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LGM Paleoclimate of the Pacific Northwest US
LGM Paleoclimate of the Pacific Northwest US
This is a collaborative project with PLU undergraduate students and researchers from the University of Washington, University of Texas-Austin, and the University of South Dakota. Using carbonate clumped isotope thermometry, we are investigating glacial-interglacial climate variability in the US Pacific Northwest as recorded in loess (wind-blown silt) and pluvial lake sediments deposited prior to, during, and shortly after the Last Glacial Maximum. See our publication in Quaternary Research: Loess-paleosol carbonate clumped isotope record of late Pleistocene-Holocene climate change in the Palouse region, Washington State, USA (https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2018.47).
Sierra Nevada air parcel trajectories
Sierra Nevada air parcel trajectories
The Sierra Nevada mountains contain the highest elevations in the contiguous U.S. and are vital to regional hydrology and water resources. My postdoctoral research at the University of New Mexico also focused on a modern air parcel trajectory analysis with the aim of investigating how high Sierra Nevada topography influences the pathways by which precipitation is delivered through the Sierra Nevada region. Specifically, we have quantified how frequently precipitating air parcels are blocked by and redirected around the Sierra versus those that travel up and over, and rainout across, the range. This work improves our understanding of regional precipitation patterns and, in particular, elucidates both modern and proxy meteoric water isotopic records in the region (Lechler and Galewsky, 2013, Geology).
Paleoaltimetry of the western US Cordillera
Paleoaltimetry of the western US Cordillera
My dissertation at the University of Michigan (advisor: Dr. Nathan Niemi) focused on providing more robust estimates of Cenozoic paleoelevations in the western US Basin and Range and Sierra Nevada. Specifically, we critically evaluated standard stable isotope paleoaltimetry methods and investigated how they can be best applied to continental interior settings like the Basin and Range and Tibetan Plateau of east Asia (Lechler and Niemi, 2011, American Journal of Science). This work involved stable isotopic analysis of modern waters (Lechler and Niemi, 2012, GSA Bulletin) and Cenozoic lacustrine carbonates. In addition, we explored the utility of carbonate clumped isotope thermometry (Lechler et al., 2013, Tectonics) and detrital zircon sedimentary provenance analysis (Lechler and Niemi, 2011, Geology) for paleoaltimetry studies in the western US.
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