Fluvial activity in major river basins of the eastern United States during the Holocene

Super cool meta-analysis of fluvial reconstructions focused on regional watersheds of the eastern United States, by UA PhD student Ray Lombardi, published in Holocene.

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Streamflow Variability Indicated by False Rings in Bald Cypress

In this paper we use baldcypress to develop a false ring record extending from 1881 to 2014. All 20 of the false-ring events recorded during the instrumental period occurred during years in which greatly increased streamflow occurred late in the growing season. Many of these wet events appear to be the result of rainfall resulting from landfalling tropical cyclones.

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A record of flooding on the White River, Arkansas derived from tree-ring anatomical variability and vessel width

In this recent paper we look at inter-annual tree-ring anatomical variability and vessel width in overcup oak (Quercus lyrata) and river flooding at a bottomland hardwood forest site near the confluence of the White and Mississippi Rivers.

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Paint Rock Forest

Recently visited the Paint Rock Forest Research Center and found it to be truly amazing. The variety of trees there is astounding, and the research being carried out on the forest is world class. I am looking forward to hopefully returning and doing some dendrochronology.

man coring a small tree

Hinds Road Outcrop

This cool sandstone glade area is home to a nice stand of Boynton’s Oak (Quercus boyntonii), which is an endemic (to Alabama) oak. Most of the Boynton’s oaks at the site are only about 4-5 feet tall at most and tree-ring dating indicates they are between 75-120 years old. https://www.auburn.edu/cosam/arboretum/apca/projects/boyntons_oak.htm

DRL in “Stones and Bones”

Work by the DRL was described in a recent issue of “Stones and Bones” the newsletter of the Alabama Archaeological Society. The article “A Living Witness to the Battle?” by Eric Frey- Park Ranger at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park describes tree-ring dating of and American beech (Fagus grandifolia) tree at the battlefield that predates

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AAG New Orleans

My colleagues and I will be giving talks and hosting sessions on Paleofloods at next weeks AAG meeting. Come hear all about it! Past Perspectives on River Environments 1: Flood Reconstructions in Locations Outside the U.S. Napoleon B2, Sheraton 3rd Floor 08:00 am Past Perspectives on River Environments 2: Flood Reconstructions in the Mississippi River

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Nature paper in UA news

A  UA News feature covers our recent Nature paper on Mississippi River flooding “More than Climate, Engineering Worsening Flooding Along Mississippi” “TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Through discovering ancient floods along the Mississippi River, a group of scientists, including a University of Alabama professor, found human-led engineering, not climate, is the largest influence on worsening floods.”

Increasing community resilience in coastal watersheds of Alabama…

Super excited that US EPA will be funding our project on streamflow reconstruction in Alabama watersheds (Increasing community resilience in coastal watersheds of Alabama by risk assessment of past, present and future trends in hydrologic and hydroclimatic extremes). It is imperative that Alabama develop a comprehensive state water policy and understanding the long-term variability of

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Moss Rock Preserve

Took my physical geography class up to Moss Rock Preserve to check out the Fort Payne sandstone glades. There are some really nice old growth longleaf pine up there as well as very old looking virginia pines and some blackjack oak. There are some great waterfalls in the park as well.