Current News

Connecticut College professor to present river erosion research to The Geological Society of America

Professor Doug Thompson

October 08, 2007

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.

To read more about Thompson and his research, visit: CC:online.

-CC-

For more information contact: Amy Sullivan (860) 439-2526; amy.sullivan@conncoll.edu