Jim Begét
Dr. Begét studies the Quaternary history of volcanic and glaciated regions. He is currently investigating the history and distribution of Late Pleistocene and Holocene volcanic ash falls in Alaska. Tephra deposits are being studied in areas near Fairbanks and the central Alaska Range, as well as near source volcanoes on the Aleutian Peninsula and the Wrangell Mountains. Studies of the age, volume, and geochemical characteristics of ash layers will develop the tephrochronologic dating method for Quaternary sediments in Alaska, and help reconstruct eruption histories for active Alaskan volcanoes. Dr. Begét is also reconstructing glacier profiles, dynamics, and chronologies for Pleistocene ice sheets and glaciers. In addition, investigations of stratigraphy and physical characteristics of thick loess deposits in Alaska are being studied as proxy records of climate changes in the Arctic during the last 1,000 to 1,000,000 years. Jim has been involved with the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) since its founding in 1986, and also receives research support from the National Science Foundation. He is currently president of the Commission on Tephrochronology and Volcanology of the International Quaternary Association (INQUA-COTAV), and is also a member of the Leader's Group of the Past Global Climate Change Program of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Project (IGBP-PAGES), researching Volcano-Climate Interactions. His current research program emphasizes tephra studies and volcano eruption histories, and has involved projects at Augustine, Redoubt, Spurr, Iliamna, Douglass, Katmai, Shishaldin Makushin, and other volcanoes in the eastern Aleutian arc.
- Tephrochronology
- Volcanology
- Quaternary Geology
- Surficial Processes
- Paleoclimatology
- Neotectonics
- Natural Hazards
- Memberships
- American Geophysical Union
- American Quaternary Association
- Geological Society of America
- Alaska Geological Society
- International Association for the Study of Volcanology and the Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI)
- Alaska Quaternary Center (elected to board of directors, 1986-1990)
- International Quaternary Association (elected to Vice Presidency of the INQUA Commission on Tephrochronology and Volcanology, 1991-1995, and Presidency 19951999)
- U.S. National Committee, International Quaternary Association (National Research Council-National Academy of Sciences 2000-Present)
- Awards
- National Performance Review Award, Staff of Alaska Volcano Observatory, by Vice President Albert Gore (1997) --Recognized as one of the top 2000 active scientists worldwide at the end of the 20th century, International Biographical Center, Cambridge, England (1998)
- Named a Fellow of the Geological Society of America (1999)
- Chapter author in book, "Encyclopedia of Volcanoes, ed. Sigurdsson, Houghton, McNutt, Rymer, Stix , which received an award for Excellence in Professional/Scholarly Publishing for 1999 by the Association of American Publishers, Professional and Scholarly Publishing Division in the Geography and Earth Science category
- Received the Andre Dumont Medal for excellence in the Geological Sciences, awarded by the Geological Society of Belgium (2001)
- (6/96 – Present) Professor of Geology and Director of the Alaska Center for Tephrochronology, University of Alaska and Research Scientist, Alaska Volcano Observatory, and President, Commission on Tephrochronology and Volcanology of the International Quaternary Association (INQUA-COTAV 1995-1999), member U.S. National Quaternary Committee, U.S. National Research Council-National Academy of Sciences 2000-present.
- (6/91 – 5/96) Associate Professor of Geology and Director of the Alaska Center for Tephrochronology, University of Alaska and Research Scientist, Alaska Volcano Observatory, and President, Commission on Tephrochronology and Volcanology of the International Quaternary Association (INQUA-COTAV).
- (9/84 – 5/91) Assistant Professor of Geology and Director of the Alaska Center for Tephrochronology, University of Alaska and Vice-President, Commission on Tephrochronology of the International Quaternary Association
- (10/80 – 9/84) Exploration Geologist, Chevron Geothermal Company, San Francisco, California
- (5/78 – 5/80) Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Engineering Branch, Volcanic Hazards Project
- (1/75 – 8/77) Research Assistant, Quaternary Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle
