USGS Mendenhall postdoctoral position in karst

[Karstscience]

Repost:

Dear Colleague,

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is currently advertising 2-year postdoctoral fellowships for Fall of 2008. Applications for these fellowships are due November 9, 2007.

For one of these fellowships, the research topic is "The impacts of Quaternary climate change on karst geomorphology and hydrology in the Appalachian region" (see description below).

Additional information on this and other USGS postdoctoral fellowships may be found at the following website: geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/

Please forward this announcement on to those who may be interested in this opportuniy.

Sincerely,

David Weary, [phone], [e-mail]
Daniel Doctor, [phone], [e-mail]
Christopher Swezey, [phone], [e-mail]
Milan Pavich, [phone], [e-mail]

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USGS Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program
(Fiscal Year 2009 Anouncement)
geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/

The impacts of Quaternary climate change on karst geomorphology and hydrology in the Appalachian region

Climate change occurs as a natural and continuous earth process; however, it is now clear that human activities are perturbing global and local climates. Perturbations in climate, in turn, can cause substantial modifications to landscapes and water resources, with serious consequences for ecosystems as well as for human societies and economies. Furthermore, the relations between changes in climate, landscape geomorphology, and hydrological systems are nonlinear, and it is therefore difficult to predict when a specific threshold of change will be crossed. Fortunately, the geologic record provides an excellent key for understanding these relations. Detailed, geology-based reconstructions of changes in climate, hydrology, and landscape geomorphology provide a framework for understanding patterns of natural variability and also provide a baseline for understanding the consequences of current and future climate changes. Such geologic data are an important guide for managing and adapting to future change.

In the Appalachian region of the eastern United States, the Quaternary record of climate, hydrology, and landscape geomorphology is poorly documented. Much of this region consists of erosional landscapes, with poor preservation of Quaternary strata. Nevertheless, caves and other karst features within this region are unique settings in which Quaternary records may be preserved and interpreted. Caves in karst are the manifestation of groundwater flow in soluble bedrock; as such, they provide long-term records of geomorphologic evolution. These records include in-cave sedimentary deposits, sinkhole fills, speleothems, erosional features on cave walls, and the four-dimensional geometry of the caves themselves. Sedimentary deposits in karst contain information on paleoclimate, erosion, and paleohydrologic conditions. Age control on karst features may be provided by paleontologic, paleomagnetic, and isotopic (including cosmogenic) methods. Patterns of paleohydrologic flow conditions can be infered from cave elevations relative to present base level, cave morphology, and the sediments and sedimentary strata within caves. Sediment type and distribution as well as cave passage morphology provide information on past and present flow regimes. Combined, the information obtained from caves has great potential to provide a broad picture of landscape evolution in response to climate change in the Appalachian region.

Under this Research Opportunity, applicants are invited to focus on the impact of climate change on karst landscape evolution and changes in groundwater flow paths in the Appalachian region. Applicants should choose a particular Appalachian karst system that is accessible for research projects and in which it is possible to obtain paleoclimatic and paleohydrologic data. Applicant proposals should describe the karst study area and any property access issues, discuss previous work on which this research might build, and propose methods of obtaining paleoclimatic and paleohydrologic data. If appropriate, applicants should discuss possibilities for interdisciplinary collaboration with hydrologists, geomorphologists, and other scientists.

Several well-studied karst areas in the Appalachian region contain large caves and sinkholes with sediment accumulations (including paleo-lake sediments) and speleothems. A few of these areas have been the focus of multidisciplinary in-cave and karst-related surface studies since the late 1940s, and a wealth of background information and data are available. The postdoctoral candidate must have a strong background in Quaternary geology, geomorphology, hydrology, karst geology, and (or) related disciplines. The candidate should be able to work on a variety of scales, and the candidate should be able to work independently and as part of a team. Experience with Appalachian Basin geology would be an additional benefit.

Application deadline: November 9, 2007

Proposed Duty Station: Reston, VA

Areas of Ph.D.: Quaternary geology, geomorphology, hydrology, karst geology, or related disciplines

Qualifications: Applicants must meet one of the following qualifications: Research Geologist, Research Hydrologist

(This type of research is performed by those who have backgrounds for the occupations stated above. However, other titles may be applicable depending on the applicant's background, education, and research proposal. The final classification of the position will be made by the Human Resources specialist.)

Research Advisor(s): David Weary, [phone], [e-mail]; Daniel Doctor, [phone], [e-mail]; Christopher Swezey, [phone], [e-mail]; Milan Pavich, [phone], [e-mail]

Human Resources Office contact: Kathy McDuffie, [phone], [e-mail]