Roderic A.
Parnell, Jr., Ph.D.
Chair and Director, Center for Environmental Sciences & Education
Director,
Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
Professor,
Geology and Environmental Sciences
Brief biographical sketch:
Rod
Parnell is Professor of Geology and Environmental Sciences at Northern Arizona
University, Chair of the Center for Environmental Sciences and Education,
and Director of the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. He
received his Ph.D. in Geology from Dartmouth College in 1982. Rod has been
a faculty member at St. Lawrence University, the University of Virginia, and
Northern Arizona University. He has chaired the Geology Department and the
Environmental Sciences Program while at NAU. He has published extensively
on the effects of acid rain, volcanic emissions, and sulfide mineral deposits
on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and on the biogeochemistry and geomorphology
of Southwestern US rivers. Rod works with the Grand Canyon Monitoring and
Research Center of the U.S. Geological Survey, performing biogeochemical and
geomorphological research and monitoring to aid in adaptive management of
Glen Canyon Dam and the Colorado River's flow through Grand Canyon. He has
a long-term interest in the impacts of acid deposition, acid mine drainage,
and acid rock drainage on the ecosystems of the San Juan and La Plata Mountains.
Rod has received over five million dollars in research support from federal
agencies including the National Science Foundation, the Environmental Protection
Agency, the US Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Reclamation,
the US Geological Survey, as well as the Electric Power Research Institute,
The Norwegian Institute of Water Research, the Colombian National Science
Foundation, mining companies, and numerous state and private organizations.
He has supervised 21 undergraduate research projects and has had 28 graduate
students complete their theses and degrees under his direction.
Rod is the Director of the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies
Unit. This unit coordinates environmental research funded by the Departments
of Interior and Agriculture on the Colorado Plateau. It is part of a nationwide
network of 12 CESUs. Through the CPCESU, over 400 awards totaling over $27M
have gone to its 13 college and university partners spread across seven western
states. Rod serves as principal investigator for over 40 of these research
and administrative awards through the CPCESU totaling more than $ 2M, in addition
to his own research awards. He is a fan of both the
Boston Red Sox and the Arizona Diamondback, but is leaning a little more towards
the Red Sox this season..
Research projects for future students
include:
1)
a detailed examination of iron precipitates from acid rock vs acid
mine drainage sites in Colorado and Montana. The conversion
of the initial precipitate (schwertmanite) to the final stable phase (ferrihydrite)
releases a fair amount of trace metals back into solution.
I want to see what fluxes can be predicted as these piles of acid mine
waste are transformed.
2)
a continuation of Gwynn Holzschuh 's work along a chronosequence of
soils in basaltic scoria in Northern Arizona. We are
working with a group of foresters and ecologists to examine organic and inorganic
cycling in these soils. So far, Gwynn is working on
soil minerals, and another student is working on N and P mineralization.
There is still a lot to do here.
3)
an examination of the role of DOC on precipitation rates of travertine
in Fossil Creek, Arizona.
Research
Interests:
My
research program emphasizes the study of ecosystem response to physical and
chemical stresses and the application of these studies to resource management
activities. I am particularly interested in quantifying biogeochemical and
geomorphological responses to ecosystem changes. My focus is on ecosystem
responses to anthropogenic changes produced by dams, and by acidification
caused by acid deposition and acid mine drainage. In quantifying watershed
responses to these stresses, I utilize aspects of geochemistry, geomorphology,
hydrology, soil science, and systems modeling. My students, research associates
and I study the physical and chemical changes in riparian systems caused by
changing flow management schemes of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National
Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and of Fossil Creek in central
Arizona. In my acidification studies, I concentrate on alpine, sub-alpine,
and tundra environments, because of their sensitivities to acidification.
While
this type of research has the obvious advantage of introducing my students
to the skills necessary for academic or industrial work in environmental sciences,
I believe that it has fundamental academic implications. Only a multi-disciplinary
approach to ecosystems analysis will in the long run be successful, and I
see my contributions to understanding the hydrogeochemistry of watersheds
as an essential component to the determination of ecosystem response and function.
I
view all my research activities as applied, because of my commitment to bridging
the science/management interface. My activities directing the Colorado Plateau
Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit and my work with the adaptive management
of the Glen Canyon Dam have presented me with opportunities to critically
examine the science/resource management interface.
My
research techniques include field mapping and surveying, surface and ground
water flow analysis, and sampling and analysis of soils, water, and rocks.
In addition to standard techniques of water sampling and field analysis, I
use total station surveys to construct three-dimensional topographic maps
of field sites. I commonly employ laboratory techniques including x-ray powder
diffraction, infra-red and UV-VIS spectroscopy, electron microscopy, atomic
absorption spectrophotometry (flame and graphite furnace), ion chromatography,
and inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy. I compliment these analyses
with well constrained kinetic experiments in the laboratory to aid in interpretation
of field results. All my research projects involve graduate and undergraduate
students working cooperatively.
Research
Awards as principal investigator, last five years
-
Nina
Pulliam Charitable Trust. A comprehensive restoration and monitoring plan
for Fossil Creek: A model for dam removal in the 21st century. 2003-2006.
PI ($147,500 plus $140,000 in review).
-
U.S.
Geological Survey. Ecological and biological implications of experimental
management activities implemented by the Glen Canyon adaptive management
program. 2003-2005. P.I. ($511,493).
-
U.S.
Geological Survey. Long-Term Monitoring of Fine-Grained Sediment Storage
Throughout the Main Channel of the Colorado River Ecosystem. 2002-2005.
P.I. $649,205.
-
U.S.
Geological Survey. Analysis and Interpretation of Well-Cuttings from the
C-Aquifer, Williams , Arizona. 2002. P.I. ($8890).
-
U.S.
National Park Service. Photographic techniques used to determine geomorphological
processes proximal to cultural sites. 2000-2002. P.I. $50,000.
-
U.S.
Bureau of Land Management. A web-based, annotated bibliography of natural
resources materials held in NPS and BLM facilities. 2001-2003. P.I. $110,000.
-
U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation. Synthesis of Colorado River Camping Beach Studies.
2000-01. P.I. $24,855.
-
U.S.
National Park Service. Oblique stereo photogrammetry to quantify sand bar
volumes and terrace erosion rates along the Colorado River, Glen Canyon
National Recreation Area, Arizona. 2000-01. P.I. ($24,329).
-
U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation. Monitoring changes in fine-grained sediment deposits
throughout the Colorado River ecosystem in Glen, Marble, and Grand Canyons.
Original Proposal plus 7 supplementary proposals. 1998-01. P.I. ($813,692).
-
U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation. Evaluation of Backwater Rejuvenation along the Colorado
River in Grand Canyon.1998-99. P.I. ($39,892).
-
U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation. Monitoring changes in fine-grained sediment deposits
throughout the Colorado River ecosystem in Glen, Marble, and Grand Canyons.1997-98.
P.I. ($111,180).
-
Phelps
Dodge Mining Co. Attenuation and Natural Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage,
Iron King Mine, Verde Valley, Arizona. 1997-98. P.I. ($24,843).
-
Malusa, J,
Parnell, R. A. Jr., and Overby, S. 2003. Processes influencing travertine
precipitation and aquatic habitat formation, Fossil Creek, Az. Applied Geochemistry.
V.18: 1081-1094.
-
Chavez, L. J., Bain, E., Eastman, M.A., Parnell, R.A., Jr. and Porter, T.L.
2003. Non-covalent assembly of nitroxide spin labels in laponite films:
formation of a one dimensional Heisenberg ferromagnet. Langmuir, v.19: 1143-1147.
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Schmidt, J.C., Parnell, R.A., Jr., Grams, P.E., J.E. Hazel, M.A. Kaplinski,
L.E. Stevens, and T.L. Hoffnagle, 2001, The 1996 controlled flood in Grand
Canyon: hydrology, hydraulics, sediment transport, and geomorphic change:
Ecological Applications,v.11: 657-671.
-
Stevens,
L., Parnell, R. A., Jr. and 9 co-authors. 2001. Planned flooding and riparian
trade-offs: the 1996 Colorado River Planned Flood. Ecological Applications.v.11:
701-710.
-
Eastman,
M.P., Bain, E. Porter, T.L., Manygoats, K., Whitehorse, R., Parnell, R.A.,
and M.E. Hagerman. 2001. Transition metal exchanged hectorite as a reagent
in the formation of clay polymer composites. J. Polymer Sci.
-
Eastman,
M.P., Bain, E. Porter, T.L., Manygoats, K., Whitehorse, R., Parnell, R.A.,
and M.E. Hagerman. 2000. The formation of poly (methyl methacrylate) on
transition metal exchanged hectorite. Applied Clay Science.
-
Parnell,
R.A. Jr., Bennett, J., and L. Stevens, 1999. Floods bury riparian vegetation:
Impacts of the 1996 controlled flood of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon
on nutrient concentrations in bar/eddy complexes. in Webb, R.H., Schmidt,
J. S., Marzolf, G. R., and Valdez, R. A. (eds), The Controlled Flood in
Grand Canyon. AGU Geophysical Monograph 110, American Geophysical Union,
Washington , DC, pp. 225-240
-
. Hazel, J.
Jr., Kaplinski, M.A., Parnell, R.A. Jr., Manone, M., and A. Dale. 1999.
Effects of the 1996 beach/habitat-building flow on Colorado River sand bars
and sediment storage along the Colorado River Corridor, in Webb, R.H., Schmidt,
J. S., Marzolf, G. R., and Valdez, R. A. (eds), The Controlled Flood in
Grand Canyon. AGU Geophysical Monograph 110, American Geophysical Union,
Washington , DC, pp. 161-184.
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Parnell,
R.A., Jr. and Shirley, D. 1999. Geochemical and mineralogical evidence for
the estuarine origin of the Surprise Canyon Formation, Grand Canyon National
Park, Arizona, U.S.A. Chapter H., in Billingsley, George H., and Beus, Stanley
S., eds., Geology of the Surprise Canyon Formation of the Grand Canyon,
Arizona: Museum of Northern Arizona Bulletin 61, Northland Press, Flagstaff,
p. 119-136.
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Parnell,
R.A. Jr., Hazel, J. Jr., Kaplinski, M.A., Manone, M., Dale, A., Dexter,
L., and Ellsworth, J. 1997. Effects of the 1996 beach/habitat-building flow
on Colorado River sand bars and sediment storage along the Colorado River
Corridor, Grand Canyon, Az. in Patten, D. and Garrett, L. (ed.) Symposium
on the Glen Canyon Dam Beach/Habitat-Building Flow. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation/GCMRC,
Flagstaff, Az. pp. 11-18.
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Parnell,
R.A. Jr., Springer, A., Stevens, L., Bennett, J., Hoffnagle, T., Melis,
T. and Staniski-Martin, D. 1997.Flood-induced backwater rejuvenation along
the Colorado River Corridor in Grand Canyon, Az. in Patten, D. and Garrett,
L. (ed.) Symposium on the Glen Canyon Dam Beach/Habitat-Building Flow. U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation/GCMRC, Flagstaff, Az. pp. 41-51
-
. Parnell,
R.A. Jr., Springer, A., Bennett, J., Stevens, L. 1997. Effects of the 1996
Glen Canyon Dam controlled flood on nutrient spiraling along the Colorado
River Corridor in Grand Canyon, Az. in Patten, D. and Garrett, L. (ed.).
Symposium on the Glen Canyon Dam Beach/Habitat-Building Flow. U.S. Bureau
of Reclamation/GCMRC, Flagstaff, Az. pp.52-56
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. Rogensack,
K., Williams, S.N., Schaefer, S.J., and Parnell, R.A., Jr. 1996. Volatiles
from the 1994 eruptions of Rabaul, PNG-Understanding large caldera systems.
Science. v. 273: 490-493.
-
Blakey, R.
and Parnell, R.A., Jr. 1995. The record of Jurassic magmatism on the Colorado
Plateau: evidence from the Page Sandstone. in Miller, D. M. and Busby, C.
Jurassic Magmatism and Tectonics of the North American Cordillera, Geol.
Soc. Amer. Special Paper 299. Geol. Soc. Amer., Boulder, CO. 425 pp.
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Hartzell,
C. J., Yang, Szu-Wei, Parnell, R. A., Jr., and Morris, D.E. 1995. Sequestion
of the tributyl phosphate complex of Europium nitrate in the clay hectorite:
a 31P-NMR Study. J. Physical Chemistry , v. 99:4205-4210.
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Williamson,
M.A. and Parnell, R.A., Jr. 1994. Trace metal accumulation and diagenesis
in a high-elevation alkaline lake in the White Mountains of East-Central
Arizona, U.S.A. Applied Geochemistry, v.9:597-608.
Parnell, R.A., Jr. 1993. Hydrologic control of surface water disequilibria:
antecedent soil moisture conditions and their determination of soil solution
flow paths in a small, Norwegian watershed, Sogndal, Norway. Chem. Geology,
v. 105:101-115.
1993. P. Burkhart*. Hydrogeology
and hydrogeochemistry of the Lake Shred Catchments, Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania.
Ph.D. (with Carl Moses, Lehigh University).
1993. S. Griffith. Geochemistry and reaction-path modelling of N-Aquifer system,
Hopi Indian Reservation, Arizona. M.S.
1993. W. A. Meyer. Natural geochemical processes of acid rock drainage: East
Manco River, La Plata Mountains,Co. M.S.
1995. E. Tso. Hydrologic and geotechnical evaluation of a potential regional
municipal solid waste landfill, Navajo Reservation, Northeastern Arizona.
M.S.
1996. J. T. Kostalek. Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Tertiary Playa Sediments
of the Aubrey Hills, Mohave County, Arizona. M.S.
1996. J. B. Bennett. Nutrient Spiraling along the Colorado River in the Grand
Canyon. M.S.
1997. K. Cumming. Origin of high CO2 groundwaters, Chimayo, NM. M.S.
1998. J. Malussa. Travertine deposition and CO2-degassing along Fossil Creek,
Arizona. M.S.
1999. D.A. Strength. Rates of travertine deposition in a CO2-rich environment,
the Little Colorado River below Blue Springs. M.S.
1999. B. Gilbert*. Integrated Hydrogeochemical Model of Nutrient Flux through
beaches along the Colorado River, Grand Canyon National Park. M.S. (with Abe
Springer).
1999. S. Rogers. Natural attenuation of acid mine drainage, Verde Valley,
Arizona. M.S.
2001. A. Schroth. Effectiveness of waste rock removal in remediation of acid
mine drainage, Alta Mine, Montana. M.S.
2003. A. Welty-Bernard. Biogeochemistry of hyporheic zone sediments within
three reattachment-bar complexes, Colorado River, Grand Canyon, Arizona. MS.
2004. N. Kramer. Depositional and resuspensional patterns of fine grained
sediments, Lake Powell, Ut and Az., M.S.
2004. G. Holzschuh. Mineralogical changes along a chronosequence in Quaternary
basalts, San Francisco Volcanic Field, Arizona. M.S.
in progress. K. Shinglemann. Clay mineral assemblages in the Quaternary and
Tertiary sediments of the Long Beach Basin, California. MS
From 1987-2004, I have directed
18 undergraduate theses/research projects and 3 graduate, non-thesis research
projects.
Undergraduate courses
acid rain: causes, impacts, solutions3
advanced environmental geology3
communicating science,
senior ENV capstone course 3
environmental geology 1,3
geologic disasters3
geology for planning 1
geologic disasters 3
global chemical cycles 2
global tectonics 2
Grand Canyon field geology3
hydrogeology 1
hydrology 1
introduction to environmental sciences 3
introductory geology 1,3
investigation and remediation of mining impacts 3
physical and chemical processes in the environment3
physical geology 3
sedimentary petrology 3
views of the landscape 1
water resources in the Southwestern U.S. 3
water resources: science and policy 3
Graduate
clay mineralogy 2,3
early diagenesis 2
geochemistry of natural waters 2,3
methods of environmental
chemical analysis 2
science/policy interface
seminar3
shale petrology 3
thermodynamics for geologists 3
Intermediate environmental methods 3
1 St. Lawrence University
2 University of Virginia 3
Northern Arizona University