Tue, March 3, 2026
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Deby Hall 1116
Dr. Broxton Bird - Professor of Earth Sciences at Indiana University-Indianapolis
Late Holocene Climate-Flood Dynamics in the Midcontinental US: Past Drivers and Future Risks
Climate change is increasing the frequency and duration of floods in the Midwestern United States, but it remains unclear how much recent flooding reflects natural variability versus human influence due to limited historical records. In this talk, Dr. Bird presents research using lake sediments to reconstruct Holocene climate and flood patterns, focusing on the last 2,000 years. His findings show regionally distinct yet broadly connected climate and river dynamics across the United States, influenced by hemispheric temperatures and ocean–atmosphere patterns. He also explores impacts on pre-Columbian Native American populations and considers implications for future climate change.
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Derby Hall 1116 at 1:30PM