Breadcrumb

INSTAAR lab: 303 492-5075
Benson Earth Sciences office: 303 492-8437
Bio
My primary scholarly interests focus on gaining an improved understanding of how the physical earth system operates.
Toward this end, I am specifically interested in using the Quaternary as a means to reconstruct the coupled ocean/atmospheric/ice climate system. By reconstructing past environmental changes it is possible to get a better understanding of the rates and magnitude of natural climate variability and the various feedback mechanisms in the global climate system. I am also interested in the role of humans in the modification of landscapes and ecosystem on Quaternary timescales.
Education
- PhD: University of Colorado Boulder, 1975
Awards
- Distinguished Professor, University of Colorado System, 2021
- Distinguished Career Award, American Quaternary Association, 2018
- Elected Fellow, American Geophysical Union, 2009
- Elected Foreign Member, Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, 2008
- Easterbrook Distinguished Scientist Award, Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division, Geological Society of America, 2005
- Elected Fellow, Geological Society of America, 1986
Research
My present research is on Quaternary stratigraphy and dating methods; amino acid geochronology and cosmogenic exposure dating; and glacial history of the Arctic, focusing on glacial chronology and ice-sheet dynamics using direct field evidence and quantitative estimates of the timing and magnitude of warm times in the Arctic. I also have research interests in monsoons on Quaternary time scales and the causes of megafauna extinctions.
Publications
Recent publications
Molecular exploration of fossil eggshell uncovers hidden lineage of giant extinct bird
Grealy A; Miller GH; Phillips MJ; Clarke SJ; Fogel M; Patalwala D; Rigby P; Hubbard A; Demarchi B; Collins M...
- Grealy A
- Miller GH
- Phillips MJ
- Clarke SJ
- Fogel M
- Patalwala D
- Rigby P
- Hubbard A
- Demarchi B
- Collins M
Publication Date: 2023-02-28
Type: Journal Article
Terrestrial evidence for ocean forcing of Heinrich events and subglacial hydrologic connectivity of the Laurentide Ice Sheet
Publication Date: 2022-10-21
Type: Journal Article
Intact Polar brGDGTs in Arctic Lake Catchments: Implications for Lipid Sources and Paleoclimate Applications
Publication Date: 2022-10-01
Type: Journal Article
Aquatic and Terrestrial Plant Contributions to Sedimentary Plant Waxes in a Modern Arctic Lake Setting
Publication Date: 2022-08-01
Type: Journal Article
Control of Short-Stature Vegetation Type on Shallow Ground Temperatures in Permafrost Across the Eastern Canadian Arctic
Publication Date: 2022-07-01
Type: Journal Article
Last interglacial lake sediments preserved beneath Laurentide and Greenland Ice sheets provide insights into Arctic climate amplification and constrain 130 ka of ice-sheet history
MILLER GIFFORDH; WOLFE ALEXANDERP; AXFORD YARROW; BRINER JASONP; BUELTMANN HELGA; CRUMP SARAH; FRANCIS DONNA; FRECHETTE ...
- MILLER GIFFORDH
- WOLFE ALEXANDERP
- AXFORD YARROW
- BRINER JASONP
- BUELTMANN HELGA
- CRUMP SARAH
- FRANCIS DONNA
- FRECHETTE BIANCA
- GORBEY DEVON
- KELLY MEREDITH
Publication Date: 2022-06-09
Type: Journal Article
Near-universal trends in brGDGT lipid distributions in nature
Publication Date: 2022-05-20
Type: Journal Article
Modern Eastern Canadian Arctic Lake Water Isotopes Exhibit Latitudinal Patterns in Inflow Seasonality and Minimal Evaporative Enrichment
Gorbey DB; Thomas EK; Sauer PE; Raynolds MK; Miller GH; Corcoran MC; Cowling OC; Crump SE; Lovell K; Raberg JH...
- Gorbey DB
- Thomas EK
- Sauer PE
- Raynolds MK
- Miller GH
- Corcoran MC
- Cowling OC
- Crump SE
- Lovell K
- Raberg JH
Publication Date: 2022-05-01
Type: Journal Article
Southern Baffin Island mean annual precipitation isotopes modulated by summer and autumn moisture source changes during the past 5800 years
Gorbey DB; Thomas EK; Crump SE; Hollister K; Raynolds MK; Raberg JH; Sepulveda J; Miller GH; De Wet G...
- Gorbey DB
- Thomas EK
- Crump SE
- Hollister K
- Raynolds MK
- Raberg JH
- Sepulveda J
- Miller GH
- De Wet G
Publication Date: 2021-11-03
Type: Journal Article
Pulsebeat of early Holocene glaciation in Baffin Bay from high-resolution beryllium-10 moraine chronologies
Publication Date: 2021-09-21
Type: Journal Article
Recurrent outburst floods and explosive volcanism during the Younger Dryas-Early Holocene deglaciation in south Iceland: evidence from a lacustrine record
Publication Date: 2021-07-12
Type: Journal Article
Revised fractional abundances and warm-season temperatures substantially improve brGDGT calibrations in lake sediments
Publication Date: 2021-06-17
Type: Journal Article
Ancient plant DNA reveals High Arctic greening during the Last Interglacial
Crump SE; Frechette B; Power M; Cutler S; de Wet G; Raynolds MK; Raberg JH; Briner JP; Thomas EK; Sepulveda J...
- Crump SE
- Frechette B
- Power M
- Cutler S
- de Wet G
- Raynolds MK
- Raberg JH
- Briner JP
- Thomas EK
- Sepulveda J
Publication Date: 2021-03-30
Type: Journal Article
David Quentin Bowen: A memorial
Andrews JT; Bridgland DR; Clark PU; Cronin TM; Hillaire-Marcel C; Maddy D; Miller GH; Muhs DR; Murray-Wallace CV...
- Andrews JT
- Bridgland DR
- Clark PU
- Cronin TM
- Hillaire-Marcel C
- Maddy D
- Miller GH
- Muhs DR
- Murray-Wallace CV
Publication Date: 2020-12-15
Type: Journal Article
Holocene history of landscape instability in Iceland: Can we deconvolve the impacts of climate, volcanism and human activity?
Publication Date: 2020-12-01
Type: Journal Article
Glacier expansion on Baffin Island during early Holocene cold reversals
Publication Date: 2020-08-01
Type: Journal Article
Reply to Carlson (2020) comment on "Deglaciation of the Greenland and Laurentide ice sheets interrupted by glacier advance during abrupt coolings"
Young NE; Briner JP; Schaefer JM; Miller GH; Lesnek AJ; Crump SE; Thomas EK; Pendleton SL; Cuzzone J; Lamp J...
- Young NE
- Briner JP
- Schaefer JM
- Miller GH
- Lesnek AJ
- Crump SE
- Thomas EK
- Pendleton SL
- Cuzzone J
- Lamp J
Publication Date: 2020-07-15
Type: Journal Article
Lipid Biomarkers Quantify Holocene Summer Temperature and Ice Cap Sensitivity in Icelandic Lakes
Publication Date: 2020-02-16
Type: Journal Article
Deglaciation of the Greenland and Laurentide ice sheets interrupted by glacier advance during abrupt coolings
Young NE; Briner JP; Miller GH; Lesnek AJ; Crump SE; Thomas EK; Pendleton SL; Cuzzone J; Lamp J; Zimmerman S...
- Young NE
- Briner JP
- Miller GH
- Lesnek AJ
- Crump SE
- Thomas EK
- Pendleton SL
- Cuzzone J
- Lamp J
- Zimmerman S
Publication Date: 2020-02-01
Type: Journal Article
Vegetation response to climate warming across multiple interglacials inferred from High Arctic lake sediment
Crump S; Fréchette B; Miller G; Power M; De Wet G; Thomas E; Sepulveda Arellano J; Briner J; Bounce M...
- Crump S
- Fréchette B
- Miller G
- Power M
- De Wet G
- Thomas E
- Sepulveda Arellano J
- Briner J
- Bounce M
Type: Conference Proceeding
The influence of anoxia on downcore brGDGT paleotemperature reconstructions – evidence over the Holocene from Baffin Island lake sediment records
Type: Conference Proceeding
Assessing Change in Summer Arctic Moisture Source and Aridity over the Past 7,000 Years Using Leaf Wax δ2H in Baffin Island Lake Sediment
Type: Conference Proceeding
Distinguishing the Sources of brGDGTs at Lake Qaupat, Baffin Island Using Intact Polar Lipids
Type: Conference Proceeding
Hudson Bay was not deglaciated during MIS-3
Publication Date: 2019-12-01
Type: Journal Article
The age of Wolfe Creek meteorite crater (; Kandimalal; ), Western Australia
Publication Date: 2019-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Pages
Teaching
Current courses
- GEOL 5420: Quaternary Dating Methods
- CVEN 5838-001: Rockfalls and Avalanches
Past courses
- GEOL 1060-003: Global Change: An Earth Science Perspective
- GEOL 5700: Holocene Nonlinearities
- GEOL 3040-003: Geological Record of Global Change
- GEOL 5420-003: Quaternary Geochronology/Quaternary Stratigraphy
- GEOL 5700-001: Volcanism in the Arctic System

• Paleoclimatology • Organic geochemistry • Quaternary research • Spectroscopy
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Outreach
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