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by Sue Kropp
Biographical
Information:
• B.A.,
Colgate University (geology)
•
Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz (earth science)
Related Links:
Department
of Geology
DECEMBER 17, 2002--Assistant Professor of Geology Laura Moore never imagined that her career would center around frequent trips to the beach. But that's exactly where the newest member of Oberlin's geology department does her fieldwork, studying the processes that change the Earth's coastal environments.
"I enjoy working in a field that has a direct application on people's lives," Moore says. "Right now, approximately 60 percent of the world's population lives within 100 kilometers of the coastline. It is interesting to consider all of the factors that can alter this environment, and how they operate together."
Currently, Moore is studying a part of Washington State's coastline that, until recently, was growing seaward. Using technology to "see" a record of growth under the ground, she can chart the beach's growth over time and relates it to climate variables such as the occurrence of El Niño and La Niña events which bring severe winter storms to the Pacific Northwest.
"This study suggests that annual variability in climate can affect the rate of coastal evolution over longer time scales," says Moore. "By studying the historical effects of climate variability on coastal areas, we can develop hypotheses regarding the effect of climate change on coastal systems in the future."
A Q&A with Laura Moore:
Please send comments, questions, and suggestions about Oberlin Online news and feature articles to online.news@oberlin.edu.
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