Christopher J. Baish
Ph.D. Fellow
Recipient: Peter Birkeland Soil Geomorphology Award (Geological Society of America)
Recipient: Advancing Pedology Award (Soil Science Society of America)
Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences
Email: baishchr@msu.edu
Advisor: Dr. Randall J. Schaetzl
Research Interests
Pedology
Soil geomorphology
Geoarchaeology
Education
Ph.D. Geography, Michigan State University (in progress)
M.S. Geography, Michigan State University (2020)
B.A. Environmental Geography, University of Northern Iowa (2017)
Current Appointments
1/2022 - present: Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Geography, Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI)
1/2022 - present: Adjunct Associate Researcher, Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Desert Research Institute (Reno, NV)
Previous Appointments
1/2021 - 12/2021: Associate Researcher, Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Desert Research Institute (Reno, NV)
8/2019 - 12/2020: Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Geography, Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI)
8/2018 - 12/2020: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Geography, Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI)
7/2017 - 12/2017: Soil Conservation Aide, Natural Resource Conservation Service (Waterloo, IA)
Scholarly Publications
Refereed Manuscripts
2023
Sion, B., Samburova, V., Berli, M., Baish, C., Bustarde, J., and S. Houseman. Assessment of the effects of the 2021 Caldor megafire on soil physical properties, eastern Sierra Nevada, USA. Fire, 6(2): 1-20. doi: 10.3390/fire6020066
2022
Sion, B., Baish, C., and J. Bustrade. Distribution of Geomorphic Landforms and Soils Along the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro in the Socorro area: Implications for Trafficability and Trail Routing. In: Geology of the Socorro Region III, New Mexico Geological Society 72nd Annual Fall Field Conference Guidebook. doi:10.56577/FFC-72.399
2021
Baish, C. and R.J. Schaetzl. New Insights into the Origin and Evolution of Glossic Features in Coarse-textured Soils in Northern Lower Michigan (USA). Soil Science Society of America Journal, 85(6): 2115-2134. doi:10.1002/saj2.20331
2020
Schaetzl, R.J., Kasmerchak, C., Pavel, S., Baish, C., Hadden, M, and D. Rothstein. Acidification and Weathering Associated with Deep Tongues in Sandy Spodosols, Michigan, USA. Geoderma Regional, 23. doi:10.1016/j.geodrs.2020.e00332
Schaetzl, R.J., Baish, C., Colgan, P.M., Knauff, J., Bilintoh, T., Wanyama, D., Church, M., McKeehan, K., Fulton, A., and A.F. Arbogast. Variations in Till Texture and Clay Mineralogy of the Saginaw Lobe (Michigan, USA): Evidence for a Sediment-Mixing Process Model of Till Genesis. Quaternary Research, 94: 174-194. doi:10.1017/qua.2019.82
Book Chapters
2023
Miller B.A., Baish, C., and R.J. Schaetzl. Use of Soil Maps to Interpret Soil-Landform Assemblages and Soil-Landscape Evolution. In: Geopedology - An Integration of Geomorphology and Pedology for Soil and Landscape Studies. 2nd ed. Zinck, J., Metternicht, G., del Valle, H., and M. Angelini (edd.). Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-20667-2_13
2022
Schaetzl, R.J., Miller, B.A., and C. Baish. Catenas and Soils. In: Treatise on Geomorphology. 2nd ed. Shroder, J. (ed.). Academic Press, San Diego, CA, vol. 3, Weathering and Soils (Critical-Zone) Geomorphology. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-818234-5.00214-5
Professional Research Reports
2022
Patton, N., Baish, C., Kielhofer, J., Sion, B., and E. McDonald. Preliminary evaluation of Fort Greely as a US analog for high-latitude environments using soil-landform characteristics. 24 pp. Report prepared for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory.
Kielhofer, J., Sabol, D., Baish, C., and E. McDonald. Current knowledge of frozen soil formation, soil-landform relationships for seasonally frozen soils, and techniques for remote detection and prediction. 45 pp. Report prepared for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory.
2021
Baish, C., Sion, B., and E. McDonald. A Landform-based Predictive Mapping Approach to Estimating Soil Textural Properties in Estonia and Lithuania (II): US Analogs. 38 pp. Report prepared for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory.
Baish, C., Sion, B., Adam, K., Sabol, D., and E. McDonald. A Landform-based Predictive Mapping Approach to Estimating Soil Textural Properties in Estonia and Lithuania. 34 pp. Report prepared for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory.
Presentations
2023
Schaetzl, R.J., Finley, O., and C. Baish. The grain-size variability of loess – it’s not just eolian silt anymore! GSA, Annual Meeting. Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. October 15-18, 2023. Poster.
Schaetzl, R.J., Finley, O., and C. Baish. Loess is like hot sauce. INQUA, Annual Meeting. Rome, Italy. July 13-20. Poster.
2022
C. Baish. Glossic horizon development in Great Lakes soils: where we were, where we are, and where we are going. Advancing Pedology Colloquium, ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Baltimore, MD. November 6-9, 2022.
Kielhofer, J., Sabol, D., Baish, C., and E. McDonald. Frozen soils and permafrost in a warming climate: Implications for military vehicle mobility. 14th International Conference on Military Geosciences. Charleston, South Carolina. June 20-24, 2022.
Baish, C., Sion, B., and E. McDonald. Predictive mapping of terrain conditions: theory, methods, and applications in military geoscience. 14th International Conference on Military Geosciences. Charleston, South Carolina. June 20-24, 2022.
Schaetzl, R.J., Curry, B.B., Lepper, K., Yansa, C., Lowell, T., Kincare, K., and C. Baish. Introducing the 2023 Friends of the Pleistocene Field Conference in Central Michigan. The American Quaternary Association Biennial Meeting. Madison, Wisconsin, June 7-11, 2022. Poster.
R.J. Schaetzl and C. Baish. The “latest” on Glacial Lake Roscommon –a vast and complex paleolake in north-central Lower Michigan. Quaternary Landscapes Research Group Quidders Series. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. April29, 2022
2021
Sion, B., Baish, C., and D. Brown. Soils on a relict geomorphic surface in southern New Mexico (USA) indicate episodic regional scale surface instability. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, UT. November 7-10. Poster.
C. Baish. Predictive mapping of landforms and soils in glaciated landscapes: theory and methods. CRTC-YPG-CRREL-DRI Joint Capabilities Meeting 2021. U.S. Army Cold Regions Test Center (CRTC), Fort Greely, AK. August 5.
Sion, B., and C. Baish. Overview of terrain analysis and mapping methods. YPG-DRI Project Kickoff Meeting 2021. Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV. June 2.
2020
Schaetzl, R.J., Colgan, P.M., and C. Baish. The Interlobate zone between the Saginaw and Lake Michigan lobes of the southern Laurentide Ice Sheet (Michigan, U.S.A.). Geological Society of America, Annual North-Central Section Meeting. Duluth, MN. May 18-19. Conference canceled.
Hadden, M., Schaetzl, R.J., Baish, C., Kasmerchak, C, and P. Samonil. Effects of Preferential Water Flow on Acidification and Weathering in Sandy Soils, Northern Michigan (USA). University Udergraduate Research and Arts Forum. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. March 27. Conference canceled.
Baish, C., and R.J. Schaetzl. Modelling the subsurface topography of the Houghton Lake Basin: A soking gun for Glacial Lake Roscommon. Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters Annual Meeting. Southfield, MI. September 26.
2019
Baish, C., and R.J. Schaetzl. Genesis of glossic horizons in coarse-loamy bisequal soils of northeastern Lower Michigan. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. San Antonio, TX. November 10-13.
Schaetzl, R.J., Baish, C., Knauff, J., Bilintoh, T., Wanyama, D., McKeehan, K., and M. Church. Spatial Variation in Till Texture and Clay Mineralogy Across the Saginaw Lobe Terrain, Great Lakes Region, USA. INQUA, Annual Meeting. Dublin, Ireland. July 25-31.
Schaetzl, R.J., Running, G.L., Larson, P.H., Rittenour, T., Faulkner, D., Knauff, J., Baish, C., and S. Kaplan. Loess Deposition and Remobilization in an Ice-Marginal Landscape. INQUA, Annual Meeting. Dublin, Ireland. July 25-31.
Schaetzl, R.J., Baish, C., and J. Knauff. Glacial History of the Houghton Lake Basin as Revealed by Till Textures. Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters, Annual Meeting. Alma College, Alma, MI. March 3.
Baish, C., Knauff, J., and R.J. Schaetzl. Spatio-Textural Distribution and Clay Mineralogy of Saginaw Lobe Tills, Central Lower Michigan. Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters. Annual Meeting. Alma College, Alma, MI. March 3.
2018
Heinzel, C., Baish C., Dursky, T., and D. Patten. Geomorphic Analysis of the Dry Run Creek Watershed, Black Hawk County (Iowa). Geological Society of America, Annual North-Central Section Meeting. Iowa State University, Ames, IA. April 16-17. Poster.
2017
Baish, C., Heinzel, C., Dursky, T., and D. Patten. Geomorphic Analysis of Dry Run Creek, Cedar Falls, IA. Iowa Academy of Science, Annual Meeting. University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA. April 21-22.
Baish, C., Heinzel, C., Dursky, T., and D. Patten. Geomorphic Analysis of Dry Run Creek, Cedar Falls, IA. Iowa Academy of Science, Annual Meeting. University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA. April 21-22. Poster.
