Kyle Nichols
Kyle came to ¶¶Òõ̽̽ in 1998 to investigate the human impacts on landscape
change. He employed research techniques using cosmogenic isotopes,
10Be
and
26Al, to explore the arid landscapes of desert piedmonts in the
Mojave Desert, large drainage basins in Namibia and Panama, and desert
pavements in Arizona. He also used
10Be and
26Al to date a large
prehistoric landslide, the Blackhawk, in the Mojave Desert.
PhD dissertation (University of Vermont, 2002)
Quantifying desert surface processes using 10Be and
26Al: Background and human-induced rates of landscape change, Mojave
Desert, California
download PhD dissertation defense slides (
ppt) (
pdf)
download
pdf of PhD dissertation
MS Thesis (University of Vermont, 2000)
A multi-scale approach to understanding desert piedmonts using
cosmogenic isotopes and centimeter-scale surveying
download pdf of MS thesis proposal
download pdf of MS thesis progress report
download MS thesis defense slides, Part A:
(
ppt) (
pdf),
Part B:
(
ppt) (
pdf)
download
pdf of MS thesis
Honors and Awards
University of Vermont, Outstanding Research
and Scholarship Award, 2002
Desert Research Institute, Jonathon
O. Davis Award, 2001
Geological Society of America, J. Hoover Mackin
Award, 2002
Undergraduate Degree
University of Washington, B.S. Geological
Sciences, 1996
Related Links
Current Position and Contact Information (7/2018)
Associate Professor of Geosciences
Department of Geosciences
Skidmore College
815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY
12866
Refereed Papers
Hughes, A., Rood, D. H., Whittaker, A. C., Bell, R. E., Rockwell, T. K., Levy, Y., Wilcken, K. M., Corbett, L. B., DeVecchio, D. D.,
Bierman, P. R., Marshall, S. T., Gurrola, L. D. and Nicholson, C. (in review, 5/2018)
Geomorphic evidence for the geometry and slip rate of a young, emergent, thrust: Implications for hazard assessment and fault interaction in complex tectonic environments.
Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R. and Rood, D. H. (in revision, 2/2017) Cosmogenic
10Be and sediment budgets
reveal a multi-aged Grand Canyon. GEOLOGY.
Sosa., V., Bierman, P. R., Nichols, K. K. and Rood, D. H. (2016)
Long-term erosion rates of Panamanian drainage basins determined using in situ
10Be.
Geomorphology. v. 275, p. 1–15.
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R. and Rood, D. (2014)
10Be constrains the sediment sources and sediment yields to the Great Barrier Reef from the tropical
Barron River catchment, Queensland, Australia. Geomorphology. v. 224, p. 102–110.
Jungers, M. C., Bierman, P. R., Matmon, A., Nichols, K., Larsen, J. and
Finkel, R. (2009) Tracing hillslope sediment production and
transport with in situ and meteoric
10Be. Journal of Geophysical
Research – Earth Surface. v. 114(F4), p. F04020.
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Eppes, M. C., Caffee, M.,
Finkel, R. and Larsen, J. (2007) Timing of surficial process changes
down a Mojave Desert piedmont. Quaternary Research. v. 68(1), p. 151-161.
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Foniri, W. R., Gillespie,
A. R., Caffee, M. and Finkel, R. (2006) Dates and rates of arid region
geomorphic processes. GSA Today. v. 16(8), p. 4-11.
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Caffee, M., Finkel, R. and
Larsen, J. (2005) Cosmogenically enabled sediment budgeting. Geology. v.
33(2), p. 133-136.
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Eppes, M. C., Caffee, M.,
Finkel, R. and Larsen, J. (2005) Late Quaternary history of the
Chemehuevi Mountain piedmont, Mojave Desert, deciphered using 10Be and
26Al. American Journal of Science. v. 305(5), p. 345-368.
Persico, L. P., Nichols, K. K. and Bierman, P. R. (2005)
Tracking painted pebbles: short-term rates of sediment movement on four
Mojave Desert piedmont surfaces. Water Resources Research. v. 41(7), p.
W07004.
Bierman, P. R. and Nichols, K. (2004) Rock to sediment -
Slope to sea with 10Be - Rates of landscape change. Annual review of
Earth and Planetary Sciences. v. 32, p. 215-255.
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Persico, L., Bosley, A.,
Melillo, P. and Kurfis, J. (2003) Quantifying land use and urban runoff
changes through service learning hydrology projects. Journal of
Geoscience Education. v. 51(4), p. 365-372.
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Hooke, R. L., Clapp, E. and
Caffee, M. (2002) Quantifying sediment transport on desert piedmonts
using 10Be and 26Al. Geomorphology. v. 45(1-2), p. 105-125.
Clapp, E. M., Bierman, P. R., Nichols, K. K., Pavich, M. and
Caffee, M. (2001) Rates of sediment supply to arroyos from upland
erosion determined using in situ produced cosmogenic 10Be and
26Al: Quaternary Research. v. 55(2), p. 235-245.
Nichols, K. K. and Bierman, P. R. (2001) Fifty-four years of
ephemeral channel response to two years of intense World War II military
activity, Camp Iron Mountain, Mojave Desert, California. Geological
Society of America Reviews of Engineering Geology. v. 14, p. 123-136.
Gran, S., Nichols, K. and Bierman, P. R. (1999)
Teaching winter geohydrology using frozen lakes and snowy mountains.
Journal of Geoscience Education. v. 47(5), p. 420-447.
Abstracts
Darling, A. L., Whipple, K. X., Bierman, P. R., Forte, A. M., Heimsath, A. M., Nichols, K. K. and Clarke, B. (2018) Erosion rate patterns in the Grand Canyon and Grand Staircase predicted from rock strength patterns with new developments on the stream power incision model. GSA
Abstracts with Programs, RM/CD joint section meeting, Flagstaff, AZ. v. 50(5), Abstract 30-1. ()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R. and Rood, D. H. (2016) Sediment yields of Grand Canyon tributaries calculated over millennia and millions of years. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual Meeting, Denver, CO. v. 48(7), Abstract 301-7.
Darling, A., Whipple, K., Nichols, K. K., Clarke, B., Bierman, P. R. (2014) Rapid cosmogenic nuclide derived erosion rates on the Grand Staircase, southern Utah, USA: strong lithologic control on erosion patterns or an artifact of non-uniform distribution of quartz and cliff-slope topography. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia. v. 46(6), p. 241, Abstract 92-12. ()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R. and Rood, D. H. (2014) Millennial-scale sediment speeds down low-gradient desert piedmonts: new data from the goldstone piedmont, Mojave desert. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia. v. 46(6), p. 801, Abstract 332-11. ()
Nichols, K. and Bierman, P. R. (2014) 10Be constrains the sediment sources and sediment yields to the Great Barrier Reef from the tropical Barron River catchment, Queensland, Australia. EOS, AGU Fall meeting, San Francisco, CA. Abstract EP13F-05. ()
Sosa-Gonzalez, V., Bierman, P. R. and Nichols, K. K. (2013) Tropical erosion: the story of Panama. International Association of Geomorphologists Meeting, Paris. ()
Darling, A., Whipple, K. X., Nichols, K. K. and Bierman, P. R. (2013) Landscape evolution in the Grand Canyon region: insights from erosion rates and tributary stream profiles. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Boulder, CO. v. 45(7), p. 482, Abstract 198-3. ()
Darling, A., Whipple, K. X., Nichols, K. K., Karlstrom, K. E., Granger, D. and Bierman, P. R. (2012) Transient incision in layer-cake stratigraphy: cosmogenic rates and dates in the context of Glen Canyon. GSA Abstracts with Programs, RM section meeting, Albuquerque, NM. v. 44(6), p. 19, Abstract 10-7. ()
Darling, A., Whipple, K. X., Nichols, K. K. and Bierman, P. R. (2012) Exhumation and landscape evolution along the Colorado River: differentiating the roles of baselevel fall and lithologic heterogeneity. EOS, AGU Fall meeting, San Francisco, CA. Abstract EP51A-0967. ()
Nichols, K., Webb, R., Bierman, P. R. and Rood, D. (2011) Measurements of cosmogenic 10Be reveal rapid response of Grand Canyon tributary hillslopes to Colorado river incision. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Minneapolis, MN. v. 43(5), p. 274, Abstract 102-15. (download pdf)
Sosa-Gonzales, V., Bierman, P. R., Nichols, K. K. and Rood, D. (2011) Determining long term erosion rates in Panama - an application of 10Be. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Minneapolis, MN. v. 43(5), p. 274, Abstract 102-14. ()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Reusser, L., Portenga, E., Matmon, A. and
Rood, D. (2010) Dual 10Be isotope systems constrain the source of
sediment and rate of erosion for the tropical Barron River catchment,
Queensland, Australia. EOS, AGU Fall meeting, San Francisco, CA. Abstract EP33D-05. ()
Bierman, P. R., Reusser, L. J., Nichols, K. K., Matmon, A. and Rood, D.
(2009) Where is the sediment coming from and where is it going – a 10Be
examination of the northern Queensland escarpment, Australia. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Portland, OR. v. 41(7), p. 625, Abstract 244-39. ()
Bierman, P. R., Nichols, K. K., Matmon, A., Enzel, Y.,
Larsen, J. and Finkel, R. (2007) 10Be shows that Namibian drainage
basins are slowly, steadily and uniformly eroding. Quaternary
International. v. 167-168, p. 33. ()
Bierman, P. R., Nichols, K. K., Sullivan, C., Duxbury, J., and
Matmon, A. (2007) Little influence of grain size on cosmogenic
10Be concentration in river sediment. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Denver, CO. v. 39(6), p. 137, Abstract 53-4. ()
Jungers, M. C., Bierman, P. R., Matmon, A., Nichols, K. K.,
Larsen, J. and Finkel, R. C. (2007) Accepting our differences: The power
of amalgamation and 10Be as a geomorphic tracer for hillslope
soil transport. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Denver, CO. v. 39(6), p. 513, Abstract 190-7. ()
Nichols, K. K. and Bierman, P. R. (2007) Scratching beneath
the surface: Alluvial histories recorded in cosmogenic nuclide depth
profiles. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Denver, CO.
v. 39(6), p. 260, Abstract 93-4. ()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R. and Matmon, A. (2007)
Deconvolving semi-arid landscape histories: Insights from cosmogenic
nuclides. Quaternary International. v. 167–168, p. 305. ()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Matmon, A., Enzel, Y., Larsen,
J. and Finkel, R. C. (2007) Namibia: Interesting landscapes but
monotonous erosion rates. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Denver, CO. v. 39(6), p. 603, Abstract 225-2. ()
Nichols, K. K., Webb, R., Cleveland, K. M., Bierman, P. R.,
Finkel, R. and Larsen, J. (2007) The long and the short of it:
Millennial-scale and contemporary sediment yields of eastern Grand
Canyon. EOS, AGU Fall meeting, San Francisco, CA. v. 88(23), Abstract H44A-02 ()
Bierman, P. R., Nichols, K. K., Jungers, M., Larsen, J. and
Finkel, R. (2006) More than rates or dates: The power of amalgamation
when tracing landscape-scale processes with Be. Goldschmidt Conference
Abstracts. v. 17(18), p. A51. ()
Cleveland, M., Nichols, K. K., Webb, R. H., Bierman, P. R.,
Larsen, J. and Finkel, R. C. (2006) Asymmetric tributary erosion rates
of eastern Grand Canyon based on cosmogenic 10 Be. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Philadelphia, PA. v. 38(7), p. 282, Abstract 112-26. ()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Larsen, J., and Finkel, R. C.,
(2006) A 10Be view of tropical erosion: The Rio Chagres, A
steady supply of sediment in Panama. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Philadelphia, PA. v. 38(7), p. 97, Abstract 34-9. ()
Nichols, K. K. and Bierman, P. R. (2004) Using cosmogenic
nuclides to decipher desert piedmont surface histories and process
rates. Desert Surficial Processes and Landscape Dynamics on Military
Lands. Scientific Advances, New Challenges, & Technology Transfer
Workshop. p. 24. ()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Klepeis, K. and Wright, S. F.
(2004) Landslide data fix before non-geologists "fix" the landslide.
GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Denver, CO. v. 36(2), p. 142.
()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Eppes, M. C., Caffee,
M. W., Finkel, R. C. and Larsen, J. (2003) The speed and history of
piedmont sediment: XVI Inqua Congress Programs with Abstracts. p. 140, Abstract 38-9.
()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Eppes, M. C., Finkel,
R. C., Caffee, M. W. and Larsen, J. (2003) The life of desert piedmont
sediment: Sediment tracing using cosmogenic nuclides. GSA Abstracts with
Programs, Annual meeting, Seattle WA. v. 35(6), p. 333, Abstract 154-24. ()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Finkel, R. and Larsen, J.
(2003) Long-term erosion and sedimentation rates of the Rio Chagres basin
based on cosmogenic 10Be. International Scientific Symposium
The Rio Chagres: A Multi-Disciplinary Profile of a Tropical Watershed
Abstract Volume. ()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Persico, L. P., Larsen, J.,
Caffee, M. and Finkel, R. (2003) U.S. Army impacts on Mojave Desert
sediment, past and present. International Conference on Military Geology
and Geography, p. 47. ()
Bierman, P. R., Nichols, K. K., Clapp, E., Matmon, A., Caffee,
M. and Finkel, R. (2002) Tracking landscape scale sediment generation
and transport using 10Be and 26Al. Abstracts of Goldschmidt Conference,
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 66, p. A-77. ()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Larsen, J. and Finkel, R. C.
(2002) Sedimentation of the Panama Canal reservoir: Cosmogenic nuclide
estimates of background sediment yield. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Denver, CO. Abstract 233-14.()
Persico, L., Nichols, K. K. and Bierman, P. R. (2002) The
tortoise, the tank, and the sage: What really moves Mojave Desert
pebbles: GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Denver, CO. Abstract 123-14. ()
Kurfis, J., Bierman, P. R., Nichols, K., Persico, L. and
Melillo, P. (2001) Green university town succumbs to blacktop:
Quantifying the increase in impermeable surfaces and runoff through
time. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Boston, MA. v. 32, p.
A-179, Abstract 74-0. ()
Nichols, K. K. and Bierman, P. R. (2001) Birth and growth
processes of the Miller Brook gully, northern Vermont. GSA Abstracts with Programs, NE section meeting, Burlington, VT. v. 33, p. A-3, Abstract 3-0. ()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Hooke, R. L., Eppes, M. C.,
Persico, L., Caffee, M. and Finkel, R. (2001) Regular cosmogenic
nuclide dosing of sediment moving down desert piedmonts. EOS, AGU Fall meeting, San Francisco, CA. v. 82(47), Abstract H42D-0392. ()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R., Klepeis, K. and Wright, S. (2001)
Landslide initiation after drought. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Boston, MA. v. 32, p. A-440, Abstract 180-0. ()
Persico, L. P., Nichols, K. K. and Bierman, P. R. (2001)
Tracking painted pebbles in the Mojave: annual rates of sediment
transport and the impact of offroad vehicles. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Boston, MA. v. 33, p. A-439. ()
Bierman, P. R., Nichols, K. K., Clapp, E. M. and Caffee, M. W.
(2000) Army impacts on Desert Soils -- Comparing geologic rates of change
to those occasioned by General George S. Patton. American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of
America, Annual meeting. p. 74. ()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R. and Caffee, M. W. (2000) The
Blackhawk keeps its secrets: landslide dating using in situ 10Be.
GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Reno, NV. v. 32, p. A-400.
()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R. and Caffee, M. (1999)
Revisiting the pediment problem using 10Be and 26Al; a case study of
the Iron and Granite Mountain piedmonts, Mojave desert, California.
GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Denver, CO. v. 31, p. A-256.
()
Nichols, K. K., Bierman, P. R. and Caffee, M. (1999)
Long-term sediment dynamics of the Iron and Granite Mountain piedmonts,
Mojave Desert, California, USA. International Conference on Drainage
basin Dynamics and Morphology, Jerusalem, Israel. p. 47. ()
Nichols, K. K. and Bierman, P. R. (1998) Geomorphic response
to military training in the Mojave Desert. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Annual meeting, Toronto, Canada. v. 30, p. A-143. ()
Other Publications
Bierman, P. R., Clapp, E. M., Nichols, K. K., Gillespie, A. R. and Caffee, M. (2001) Using cosmogenic nuclide measurements in sediments to understand background rates of erosion and sediment transport
in Harmon, R. S. and Doe, W. M. eds. Landscape Erosion and Evolution Modelling, New York. Kluwer. p. 89-116. ()
Bierman, P. R., Wright, S. and Nichols, K. K. (1999) Slope stability and late Pleistocene/Holocene history, Northwestern Vermont. New England Intercollegiate Geologic Conference Guidebook.
()
Nichols, K., Bierman, P. R., Finkel, R. and Larsen, J. (2005) Long-Term (10 to 20 kyr) Sediment Generation Rates for the Upper Rio Chagres Basin Based on Cosmogenic 10Be. in Harmon, R. S., eds. The Rio Chagres: A Multidisciplinary Profile of a Tropical Watershed, Kluwer Academic Publishers. ()