Landscape Evolution, Cordillera Central, Hispaniola
In the Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic, and in conjunction with colleagues in the Department of Geography, the surficial geology and geomorphic history of the High Peaks area are being investigated to ascertain the nature of Late Cenozoic environmental change and the effects upon landscapes and regolith. A major question we hope to be able to resolve is whether or not the High peaks area experienced glaciation during one or more Late Cenozoic cold phases. Additional problem areas under study are the nature of the Pleistocene-Holocene transition and its effects on landscapes, and the importance of fire in ecosystems during the Holocene.
Sediment cores have been taken from a number of small lakes and bog sites contain records of vegetational history during the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene. Small, low-relief, treeless savannas between 2000 and 2400 m have been investigated and are interpreted to be dambos, that have developed during and after the Pleistocene-Holocene transition.
View of lower half of Sabana Macutico dambo-like landform, Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic. Debris slide scars on ridges date from Hurricane Georges, 22-23 September 1998.
G. Michael Clark
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
1412 Circle Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-1410
Phone: (865) 974-6006
Email: clarkgmorph@utk.edu