Lab bench space in the Quaternary Lab Facility for core sampling outside of the walk-in cold storage room.
Lesleigh Anderson
Dr. Lesleigh Anderson is a Research Geologist who uses sedimentology, geochemistry, and remote sensing tools in freshwater systems (e.g., lakes, wetlands, and permafrost) in support of water resource management, related critical minerals (e.g., salt lakes), and natural hazards. Anderson manages the Quaternary Research Facility for sediment core processing and analyses.
Main study areas are in the North America cordilleran west, from Alaska to the southern Rockies. Research focuses on the development of water isotope tracers and sedimentary records which record hydrologic change across space and through time and the implications for local to regional water availability, ecosystem disturbances, and geologic hazards.
Science and Products
How Much Snow for Colorado River Flow?
Historic lows in Colorado River reservoirs emphasize the critical role of snowpack. This research further refines understanding of precipitation in the Colorado River Basin, a critical water resource.
Past Perspectives of Water in the West
In the intermountain west, seasonal precipitation extremes, combined with population growth, are creating new challenges for the management of water resources, ecosystems, and geologic hazards. This research contributes a comprehensive long-term context for a deeper understanding of past hydrologic variability, including the magnitude and frequency of drought and flood extremes and ecosystem...
Holocene Hydroclimate of Western North America
The objectives of this project are to reconstruct detailed histories of Holocene hydroclimate and corresponding environmental change from geological archives such as lake sediment, peat, and wood to more fully understand past, ongoing, and future change and its impacts.
Sediment core cold storage and sampling area
Lab bench space in the Quaternary Lab Facility for core sampling outside of the walk-in cold storage room.
Whole core magnetic susceptibility measurements
Measurements of whole core magnetic susceptibility provide a general stratigraphic profile of sediment layer compositions.
Measurements of whole core magnetic susceptibility provide a general stratigraphic profile of sediment layer compositions.
Sediment core photography stand
Every split sediment core is photographed to document color, structure and stratigraphy.
Every split sediment core is photographed to document color, structure and stratigraphy.
High volume freeze drier
Sediment sub-samples are freeze dried to preserve delicate sediment particles or for easy pulverization.
Sediment sub-samples are freeze dried to preserve delicate sediment particles or for easy pulverization.
Lake sediment core
A freshly opened lake core from Alaska with continuous sediment layers that get older from the top of the core to the bottom.
A freshly opened lake core from Alaska with continuous sediment layers that get older from the top of the core to the bottom.
Field collection
One productive coring trip provides >50-m of sediment for analyses and curation. The Quaternary Lab currently stores ~350-m of soft sediment cores collected between 2005 and 2025.
One productive coring trip provides >50-m of sediment for analyses and curation. The Quaternary Lab currently stores ~350-m of soft sediment cores collected between 2005 and 2025.
Loveland Pass, Colorado
Panoramic view of snow-covered mountains at Loveland Pass, with ski runs visible in the middle ground.
Panoramic view of snow-covered mountains at Loveland Pass, with ski runs visible in the middle ground.
Andrews Meadow
The edge of Andrews Meadow, within the Loch Vale watershed in Colorado. Shown is the view to the west of the Continental Divide and Taylor glacier.
The edge of Andrews Meadow, within the Loch Vale watershed in Colorado. Shown is the view to the west of the Continental Divide and Taylor glacier.
Lake sediment coring
A percussion piston coring system is used for >20-m water depth and can obtain up to 20-m of sediment core
A percussion piston coring system is used for >20-m water depth and can obtain up to 20-m of sediment core
Science and Products
How Much Snow for Colorado River Flow?
Historic lows in Colorado River reservoirs emphasize the critical role of snowpack. This research further refines understanding of precipitation in the Colorado River Basin, a critical water resource.
Past Perspectives of Water in the West
In the intermountain west, seasonal precipitation extremes, combined with population growth, are creating new challenges for the management of water resources, ecosystems, and geologic hazards. This research contributes a comprehensive long-term context for a deeper understanding of past hydrologic variability, including the magnitude and frequency of drought and flood extremes and ecosystem...
Holocene Hydroclimate of Western North America
The objectives of this project are to reconstruct detailed histories of Holocene hydroclimate and corresponding environmental change from geological archives such as lake sediment, peat, and wood to more fully understand past, ongoing, and future change and its impacts.
Sediment core cold storage and sampling area
Lab bench space in the Quaternary Lab Facility for core sampling outside of the walk-in cold storage room.
Lab bench space in the Quaternary Lab Facility for core sampling outside of the walk-in cold storage room.
Whole core magnetic susceptibility measurements
Measurements of whole core magnetic susceptibility provide a general stratigraphic profile of sediment layer compositions.
Measurements of whole core magnetic susceptibility provide a general stratigraphic profile of sediment layer compositions.
Sediment core photography stand
Every split sediment core is photographed to document color, structure and stratigraphy.
Every split sediment core is photographed to document color, structure and stratigraphy.
High volume freeze drier
Sediment sub-samples are freeze dried to preserve delicate sediment particles or for easy pulverization.
Sediment sub-samples are freeze dried to preserve delicate sediment particles or for easy pulverization.
Lake sediment core
A freshly opened lake core from Alaska with continuous sediment layers that get older from the top of the core to the bottom.
A freshly opened lake core from Alaska with continuous sediment layers that get older from the top of the core to the bottom.
Field collection
One productive coring trip provides >50-m of sediment for analyses and curation. The Quaternary Lab currently stores ~350-m of soft sediment cores collected between 2005 and 2025.
One productive coring trip provides >50-m of sediment for analyses and curation. The Quaternary Lab currently stores ~350-m of soft sediment cores collected between 2005 and 2025.
Loveland Pass, Colorado
Panoramic view of snow-covered mountains at Loveland Pass, with ski runs visible in the middle ground.
Panoramic view of snow-covered mountains at Loveland Pass, with ski runs visible in the middle ground.
Andrews Meadow
The edge of Andrews Meadow, within the Loch Vale watershed in Colorado. Shown is the view to the west of the Continental Divide and Taylor glacier.
The edge of Andrews Meadow, within the Loch Vale watershed in Colorado. Shown is the view to the west of the Continental Divide and Taylor glacier.
Lake sediment coring
A percussion piston coring system is used for >20-m water depth and can obtain up to 20-m of sediment core
A percussion piston coring system is used for >20-m water depth and can obtain up to 20-m of sediment core