Adam Benthem

Adam studies the anthropogenic modification of rivers and land surfaces. He specializes in using remote sensing to monitor and predict landform change through time with a focus on integrating field-based site measurements with regional-scale geospatial datasets. He received his Master’s Degree in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia. In 2010 he worked for the Deepwater Horizon Commission which investigated the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and joined the USGS in 2011. Adam's work at the USGS focuses on the mechanics of sediment transport and investigates how rivers mobilize, transport, and store sediment though the landscape. Anthropogenic changes such as dams, urbanization, industrial activity, and climate change can greatly modify natural processes of sediment transport resulting in significant changes in our Nation's rivers. This can lead to shifts in flooding, damage to infrastructure, and loss of critical ecosystems. The changes related to sediment movement operate on time scale ranging from seconds to centuries, this research address not just the issues we have today but prepares us for the challenges we will face tomorrow.