Dr. Roderic A. Parnell, Jr.

Rod Parnell 230px
Professor

Education

Ph.D. Dartmouth College, 1982
M.S. University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1977
A.B. Middlebury College, 1975

Contact

Office: Frier Hall (bldg #12), room 207; Applied Research Development (bldg #56), room 124
Phone: 928-523-3329
Email: Rod.Parnell@nau.edu

Research interests

Rod is coordinator of academic sustainability programs, Professor of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, and chair of the Environmental Caucus at Northern Arizona University. The caucus consists of over 400 students, faculty, staff, and community members, committed to creative and strategic communication to advance the institutional commitment to sustainability (environmental caucus at Northern Arizona University). He has been a faculty member and developer of, and administrator in, interdisciplinary earth sciences and environmental programs offering BA, BS, MS, and PhD degrees. Rod has been a faculty member at St. Lawrence University, the University of Virginia, and Northern Arizona University. His current research focuses on the application of biogeochemistry and geomorphology to the sustainable management of river systems in the Western US, and on the transformation of environmental curricula to incorporate more sustainability learning outcomes. He has also worked extensively on the effects of acid rain, volcanic emissions, and sulfide mineral deposits on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. As the founding director of the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit, he worked to integrate federally funded environmental research across the Colorado Plateau and assisted in the establishment of a national network of CESUs.  He has been the chair and the director of several earth sciences and environmental academic programs.

Publications

Nathan D. Schott, Helen C. Fairley, Joseph E. Hazel, Jr., Matt Kaplinski, and Roderic A. Parnell. 2012, Gully Monitoring in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, 1996 to 2010 with Emphasis on Documenting Effects of the March 2008 High-Flow Experiment. US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011-XXXX

Kaplinski, M., J. Hazel, J.E., Parnell, R. A., Jr., and N. Schott. 2008. Campsite Area Monitoring in the Colorado River Ecosystem, 1998-2006, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. Coming Together: Coordination of Science and Restoration Activities for the Colorado River Ecosystem. US Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5135. 12pp.

Kaplinski, M., J. Hazel, J.E., Parnell, R. A., Jr., Breedlove, Michael, and Keith Kohl. 2009. Monitoring Fine-Sediment Volume in the Colorado River Ecosystem, Arizona, Bathymetric Survey Techniques.  USGS Open File Report 2009-1207. 33pp.

Hazel, Joseph, E., Jr., Kaplinski, M., Parnell, R., Kohl, K. and Schmidt, J. 2008. Monitoring fine-grained sediment in the Colorado River ecosystem, Arizona: control network and conventional survey techniques.  U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1276.

Hazel, Joseph E. Jr., Kaplinski, M., Parnell, R.A. Jr., and Fairley, H.C. 2008. Aggradation and Degradation of the Palisades Gully Network, 1996 to 2005, with Emphasis on the November 2004 High-Flow Experiment, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. U.S. Geological Survey. Open-File Report 2008-1264.

Kaplinski, M., Hazel, J.E. Jr., Parnell, R.A. Jr., Breedlove, M, and Schmidt, J.C.  2007. Integrating Bathymetric, Topographic, and LiDAR Surveys of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon to Assess the Effect of a Flow Experiment From Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River Ecosystem.  Hydrographic Society of America, proceeding of national meeting, Norfolk, VA.  22pp.

Springer, A.E., Stevens, L.E., Anderson, D.E., Parnell, R.A. Jr., Kreamer, D.K., and Flora, S.P. 2007. Comprehensive Springs Classification System: Integrating Geomorphic, Hydrogeochemical and Ecological Criteria. in Every Last Drop: Ecology and Conservation of Springs in Arid North America. University of Arizona Press. 

For a complete list of publications and additional information, please download Rod Parnell's CV.