mineralogy/Crystallography; Petrology, Igneous

T93. Environmental Mineralogy
Mineralogical Society of America; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Peter J. Heaney, Jeffrey E. Post

Minerals can be the source of toxic metals or acid wastes, but they also can act as natural cleansers. This session will explore mineral physics and chemistry in mediating soil reactions of environmental importance.

Mineralogy/Crystallography; Environmental Geoscience; Geochemistry

T94. Nano-Phases and Nano-Structures in Earth Environments
Mineralogical Society of America; GSA Geobiology and Geomicrobiology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Huifang Xu, Yifeng Wang

This session encompasses interdisciplinary investigations across field observations, laboratory studies, and theoretical modeling of nano-phases and nanopores in Earth environments in areas of size- and texture-dependent chemical reactivity/stability, magnetism, and their interactions with the biosphere.

Mineralogy/Crystallography; Geochemistry; Geomicrobiology

T95. Mineralogic and Petrologic Mapping of Planetary Surfaces: The G.K. Gilbert Award Session
GSA Planetary Geology Division
, Herbert V. Frey, 301-614-6468, greeley@asu.edu

This session, dedicated to planetary spectroscopy and mineralogy, honors the winner of the Planetary Geology Division’s G.K. Gilbert Award for Outstanding Achievement. The recipient will give a keynote talk.

Planetary Geology

T96. Planetary Pummeling: Cataclysmic Bombardment of the Solar System as Catastrophe, Catalyst, Cauldron, and Crucible
GSA Planetary Geology Division
Stephen Mojzsis, Barbara Cohen

This session explores the evidence, timing, and mechanism for cataclysmic bombardment of the solar system and its geologic effects on nascent Earth, including evidence in terrestrial rocks and effects on terrestrial systems (biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere).

Planetary Geology; Precambrian Geology; Geochemistry

T97. Terrestrial Impact Structures: Origin, Structure, and Evolution
GSA Planetary Geology Division; International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP); GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; GSA Geophysics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Christian Koeberl, Jared R. Morrow

This session welcomes contributions on any aspect of the study of terrestrial impact craters, from their formation to structure, from ejecta to shock deformation, from geological to biological effects, and also includes comparative planetology.

Planetary Geology; Structural Geology; Petrology, Metamorphic

T98. Terrestrial Impact Craters as Windows into Planetary Crusts
GSA Planetary Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
John G. Spray, Lucy M. Thompson

Impact structures provide windows into deeper levels of planetary crusts. Presentations are encouraged that explore impact melt sheets as bulk crust compositions and central uplifts as deeper crustal samplings of Earth, its Moon, and Mars.

Planetary Geology; Structural Geology

T99. The Geology of Small Volcanic Vents and Their Associated Vent Fields throughout the Solar System
GSA Planetary Geology Division
Jacob Bleacher, Scott Hughes

This session will discuss small volcanic vents and vent fields that occur on Earth and other planetary bodies as a basis for the interpretation of processes responsible for small-vent field development throughout the solar system.

Volcanology; Planetary Geology

T100. From Magma Oceans to Basalts: Igneous Differentiation on Earth, the Moon, Mars, and Beyond
Geochemical Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Justin Filiberto, Allan Treiman

This session contrasts basic magmatism among terrestrial planets from their earliest differentiation through recent volcanism.

Petrology, Igneous; Planetary Geology; Geochemistry

T101. Geological and Geophysical Remote Sensing Applications for Earth, the Moon, and Mars
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; GSA Geophysics Division; GSA Planetary Geology Division; GSA Engineering Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Dean Riley, Wendy Calvin

This session will include papers on the current and future uses of ground, airborne, and satellite, multispectral, hyperspectral, SAR, and LIDAR instruments for applications related to geological hazards, lithologic and alteration mapping, environmental health, environmental impact monitoring, planetary geology, and engineering geology.

Planetary Geology; Economic Geology; Engineering Geology

T102. Water-Rock Interaction on Mars: Spacecraft Data, Meteorites, Models, and Analogs
Mineralogical Society of America; Lunar and Planetary Institute
Allan H. Treiman, Bradley L. Jolliff

Rocks on Mars and on Earth interact with aqueous fluids and yield similar to spectacularly different mineralogies and chemistries. This session will explore martian rock alteration and its contrasts with the terrestrial experience.

Planetary Geology; Geochemistry; Mineralogy/Crystallography

T103. Glacial and Periglacial Processes and Landforms on Mars
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Planetary Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Jeffrey S. Kargel

International Mars exploration has discovered landforms and other indications of the presence and geomorphic activity of ice on Mars. This session will include presentations and discussions of evidence for glacial and periglacial activity on Mars.

Planetary Geology; Geomorphology; Hydrogeology

T104. The Role of Field Geology and Geophysics in the Return to the Moon
GSA Planetary Geology Division; Field Exploration and Analysis Team (FEAT)
Mark Helper, Arthur Snoke

This session brings together field geoscientists and those involved in planning for the return to the Moon to examine the role of field geology and geophysics, both human and robotically assisted, in lunar surface science.

Planetary Geology; Petrology, Igneous; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology

T105. Preparations for the New Era of Lunar Science: Laboratory Measurements and New Insights into the Moon
GSA Planetary Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Noah Petro, Rachel Klima, Ryan Zeigler

A discussion of the current analysis of lunar samples and analogues as well as other preparations for the data returned by various instruments that will be or are currently orbiting the Moon.

Planetary Geology; Remote Sensing/Geographic Info System

T106. Current Research Issues in Lunar Stratigraphy
GSA Planetary Geology Division; AAPG Astrogeology Committee
William A. Ambrose, David A. Williams

This session is a review of unresolved problems in lunar stratigraphy and the need for an improved understanding of lunar surface and subsurface materials and processes in support of exploration and human habitation.

Planetary Geology; Stratigraphy; Structural Geology

T107. Engineering Geology of the Lunar Regolith
GSA Planetary Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
David A. Kring, Wendell Mendell

A NASA outpost on the Moon requires new geological assessments of the lunar regolith to ensure stability during outpost installation and to mitigate the effects of dust lofted by landing rockets and other processes.

Planetary Geology; Engineering Geology; Geology and Health

T108. Living on a Dusty Moon
GSA Planetary Geology Division; GSA Geology and Health Division
Sarah K. Noble, Doug Rickman, Doug Stoeser

A discussion of the intersection between geology, engineering, and health as we learn to live on the Moon. Topics include new techniques for sample analysis, toxicology, forensic geology, engineering performance, and simulant development.

Planetary Geology; Geology and Health; Engineering Geology

T109. Titan Geology: A New Frontier
GSA Planetary Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
D.M. Burr, J.W. Barnes

Titan has clouds, rain, rivers, lakes, cryovolcanoes, and aeolian dunes. These phenomena give Titan a terrestrial-style geomorphology, although by terran standards the materials are exotic; thus, Titan provides a unique opportunity for comparative geologic studies.

Planetary Geology; Geomorphology; Geochemistry, Organic

T110. Analog Sites and Field Exercises for Training Planetary Field Geologists
GSA Planetary Geology Division; GSA Geoscience Education Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
W. Brent Garry, Jacob E. Bleacher

This session will discuss the geology of analog sites and field exercises that can be used to train today’s students and the next generation of planetary field geologists when NASA returns to the Moon.

Planetary Geology; Geoscience Education; Geomorphology

T111. Modeling and Simulation of Dangerous Phenomena, and Innovative Techniques for Hazard Evaluation, Mapping, and Mitigation
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Giulio G.R. Iovine, Michael F. Sheridan, Manuel Pastor

Dangerous natural/ and man-made phenomena treataffect people and properties in many parts of the Earth. Innovative hazard modeling, evaluation, and mapping techniques for predicting triggering conditions and development of dangerous phenomena will be discussed in this session.

Engineering Geology; Environmental Geoscience; Geoinformatics

T112. Landslide Inventories, Landslide Hazards, Databases, and Mapping: Status of Information and Progress toward a Shared Standard (Posters)
GSA Engineering Geology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; Association of American State Geologists; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Helen L. Delano, Lynn M. Highland

he session is designed to gather and share information on landslide inventory, database, and mapping projects including status, progress, details of data structure, and distribution methods, intended audiences, and uses of landslide data.

Engineering Geology; Geomorphology; Public Policy

T113. Natural Hazards Assessment, Evaluation, and Mitigation using HAZUS-MH
GSA Engineering Geology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Norman S. Levine, Eric Anderson, Briget C. Doyle

Research and case studies using FEMA’s HAZUS-MH hazards assessment and evaluation tool. The session looks at assessments of hurricane, flood, or earthquake hazards, including methods of improving the data or base layers used in HAZUS-MH.

Engineering Geology; Public Policy

T114. Advances in GIS-Based Runoff and Erosion Modeling in Low-Gradient Environments: Case Studies and New Methods
GSA Engineering Geology Division
Norman S. Levine, Timothy J. Callahan

Case studies and new GIS-based methodologies for runoff and erosion modeling in low-gradient environments. The session will focus on techniques for use on the coastal plane region and other low-gradient regions.

Engineering Geology; Environmental Geoscience; Hydrogeology

T115. Geovisualization and GIS Techniques Applied in Engineering Geology
GSA Engineering Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Shane J. Prochnow, Vincent S. Cronin

This session aims to showcase the integration of geovisualization and GIS techniques that aid interpretation of natural phenomena for applications in engineering geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, and geomorphology.

Engineering Geology; Remote Sensing/Geographic Info System; Geoinformatics

T116. Shales, Claystones, and Mudstones: Characterization Methods and Engineering Problems
GSA Engineering Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Abdul Shakoor, Paul Santi

The session will include papers on geologic characteristics, engineering properties, and engineering problems associated with shales, claystones, and mudstones. It will also include papers dealing with performance of engineering structures located in or on these rocks.

Engineering Geology

T117. Problem Geologic Units in Slope Stability
GSA Engineering Geology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Paul Santi, Scott Burns

Certain formations are involved in an unusual number of slope stability problems and are recognized regionally as “bad actors.” This session will explore the geologic and engineering characteristics of these units, with appropriate case studies.

Engineering Geology; Geomorphology; Geoscience Information/Communication

T118. Engineering Geology of Streams, Lakes, and Reservoirs
GSA Engineering Geology Division
Peter M. Allen, Vincent S. Cronin

Careful observations of stream systems, lakes, and reservoirs using old and new methods are yielding important insights (and better models) that are relevant at development scale. We seek case studies and new modeling strategies.

Engineering Geology; Geomorphology; Quaternary Geology

T119. The Science of Oil Shale
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Alicia Sánchez, John Kaszuba

Oil shale is the archetypical interdisciplinary problem, requiring geology, geochemistry, engineering, environmental, and even life-science perspectives. This session will address oil shale research from these interdisciplinary perspectives and promote communication between academia and industry.

Geochemistry, Organic; Environmental Geoscience; Engineering Geology

T120. Organic Geochemical approaches to Studying the Evolution of Photosynthetic Life through Time
Paleontological Society
Robin Kodner, Amy E. Kelly

We encourage contributions using biomarkers from photosynthetic organisms from all time periods, with an emphasis on how biomarkers have broadened our understanding of the evolution of photosynthetic life through time.

Geochemistry, Organic; Paleontology, Diversity, Extinction, Origination; Paleontology, Phylogenetic/Morphological Patterns

T121. Hypersaline Ecosystems and Paleosalinity
Paleontological Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Courtney H. Turich, Amy E. Kelly

This session is designed for people who study body or chemical fossils of hypersaline tolerant organisms or modern hypersaline environments.

Geochemistry, Organic; Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy; Geomicrobiology

T122. Soil Geochemistry: Databases and Applications at Regional to Continental Scales
Geochemical Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies; GSA Geology and Health Division
David B. Smith, Andrew Rencz, Juan Carlos Salinas

This session focuses on presentations of results from soil geochemical studies being conducted at broad geographical scales (regional to continental) and the interpretation of these results in terms of processes acting at these scales.

Geochemistry; Environmental Geoscience; Geology and Health

T123. Real-Time, In-Field Geochemical Analysis: Current Capabilities and Future Prospects (Posters)
International Association of GeoChemistry; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Nancy J. McMillan, Russell S. Harmon, April L. Ulery

A long-term goal in analytical geochemistry has been a capability for real-time analysis in the field. This capability is being realized gradually by technological developments in instrumentation over the past decade. This session will highlight current and emerging analytical technologies for real-time, field-portablegeochemical analysis.

Geochemistry; Environmental Geoscience; Planetary Geology

T124. Roles of Speciation and Molecular Structure in Soil Processes
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Owen Duckworth, Alan T. Stone

This session seeks to explore fundamental relationships between environmental and biological processes and the chemical properties of organic matter, minerals, and complexes from molecular to field scales.

Geochemistry; Geomicrobiology; Mineralogy/Crystallography

T125. Fundamental Understanding of Carbonate Mineral Reactivity and Kinetics: Advances and Applications
Geochemical Society
Rolf S. Arvidson

This session encourages contributions that advance the fundamental understanding of carbonate mineral reaction kinetics and reactivity, using model, experimental, or field data, or that showcase integrated approaches to complex problems involving carbonate phases.

Geochemistry; Sediments, Carbonates; Environmental Geoscience

T126. Soils through Time: Critical-Zone Studies of Interacting Processes
Geochemical Society; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Marjorie S. Schulz, David Stonestrom, Daniel D. Richter

This session focuses on processes shaping soil and its environs (the “critical zone”) over time scales from seasonal to multimillennial. We welcome studies exploring interactions of rock, soil, water, air, and living organisms through time.

Geochemistry; Quaternary Geology; Hydrogeology

T127. Geochemical Tracers of Changes in Seawater Chemistry
Geochemical Society; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
E. Troy Rasbury, Franco Marcantonio

This session seeks to examine processes and products from throughout the Phanerozoic and the modern to decipher the important controls on seawater chemistry and isotope ratios through time.

Geochemistry; Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography

T128. Thermal Analysis of Geological Materials
Kenneth Johnson, Janusz Grebowicz

This session will focus on recent advances in the thermal analysis of geological materials, including thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, evolved gas analysis, and dilatometry.

Geochemistry; Mineralogy/Crystallography; Petrology, Experimental

T129. Diffusion in Thermochronology: Measurements and Applications
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Peter Copeland, E. Bruce Watson

Laboratory studies quantifying the diffusivity of important nuclides in geochronology as well as field studies testing or demonstrating the potential of these data are encouraged.

Geochemistry; Tectonics; Geomorphology

T130. Opportunities at the Interface: Minerals, Bugs, and Aqueous Solutions
Geochemical Society
Maria Dittrich, Andreas Luttge

The session brings together colleagues interested in geochemistry, microbiology, organic chemistry, and environmental engineering to discuss new experimental and theoretical results, as well as exciting field studies in this rapidly developing interdisciplinary field.

Geochemistry; Geomicrobiology; Environmental Geoscience

T131. Metals and Landfills: Mobilization, Speciation, and Microbes
GSA Geobiology and Geomicrobiology Division
Brian Mailloux, Alison Keimowitz

Anthropogenically deposited and naturally mobilized metals are common at landfills, yet little work has been done to understand the potential for mobilization, the speciation, and the role of microbes in controlling metal contamination below landfills.

Geochemistry; Hydrogeology; Geomicrobiology

T132. Biofilms and Biomineralization: Evidence from Ancient and Modern Systems
GSA Geobiology and Geomicrobiology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Penelope J. Boston, Leslie A. Melim

This session will focus on biofilm characterization in modern and ancient geologic systems, such as reefs, hot springs, caves, methane seeps, soils, and others. Particular emphasis will be given to biomineralization processes mediated by biofilms.

Geomicrobiology; Mineralogy/Crystallography; Geochemistry

T133. Microbialites: A 3.5-Billion-Year Record of Microbe-Sediment Interactions
GSA Geobiology and Geomicrobiology Division; GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Jack D. Farmer

Microbial communities are known to control a broad array of sedimentary processes. This session will explore ways that microorganisms have contributed to basic sedimentary processes over a broad range of environments, from Precambrian to modern.

Geomicrobiology; Sediments, Carbonates; Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy

T135. Military Geology in the 21st Century
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Russell S. Harmon, Christopher Gellasch

This session addresses applications of military geology across time and around the world, spanning a broad spectrum from effects of terrain on military operations, to using geologic tools and methods in military engineering, to impact of military activities on terrain from an environmental perspective.

Environmental Geoscience; Geology and Health; History of Geology

T136. Sulfates in the Solar System
GSA Geobiology and Geomicrobiology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Stephen E. Grasby, Penny Morris

This session explores sulfates on Earth and elsewhere with an emphasis on identifying the roles of microbes in formation and deposition and the physical and geochemical evidence of life within sulphate deposits.

Geomicrobiology; Planetary Geology; Geochemistry

T137. Environmental Impact of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products
GSA Engineering Geology Division; GSA Geology and Health Division
Syed E. Hasan

This session will inform earth scientists about the presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the waste stream and its impact on the environment.

Environmental Geoscience; Geology and Health; Public Policy

T138. New Strategies for Survival and Transport of Pathogens in Soils, Surface Waters, and Aquifers
GSA Hydrogeology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Melissa Lenczewski, Jean McLain, Kimberly Cook

This session will examine the fate and transport of pathogens in the environment related to sources, transport, controls on mobility, and detection in soils and water.

Environmental Geoscience; Hydrogeology; Geology and Health

T139. Sources, Transport, Fate, and Toxicology of Trace Elements in the Environment
International Association of GeoChemistry; GSA Hydrogeology Division
LeeAnn Munk, W.B. Lyons, David T. Long

Environmental geochemistry of trace elements in the environment is an important field of research that spans many Earth environments. This topic is relevant in terms of understanding the processes that release, transport, and uptake trace elements. Ultimately, the goal is to make linkages between trace elements derived from the environment and toxicology of these elements in the environment.

Environmental Geoscience; Geochemistry; Geology and Health

T140. Sigma Gamma Epsilon Undergraduate Research (Posters)
Sigma Gamma Epsilon
Richard Ford, Donald Neal, Charles Mankin

The goal of this session is to highlight recent and ongoing undergraduate research in the geosciences in a student-friendly forum. Those posters, authored by members of SGE, will be judged for two best-poster awards.

Environmental Geoscience; Stratigraphy; Petrology, Igneous

T141. The Changing Role of Geoarchaeology in Environmental and Cultural Resource Management
GSA Archaeological Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Andrea K.L. Freeman, David Cremeens

This session will explore the way in which changes in the energy industry and in environmental policy have affected the methods used in environmental and cultural resource management, the workforce employed, and the resources impacted.

Archaeological Geology; Environmental Geoscience; Public Policy

T142. Soils as Components of Archaeological Landscapes
GSA Archaeological Geology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; S05 Pedology; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Rolfe D. Mandel, E. Arthur Bettis, Vance T. Holliday

The session will address the use of soils in archaeological investigations. Topics will range from how soils can be used to reconstruct archaeological landscapes to how they provide physical and chemical evidence of human occupation.

Archaeological Geology; Geomorphology; Quaternary Geology

T143. The Origin of Mima Mounds and Similar Micro-Relief Features: Multidisciplinary Perspectives
GSA Archaeological Geology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; S05 Pedology; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Donald L. Johnson, Rolfe D. Mandel

The proposed topical session will focus on the origin of Mima mounds and similar micro-relief features. The latest findings from geomorphological, pedological, geoarchaeological, and biological investigations will be presented.

Archaeological Geology; Geomorphology; Quaternary Geology

T144. Geochemical and Geoarchaeological Analysis of Shell Middens: Climate, Ecology, and Culture
GSA Archaeological Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
C. Fred T. Andrus, Bernd Schöne

Data derived from shell middens are employed to address diverse topics, including climate change, paleoecology, and site formation processes. This session will facilitate interdisciplinary discussion of this increasingly important approach to understanding human-environment interaction.

Archaeological Geology; Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography; Paleontology, Biogeography/Biostratigraphy

T145. From Quaternary Geology and Physical Volcanology to Geoarchaeology and Paleoanthropology: A Memorial to Harold E. Malde
GSA Archaeological Geology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; U.S. Geological Survey; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Joshua M. Feinberg, Robert Jarrett, Joseph Liddicoat

This interdisciplinary session in memory of Harold Malde encourages papers in Quaternary geology and geomorphology, physical volcanology, geoarchaeology, and environmental geology to provide an opportunity for presentation of new research inspired by Hal’s multifaceted career.

Archaeological Geology; Quaternary Geology; Volcanology

T146. Hypogenic Karst: Shedding Light on Once Poorly Understood Hydrologic and Morphologic Features
National Cave and Karst Research Institute; GSA Hydrogeology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Lewis A. Land, Geary Schindel

Hypogenic karst is an important, newly developed paradigm for characterizing and interpreting karst aquifers, morphologies, and economic deposits formed by ascending groundwater. Papers will cover both theoretical and applied topics.

Geomorphology; Hydrogeology; Engineering Geology

T147. Innovative Methods for Investigating Flow and Transport in Karst Systems
GSA Hydrogeology Division, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Barbara Mahler, Pierre-Yves Jeannin

Karst aquifers represent a vital yet vulnerable water resource that poses many challenges to hydrologists. Presentations of innovative methods for investigating karst using diverse approaches, including geochemistry, geophysics, statistics, and modeling, are encouraged.

Hydrogeology; Environmental Geoscience; Geochemistry

T148. Management and Protection of Regional Karst Aquifers
GSA Hydrogeology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Eve L. Kuniansky, Lynne S. Fahlquist

Karst aquifers underlie ~20% of Earth’s surface and supply ~25% of the world’s drinking water. Their management and protection is essential for sustainable potable water supplies.

Hydrogeology; Public Policy; Environmental Geoscience

T149. Groundwater Arsenic: A Global Environmental Health Problem and Sustainable Mitigation
GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Geology and Society Divison; GSA Geology and Health Division; GSA International Division; Geochemical Society; International Association of Hydrogeologists; International Society of Groundwater Sustainable Development
Prosun Bhattacharya, Abhijit Mukherjee, D. Kirk Nordstrom, Jochen Bundschuh, Mohammad Alauddin

The global occurrence of arsenic in groundwater in different geological settings is the most formidable environmental crises in the contemporary world. This session will deal with the occurrence, mobility, biogeochemical cycling, epidemiological, socio-economic effects, and sustainable mitigation of arsenic.

Hydrogeology; Environmental Geoscience; Geology and Health

T150. Plant-Based Strategies for Hydraulic Control, Monitoring, Attenuation, and Remediation of Contaminants in Soil and Groundwater
GSA Hydrogeology Division, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Brian J. Andraski, James E. Landmeyer, Edwin P. Weeks, Steven A. Rock

This multidisciplinary session brings together a broad range of scientists studying the role and use of plants to identify, contain, and remediate environmental contamination. Presentations on monitoring techniques, case studies, and modeling are encouraged.

Hydrogeology; Environmental Geoscience; Geomicrobiology

T151. Uranium In-Situ Leach (ISL) Mining: Possible Effects on Surrounding Groundwater Quality and Adequate Post-Mining Restoration Techniques
GSA Hydrogeology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Raymond H. Johnson, L. Rick Arnold, Tanya Gallegos

With the latest boom in uranium mining, the public needs the latest scientific information on possible impacts to groundwater quality in areas with uranium ISL mining and current techniques for post-mining groundwater restoration.

Hydrogeology; Geochemistry; Environmental Geoscience

T152. In Situ Approaches for Measuring Biodegradation Potential and Rates in Subsurface Environments
GSA Hydrogeology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Isabelle Cozzarelli, Michelle Lorah

This session presents novel in situ experimental approaches to documenting and quantifying transformation reactions in a variety of hydrogeologic environments. Interdisciplinary approaches using a combination of geochemical and microbiological measurements to document biogeochemical reactions and biodegradation are especially encouraged.

Hydrogeology; Geomicrobiology

T153. Isotopic Tracers in Deep Groundwater Basins
GSA Hydrogeology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Jean E. Moran, Glen Snyder

Deep groundwater basins often host complex flow and transport systems, ranging from active throughflow to highly compartmentalized. How can the stable and radiogenic isotopic composition of such waters be used to characterize their hydrologic history?

Hydrogeology; Geochemistry; Environmental Geoscience

T154. Managed Underground Storage of Recoverable Water
GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
William S. Logan, Jean M. Bahr

This session seeks to bring together hydrogeologists, aqueous geochemists, and other geoscientists to discuss novel techniques and physical and geochemical challenges for the recharge of water into the subsurface for subsequent recovery.

Hydrogeology; Geochemistry; Geomicrobiology

T155. Mercury Cycling, Fate, and Bioaccumulation in Coastal Zones: The Next Big Stage for Mercury Research?
GSA Hydrogeology Division,
David P. Krabbenhoft, Robert P. Mason

Methylmercury contamination of food webs in coastal zones is a significant international issue in need of a broader scientific understanding. This session will address mercury sources, cycling processes, and bioaccumulation at this critical land-sea interface.

Hydrogeology; Marine/Coastal Science; Environmental Geoscience

T156. Challenges in Urban Stream Restoration
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Ronald Kaiser, John R. Giardino

This session will outline the biophysical, geophysical, and social science elements in urban stream restoration across a range of scales.

Hydrogeology; Public Policy

T157. Dealing with Water Resources in Intra-State Violent Conflicts between Central Governments and Local or Regional Communities
GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Isam E. Amin

This session investigates water resources as a component and resolution factor of intra-state conflicts, which are typically caused by ethnic, cultural, and religious differences between the conflicting parties as well as scarcity of natural resources.

Hydrogeology; Geology and Health; Environmental Geoscience

T158. Balancing the Needs of Human and Natural Systems through the Sustainable Use of Water Resources
GSA Hydrogeology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Mark Rains, Thomas Crisman

This session will provide a forum for researchers addressing complex and interconnected issues as they seek to balance limited water resources to sustain coupled human and natural environments.

Hydrogeology

T159. Impacts of Large-Scale Land Use Change on Water Resource Sustainability
GSA Hydrogeology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Bridget R. Scanlon, David A. Stonestrom, Marios A. Sophocleous

This session focuses on impacts of land-use change on water resources. Impacts related to deforestation, afforestation, food and biofuel production, carbon sequestration, etc., will be approached through field studies, remote sensing, historic analysis, and modeling.

Hydrogeology

T160. Hydrogeophysics: Characterization and Monitoring of Subsurface Parameters and Processes
GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Geophysics Division
Kamini Singha, Fred Day-Lewis, Adam Pidlisecky

With this session, we seek to bring together hydrologists and geophysicists to promote communication on the advancements in, challenges facing, and promising new directions in hydrogeophysics, the study of geophysical measurements of hydrologic processes.

Hydrogeology; Environmental Geoscience; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology

T161. Non-Darcian Flow and Non-Fickian Transport in Porous and Fractured Media
GSA Hydrogeology Division
Hongbin Zhan, Guanhua Huang

This section seeks new theoretical and experimental advancements in non-Darcian flow and non-Fickian transport in porous and fractured media covering a broad range of scales.

Hydrogeology; Environmental Geoscience

T162. Advances in Surface Water–Groundwater Interactions: Investigations of Rivers, Lakes, and Wetlands
GSA Hydrogeology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
M. Bayani Cardenas, Audrey Hucks Sawyer, Brad D. Wolaver

This session focuses on the hydrology and hydrogeology of surface water–groundwater interactions in rivers, lakes, wetlands, and estuaries. Interdisciplinary research based on field observations as well as numerical and analogue laboratory are welcome.

Hydrogeology; Limnogeology; Environmental Geoscience

T163. Groundwater Flow in Coastal Ecosystems
GSA Hydrogeology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Alicia M. Wilson, William P. Anderson

Groundwater flow and transport influence natural coastal ecosystems on land and in the coastal ocean. This session will focus on field and modeling studies of fresh and saline groundwater flow and transport in coastal systems.

Hydrogeology; Marine/Coastal Science; Geochemistry

T164. Hydropedology of Hillslopes
J. Bruce J. Harrison, Brad Wilcox

Numerous empirical and model-based studies of hillslope hydrology have improved our understanding of these complex systems. However, robust models of soil distribution on hillslopes are lacking, limiting our ability to predict soil hydrologic properties.

Hydrogeology; Geomorphology; Quaternary Geology

T165. Deconvoluting Hydrostratigraphic Nomenclature: The Need for Nomenclatural Guidelines Within the North American Code on Stratigraphic Nomenclature
GSA Hydrogeology Division; North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature; GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; Florida Geological Survey; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Thomas M. Scott, Randall C. Orndorff

The North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature is enthusiastic about adding a hydrostratigraphic nomenclature section to the North American Code on Stratigraphic Nomenclature. This session provides a forum to discuss nomenclatural standardization.

Hydrogeology; Stratigraphy

T166. Fault Seals or Conduits? Insights from Hydrologic and Petroleum Systems
GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Victor F. Bense, Mark Austin Person

In recent years, petroleum and hydrologic studies have revealed that faults exhibit complex behavior, acting as barriers, conduits, or conduit-barrier systems for fluid migration. Fault properties are impacted, for example, by the in situ stress state and deformation mechanisms such as sand-clay smearing and cataclasis. Significant advancements in this field of research have occurred in recent years by studying faults in deep and shallow systems. We welcome contributions from hydrology and petroleum-based studies that consider the hydraulic properties of faults as inferred from fluid flow data, field, and quantitative studies.

Hydrogeology; Structural Geology; Engineering Geology

T167. Combined Use of Groundwater and Optimization Models to Address Groundwater Management Challenges: Case Studies and Innovative Solution Approaches
GSA Hydrogeology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Paul M. Barlow, David P. Ahlfeld

This session will focus on recent applications of combined ground-water and optimization models to groundwater management problems. Presentations on innovative formulation and solution approaches for groundwater-optimization modeling also are sought.

Hydrogeology

T168. Recent Advances in Stream-Aquifer Interaction-Experimental and Modeling Approaches
GSA Hydrogeology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Dongmin Sun, Hongbin zhan

This session seeks recent advances in experimental and modeling on stream-aquifer interaction.

Hydrogeology

T169. Water Resources of Central America: Water Availability and Water Quality
GSA Hydrogeology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Anne E. Carey, Jose Alfredo Mendoza

Availability of clean water is a limiting resource in much of the world, including Central America. This session seeks both talks and posters presenting research in all areas of Central American water resources and water quality.

Hydrogeology

T170. From San Salvador and Beyond: A Tribute to Don and Kathy Gerace and the Development of the Gerace Research Centre
Paleontological Society; GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; GSA Hydrogeology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Lisa E. Park, Thomas A. Rothfus

This session will be an interdisciplinary survey of the major scientific findings from research done on San Salvador Island, Bahamas, and the critical role that Donald and Kathy Gerace have played in developing the research center on the island.

Hydrogeology; Sediments, Carbonates; Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy

T171. The Gulf of Mexico as a Geologic Laboratory: Making New Links in Depositional Systems from the Coastal Plain to Deep Water
GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Russell F. Dubiel, Angela McDonnell

This session focuses on basin analysis, sequence stratigraphy, salt tectonics, and reservoir characterization of new models of clastic deposition that integrate depositional systems on the coastal plain with newly recognized deep-water slope and basinal-fan systems.

Economic Geology; Sediments, Clastic; Structural Geology

T172. Outdoor Classrooms for Water Resources Education
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Susan H. Conrad, Kirsten Menking, John A. Conrad

This session will bring together K–16 educators who use the outdoors as a classroom for examination and monitoring of wells, streams, wetlands and the atmosphere to investigate groundwater, soil, surface water, and meteorological interactions.

Geoscience Education; Environmental Geoscience; Hydrogeology

T173. Geology in the National Parks: Research, Mapping, and Resource Management
GSA Geology and Society Division; National Park Service; GSA Geophysics Division
Bruce Heise, Tim Connors, Melanie V. Ransmeier

This session addresses the role of geoscience in the national parks. Presentations are encouraged on geologic research, geologic mapping, paleontology, coastal geology, glacier studies, and resource management in national parks, monuments, seashores, and historic sites.

Geoscience Education; Environmental Geoscience; Geoscience Information/Communication

T174. Teaching and Learning about Complex Earth Systems: Effective Strategies in Undergraduate Classrooms and Teacher Development Programs
GSA Geoscience Education Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Karen McNeal, Bruce Herbert

This session will explore learning challenges and effective pedagogical techniques that facilitate conceptual change and understanding about complex earth systems including inquiry-, multiple representations-, data-, and technology-based methods.

Geoscience Education; Environmental Geoscience; Geoscience Information/Communication

T175. What Should Students be Learning in Our Geology Classrooms?
GSA Geoscience Education Division; National Association of Geoscience Teachers; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Dexter Perkins, Karl Wirth

Should we focus our classes and curricula on essential/threshold concepts or on developing thinking, metacognition, and other skills for lifelong learning? Given overcrowded curricula and professional demands, what approach should we use to achieve the right balance?

Geoscience Education

T176. The Human Connection with Planet Earth: What is it and Why is it Important?
National Association of Geoscience Teachers; GSA Geoscience Education Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Suzanne M. Smaglik, Edward Nuhfer

Is there a link between our curiosity about how Earth works and our desire to be connected to it? Explore ways for geoscience educators to nurture a deeper understanding of earth materials and processes.

Geoscience Education; Geoscience Information/Communication; Public Policy

T177. Disseminating Hands-on Geological Knowledge and Creating a Greater Awareness for the Environment: Emphasis on the Involvement of Undergraduates and K–12 Students (Posters)
GSA Geoscience Education Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Nazrul I. Khandaker, Stanley Schleifer

This session is a continuation of our ongoing efforts toward providing an opportunity for the undergraduates and high school students to present their research outcomes to geoscience professionals and become better acquainted with current geological and environmental issues and practices as well.

Geoscience Education; Geoscience Information/Communication; Environmental Geoscience

T178. Critical Perspectives on Geohazards in Latin America and the Caribbean and Their Implication for Geoscience Education Research and Practice
GSA Geoscience Education Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Pablo A. Llerandi-Román

This session explores the current status and potential for geohazards research, teaching, and learning in Latin American and Caribbean nations, focusing on the discussion of geoscience education research and practical approaches at all educational levels.

Geoscience Education; Geoscience Information/Communication; Quaternary Geology

T179. Geocognition: Researching Student Learning in the Geosciences
GSA Geoscience Education Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Helen L. King, Julie Libarkin, Alison Stokes

Our comprehension of how students acquire knowledge, skills, and understanding about Earth, and thus progress to becoming expert geoscientists, is limited. This session will present findings from empirical research into how geoscience students learn.

Geoscience Education; Geoscience Information/Communication

T180. Paleontology through the Ages—Teaching, Learning, or Both
Paleontological Society
Michael A. Gibson, Elizabeth Heise

This session provides a broad perspective—through time and space—both of the teaching of paleontology and of the learning of paleontology. Moreover, it offers perspective as to what might best guide paleontology education, both formal and informal, through the twenty-first century.

Geoscience Education; Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy; Paleontology, Biogeography/Biostratigraphy

T181. Geology Field Trips in Urban Settings: Making the Most of a “Paved-Over” Landscape
GSA Geoscience Education Division; GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; GSA Geophysics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Elizabeth Nagy-Shadman, Aida Awad

Unconventional field trips in urban settings can effectively teach students about geologic features that have been altered by urban development, such as asphalt-covered active fault scarps and hydrologic systems comprised of aqueducts and dams.

Geoscience Education; Remote Sensing/Geographic Info System; Environmental Geoscience

T182. Teaching Petrology and Structural Geology in the 21st Century
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; On the Cutting Edge; Geoscience Education Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Barbara J. Tewksbury, Jeffrey Ryan

This session will showcase innovative and effective classroom, lab, field, and GIS activities for teaching undergraduate petrology and structural geology and for integrating concepts into courses taught in other areas of the undergraduate curriculum.

Geoscience Education; Structural Geology; Petrology, Igneous

T183. Best Practices in Distance Education in the Geosciences
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Jacquelyn Hams, Nancy McMillan

Can geoscience classes be offered online without sacrificing content? Geoscience instructors will share successful teaching strategies for offering science classes through distance education.

Geoscience Education; Geoinformatics; Geoscience Information/Communication

T184. Advances in Using Recent and Emerging Technologies to Facilitate Learning of the Geosciences in the Classroom, Laboratory, and Field
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Thomas D. Hoisch, Mark Manone

This session presents advances in using recent and emerging technologies, such as pen-based computers, mobile wireless networks, and other technologies to enhance student learning of geosciences in the classroom, laboratory and field.

Geoscience Education; Geoscience Information/Communication

T185. Teaching with New Tools: Visualizations, Models, Online Data, Games, and More (Posters)
National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Cathryn A. Manduca, Karin B. Kirk, Susan Buhr, R. Mark Leckie

Technology offers new opportunities for teaching geoscience through data access, data visualization and manipulation, and virtual environments. This session will showcase our use of these new tools in geoscience education at all levels.

Geoscience Education; Geoscience Information/Communication

T186. Using GPS Technology to Bring Geoscience to the Wider Community
GSA Geoscience Education Division; GSA Geology and Society Division
Gary B. Lewis

GPS technology is being used to take people to sites of geologic interest around the planet. This session will discuss programs and opportunities for people and organizations to become involved.

Geoscience Education; Geoscience Information/Communication

T187. Research on Geoscience Teaching and Learning in Experiential Environments
National Association of Geoscience Teachers; GSA Geoscience Education Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Eric M. Riggs, Joe T. Elkins

Experiential learning environments (field and laboratory) occupy an important position in geoscience education. This session highlights research advances in data-driven assessment of learning, problem solving, and curriculum design in field, laboratory, immersive or virtual settings.

Geoscience Education

T188. Challenges and Experiences of Teaching Geosciences: Perspectives From New Instructors and Teaching Assistants
GSA Geoscience Education Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Marianne L. Stoesser, John C. Maclachlan

This session is intended to be a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences related to teaching geosciences from the perspective of “early career” instructors, instructional assistants, and teaching assistants.

Geoscience Education

T189. Classroom Innovations that Facilitate Undergraduate Research in the Earth, Environmental, and Agricultural Sciences (Posters)
Council on Undergraduate Research–Geoscience Division; National Association of Geoscience Teachers; GSA Geoscience Education Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Kathy Surpless, Kirsten Nicolaysen, Jeffrey Ryan

This session seeks to highlight new instructional approaches and innovative classroom uses of research technologies in geoscience, environmental science, and agricultural science courses.

Geoscience Education

T190. Exploring the Affective Domain in the Geosciences: Going Beyond Basic Facts and Feelings
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Jennifer A. Stempien, David McConnell

Geoscience students have various interests, motivation, and attitudes, collectively considered the affective domain, that can influence cognitive performance. This session focuses on data that illustrate how the affective domain can shape the learning experience.

Geoscience Education

T191. Quantitative and Qualitative Methods and Results in Geoscience Education
GSA Geoscience Education Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Anthony D. Feig

This session’s emphasis is on pure research or research methodology, not classroom strategies or teaching tips. Results of qualitative analysis (phenomenologic, ethnographic, etc.) or numerical analysis (ANOVA, nonparametrics, etc.) of actual data; methodology in educational research.

Geoscience Education

T192. Professional Society, Organization, Institution, and Federal Agency Achievements Supporting K–12 Teachers and Students
GSA Geoscience Education Division; National Earth Science Teacher Association; GSA Geology and Society Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Michael J. Passow

What works and what doesn’t work among efforts by professional societies, organizations, educational institutions, and federal agencies to support K–12 teachers and students.

Geoscience Education

T193. Undergraduate Research as a Tool in Geoscience Pedagogy
GSA Geoscience Education Division; Council on Undergraduate Research; National Association of Geoscience Teachers; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Linda A. Reinen, Jeannette Pope, Andrew Wulff

Many colleges and universities are turning to undergraduate research for student instruction and retention. This session seeks to highlight, compare, and share best practices of effective undergraduate research practices in the earth and environmental sciences.

Geoscience Education

T194. Undergraduate Research as a Transformative Process for Geoscience Faculty (Posters)
Council on Undergraduate Research; National Association of Geoscience Teachers; GSA Geoscience Education Division
Lydia K. Fox, Edward Hansen

This session will highlight the ways faculty benefit scientifically and professionally from conducting research with undergraduates. Papers covering examples of such projects, as well as assessment and strategies for maximizing the benefits, are welcome.

Geoscience Education

T195. International Research Experiences for U.S. Students: Best Practices, Experiences, and Projects
GSA Geology and Society Division; GSA Geophysics Division; Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Elizabeth Catlos, Ibrahim Çemen, Estella A. Atekwana

Discussion of active student-focused international geoscience research programs to define and develop best-practices for future success. We encourage presentations from those who facilitate student involvement in their international collaborations and research.

Geoscience Education

T196. Geologic Mapping: Digital Methods, 3-D Model Construction, Computational Applications, and Information Dissemination
GSA Engineering Geology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; Association of American State Geologists; GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division
A. Keith Turner, Richard Berg, Carl W. Gable, L. Harvey Thorleifson, David R. Soller

This session on digital geologic mapping will encompass 3-D model construction, computational applications such as groundwater models and CO2 injection, and visualization and Web dissemination for engineering, environmental, and resource applications.

Geoscience Information/Communication; Engineering Geology; Hydrogeology

T197. Ge