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Connecticut College professor to present river erosion research to The Geological Society of America
October 08, 2007
NEW LONDON, Conn. - Doug Thompson, professor of physics, astronomy and geophysics at Connecticut College, will present his research on river erosion at the 119th annual meeting of The Geological Society of America in Denver Oct. 27 - 31.
Thompson and Craig McCarrick, a 2007 graduate of Connecticut College, researched the different effects that variously shaped obstructions have on a river´s erosion. For example, Thompson said, two differently shaped boulders of approximately the same size would both cause erosion and create deeper areas in some parts of a river. Thompson and McCarrick concluded, however, that even though each object blocks the same percentage of river´s width, the size and depth of the pools created are different because of the shape of the object.
The pools created by this type of erosion, Thompson said, are important habitat areas and, for that reason, are of particular interest to researchers.
Established in 1888, The Geological Society of America provides access to elements that are essential to the professional growth of earth scientists at all levels of expertise and from all sectors: academic, government, business, and industry. Nearly 6,300 geoscientists are expected to attend this year´s annual meeting.
Among the most selective private liberal arts colleges in the nation, Connecticut College enrolls 1,900 men and women from 41 states, the District of Columbia and 75 countries. The college is known for putting the liberal arts into action through interdisciplinary studies, international programs, funded internships, student-faculty research and service learning. Founded in 1911, the college operates under an 86-year-old honor code. The college is located at 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, about two hours by car from Boston and New York. The 750-acre campus is an arboretum overlooking Long Island Sound. For more information, visit www.connecticutcollege.edu.
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For more information contact: Amy Sullivan (860) 439-2526; amy.sullivan@conncoll.edu