CALEB KAZUNARI WALCOTT-GEORGE
Research
PROGLACIAL ARCHIVES OF ICE SHEET CHANGE IN BEDROCK, NORTHWEST GREENLAND
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For my dissertation research, I am applying surface exposure dating techniques (luminescence surface exposure dating and cosmogenuc nuclides) to bedrock surfaces to investigate Greenland ice sheet changes. I am interested in studying periods of past warmth to determine the stability of the ice sheet in areas that are predicted to melt first under future warming. Outside of the University at Buffalo, I am collaborating with colleagues from the Lamont Doherty Cosmogenic Nuclide Laboratory and the University of Texas at Arlington Luminescence Laboratory. I received an AGeS3 grant from the Geological Society of America and the National Science Foundation and a NSF doctoral dissertation research improvement grant to fund the luminescence work.
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Publications:
COLLECTING BASAL MATERIAL FROM UNDERNEATH THE GREENLAND ICE SHEET
I am a member of a team drilling through the Greenland Ice Sheet in select locations to collect sub-ice basal material as part of the GreenDrill project. I helped identify target locations based on a variety of considerations, including ice thickness, lithology, and bed conditions. We are using the Winkie and ASIG drills, developed and operated by the United States Ice Drilling Program. In addition to the field campaigns, I am analyzing our samples using luminescence dating in collaboration with Dr. Nathan Brown from the University of Texas at Arlington Luminescence Laboratory.
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Publications:
ICE SHEET AND PROGLACIAL LAKE CHRONOLOGIES IN WESTERN NEW YORK
Colleagues and I are working to establish chronologies of Laurentide Ice Sheet fluctuations in western New York. I lead luminescence sampling in glacial/pro-glacial lake deposits and assist with lake and bog coring. I received external grants from the Geological Society of America and an internal grant from the Mark Diamond Research Fund of the Graduate Student Association, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, to fund this research.​
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Publications:
Prince et al., 2024​​
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GLACIAL HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST ALASKA
Using cosmogenic nuclide surface exposure dating and lake sediment records, colleagues from the University at Buffalo, the United States Forest Service, Queens College, the University of New Hampshire, and I are investigating the retreat history of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet and the post-glacial environment in the Alexander Archipelago. I received several additional research grants from the Geological Society of America, the Alaska Geological Society, and the University at Buffalo Graduate Student Association. This work has led to a journal article and several conference presentations.
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EQUILIBRIUM LINE ALTITUDES OF PALEOGLACIERS
Equilibrium line altitudes (ELA) are indicative of climate as their position between the accumulation and ablation zones of alpine glaciers are primarily a function of summer temperature and annual precipitation. I use tools in ArcGIS to reconstruct Last Glacial Maximum and Little Ice Age paleoglacier surfaces and calculate ELAs to assess paleoclimate conditions. I have published a short piece explaining the method and investigated paleoclimate in Alaska during the Last Glacial Maximum with this technique.​
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