Erosional Effects of Climate Change from Single-Clast Be-10

Devin McPhillips博士被授予美国国家科学基金会地球科学博士后奖学金，在佛蒙特大学实施一项研究和教育计划。该项目的目标是评估地表侵蚀的方式和速率如何响应冰期-间冰期气候变化。特别关注的是从未被冰川覆盖的景观。麦克菲利普斯博士将比较现代溪流鹅卵石中宇宙成因放射性核素Be-10的浓度与附近阶地冰川阶段鹅卵石沉积物中的浓度。首先，体积浓度将以常规方式用于了解高阶和低阶溪流中侵蚀速率的变化。其次，单个鹅卵石浓度的统计分布将用于估计“深”与“浅”侵蚀过程的相对重要性，如滑坡和山坡扩散。研究结果将有助于深入了解侵蚀的机制，包括潜在的破坏性物质运动。几名学生将在项目过程中接受地貌学方面的培训。麦克菲利普斯博士将共同指导至少一名本科生，并担任佛蒙特大学研究生的导师。本科生将参加实地工作，并制定一个补充的高级论文项目。毕业论文将为学生的研究奠定坚实的基础，并进一步促进McPhillips博士作为教师和科学家的专业发展。

Dr. Devin McPhillips is awarded the NSF Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship to implement a program of research and education at the University of Vermont. The project's goal is to evaluate how the style and rate of surface erosion responds to glacial-interglacial climate change. The particular focus is on landscapes that were never covered by glacial ice. Dr. McPhillips will compare concentrations of the cosmogenic radionuclide Be-10 from modern stream cobblestones to concentrations in nearby terrace deposits of glacial-stage cobblestones. First, bulk concentrations will be used in a conventional manner to understand the variability of erosion rates in high- and low-order streams. Second, the statistical distribution of individual cobble concentrations will be used to estimate the relative importance of 'deep' versus 'shallow' erosive processes, such as landslides and hillslope diffusion. The results will provide insight into the mechanisms of erosion, including potentially destructive mass movements. Several students will be trained in geomorphology in the course of the project. Dr. McPhillips will co-advise at least one undergraduate student and act as mentor for graduate students at the University of Vermont. The undergraduate(s) will participate in field work and develop a complementary senior thesis project. The senior thesis will provide the student(s) with a strong foundation in research and further the professional development of Dr. McPhillips as teacher as well as a scientist.