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Geomorphology
Small mudflows on the eroding walls of Fraser River Canyon north of Lillooet, BC. The river has cut through thick deposits of sediment laid down during the last glaciation (Photographer: B. Eaton) Geomorphology is the study of the processes that have shaped the Earth's surface. At UBC, research in geomorphology is focussed on fluvial processes and landforms, particularly in mountainous regions, and on glacial processes and Quaternary landscape history. An emerging research direction in our geomorphology program involves studying the interaction between the various geomorphic processes at the scale of entire watersheds and landscapes. While most of our research is quantitatively based and emphasizes measurement, modeling, and prediction of contemporary geomorphic processes, we are also interested in reconstructing the recent geomorphic history of our planet, particularly in areas that have been recently glaciated. Our work is conducted at field sites in Canada and around the world; in our recently constructed hydraulics laboratory that houses several flumes of various sizes; and using numerical and theoretical models constructed at various spatial and temporal scales. We have a long tradition of studying the geomorphic impact of land use changes, riparian forest disturbance, and aquatic eco-hydraulics on fluvial systems, as well as the link between Quaternary glaciations and the function and structure of the contemporary landscape of glaciated environments. As a result, many of our projects are interdisciplinary, and involve collaborators with expertise in biogeography, climatology, ecology, hydrology, geology, GIscience, and engineering. These collaborators come from within our department and from various other departments across the university, including Civil Engineering, Earth and Ocean Sciences, and Forest Sciences. At the M.Sc. level considerable emphasis is placed upon applied geomorphology in the context of resource industries and environmental management in the province, and we often collaborate with various provincial and federal government scientists, as well. Faculty working on Geomorphology
Michael Church, Professor EmeritusFluvial processes B.A., University of Toronto; Ph.D. (1969), UBC "My research interests focus on the morphodynamics of rivers at all scales from steepland streams to large rivers. I am engaged in long-term studies of sediment transport and stability in Fraser, Peace and Mackenzie rivers. Sediment transport is also studied in an experimental program conducted in our environmental hydraulics laboratory. In addition, I am interested in fluvial landscape evolution over intermediate time scales (order 10,000 years). I also am interested in the history and methodology of geomorphology."
Honours: Fellow of The Royal Society of Canada Email Contact: michael.church@geog.ubc.ca Office Phone: 604-822-2900 Room Number: GEOG 234 
Brett Eaton, Associate ProfessorFluvial geomorphology, watershed processes B.Sc. Honours, UBC; M.Sc., McGill University; Ph.D. University of British Columbia (2004) "I am a fluvial geomorphologist interested in how rivers respond to landuse and environmental changes. My research group is conducting laboratory experiments and field studies as part of a larger effort to improve our understanding of stream channel (in)stability, fish habitat and bed material transport. In particular, we are focussing on the influence of disturbances such as forest fire on channel morphodynamics, the effect of large wood on sediment transport dynamics and the influence of hydropower generation on stream channel processes. I am also interested in the broader set of processes controlling landscape characteristics."
Website: www.geog.ubc.ca/~beaton Email Contact: brett.eaton@ubc.ca Office Phone: 604-822-2257 Room Number: GEOG 143 
Marwan Hassan, Professor and Department HeadFluvial and watershed geomorphology, landscape evolution B.A., Ben Gurion University of the Negev; M.Sc., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Ph.D. (1989), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem "My research covers a wide range of topics in geomorphology and hydrology such as the interaction between hill-slopes and channels, channel stability and morphology, river sediment transport and sediment yield, stream ecology, in-channel wood dynamics, and modeling fine sediments and their interactions with stream physical and biological characteristics. I have worked on fundamental processes involving flow and sediment transport and contributed to the advancement of river science at various scales, from sediment grains to watersheds, and in fields outside fluvial geomorphology such as urban hydrology, water quality, and water resources management. Model development has been a very important component of my research, with considerable experimental flume work used to complement field data. My current research concerns small, forested streams such as the routing of water and sediment, associated channel characteristics, and ecological processes. My field and laboratory experimental work has been published in leading international journals."
Dr. Hassan is currently the Department Head (2012-2015).
Website: www.geog.ubc.ca/~mhassan Email Contact: marwan.hassan@geog.ubc.ca Office Phone: 604-822-5894 Room Number: GEOG 253, GEOG 221 
Michele Koppes, Assistant ProfessorGlacial/Quaternary processes and landforms B.A. Honours, Williams College; M.Sc., Ph.D. (2007) University of Washington "My research focuses on glacier processes, glaciated landscapes and landscape response to climate change, from the long term (the Quaternary Era) to recent change (i.e. in the past century). I am fascinated with rates of geomorphic change, particularly the effects of humans on the landscape and how we compare to other natural geomorphic agents such as glaciers and rivers. Some of my current research projects are focusing on quantifying glacier change, landscape response, and the effects of climate change on melt water resources in Alaska, southern Patagonia, Antarctica, and the northwestern Himalayas."
Website: www.geog.ubc.ca/~koppes Email Contact: michele.koppes@geog.ubc.ca Office Phone: 604-822-4896 Room Number: GEOG 141 
Ross Mackay, Professor EmeritusB.A., Clark University; M.A., Boston University; Ph.D., University of Montreal "Research interests focus on arctic permafrost and geomorphology. Dr. Mackay maintains an active research program along the western Arctic coast of Canada."
Honours: Order of Canada; Fellow of The Royal Society of Canada; Doctor of Geography (Hon), University of Ottawa; D.E.S. (Hon), University of Waterloo; D.Sc. (Hon), UVIC; D.Sc. (Hon), UBC; Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa, University of Helsinki 
Olav Slaymaker, Professor EmeritusMountain and steepland geomorphology B.A. Honours, University of Cambridge; A.M. Harvard University; M.A., Ph.D. (1968), University of Cambridge "My research focusses on global environmental change in mountainous landscapes, emphasizing the role of relief, hydroclimatology and human activities as the major drivers of change. Twenty-first century mountain landscapes are evolving under the globally scaled controls of hydroclimate and the spatially and temporally discontinuous impacts of human activity and tectonic plate movements. It is my premise that mass balances of sediments, solutes and nutrients are needed to test common assumptions about rates and causes of landscape change."
Dr. Slaymaker is currently the co-editor of two journals - Catena and The Canadian Geographer. Former Associate Vice-President Research, UBC (1991-1995). Former Head of the Department (1982-1991).
Website: www.geog.ubc.ca/~olav Email Contact: olav.slaymaker@geog.ubc.ca Office Phone: 604-822-3537 Room Number: GEOG 241 |
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Department of Geography - Faculty of Arts - The University of British Columbia |
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