The Geology and Geography of Floods
By Katie L. Burke
A Q&A with a research geologist on landscape evolution, flooding, and the intersection of landscapes and people.
January 25, 2017
From The Staff Physics Geography Geology
Jim O’Connor is a research geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey in Portland, Oregon. He has studied some of the biggest floods in history and in the geological record. He has also written recent reports on dam removal and flood damage prevention. He’s a fellow of the Geological Society of America. Since 1991, he has worked at the U.S. Geological Survey, intent on improving understanding of the processes and events that shape the remarkable and diverse landscapes of our planet. Here, I talk with him about the biggest floods we know about, as well as new research on melting glaciers and dam removal.
A Storify of tweets, providing highlights of the discussion, is shown below.
The Geology and Geography of Floods
A Q&A with Jim O’Connor, a research geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer, on landscape evolution, flooding, and the intersection of landscapes and people.
In one hour, 15:30 (ET) The #Geology and #Geography of #Floods w/ @USGS research geologist Jim O’Connor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SprSBlN01U … #AmSciTalks pic.twitter.com/Lv54AJGn2u- New link for today's Q & A session with Jim O'Connor, a geologist with @USGS https://sigmaxi.adobeconnect.com/floods/ #AmSciTalks
How does climate change affect where and when we see major floods? Find out now in our live broadcast! https://sigmaxi.adobeconnect.com/floods/ #AmSciTalks pic.twitter.com/8PJKubfPXq- Major flood ingredients: places with high rainfall and relief in topography. Flood hot spots include Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Texas #AmSciTalks
- Jim O'Connor @USGS has studied dam removal and dam breaches. They can shape landscapes. #AmSciTalks
- Dam removals are seen as a way to restore a river's natural ecological functions. We're studying if that's true --Jim O'Connor #AmSciTalks
- It seems river ecosystems are restored after dam removal. Some can't return to original system due to other factors --J O'Connor #AmSciTalks
Today's #AmSciTalks speaker Jim O'Connor is a geologist with @USGS and a @SigmaXiSociety distinguished lecturer https://profile.usgs.gov/oconnor/ pic.twitter.com/rpxARW0M7F- By better understanding dam removal we hope to help improve dam construction, such as minimizing ecosystem impacts --J O'Connor #AmSciTalks
- How can we better prevent destructive floods? Find out now in our live broadcast with @USGS Jim O'Connor https://sigmaxi.adobeconnect.com/floods/ #AmSciTalks
- Geologists look at geologic record to understand flood frequency. Some areas have long-term records, some don't. -J O'Connor #AmSciTalks
- What is Jim O'Connor's #FieldWorkWin moment? Learning new processes that impact rivers first hand, rather than in a model #AmSciTalks @USGS
- Today's broadcast Geology and Geography of Floods with Jim O'Connor @USGS has ended. Thanks for watching! #AmSciTalks
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