Sophie Baker

Assistant Research Scientist, Geomorphology

Phone

775-673-7462

E-Mail

Sophie.Baker@dri.edu

Campus

Reno Campus

Division

Earth and Ecosystem Sciences

Professional Interests

Ms. Baker’s research interests lie in Quaternary geology and geomorphology, with a focus on arid and semi-arid environments. Her master’s thesis research comprised field and office-based geomorphic analysis of a section of the Andean foreland in Argentina. This project involved the use of field mapping and surveying, cosmogenic nuclide (10Be) dating, and tephra correlation to determine the stratigraphy, paleo-long profiles, and chronological framework of a suite of piedmont river terraces formed by one of the major rivers draining the southern central Andes. Currently, her work focuses on luminescence dating of geologic materials for landscape evolution and surface process research questions. She is also interested in graphic design and illustration for science purposes and offers these services acrossDRI.

Research Areas

Quaternary geology
Luminescence dating of geologic materials
Landscape evolution
Fluvial and tectonic geomorphology
Desert soils and soil-landform relations
X-ray diffraction analysis of soils, sediments, and rocks

Education

Degree	Year	Institution	Area
M.S.	2005	Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada	Earth Sciences
B.S.	2001	Trinity College Dublin, Ireland	Geology

Keywords

adobe,editing,graphics,illustration,illustrator,indesign,photoshop, luminescence, OSL, geochronology, XRD

Publications

2015

May, J., Wells, S. G., Cohen, T. J., Marz, S. K., Nanson, G. C., Baker, S. E. (2015). A soil chronosequence on Lake Mega-Frome beach ridges and its implications for late Quaternary pedogenesis and paleoenvironmental conditions in the drylands of southern Australia, Quaternary Research, 83 (1)

Lancaster, N., Baker, S. E., Bacon, S. N., McCarley-Holder, G. (2015). Owens Lake dune fields: Composition, sources of sand, and transport pathways, Catena, 134, 41-49
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2015.01.003

Keen-Zebert, A. K., Baker, S. E. (2015). Luminescence dating of sediment from sand dunes at Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Reserve. California State University, Stanislaus.

Keen-Zebert, A. K., Baker, S. E., Adams, K. D., Bacon, S. N. (2015). Luminescence dating of sediment from beach deposits of the Pleistocene highstand of Owens Lake: DRI

Keen-Zebert, A. K., Baker, S. E. (2015). Luminescence dating results: Trench 2, Anderson Dam, Morgan Hill, CA. l

Keen-Zebert, A. K., Baker, S. E. (2015). Luminescence dating of sediment from the City of San Francisco’s southeast water pollution control plant building 521 replacement project.

Keen-Zebert, A. K., Baker, S. E. (2015). Luminescence dating of sediment from the Stockton Bar, Salt Lake City, Utah.

2012

Engelbrecht, J. P., Gillies, J. A., Etyemezian, V. R., Kuhns, H. D., Baker, S. E., Zhu, D., Nikolich, G., Kohl, S. D. (2012). Controls on mineral dust emissions at four arid locations in the western USA, Aeolian Res., 6, 41-54

2010

Bacon, S. N., Dalldorf, G. K., McDonald, E. V., Baker, S. E., Sabol, D. E., Minor, T. B., Bassett, S., MacCabe, S. R., Bullard, T. F. (2010). Predictive soil maps based on geomorphic mapping, remote sensing, and soil databases in the desert southwestChapter : . In , 2008 3rd Global Workshop on Digital Soil Mapping: Bridging Research, Production, and Environmental Application

2009

Baker, S. E., Gosse, J. C., McDonald, E. V., Evenson, E. B., Martinez, O. (2009). Quaternary history of the piedmont reach of Rio Diamante, Argentina, Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 28, 54-73

2008

Bacon, S. N., McDonald, E. V., Baker, S. E., Caldwell, T. G., Stullenbarger, G. (2008). Desert terrain characterization of landforms and surface materials within vehicle test courses at US Army Yuma Proving Ground, USA, Journal of Terramechanics, 45 (5), 167-183, 10.1016/j.jterra.2008.09.005
://WOS:000264838500002

Conference Proceedings

2017

Antinao Rojas, J., Negrini, R. M., Maldonado, A., McDonald, E. V., Baker, S. E., Santibanez, I., Brown, N. D. (2017). A Coupled Lacustrine and Alluvial Fan Record for the Holocene of the Arid Southern Central Andes, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, 49 (2). 51st North-Central Annual Section Meeting, Geological Society of America: Pittsburgh, PA, March 21, 2017-March 21, 2017, Session No. 53, 10.1130/abs/2017NE-290266

2014

Keen-Zebert, A. K., Baker, S. E. (2014). Comparison of Single- and Multi-Grain Quartz Luminescence Ages from Terraces in the Buffalo National River, Arkansas. 14th International Luminescence and Electron Spin Dating Conference and Workshop: Montreal, Canada

Lancaster, N., Bacon, S. N., Baker, S. E., Holder, G. A. (2014). Owens Lake dune fields: composition, sources of sand, and transport pathways, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, 46 (6), Paper No. 121-3.

2012

McAlpine, J. D., Koracin, D. R., Bacon, S. N., Baker, S. E., McDonald, E. V. (2012). Development of an operational predictive tool for visibility degradation and brownout caused by rotorcraft dust entrainment. Weather Impacts Decision Aids (WIDA) Workshop, Abstract with Programs: Reno, NV, March 13, 2012-March 15, 2012

2009

Bacon, S. N., McDonald, E. V., Dalldorf, G., Baker, S. E., Sabol, D. E., Minor, T. B., Bassett, S., MacCabe, S. R., Bullard, T. F. (2009). Predictive terrain hazard maps for military operations in the desert based on geomorphic mapping, remote sensing, and soil databases [abstract], 14. 8th International Conference on Military Geosciences, Abstracts with Programs: Vienna, Austria, June 15, 2009-June 19, 2009

2008

Bacon, S. N., McDonald, E. V., Dalldorf, G., Baker, S. E., Sabol, D. E., Minor, T. B., Bassett, S., MacCabe, S. R., Bullard, T. F. (2008). An expert based system to predict soil attributes using geomorphic mapping, remote sensing, and soil databases in the desert southwest USA [abstract]. European Geological Union, EGU2008-A-10709; SSS25-1FR5P-0669, Abstract XY0669

Dalldorf, G., Bacon, S. N., McDonald, E. V., Baker, S. E., Sabol, D. E., Minor, T. B., Bassett, S., MacCabe, S. R., Bullard, T. F. (2008). Predictive soil maps based on geomorphic mapping, remote sensing, and soil databases in the desert southwest, 10 p.. 3rd Global Workshop on Digital Soil Mapping, Paper in Session 6.

Bacon, S. N., Dalldorf, G. K., McDonald, E. V., Baker, S. E., Sabol, D. E., Minor, T. B., Bassett, S., MacCabe, S. R., Bullard, T. F. (2008). Predictive soil maps based on geomorphic mapping, remote sensing, and soil databases in the desert southwest. 2008 European Geosciences Union Congress: Vienna, Austria

2007

Bacon, S. N., McDonald, E. V., Baker, S. E., Caldwell, T. G., Stullenbarger, G. (2007). Desert terrain characterization of landforms and surface cover within vehicle test courses at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, USA [abstract]. Proceedings of the Joint North American, Asia-Pacific ISTVS Conference and Annual Meeting of Japanese Society for Terramechanics: Fairbanks, AK, June 3, 2007-June 6, 2007, Session 41 Terrain Impacts, talk and short paper.