Research

My primary research interests integrate field studies with theoretical models to evaluate climate-landscape interactions. Specifically, my research focuses on: (1) identifying the linkages between alpine glacier fluctuations and climate variations of the last few thousand years; (2) mapping and characterization of continental glacial and periglacial terrains; (3) assessing the effects of landform evolution on surface exposure-dating techniques; (4) determining rates river incision and bank erosion; and (5) studying the effects of earthwork degradation in archaeological contexts. In all of these studies, GIS and remote sensing analyses are incorporated with field data and mathematical modeling to generate more sophisticated interpretations of the geomorphic/geologic record.

2007 U of Delaware Cascades Trip

Graduate Students / Research

1. ๏Lisa Pietro, Physical Geography, Graduated M.S. 2007
   

2. ๏Erica Rhoades,  Physical Geography/ GIS, Graduated M.S. 2008
   

3. ๏Adam Goldstein, Physical Geography, Graduated M.S. 2008
   

4. ๏Ryan Murphy, Physical Geography/GIS
   

5. ๏Darrin Lowrey, Geoarchaeology/Geological Sciences
   

6. ๏Stephanie Stotts, Physical Geography
   

7. ๏Lindsey Roth, Physical Geography
   

8. ๏Ashley Satinsky, Physical Geography
   

Recent Publications

Rhoades, O’Neal, and Pizzuto. (in press) Quantifying bank erosion on the South River from 1937 to 2005, and its importance in assessing Hg contamination. Journal of Applied Geography.

Pietro, O’Neal, and Pietro. (2008). Developing terrestrial-LIDAR-based digital elevation models for monitoring beach nourishment performance. Journal of Coastal Research.

O’Neal, M.A. 2006. The effects of moraine degradation on lichenometric dating of Little Ice Age moraines. Quaternary Geochronology. Vol. 1, No.2, pp. 121-128.

Canadian Glaciers

2008 U of Delaware Cascades Trip

Mount Baker, Washington