Shanan Peters

My current research emphasis involves quantifying the rock record at continental and global scales in order to better understand Earth history and the role that the formation and destruction of rocks plays in governing the co-evolution of the Earth-life system. Specifically, I use macrostratigraphy to test hypotheses that span a range of Earth systems, including the evolution of marine and terrestrial life, the carbon cycle and global climate, and cycling rates of geologic materials via tectonic uplift and subsidence. Macrostratigraphy is cool, but I really live for and enjoy sed-paleo in the field. Some exploits include: 1) Disseminated carbonates and whole-rock geochemistry in the Bakken [html][pdf] 2) Eocene marine sequence stratigraphy, climate change and vertebrate taphonomy in Egypt [pdf, pdf] 3) Maastrichtian terrestrial stratigraphy, paleogeomorphology, and vertebrate taphonomy in India [pdf] Students interested in field-oriented paleo-strat problems and anyone who are skilled in programming and quantitative analysis of geospatial and other geological data should drop by. There’s a lot to do.