Research by R. Gilbert, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows:

 

1. Assessment of the sedimentary environments and (paleo)environmental record of high arctic lakes and fiords in Canada and Greenland.  Lakes and fiords contain in their sediments an important record of the modern environment and of environment change.  My work began on fiords 30 years ago, progressed through collaboration with the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in the 1980s, and extended to Canadian high arctic fiords33, 37 (numbers refer to the list below) and lakes6, 9, 24, 25 and fiords of West Greenland11, 26, 39. The work on Bear Lake, Devon Island, Nunavut was carried out by graduate student Ted Lewis and then NSERC PDF Scott Lamoureux. The work in Greenland was a collaboration between Niels Nielsen, Christian Christiansen, their student, Henrik Moller, and colleagues at the Institute of Geography, University of Copenhagen, as well as with Canadian colleagues Joseph Desloges and Janis Dale. 

All this work centred on understanding process to better apply sediments as proxy20, and on using proxy to reconstruct environment21.  For example, the relation between large-scale, catastrophic events driven by climate and hydrology, and the role of a surging glacier in the sedimentology of the fiord which is unrelated directly to climate23 is important in assessing climatic vs. non-climatic control of environmental proxy in general. The opportunities of the Canadian Research Chair in Arctic Science (funded jointly by Foreign Affairs Canada and the University of Copenhagen) advanced this work.  In 2005 the study of the impact of the surging glacier on fiord sediments on Disko Island was continued with a program to re-core the 2000 sites and to measure the sediment in the water column.  I was also privileged to travel to NE Greenland in 2005 as part of the University of Copenhagen GEOARC expedition to Sabine Island where we conducted studies of archaeology and coastal geomorphology.

Study of subglacial and fluvial erosion marks at Kangerlussuak, West Greenland, has been carried out intermittently with J. A. (Drew) Hyatt, and although not yet published, the preliminary results were presented at the Binghamton Geomorphology Conference in 2003. 

 

  2. Glacial history of the Antarctic Peninsula and the response to global warming. The opportunity to participate in the US Antarctic Program since 1997 has allowed comparisons between very different cold marine and terrestrial environments33. With colleagues Eugene Domack (Hamilton College, NY), Amy Leventer (Colgate University), Stephanie Brachfeld (Montclair College), Scott Ishman (Southern Illinois University) and others, we have documented unique depositional settings27, 35, the sedimentary processes at the front of calving glaciers4, 15, the glacial history of the eastern15, 17, 28 and western3, 13 Antarctic Peninsula, and the disintegration of the Larsen Ice Shelf in response to globally warming climate1, 14, a condition unprecedented in the Quaternary history of this ice shelf. This has relevance to the occurrence of Pleistocene ice shelves in Canada for which there are no current analogues. Queen’s graduate student Åsa Chong carried out her M.Sc. research using sediment traps in Lallemand Fiord, and Queen’s PDF Randy Dirszowsky carried out provenance studies of sediment beneath the former Larsen Ice Shelf.

 

 3. Lacustrine and glacilacustrine processes and (paleo)environmental assessment. In the Cordillera, we have shown the relation between varved sediments and the climatic and hydrologic records that are important in reconstructing past environments2, 5, 7, 12, 22 and assessing the potential impact of future environmental change. Aspects of this formed thesis research by David Mazzucchi, Rich Butler, Scott Barnes, Brandon Bieirle, Sarah Crookshanks, and Kyle Hodder and post-doctoral research by Erik Schiefer. I have extended this work  to Pleistocene and modern lakes in eastern Canada10, 18, 30, 36 and to non-glacial environments in Nepal38 and the United States8, 34. Studies  by, Kyle Hodder, focused on the role of flocculation in sedimentary processes in freshwater glacial and non-glacial lakes10, the sediment budget of a vigorous, ice-proximal glacial lake, and sedimentary processes in several large lakes of the Cordillera, including Kluane, Muncho and Kusawa lakes, where I am collaborating with Joseph Desloges (University of Toronto), John Clague (Simon Fraser University) and Brian Menuonos (University of Northern British Columbia).  

 

4. Other research has dealt with wetland processes29, modern19 and Pleistocene32 periglacial environments, and subglacial fluvial processes31. 

 

This work has been variously supported by NSERC, NSF (US Antarctic Program), PCSP, Arctic Station Godhavn, and the University of Copenhagen. 

 

Refereed publications 2008 – 1999

CROOKSHANKS, S., and R. GILBERT. in press. Continuous, diurnally fluctuating turbidity currents in Kluane Lake, Yukon Territory. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences.

GILBERT, R., and S. CROOKSHANKS. 2008. Sediment waves in a modern high-energy glacilacustrine environment. Sedimentology DOI 10.1111/j.1365.3091.2008.00900.x.

Schiefer, E. and Gilbert, R. 2007. Proglacial sediment trapping in recently formed Silt Lake, upper Lillooet Valley, Coast Mountains, British Columbia. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms.

Hodder, K.R. and Gilbert, R. 2007. Evidence for flocculation in glacier-fed Lillooet Lake, British Columbia. Water Research.

Schiefer, E. and Gilbert, R. 2007. Reconstructing morphometric change in a proglacial landscape using historical aerial photography and automated DEM generation. Geomorphology.

Hodder, K.R., Gilbert, R. and Desloges, J.R. 2007. Assessment of varved glacilacustrine sediment as hydroclimatic proxy. Journal of Paleolimnolgy.

Domack, E., Amblas, D., Gilbert, R., Brachfeld, S., Camerlenghi, A., Rebesco, M., Canals, M. and Urgeles, R. 2006. Subglacial morphology and glacial evolution of the Palmer Deep outlet system, Antarctic Peninsula. Geomorphology, 75: 125-142.

Gilbert, R., Desloges, J.R., Lamoureux, S.F., Serink, A. and Hodder, K.R. 2006. The geomorphic and paleoenvironmental record in the sediments of Atlin Lake, northern British Columbia. Geomorphology, 79: 130-142. PDF file

Clague, J.J., Luckman, B.H., Dorp, R.D.V., Gilbert, R., Froese, D., Jensen, B.J.L. and Reyes, A.V. 2006. Rapid changes in the level of Kluane Lake, Yukon Territory, over the last millennium. Quaternary Research, 66: 342-355.

Gilbert, R., Crookshanks, S., Hodder, K., Spagnol, J., and Stull, R., 2006, The record of an extreme flood in the sediments of montane Lillooet Lake, British Columbia:  implications for paleoenvironmental assessment: Journal of Paleolimnology, v. 37, p. 737-745. PDF file

Hodder, K. R., Desloges, J. R., and Gilbert, R., 2006, Pattern and timing of sediment infill at glacier-fed Mud Lake:  implications for Late-Glacial and Holocene environments in the Monashee Mountain region of British Columbia, Canada: The Holocene v 17, p. 705-716.   

Gilbert, R., and Desloges, J.R. 2005. The record of Glacial Lake Champagne in Kusawa Lake, southwestern Yukon Territory.  Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences v. 42, p. 2127-2140. PDF file

1. Domack, E., Duran, D., Leventer, A., Ishman, S., Doane, S., McCallum, S., Ring, J., Gilbert, R., and Prentice, M., 2005, Stability of the Larsen B ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula during the Holocene epoch: Nature, v. 436, p. 681-685.

2. Menounos, B., Clague, J.J., Gilbert, R., and Slaymaker, O., 2005, Environmental reconstruction from a varve network in the southern Coast Mountains, British Columbia, Canada: The Holocene, v. 15 p. 1163-1171.

3. Domack, E., Amblas, D., Gilbert, R., Brachfeld, S., Camerlenghi, A., Rebesco, M., Canals, M., and Urgeles, R., 2006, Subglacial morphology and glacial evolution of the Palmer Deep outlet system, Antarctic Peninsula, Geomorphology, v. 75, p. 125-142.

4. Gilbert, R., Domack, E., Tewkesbury, D. 2004. Sediment content in Antarctic iceberg fragments sufficient to sink the ice. Géographie physique et Quaternaire v. 58, p. 147-149.

5. Gilbert, R., Desloges, J.R., Lamoureux, S.F., Serink, A., and Hodder, K.R., 2006, The geomorphic and paleoenvironmental record in the sediments of Atlin Lake, northern British Columbia: Geomorphology, v. 79, p. 130-142  PDF file

6.  Lamoureux, S., and Gilbert, R., 2005, Physical and chemical properties and proxies of high latitude lake sediments, in Pienitz, J., Douglas, M.S.V., and Smol, J.P., eds., Long-Term Environmental Change in Arctic and Antarctic Lakes: Dordrecht, Springer Academic Publishers, p. 53-87.

7. Gilbert, R., and Butler, R.D., 2004, The physical limnology and sedimentology of Meziadin Lake, Northern British Columbia: Arctic Antarctic and Alpine Research, v. 36, p. 33-41.

8. Hyatt, J.A., and Gilbert, R., 2004, Subbottom acoustic and sedimentary records of past surface water - groundwater exchange through sinkhole lakes in South Georgia, U.S. A: Environmental Geology, v. 46, p. 32-46.

9. Lamoureux, S.F., and Gilbert, R., 2004, A 750-yr record of autumn snowfall and temperature variabiltiy and winter storminess recorded in the varved sediment of Bear Lake, Devon Island, Arctic Canada: Quaternary Research, v. 61, p. 134-147.

10. Gilbert, R., and Lamoureux, S., 2004, Processes affecting deposition of sediment in a small, morphologically complex lake: Journal of Paleolimnology, v. 31, p. 37-48. PDF file

11. Rasch, M., Nielsen, N., Christiansen, C., Balstrom, T., Gilbert, R., and Desloges, J., 2003, Role of landscape parameters in riverine run-off and sediment and organic matter yield on Disko Island, West Greenland: Geografisk Tidskrift, Danish Journal of Geography, v. 103, p. 1-11.

12. Mazzucchi, D., Spooner, I.S., Gilbert, R., and Osborn, G., 2003, Reconstruction of Holocene climate change using multi-proxy analysis of sediments from Pyramid Lake, British Columbia, Canada: Arctic Antarctic and Alpine Research, v. 35, p. 520-529. PDF file

13. Brachfeld, S., Domack, E., Kissel, C., Laj, C., Leventer, A., Ishman, S., Gilbert, R., Camerlenghi, A., and Eglinton, L.B., 2003, Holocene history of the Larsen-A Ice Shelf constrained by geomagnetic paleointensity dating: Geology, v. 31, p. 749-752.

14. Domack, E.W., Leventer, A., Rott, S., Ring, J., Williams, E., Carlson, D., Hirshorn, E., Wright, W., Gilbert, R., and Burr, G., 2003, Marine sedimentary record of natural environmental variability and recent warming in the Antarctic Peninsula, in Domack, E.W., ed., Antarctic Peninsula Climate Variability. Antarctic Research Series, Volume 79, American Geophysical Union, p. 205-224. (NSF)

15. Gilbert, R., Chong, Å., Dunbar, R., and Domack, E.W., 2003, Sediment trap records of glacimarine sedimentation at Muller Ice Shelf, Lallemand Fjord, Antarctic Peninsula: Arctic, Antartic and Alpine Research, v. 35, p. 24-33. PDF file

16. Gilbert, R., and Domack, E.W., 2003, The sedimentary record of disintegrating ice shelves in a warming climate, Antarctic Peninsula: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, v. 4, p. 1038 doi:1029/2002GC000441. PDF file

17. Gilbert, R., Domack, E., and Camerlenghi, A., 2003, Glacial history of the Greenpeace Trough: Ice-sheet to ice shelf transition in the northwestern Weddell Sea: Antarctic Peninsula Climate Variability: A Historical and Paleoenvironmental Perspective. American Geophysical Union Antarctic Research Series, v. 79, p. 195-204. PDF file

18. Gilbert, R., 2003, Spatially irregular sedimentation in a small, morphologically complex lake: implications for paleoenvironmenal studies: Journal of Paleolimnolgy, v. 29, p. 209-220. PDF file

19. Hyatt, J.A., Michel, F.A., and Gilbert, R., 2003, Recognition of subglacial regelation ice near Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, Canada, Proceedings of the Eighth International Permafrost Conference, Bern Switzerland, Volume 8: Lisse, A. A. Balkema Publishers, p. 443-448.

20. Gilbert, R., 2003, Lacustrine sedimentation, in Middleton, G.E., ed., Encyclopedia of Sedimentology and Sedimentary Rocks, Kluwer Academic Publishers, p. 404-408. PDF file

21. Gilbert, R., 2003, Varves, in Middleton, G.V., ed., Encyclopedia of Sedimentology and Sedimentary Rocks, Kluwer Academic Publishers, p. 764-766. PDF file

22. Spooner, I.S., Mazzucchi, D., Osborne, G., Gilbert, R., and Larocque, I., 2002, A multi-proxy Holocene record of environmental change from the sediments of Skinny Lake, Iskut Region, northern British Columbia: Journal of Paleolimnology, v. 28, p. 419-431.

23. Gilbert, R., Nielsen, N., Moller, H., Desloges, J.R., and Rasch, M., 2002, Glacimarine sedimentation in Kangerdluk (Disko Fjord), West Greenland, in response to a surging glacier: Marine Geology, v. 191, p. 1-18. PDF file

24. Lewis, T., Gilbert, R., and Lamoureux, S.F., 2002, Spatial and temporal changes in sedimentary processes in proglacial Bear Lake, Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada: Arctic, Antartic and Alpine Research, v. 34, p. 119-129. PDF file

25. Lamoureux, S.F., Gilbert, R., and Lewis, T., 2002, Lacustrine sedimentary environments in high arctic proglacial Bear Lake, Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada: Arctic Antarctic and Alpine Research, v. 34, p. 130-141.

26. Desloges, J.R., Gilbert, R., Nielsen, N., Christiansen, C., Rasch, M., and Ohlenschlager, R., 2002, Holocene glacimarine sedimentary environments in fiords of Disko Bugt, West Greenland: Quaternary Science Reviews, v. 21, p. 947-963.

27. Camerlenghi, A., Domack, E., Rebesco, M., Gilbert, R., Ishman, S., Leventer, A., Brachfeld, S., and Drake, A., 2001, Glacial morphology and post-glacial contourites in northern Prince Gustav Channel (NW Weddell Sea, Antarctica). Marine Geophysical Researches, v. 22, p. 417-443.

28. Domack, E., Leventer, A., Gilbert, R., Brachfeld, S., Ishman, S., Camerlenghi, A., Graham, K., Carlson, D., and Barkoukis, A., 2001, Cruise reveals history of Holocene Larsen Ice Shelf: Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 82, p. 13, 16 –19.

29. Lapen, D.R., Price, J.S., and Gilbert, R., 2000, Soil water storage dynamics in peatlands with shallow water tables: Canadian Journal of Soil Science, v. 80, p. 43-52.

30. Hartling, J.W., and Gilbert, R., 2000, Spatial distribution of surficial sediments in part of the Kingston basin of northeastern Lake Ontario, Canada: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 37, p. 901-911.

31. Gilbert, R., 2000, The Devil Lake pothole (Ontario): Evidence of subglacial fluvial processes: Geographie physique et Quaternaire, v. 54, p. 245-250.

32. Gilbert, R., 2000, Pleistocene frost-heaved dome in Palaeozic limestone at Kingston, Ontario, Canada: Parmafrost and Periglacial Processes, v. 11, p. 259-265.

33. Gilbert, R., 2000, Environmental assessment from the sedimentary record of high latitude fiords: Geomorphology, v. 32, p. 295-314.

34. Hyatt, J.A., and Gilbert, R., 1999, Lacustrine sedimentary record of human-induced gully erosion and land-use change at Providence Canyon, Georgia, U.S.A.: Journal of Paleolimnology.

35. Harris, P.T., Domack, E., Manley, R.L., Gilbert, R., and Leventer, A., 1999, Andvord Drift: a new type of inner shelf, glacial-marine deposystem from the Antarctic Peninsula: Geology 27: 683-686. (NSF)

36. Gilbert, R., 1999, Calculated wave base in relation to the observed patterns of sediment deoposition in northeastern Lake Ontario: Journal of Great Lakes Research, v. 25, p. 883-891.

37. Gilbert, R., and Aitken, A.E., 1999, Preliminary results on the Quaternary sedimentary environment and benthos of part of Canon Fiord, Fosheim Peninsula, Ellesmere Island: Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin, v. 529, p. 197-205.

38. Ross, J., and Gilbert, R. 1999. Lacustrine sedimentation in a monsoon environment, the record from Phewa Tal, Middle Mountain region of Nepal. Geomorphology, 27: 307-323.

 

 

Non-refereed contributions 1999-2008

Gilbert, R. 2007. Quaternary Environments of Southeastern Ontario. Field trip guide book. CanQua Ottawa 2007.

39. Nielsen, N. and Gilbert, R. 2006. Fjorden på Vestdisko. In: Arktisk Station - 1906-2006 (Eds L. Bruun, R.M. Kristensen, N. Nielsen, G.K. Pedersen and P.M. Pedersen), pp. 208-213. ScanPress Grafisk, Sangill Grafisk Production, Forlagshuset Nordens Grafiska, Copenhagen.

40. Gilbert, R. 1999. Subaquatic acoustic techniques. In: "A Handbook of Geophysical Techniques for Geomorphic and Environmental Research", Gilbert, R., (compiler). Geological Survey of Canada Open File 3731. pp. 103‑125

 

This list does not include, papers published before more than six years ago, conference presentations with published abstract only book reviews, reports of research, etc.

 

updated November 2008