UD Acting President Nancy Targett speaks with alumnus Brian Atwater.

Franklin laureate honored

'Rising Seas' symposium honors UD alumnus, earthquake expert Brian Atwater

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1:05 p.m., April 26, 2016--More than 130 people gathered on University of Delaware’s Newark campus Wednesday, April 20, to honor alumnus Brian Atwater, recipient of the Franklin Institute’s 2016 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Earth and Environmental Science.

A geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey since 1974, Atwater is widely noted for work that proved that subduction off the western United States produces giant earthquakes every few hundred years, which pose seismic and tsunami threats to coastal residents in the Pacific Northwest.

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In particular, Atwater is credited with revealing previously unrecorded earthquakes in Cascadia, a region previously thought to be absent of seismic activity, but later connected by a Japanese scientist to a Japan tsunami in the 1700s of unknown origin.

His study of the coastal sedimentary records turned what science knew on its head, and subsequently led to improved global understanding of earthquakes and tsunamis. At the same time, he became an advocate for planning and preparatory measures to safeguard Cascadia’s major cities from future events.

UD Acting President Nancy Targett opened the “Rising Seas and Extreme Events on Vulnerable Coasts” symposium, held in Atwater’s honor, saying, “Brian is very humble, but he has a legacy of saving lives through awareness.”

Celebrating Atwater, highlighting current research

Throughout the symposium, sponsored by the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, the Delaware Environmental Institute and the Franklin Institute, scientists presented research on a variety of coastal processes and associated hazards in the region and across the globe. 

The UD event was one of six events held in the region as part of the Franklin Institute Awards Week celebration, April 19-22. 

Robert Kopp, an assistant professor at Rutgers University, began the discussion with an overview of the processes that control global and local sea-level rise, and how scientists can use an understanding of sea-level physics to interpret the past and understand the present changes occurring today. 

Atwater shared evidence of how the distribution of sediment samples and fossilized fauna and marine organisms, such as brain coral, can help geologists tell the story of hurricane, tsunamis and other large-scale storms.

Part of the field geologist’s job, Atwater said, is “to limit the creativity of a tsunami modeler, to get at the probability of currents” by studying what’s left behind following a significant land-sea sediment exchange.

“I thought the symposium showed the far ranging influence of Dr. Atwater’s pioneering work and how well-executed field work geology has yielded insights into the processes and temporal records of megathrust earthquake tsunami in a manner that both directly saves lives and has inspired generations of coastal geoscientists. His work epitomizes the UD concept of ‘Dare to be first’ and provides a great legacy for others,” saidArt Trembanis, a UD associate professor of oceanography and geology.

Coastal concerns

While much of the Pacific region is concerned with the effect of tsunamis on the coast, the good news in the Mid-Atlantic region, researchers said, is that the East Coast has a broad, shallow continental shelf, which helps slow waves down as they approach the coast. Sea level rise is a critical growing concern globally, particularly for a marine-oriented state like Delaware in which no part of the state is more than 8 miles from tidal waters. 

Inland bays, coastal marshes and tidal flats also play a role in building up sediments to help coastal communities withstand inundation and flooding from significant weather events.

But continued research is needed to monitor, evaluate, and interpret data and trends as conditions are rapidly changing. This is where research, partnership and collaboration can help address emerging environmental challenges affecting coastal and marine environments. 

Daria Nikitina, a fellow UD alum from the Department of Geological Sciences, has been studying sea-level change in the Delaware Estuary for more than 20 years — since she was a doctoral student at UD, in fact.

“I constantly return to the same problem as I find new and intriguing things to work on in the coastal environments of Delaware,” Nikitina said.

Inspiring new scientists to the field is a critical part of advancing human understanding and as an associate professor at West Chester (Pennsylvania) University, Nikitina takes a special interest in providing students opportunities to get involved in research through course projects and internships.

“Research is not something that students have to do,” Nikitina said, but it does help them stand out. “It’s a very surprising moment for students [when they realize] that this is what gives them an edge.”

For Newark resident Darren Dorrell, the symposium was an opportunity to check an item off his personal “bucket list.” He has followed Atwater’s career for many years and was thrilled to learn the geologist was visiting UD.

But even more, Dorrell viewed it as an opportunity to expose his 15-year-old daughter, who has an interest in marine biology, to scientific research in action.

“Collaboration is an important part of scientific research and I was excited for Emily to be present while some of this sharing was going on. If she chooses a career in marine biology, I want her to know she can drive the research; she can put things together in her mind and figure things out,” Dorrell said. “Who knows, some day she may give these types of talks.”

Article by Karen B. Roberts

Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson and Evan Krape

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