Kristin E. Sweeney
US Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory, 1300 SE Cardinal Ct., Vancouver, WA 98683
ksweeney@usgs.gov | (507) 210-4286
APPOINTMENTS
Assistant Professor in Environmental Studies, University of Portland, beginning August 2016
Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow, USGS Cascade Volcano Observatory, October 2015 – present
Graduate Researcher and Instructor, University of Oregon, 2010-2015
Research Assistant, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, Minneapolis, 2009 – 2010
Undergraduate Researcher, Keck Consortium Project, Mongolian Altai, Summer 2008
Survey Crew Volunteer, NCED Marmot Dam Project, Summer 2007
EDUCATION
Ph.D.: Geological Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, August 2015
Adviser: Dr. Joshua Roering
Thesis title: “Linking Geomorphic Process and Landscape Form: Topographic Analysis, Analog Experiments, and Numerical Modeling”
B.A., magna cum laude: Geology, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, 2009
Adviser: Dr. Sarah Titus
Thesis title: “Characterization of a Partitioned Section of the Höh Serh Fault System: Mongolian Altai”
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Experimental erosional landscapes, soil geomorphology and applications to landscape evolution, volcano geomorphology, hillslope processes
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
In preparation
K.E. Sweeney, J.J. Roering, in review, Rapid incision of a late Holocene lava flow: insights from lidar, alluvial stratigraphy, and numerical modeling, GSA Bulletin.
Peer-reviewed articles
- K.E. Sweeney, J.J. Roering, C. Ellis, 2015, Experimental evidence for hillslope control on landscape scale, Science, v. 349 (6243) 51-53 DOI: 10.1126/science.aab0017
- Pelletier, J., K.E. Sweeney, J.J. Roering, N. Finnegan, 2015, Controls on the geometry of potholes in bedrock channels, Geophysical Research Letters, DOI: 10.1002/2014GL062900
- Roering, J.J., B.H. Mackey, J.A. Marshall, K.E. Sweeney, A.M. Booth, N. Deligne, A.M. Handwerger, and C. Cerovski-Darriau, (2013), ‘You are HERE’: Connecting the dots with airborne lidar for geomorphic fieldwork, Geomorphology, 2012 Binghamton Symposium, “The Field Tradition in Geomorphology”, doi:10.10106/j.geomorph.2013.04.009.
- Sweeney, K.E., J.J. Roering, P. Almond, and T. Reckling, (2012), How steady are ‘steady-state’ landscapes? Using soil spectroscopy to quantify erosional variability, Geology, v. 40, p. 807-810.
- Frankel, K.L., K.W. Wegmann, A. Bayasgalan, R.J. Carson, N.E. Bader, T. Adiya, E. Bolor, C.C. Durfey, J. Otgonkhuu, J. Sprajcar, K.E. Sweeney, R.T. Walker, T.L. Marstellar, L. Gregory, 2010, Late Pleistocene slip rate of the Hoh Serh – Tsagaan Salaa fault system, Mongolian Altai and intracontinental deformation in central Asia, Geophysical Journal International, v. 183, 1134-1150
Conference abstracts
- Sweeney, K.E., J.J. Roering, C. Ellis, A. Singh, 2014, The role of diffusive hillslopes in landscape evolution: an experimental approach, Abstract EP13-05 presented at the 2014 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, Calif., Dec 15-19
- Sweeney, K.E., J.J. Roering, M.A. Fonstad, 2013, Testing bedrock incision models: Holocene channel evolution, High Cascades, Oregon, Abstract EP24B-03 presented at the 2013 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, Calif., Dec. 8-13
- Sweeney, K.E., J.J. Roering, A.W. Rempel, 2012, Sediment transport via needle ice: a new method for laboratory hillslope diffusion, Abstract EP53A-1013 presented at the 2012 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, Calif., Dec. 3-7
- Sweeney, K.E., J.J. Roering, P.C. Almond, 2011, How steady is steady state? Using soil spectroscopy to quantify inter- and intra-basin erosional variability in the Oregon Coast Range, Abstract EP23C-0775 presented at 2011 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, Calif., Dec. 5-9
- Sweeney, K.E., J.J. Roering, G. Grant, K.V. Cashman, N.I. Deligne, and N. Deardorff, 2010, Rapid bedrock channel incision and gorge formation in a Late Holocene lava flow, High Cascade Mountains, Oregon. Abstract EP43B-0756 presented at 2010 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, Calif., Dec. 13-17
- Sweeney, K.E., 2009, Characterization of the Hoh Serh and Tsagaan Salaa faults, Hoh Serh Range, Mongolian Altai, Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Keck Research Symposium in Geology, Lancaster, PA.
TEACHING AND SERVICE EXPERIENCE
Reviewer: Journal of South American Earth Science, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Journal of Geophysical Research – Earth Surface, NSF – Geomorphology and Land-Use Dynamics, Earth Surface Dynamics
Teaching Assistant, University of Oregon, 9/10 – 9/15
- Introduction to Geology, Environmental Geology of Oregon (non-major survey class, responsible for developing Google Earth-based labs to complement lecture material), Environmental Data Analysis (400-level statistics course), Hillslope Geomorphology, Geocommunications (400-level science writing course)
Guest Lecturer, University of Oregon, 2013 – 2015
- Environmental Data Analysis – Bayesian statistics (2013), nonlinear averaging (2014)
- Environmental Geology of Oregon – Missoula Floods (2014)
Graduate Mentor, Undergraduate Catalytic Outreach and Research Experiences, Summer 2011
- Mentored two community college students in field and laboratory research
Calculus and Linear Algebra Tutor, Carleton College, Spring 2009
Teaching Assistant, Carleton College, 2008-09
- Introduction to Geology, Tectonics (writing tutor), Structural Geology
Outdoor Science Camp Counselor, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Summer 2006
GRANTS AND AWARDS
Graduate Research Grant, Mazamas, 2014
NCALM Seed Grant, 2012
NSF GRFP, Honorable Mention, 2012
Thayer Scholarship for Geomorphology, University of Oregon, 2011, 2012, 2014
Distinction in Senior Thesis, Carleton College, 2009
Duncan Stewart Fellowship for departmental leadership, Carleton College, 2009
Phi Beta Kappa, Carleton College, 2009