Professors Participate in Global Conference

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Posted: Jun 1, 2001

Three scientists-Stephen Martel, Fred Mackenzie and GeoffreyGarrison-from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa are taking part in "EarthSystems Processes," a global symposium in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The conference will be held June 24-June 28 and is an effort to joinscientists from several different disciplines to explain the earth's processesand evolution. It will be co-convened by the Geological Societies of Americaand London.

Earth System Processes and Earth System Evolutionwill be the linked themes of the four-day conference. It will commencewith two keynote addresses from eminent University of Edinburgh scientists:Aubrey Manning, Emeritus Professor of Natural History, renowned zoologist,and creator of the highly praised BBC documentary series 'Earth Story,'and Geoffrey Boulton, Regius Professor of Geology and earth scientist knownfor his holistic view of Earth processes and history.

Dr. Stephen Martel, Associate Professor in the Department of Geologyand Geophysics at UH, will present his talk, "Growth of Normal Faultsto the Surface in Basalt" at the conference. This presentation revolvesaround observations of the faults, fissures and scarps on Kilauea Volcanoand how they developed. A comparison is drawn between depth-created andsurface-created basalt formations.

Dr. Fred Mackenzie, Professor of Oceanography and Geology & Geophysicsin the School of Ocean and Earth Science Technology (SOEST) at UH, willgive a presentation on "Global Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorous BiogeochemicalCycles: Human Modifications, Feedbacks, and Climate Change." In hisdiscussion, he will present model calculations on how those elements haveaffected the Earth's climate, water and soil thus far, and will projectthe effects into the year 2040.

Geoffrey Garrison, a graduate assistant in SOEST, will present his "SeaLevel Change and Deforestation on the Ewa Plain of O'ahu During PolynesianSettlement: A Case for Coincidence." He will focus on the causes forthe deforestation and change in climate on the Ewa Plain of O'ahu. Archaeologistsusually attribute the deforestation of the Plain to the Polynesians' arrivalbetween 1300 and 600 years ago. However, Garrison's 1997 study of saltwaterpond sediment suggests that it was more accurately a result of a changein the sea level.