Research Statement

My research is focused on understanding hydrological and geochemical interactions that occur near the earth's surface and the effects of external anthropogenic and climatic forcing on these interactions. I use geochemical tracers (both trace solutes and isotopes) in my investigations of earth surface processes. During the last decade, isotope hydrology as a sub-field has matured significantly and can now be used to addresses a significant number of new problems relating to hydrology and near surface processes.
      I believe it is important to work on fundamental aspects of regional environmental problems and I spend about half of my time on this type of research. My graduate studies on the Hudson River and, more recently, my research on Aquifer Storage and Recovery in California and aspects of the study on natural marine hydrocarbon seepage are examples of this effort. The remainder of my research time is spent examining geochemical problems related to global cycles and climate change (both recent and glacial/interglacial). My research on the hydrochemistry of springs, paleo-proxy data stored in groundwater, and methane emissions from hydrocarbon seepage illustrate this effort. Although my work examines problems in different environments, it is united by a common set of questions: how do transport processes affect water chemistry and quality and what are the impacts of climate change and other anthropogenic forcing on water chemistry and flow.

Current Projects

Student Research Opportunities