Clastic Sedimentology | Geomorphology | Glacier Processes | Planetary Geology | Geologic Mapping
2021
Ph.D. Geosciences
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
2016
M.S. Geology
Iowa State University
2013
B.S. Earth Science
Northern Michigan University
I am currently working as a JPL Postdoctoral Scholar at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as part of the Mars 2020 Science Team and will be sailing with IODP Expedition 400 to NW Greenland in the fall of 2023.
I am a sedimentary geologist, geomorphologist, and geologic mapper. I have had the privilege of working in a wide range of geologic settings, on both Earth and Mars!
My research focuses on using the physical sedimentary record on Earth and Mars to understand how the surface of those planets has changed through time in response to geologic and climatic forces.
I strongly rely on both field observations and remotely sensed data in my work, but have also use geochemistry, geomagnetism, and data analysis tools to investigate specific hypotheses.
This work has allowed me to study the geologic history of some wonderful places across a large span of geologic time. These locations have included studying Paleozoic glacial deposits in former Gondwana (Argentina, Antarctica, and Australia), Quaternary glacial deposits in the United States, Iceland, and Greenland, and billions-year-old Martian sedimentary successions in Jezero Crater.
Massive diamictite of the Permo - Carboniferous Wynyard Formation, Tasmania
I am a clastic sedimentologist and geomorphologist who leverages the geologic records of past and present sedimentary systems to understand how the surfaces of Earth and Mars have evolved through time. Sedimentary records are our only source of information on past planetary surface processes and are therefore the primary source on the history of life as well as long- and short-term climate change.
My research methods are rooted in fundamental geologic observations including outcrop and core description, geologic mapping, and landform characterization. Much of my work is based on field-based sedimentologic and geomorphic observations. I supplement field-based observations with remotely sensed datasets and geochemical and mineralogical methods such as U-Pb detrital zircon geochronology. I am always looking to build on this foundation by incorporating new methods, such as environmental magnetism, to explore specific hypotheses.
I came to physical sedimentology by studying glaciers - beginning with their fundamental geomorphic processes, through the land systems they create, and ending with their sedimentary records from the Holocene back to the Paleozoic. One advantage of working with glacial systems is that they occur in a range of depositional environments spanning terrestrial, lacustrine, and marine settings. Therefore, my experience and interest in sedimentary processes and environments are broad and applicable to a wide range of depositional environments on both Earth and Mars.
Small-scale flutes, wee moraines, and a proglacial lake in front of the debris-rich margin of Blautukvíslarjökull, Iceland [photo taken July 2014]
The most beautiful dropstone I've ever seen! A granite clast penetrating fine sand layers and bedded diamictites in the Permo-Carboniferous Pagoda Fm, Mt. Butters, Shackleton Glacier, Antarctica. [Photo taken December 2017]
Sedimentary rocks in Jezero crater, Mars! Image from the Perseverance rover's Right Front HazCam on Sol 750 of the Mars 2020 mission. This image shows the "Berea Workspace" and the small tailings pile created by selected the Melyn sample, which will be brought to Earth sometime in the 2030's as part of the Mars Sample Return mission [JPL/Caltech]
Paleogeographic reconstruction of Gondwana around the Permo-Carboniferous bondary (~299 Ma). (A) shows the extent of modern sedimetnary basins that contain LPIA strata, (B) shows the paleo-extent of geologic "uplands" that likely existed around that period, and would be possible location of glacier nucleation, and (C) shows the proposed distributions of notable ice centers during the Permo-Carboniferous.
The late Paleozoic ice age (LPIA) was an ~100 million year interval in Earth's history, from the early Carboniferous through the Permian, during which a global "icehouse" climate regime persisted. The LPIA was the most recent icehouse interval prior to the Pleistocene, and the first global icehouse after the proliferation of developed terrestrial ecosystems. Since most of the landmass during this time was packed into the southern hemisphere supercontinent of Gondwana, glacially-derived sedimentary successions from this time are dispersed around the modern southern hemisphere continents, India, and Arabia.
My research on the LPIA focuses on describing and interpreting glaciogenic and a glacially-influenced clastic sedimentary successions in former Gondwana to constrain the characteristics, timing, and extent of LPIA glaciers. Constraining glacier behavior and distribution during the LPIA is a critical puzzle-piece when trying to understand the geologic and climatic records from this unique period in our planet's history.
For this work I principally rely on detailed lithofacies descriptions and interpretations, but I also use detrital zircon geochronology to constrain the timing of glaciations and provenance of sediments.
Related Publications
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Ives, L.R.W. and Isbell, J.L. (2023) Glaciomarine sedimentation and sequence stratigraphy of the lower Wynyard Formation (Pennsylvanian – Early Permian, Tasmanian Basin). Sedimentary Geology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2023.106482
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Ives, L. R. W., Isbell, J. L., & Licht, K. J. (2022). A “Local First” Approach to Glacigenic
Sediment Provenance Demonstrated Using U-Pb Detrital Zircon Geochronology of the
Permo-Carboniferous Wynyard Formation, Tasmanian Basin. The Sedimentary Record. https://doi.org/10.2110/001c.38180
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Ives, L.R.W. (2021) A South Polar View of Late Paleozoic Glaciation: Physical Sedimentology and Provenance of Glacial Successions in the Tasmanian and Transantarctic Basins. Dissertation. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, 272 p. [PDF]
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Isbell, J.L.; Vesely, F.F.; Rosa, E.L.M; Pauls, K.N.; Fedorchuk, N.D.; Ives, L.R.W.; McNall, N.B., Litwin, S.A.; Borucki, M.K.; Malone, J.E.l Kusick, A.R. (2021) Evaluation of physical and chemical proxies used to interpret past glaciations with a focus on the late Paleozoic Ice Age. Earth Science Reviews, 103756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103756
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Ives, L.R.W. and J.L. Isbell. (2021) A lithofacies analysis of a South Polar glaciation in the early Permian: Pagoda Formation, Shackleton Glacier region, Antarctica. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 91(6), 611-635. https://doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2021.004
Related Abstracts
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Ives, L.R.W. and J.L. Isbell (2020). South Polar glaciation and the glacial-to-postglacial transition in the Permian: an example from the Pagoda Formation, Shackleton Glacier Region, Antarctica. International Sedimentary Geosciences Congress, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, April 26-29, 2020 (cancelled due to COVID)
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Ives, L.R.W. and J.L. Isbell (2019). South Polar Glaciation during the Late Paleozoic: Observations from the Shackleton Glacier Region, Transantarctic Mountains. U.S. Interdisciplinary Antarctic Earth Sciences Meeting and Deep Field Camp Planning Workshop, Julian, California, USA, October 13-16, 2019. [poster image]
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Isbell, J.L. and L.R.W.Ives* (2018). Antarctica, the heart of it all: a South Polar view of glaciation during the Late Paleozoic Ice Age. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Washington, DC, USA, December 10 – 14, 2018. (*presenting author)
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Ives, L.R.W. and J.L. Isbell. (2018). Preliminary sedimentological and stratigraphic analysis of the basal glacigenic Wynyard Formation (Wynyard, Tasmania, Australia). VII Simposio del Paleozoico Superior; Esquel, Chubut, Argentina, March 26-28, 2018. [poster image]
I grew up in Wisconsin and spent most of my adult life in parts of the Great Lakes Region of the United States, whose landscapes were shaped by the Laurentide Ice Sheet. Living in such a setting naturally led me to develop a curiosity about how those landscapes came to be - which is how I found myself studying glaciers.
I take a multi-faceted approach to studying glacial geomorphic processes with the aim of constraining the behavior of glaciers, both past and present, and linking those behaviors to climatic and geologic drivers. My master's research was focused on understanding how subglacial sediments respond to glacial processes to result in distinct landforms (Ives and Iverson, 2019). During my Ph.D., I worked for the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey on a 1:100,000 scale Quaternary Geology map of Jefferson County, Wisconsin and the accompanying peer-reviewed report (Ives and Rawling, 2022). This mapping work included mapping the glacial and post-glacial landscapes from high-resolution elevation data, remotely-sensed imagery, field observations, core descriptions, and radiocarbon dating of organic materials.
In the fall of 2023, I will be sailing on IODP expedition 400 to Northwest Greenland as a sedimentologist. The purpose of the expedition is to investigate the Cenozoic history of the northern Greenland Ice Sheet.
I also enjoy sharing the glacial history of the Great Lakes with the general public!
Related Publications
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Ives, L.R.W. and Rawling, J.E. (2022) Pleistocene Geologic Map of Jefferson County, Wisconsin, 1:100,000. Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. [Link to Report, Map, and GIS data]
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Ives, L R.W., & Iverson, N. R. (2019). Genesis of glacial flutes inferred from observations at Múlajökull, Iceland. Geology, 47(5), 387-390. [PDF]
Related Abstracts
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Ives, L.R.W., J.E. Rawling III, E.C. Carson, K.C. Stolzman (2022). Reframing Glacial Lake Scuppernong: Lakes of the Laurentide Ice Sheet’s Southern Green Bay Lobe in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. American Quaternary Association Biennial Meeting, June 7-11, 2022 Madison, Wisconsin. [Abstract]
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Carson, E.C., L.R.W. Ives, K.C. Stolzman, J.E. Rawling (2021). Glacial lakes in the footprint of the southern Green Bay Lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. GSA Connects 2021.
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Carson, E.C., L.R.W. Ives, K.C. Stolzman, J.E. Rawling (2021). Tracking the evolution of glacial lakes Yahara and Scuppernong, south-central Wisconsin, USA. Geological Society of America Annual North-Central and South-Central Joint Section Meeting.
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Ives, L.R.W., J.E. Rawling, and K.C. Stolzman (2020). Landform assemblages, Quaternary stratigraphy, and preliminary Quaternary geologic map, Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Geological Society of America North-Central Section Meeting, Duluth, Minnesota, USA, May 18 -19, 2020. (cancelled due to COVID-19)
coming soon...
Pleistocene Geologic Map of Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Publications
Journal Articles
- Stack, K.M., Ives, L.R.W., Gupta, S., Lamb, M.P., Tebolt, M., Caravaca, G., Grotzinger, J.P., and 28 others (2024). Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of the Shenandoah Formation, Western Sediment Fan, Jezero Crater, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JE008187
- Ives, L.R.W. and Isbell, J.L. (2023) Glaciomarine sedimentation and sequence stratigraphy of the lower Wynyard Formation (Pennsylvanian – Early Permian, Tasmanian Basin). Sedimentary Geology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2023.106482
- Ives, L. R. W., Isbell, J. L., & Licht, K. J. (2022). A “Local First” Approach to Glacigenic
Sediment Provenance Demonstrated Using U-Pb Detrital Zircon Geochronology of the
Permo-Carboniferous Wynyard Formation, Tasmanian Basin. The Sedimentary Record. https://doi.org/10.2110/001c.38180
- Isbell, J.L., Vesely, F.F., Rosa, E.L.M, Pauls, K.N., Fedorchuk, N.D., Ives, L.R.W., McNall, N.B., Litwin, S.A.; Borucki, M.K.; Malone, J.E., Kusick, A.R. (2021) Evaluation of physical and chemical proxies used to interpret past glaciations with a focus on the late Paleozoic Ice Age. Earth Science Reviews, 103756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103756
-
Ives, L.R.W. and J.L. Isbell. (2021) A lithofacies analysis of a South Polar glaciation in the early Permian: Pagoda Formation, Shackleton Glacier region, Antarctica. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 91(6), 611-635. https://doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2021.004
-
Ives, L R.W., & Iverson, N. R. (2019) Genesis of glacial flutes inferred from observations at Múlajökull, Iceland. Geology, 47(5), 387-390. [PDF]
Geologic Maps
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Ives, L.R.W. and Rawling, J.E. (2022) Pleistocene Geologic Map of Jefferson County, Wisconsin, 1:100,000. Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. https://doi.org/10.54915/mlnc7835. [Map, Report, and GIS data]
Thesis & Dissertation
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Ives, L.R.W. (2021) A South Polar View of Late Paleozoic Glaciation: Physical Sedimentology and Provenance of Glacial Successions in the Tasmanian and Transantarctic Basins. Dissertation. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, 272 p. [PDF]
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Ives, L.R.W. (2016). Magnetic mineralogy and fabrics of small-scale glacial flutes, Múlajökull and Breiðamerkurjökull, Iceland. Thesis. Iowa State University, Ames, IA. 214 p. [PDF]
Queen Maud Mountains, Antarctica, view towards the Ross Sea
Sturgeon Bay Field Trip
Geomorph/Sedimentology field trip to Sturgeon Bay beach along northern Lake Michigan. We take a look at some bedforms in a small stream, stratification in beach ridges, miniature deltas building into the lake, and dune morphology/ processes. ~30 min long.
Desktop Delta Demonstration
Basic demonstration of a "desktop delta". Demonstration is used to discussion stacking patterns in stratigraphic sequences. ~15 min long. Plans to make your own delta can be found here.
I've had an absolute blast being involved in the production of the large-format (IMAX) film Dinosaurs of Antarctica since 2017 as a science advisor and "character". The film is showing in museums around the world beginning in the spring of 2021. The target audience of the movie is 10 to 14 year olds, but is plenty of fun for all ages. Check out this accompanying Educator's Guide, and the related Antarctic Dinosaurs traveling museum exhibit.
Museum of Discovery and Science Distinguished Speaker Series
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Dr. Nathan Smith on Antarctic paleontology @ 4:00
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Me on sedimentology and Antarctic geology @ 21:50 [PDF of slides]
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Dr. Patricia Ryberg on Antarctic paleobotany @ 37:30
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Q&A @ 59:00
I'm always looking for opportunities to share the geologic history and story of the landscapes we live in with friends and neighbors. This has led me to give a number of invited lectures and some geology field trips.
The Great Lakes are home to many Indigenous Nations (see https://native-land.ca/). This work takes place on both ceded and unceded land.
Aldo Leopold Festival - Les Cheneaux Islands, Michigan - 2021 Field Trip Guide
Under Our Feet Podcast - S1E8 - "An Icy Visitor"
I am excited to share this episode of the wonderful "Under Our Feet" podcast, whose first season is exploring the geologic history of Wisconsin and how that history has effected our history and continues to impact our day-to-day lives!
I sat down with Rudy over Zoom in the summer of 2021 to record the conversation that contributed to this episode on the glacial landscapes of Wisconsin. I adore the narrative that Rudy created here! I encourage you to listen to the rest of the podcast at www.uofpod.org, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Ice Age History of the Headlands
Public Lecture for Mackinaw Historical Society
Interested in science outreach and communication opportunities? Check these out:
Outwash plain of the Hofsjökull Icecap, Central Iceland