Contact: Dr. Jay L. Banner

Research and Teaching Interests: Banner's research and teaching interests center on Earth surface processes with the goal of understanding the interactions that occur between the atmosphere-land-ocean systems, and how these interactions are preserved in the geologic record. Avenues of investigation include the origin and evolution of carbonate rocks, groundwater, surface water, and the oceans. These subjects are explored using a range of approaches that include field studies, petrography, isotope and trace element geochemistry, geochronology, and modeling. Examples of research projects using these approaches are studies of cave deposits as records of the links between climate change and hydrology, studies of carbonate rocks as records of the chemistry of ancient oceans, and studies of modern aquifers in urbanizing environments.

Classes:

• Environmental Change
• Environmental Isotope Geochemistry
• Field Methods

Water Research:

• Edwards Aquifer, Texas
• Pleistocene Aquifer, Barbados
• Midcontinent, U.S.A.
• Trans-Pecos Texas
• Element Cycling in Ecosystems

Publications

Isotope Geochemistry Program

Analytical Facilities:

• Isotope Clean Lab
• Departmental Facilities for Geochemistry: Mass Spectrometers