Earth and Space Sciences
Browse by
Copyright for all files is owned by the authors/creators.
Recent Submissions
-
Antarctic glacial history inferred from cosmogenic-nuclide measurements in rocks
This dissertation describes three research projects on the glacial history of Antarctica using measurements of cosmogenic-nuclides in glacial deposits and bedrock surfaces. The first chapter investigates the deglaciation ... -
Description of Foraminiferal Assemblages within Hood Canal, Puget Sound, WA.
This study investigates the assemblages of benthic foraminifera present within Hood Canal, WA, and uses assemblage measures and linear regressions to detect meaningful relationships between foraminifera and environmental ... -
Strath terrace formation: the influence of rock type, climate, and humans
Strath terraces record cycles of bedrock river incision and planation, and thus reflect how mountainous landscapes evolved in response to changing climate, tectonics, rock type, and other forcings. Previous work has used ... -
Thermodynamics of Acidophiles: Energetics of microbial growth, response to substrate availability, and interactions with heavy metals
Chemical and physical properties play a crucial role in the type and efficiency of microbial activity that can be supported within an ecosystem. In return, the presence of microbial activity affects the surrounding ... -
On Star-Planet Interaction: Magnetospheric Dynamics and Atmospheric Evolution
With the explosion of exoplanetary discoveries, the question of planetary habitability is at the forefront, and generates many interesting and complex questions. One of those questions: Are planetary global magnetic fields ... -
Cratering Characteristics of the Europa Kinetic Ice Penetrator
This thesis further develops the Europa Kinetic Ice Penetrator (EKIP) landing technique for airless bodies, as well as characterizes the effect EKIP would have on Europa’s surface. Damage to the extremophile Planococcus ... -
Mars' Water Cycle Seen Through an Ice Lens
The water cycle of Mars has been intensely studied thanks to data from orbiting spacecraft and landers on the surface. Water is of major interest due to its vital connection to life on Earth. The global cycle is driven by ... -
Seismic Study of Tremor, Deep Long-Period Earthquakes, and Basin Amplification of Ground Motion
In this thesis, we use seismic data and seismological tools to investigate three topics, (1) triggering between slow slip (tremor as proxy) and nearby small earthquakes, (2) mechanisms of deep-long period earthquakes beneath ... -
Using Low-Frequency Earthquakes to Investigate Slow Slip Processes and Plate Interface Structure Beneath the Olympic Peninsula, WA
This dissertation seeks to further understand the LFE source process, the role LFEs play in generating slow slip, and the utility of using LFEs to examine plate interface structure. The work involves the creation and ... -
Tsunamis and sea levels of the past millennium in Puget Sound, Washington
Tidal marsh deposits in the Puget Sound area contain evidence for multiple earthquakes and tsunamis over the past 1,000 years. This dissertation focuses on evidence beneath a salt marsh at Lynch Cove, at the head of the ... -
Crystal-scale control on magmatic mush mobilization and mixing
Magmatic systems present an apparent paradox: they exist as long-term, crystal-rich magmas (called mushes) which are mechanically locked, yet crystals in exposed plutons and volcanic deposits with diverse histories indicate ... -
Climate dynamics revealed in ice cores: advances in techniques, theory, and interpretation
Ice cores from the polar ice sheets provide detailed histories of Earth's climate. Interpreting past climate dynamics from ice-core records requires understanding how the climate system influences the geochemical proxies ... -
Stability and Uncertainty of Ice-Sheet Crystal Fabrics
Ice crystal orientation fabric has a large effect on polycrystalline ice flow. In this thesis, I explore uncertainty of ice fabric measurements, and the related question of stability of ice crystal fabrics and anisotropic ... -
Glaciers, erosion and climate change in the Himalaya and St. Elias Range, SE Alaska
The important roles of glaciers in topographic evolution, relief development, and sediment production are well recognized but understanding remains rather limited largely because of the inherent complexity of glacial erosion ... -
Chronology, Lithology and Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of the Penultimate Ice-Sheet Advance into the Puget Lwoland, Washington
University of Washington Abstract Chronology, Lithology and Paleoenvironmental Interpretations of the Penultimate Ice-Sheet Advance into the Puget Lowland, WA Kathy Goetz Troost Chair of Supervisory Committee: Dr. Derek ... -
Characterizing Habitable Environments on Mars Using Infrared Spectroscopy from Orbit
Until recently, the search for habitable environments on Mars has mostly been driven by the motto “follow the water”, as water is thought to be one of the fundamental requirements for life. Over the last several decades, ... -
Thermodynamic Controls on the Global Ocean Overturning Circulation
This dissertation explores the fundamental relationship between the spatial distribution of air-sea flux and the structure of the ocean's Global Overturning Circulation (GOC). The GOC describes the circulation of ocean ... -
The Role of Corals on Tsunami Dynamics in an Island Setting: A Case Study of Tutuila Island
On September 29, 2009 at 17:48 UTC, an Mw = 8.1 earthquake in the Tonga Trench generated a tsunami that caused heavy damage across Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga. One of the worst localities hit was the volcanic island ... -
Planetary Penetrators for Sample Return Missions
University of Washington Abstract Planetary Penetrators for Sample Return Missions Chad A. Truitt Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Professor Robert M. Winglee Earth and Space Sciences Sample return missions offer a ... -
Quantifying ice-shelf basal melt and ice-stream dynamics using high-resolution DEM and GPS time series
This dissertation describes methods to generate high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) of the Earth's ice sheets, and combines these observations with in situ GPS measurements to study basal melting beneath the ...
RSS 1.0