W. Berry Lyons

Director, Byrd Polar Research Center
Professor, School of Earth Sciences

E-mail: lyons.142@osu.edu

Ph.D. Univeristy of Connnecticut, 1979
M.S. Univeristy of Connnecticut, 1972
B.A. Brown University, 1969

For information regarding my research interests please see my personal web page.

Kathy Welch - Senior Research Associate

email: welch.189@osu.edu

M. S. Earth Sciences, Geochemical Systems, University of New Hampshire, 1993
B. S. Geology, University of New Hampshire, 1985

As a Research Associate at OSU my primary focus is on the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research (MCM-LTER) project.  My current research interests include investigating the response of the aquatic ecosystem in the dry valleys to variations in climate over decadal time scales.  I’m also interested in investigating the hydrological and geochemical linkages between the glaciers, streams and lakes in the dry valleys and the consequent biogeochemical evolution of the closed-basin lakes over annual to millennial time scales.  My expertise is in performing water chemistry analyses, in particular, major ion chemistry by ion chromatography. In addition to working on the MCM-LTER project, I have also been working with J. Priscu’s research group at Montana State University to investigate the chemistry and biology of the Lake Vostok accretion ice. Read my Antarctica blog at kawelchinantarctica.blogspot.com.

Chris Gardner - Senior Research Associate

email: gardner.177@osu.edu

M.S. Geological Sciences, The Ohio State University, 2004
B.A. Geology, Miami University, 2001

I am currently the Information Manager for the MCM-LTER. I'm responsible for the maintenance and design of our large relational database that contains meteorological, hydrological, chemical, biological, and spatial data collected since the inception of MCM in 1993. Additionally, I am the web designer and webmaster of our LTER website at www.mcmlter.org. A major part of my job also is to ensure that our site is compliant with data, metadata, and web standards set by the LTER Network Office (we are one of 26 research sites in the network). I approach web and database design from the perspective of a researcher and hope to better facilitate science activities through intuitive query tools, interactive maps, and dynamically derived datasets that are useful to researchers. I also have the opportunity collaborate on outreach activities, such as The Lost Seal children’s book. Additionally, I continue to help with analytical chemistry using the total carbon analyzer, ion chromatograph and ICP spectrometer. I travel to Antarctica to perform carbon analysis on MCM water and ice samples, and help Kathy with sample tracking and protocols. My Master’s degree work here at Ohio State focused on geochemistry and hydrology, where I examined trace metals and major ions in urban runoff from a highway in Columbus during precipitation events. Read my Antarctica blog at antarcticchris.blogspot.com.

Carol Landis - Education Outreach Representative

Ph.D. Science Education,The Ohio State University, 1995
M.A. Biology Education, Kent State University, 1983
B.A. Biology/Secondary Education, University of Wisconsin--Superior, 1974

I'm a recently-retired 30-year career teacher who has strong interests in environmental education. I taught at the Linworth Alternative Program, in Worthington, OH. Linworth is based on principles of experiential education--learning by doing. As a result, several years ago my science classes began taking measurements of the Olentangy River, as it flows south through Franklin County toward the confluence with the Scioto River in downtown Columbus. Our research project became formalized with the support of Dr. Lyons as a Schoolyard Long-Term Ecological Research (SLTER) site in 2001. Over the past five years, Linworth students have sampled the river seasonally at 12 locations, to establish a baseline of data from which to detect an "urban footprint" on the river. In addition to providing chemical analyses of the river samples, Dr. Lyons is also facilitating collaboration with other teachers who conduct river studies in Central Ohio. A website is being developed that will allow input and comparison of river data for this region.

Sarah Fortner - Carbon, Water, Climate, Postdoctoral Research

Ph.D. Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, 2008
M.S. Geological Sciences, The Ohio State University, 2001
B.S. Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1999

My primary research goal is to understand changing river fluxes of water, solute, and sediment, as rapid changes in these may be detrimental to ecosystems and human health. This fall, I will begin investigating the storage and transport of carbon associated with different agricultural land use types. Understanding the fate of carbon associated with landuse is critically important to predicting the impact of agricultural practices on climate change.

My dissertation and masters research explores the deposition and dynamics of dissolved and environmentally available elements in glacial snow and melt in Taylor Valley, Antarctica and the Oregon Cascades. The Antarctic research is part of a continuing effort to assess the geochemical continuum of the dry valleys conducted by the McMurdo LTER.

Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in a guest speaker at your K-12 school or College/University. I am currently working with undergraduates in the field, lab, and with other research efforts. In July 2006 I assisted Dr. Erin Pettit with Girls on Ice, a leadership/glacier research program for 15-19 girls. Previously, I have participated in the Juneau Icefield Research Program (2000, 1995 as a student and as a mentor).

My door is always open to students!

Read more from my blog: Crampons and Cornfields: sarahfortner.blogspot.com

Download my CV

Becki Witherow - Doctoral student

M.S. Geological Sciences, The Ohio State University, 2005
B.A. Geology, Miami University, 2001

My thesis, titled “Mercury Concentrations in Snow and the Modern Mercury Flux to Taylor Valley, Antarctica”, examines mercury concentrations in Antarctic snow in hopes of expanding current knowledge of background mercury levels.  By constructing a mercury baseline consisting of natural fluxes, anthropogenic inputs to the global mercury cycle can be better assessed.  Additionally, mercury concentrations in recent snow, can give important insight to the processes governing mercury deposition in polar regions, particularly Mercury Depletion Events that occurs as the sun rises in Antarctica in the austral spring. My work on the Commonwealth Glacier in Taylor Valley will help define the natural mercury sources and variations in a remote area such as Antarctica. By quantifying background mercury levels, human impacts on the mercury cycle can be better identified.

I am currently doing my Ph.D. research on the geochemical dynamics of alkali metals and alkaline earths in Taylor Valley, Antarctica.

Deb Leslie - Doctoral student

M.S. Environmental Science, Arkansas State University, 2008
B.S. Forensic Chemistry, University of Mississippi, 2005

My M.S. thesis investigated the water balance and stable isotope budget of Lake Fryxell Basin in McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. A water balance was used to identify and quantify the inputs and outputs of water in Lake Fryxell. It receives known liquid water inputs from thirteen meltwater streams and direct glacier runoff. Potential outputs from Lake Fryxell occur as evaporation of moat water and freezing of upper lake waters to the bottom of the ice cover. Stable isotopes were used to link the known inputs to their sources by a characteristic isotopic signature. Freezing and evaporation models were also applied to Lake Fryxell’s upper and bottom water layers to indicate the environmental processes that impacted their current chemistry.

My research interests include polar geochemistry, stable isotopes, and climate change. I am currently working on my PhD research concerning boron stable isotopes within McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica.

Kelly Deuerling - Master's student

B.S. Geological Sciences, University of Florida, 2008

My research with the Lyons group and MCM-LTER is focused on the dissolution of the aeolian mineral dust and marine aerosols deposited in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, their impact on the geochemical/hydrologic continuum, and possible transport to East Antarctica. The dissolution of the dust has an impact on the chemistry of the lakes and nutrient availability in the Dry Valleys ecosystem. Isotopic study of the dust will provide a baseline signature of the Dry Valleys that can be compared to preserved ice core dust records (i.e. EPICA Dome C and Vostok in Eastern Antarctica) to determine any contribution to Eastern Antarctica in the past. My work will contribute to the understanding of the interplay between aeolian and aquatic processes in the Dry Valleys and further the understanding of this unique ecosystem.

My previous research has concerned weathering in Alaska and Dominica, as well as the geochemistry of the Grand Savanne eruptive sequence in Dominica.

Lindsey Hannah - Undergraduate Student

B.S. School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University

I am currently working through the last year of my undergraduate degree in Earth Sciences. I am involved conducting research into the chemical weathering rates of tropical soils from the Rio Chagres watershed in Panama. I have been creating weathering profiles by analyzing the bulk chemistry of the soils by use of X-Ray Fluorescence, and inorganic carbon and nitrogen analysis.

Carla Whisner - Undergraduate Student

B.S. School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University

My research interests are in geochemistry and hydrogeology. In the summer of 2008, I completed a project hosted by the Shell Undergraduate Research Experience. I did a geostatistical analysis of the streams in Taylor Valley, Antarctica. My primary goal was to determine the main factors that controlled the stream chemistry and reveal spatial trends to demonstrate the impact of landscape position and age on stream chemistry. For my upcoming research, I'll be working with Dr. Sarah Fortner. One of our study sites is in Coshocton, Ohio where we will be looking at agriculture landuse and its affect on the carbon cycle. I will be measuring dissolved inorganic carbon to analyze chemical weathering quantities and ultimately, to understand carbon sequestration and loss rates.

Catherine Maxwell - Undergraduate Student

B.A. School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University

Catherine Maxwell, from Archbold, Ohio, is an undergraduate student research assistant for Dr. Lyons. Her work with this team includes field work, laboratory work, and performing water chemistry analysis using the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emissions Spectrometer. Her individual work focuses on stream chemistry of the Big Darby and Little Darby Creeks. She is working towards a bachelor of the arts in geology from the School of Earth Sciences.

Gregg McElwee - Undergraduate Student

B.S. School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, 2008

I began working at the Byrd Polar Research Center in late November 2005. I am researching weathering rates in the Chagres watershed in Panama; because chemical weathering of silicate minerals consumes CO₂, this is a major control of long term climate variation. I am analyzing water and sediment samples collected in Panama from early 2005 until the present. The water samples are analyzed using ion chromatographic (IC) and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopic (ICP-OES) methods. The sediment samples are analyzed using x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometric methods.

Kelly Foley - Master's Student

M.S. Geological Sciences, The Ohio State University, 2005
B.P. Interdisciplinary Studies, Miami University, 2001

Kelly received her MS degree in August, 2005 working with Lyons. Her work here at OSU investigated the distribution and processes in the development of calcite in soils and in encrustations on undersides of rocks in the Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Similar to other desert environments, water soluble salts accumulate in Antarctic soils. She related calcite distribution and accumulation to soil age.  In addition, isotope work (87Sr/86Sr, d13C) on the samples developed better information about the source of calcium and carbonate in these deposits. Her work contributed not only to the knowledge of chemical cycles and ecological make-up in the Dry Valley environment, but also to the understanding of salt accumulation in desert environments.

Marinko Karanovic - Graduate Student

M.S Geological Sciences, The Ohio State University, 2005
B.S. Hydrogeology, University of Belgrade, 1999

After he finished his studies, he worked for a private consulting firm examining water quality problems and the protection ground and surface water resources, and participated in several International projects where he was responsible for sampling and interpretation of water quality data and identification of potential pollution problems. He also coordinated and supervised drilling and ground-water and soil sampling programs.

Marinko moved to the USA in 2001, and completed his M.S. degree. His master thesis is titled “Mathematical modeling of a hydrocarbon spill on the ice cover of Lake Fryxell, Antarctica”. In 2005, he used MatLab and well known numerical methods to develop a numerical model of the transport of contaminants on the ice cover of perennially covered lake Fryxell, Antarctica.

He is currently employed by an environmental consulting firm in the Washington, D.C. area.

April Jacobs - Undergraduate Student

B.A. Geological Sciences, The Ohio State University, 2006

April's main responsibility here at BPRC was to the MCM-SLTER, the educational outreach component to the MCM-LTER. She worked as a liason between the scientists here and the enthusiastic science teachers of Columbus with Dr. Landis. Among other things, she helped develop an educational DVD of Dr. Landis' Antarctic trip. It is this experience, along with a degree in geology and analytical lab work, that she hopes to utilize as she begins her career.

She received a BA in Geological Sciences at The Ohio State University in June, 2006. She is currently employed by an environmental consulting firm in the Columbus area.

Liz Miller - Undergraduate Student

B.S. Geological Sciences, The Ohio State University, 2006

Liz spent 3 years worknig and conducting research at the Byrd Polar Research Center. Her primary responsibility was performing chemical analysis of water and sediment samples. She worked with samples generated by the MCM-LTER project analyzing stream samples for alkalinity by strong acid titration, measuring dissolved reactive Si in aqueous samples collected from the glaciers, streams and lakes in the dry valley using a colorimetric method, and analyzing phosphorus in solution, as well as in sediments and on filters using a colorimetric methods. When she is not working or in class, she enjoys running and cheering on OSU at football games. In June 2006, she began a Ph.D. in geological sciences at Johns Hopkins University.

Joel Barker - Post Doctoral Fellow

"Is organic carbon exported from glaciers to downstream aquatic ecosystems in Taylor Valley, Antarctica, and if so, does it represent a potential energy source to downstream microorganisms?". This is a question that I hope to answer and is the focus of my postdoctoral research at the Byrd Polar Research Center. My project will pursue two main lines of inquiry 1) the quantification of the organic carbon flux from glaciers to dry valley lakes and 2) a molecular level characterization of organic carbon as it is deposited onto, and transported from, the glacier environment to the lacustrine environment. This characterization will provide information about the quality of the organic carbon that is transported into dry valley lakes as it relates to providing a substrate for lacustrine heterotrophic microbial metabolism. It may also help to identify biogeochemical sources, sinks and transformations involving organic carbon as it is transported from the glacier surface (in glacier meltwater) to proglacial dry valley streams and lakes. Using this information, it may be possible to predict the effect that climatic warming may have on down stream aquatic ecosystems as glaciers melt and "glacial" organic carbon is mobilized.

Tim Fitzgibbon - Research Associate

email: fitzgibbon.12@osu.edu

B.A. Geological Sciences, Indiana University, 2004

My primary focus with the Lyons research group is mercury geochemistry, managing the mercury lab and assisting graduate students in related studies. We are conducting a limited study of mercury in northern Ohio rivers and the influence of land-use, and we have an upcoming Sea Grant project studying mercury in the water column and plankton within the western basin and the “dead zone” in the central basin of Lake Erie. I also work on the Cape Hallett Soil Biodiversity project from helping coordinate project field needs to collecting shallow firn cores on the Towles Glacier near Cape Hallett for stable isotope and major ion analysis. With the MCM-LTER, I assist in everything from collecting samples in the Taylor Valley to filing annual reports.

Adam Lewis - Post Doctoral Fellow

Ph.D. , Boston University, 2004
M.S. Quaternary Science, University of Maine, 2000
B.S. Geology, Idaho State University, 1991

I will finish and defend my PhD dissertation in the fall from Boston University and begin my Byrd Fellowship as a post-doctoral fellow with the Lyon's group in the winter of 2004. My primary research goal is to obtain high-resolution paleoclimate records that address fundamental questions of late Cenozoic global-climate evolution. My research in Antarctica combines field mapping in the Dry Valleys with laboratory analyses of glacial sediments, isotopic and trace-element geochemical analysis of tephras, and cosmogenic-nuclide dating of relict land surfaces.  I'm interested in questions of how and when the polar climate of Antarctica first developed. I've focused on quantifying the geomorphic processes that have shaped the Dry Valleys and on developing chronologies for the Dry Valleys glacial record.

Adam took a position at the University of North Dakota in March, 2007.