Dr. Ken Adams

Title: Associate Research Professor
Affiliation: Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Location: DRI Reno
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 775.673.7345

Professional Interests

Dr. Adams' research interests lie in the fields of geomorphology and landscape dynamics. Specifically, he is interested in how different geomorphic systems, including fluvial, lacustrine, and alluvial, respond to changes in climate and active tectonic deformation. Recent research has focused on the geologic and geomorphic history of Lake Lahontan and on the isostatic rebound of this basin after the last major lake cycle. Of particular interest is the post-highstand history of lake-level fluctuations in the Lahontan Basin and how quickly this arid region responded to relatively minor climatic fluctuations. This research has important implications concerning the rates of hydrologic and landscape responses to perturbations and how climate change affected early humans in the Great Basin. Current research efforts also include investigating the dynamics and ecology of the Black Rock Playa and the recent geomorphic evolution of the Truckee and Walker rivers.

Research Areas

• Active Tectonics
• Geoarchaeology
• Geomorphology
• Paleoenvironmental Research and Quaternary Chronology
• River, Stream and Creek Restoration
• Spatial Analysis

Research Projects

• Assessment of Long-Term Channel Stability on the Lower Truckee River: Evaluating Stream Restoration Success
• Dynamics of the Black Rock Playa: Relationships between Recreational Use, Physical Processes, and Biological Environments
• Quantifying Paleo-Water Depth Estimates from Lacustrine Sedimentary Features
• Lake Tahoe Water Quality and Shore Erosion Study
• Late Quaternary history of the Walker River: The tale of a river with a split personality