Climate Change Institute
University of Maine
316 Bryand Global Sciences Center
Orono, ME 04469-5790
207-581-2203 Ph/Voicemail
207-581-2202 Fax
rhooke@verizon.net
Research Interests
I am interested in a variety of geomorphological and glaciological problems. An early and continuing curiosity about deposition on alluvial fans, and playas in arid regions led me to studies of the affect of recent tectonic movements on pluvial lake shorelines and on depositional patterns on fans. In the general area of fluvial geomorphology, I conducted a laboratory study of the mechanics of flow in meander bends. Most of my research, however, has been in the field of glacial geology and glaciology. My early work in this area was on Barnes Ice Cap on Baffin Island in the Canadian arctic where I studied the mechanics of moraine formation at the margins of polar ice sheets and the temperature distribution and deformation in such ice sheets. Between 1981 and 1995 I directed a glaciological research program on Storglaciären, in northern Sweden, focussing on the effect of subglacial water pressure variations on glacier dynamics and on subglacial till deformation. I've also done some 'ballpark' calculations on the role of humans in shaping the landscape.
Presently I am mapping river terraces and eskers in Maine, and integrating my observations on the morphology and sedimentology of the eskers with theoretical work on water flow and transport of coarse sediment in subglacial conduits. I am also contemplating a modeling study of processes resulting in drumlins and flutes.
Potential Student Projects
I am interested in having graduate students to work on projects such as:
(1) Relation between the shape of the Late Pleistocene Laurentide Ice Sheet in Maine and characteristics of Maine glacial landforms; and
(2) Delivery of clastic sediment to stream channels and ways to parameterize the sediment yield from watersheds
These projects are field based, but they also will involve development of laboratory and/or analytical and/or computer skills.
Hooke, R. LeB., 2005, Principles of Glacier Mechanics, 2nd Ed. Cambridge University Press, 429p.
Hooke, R. LeB., 200x, Thermal conditions of the bed of the Laurentide Ice Sheet in Maine: Implications for esker formation. Submitted to Journal of Glaciology.
Hooke, R.LeB., 2003, Time constant for equilibration of erosion with tectonic uplift: Geology, v 31(7), p. 621-624.
Hooke, R.LeB., 2000, On the history of humans as geomorphic agents: Geology, v. 28, p. 843-846.
Hooke, R. LeB., 1999, Lake Manly (?) shorelines in the eastern Mojave Desert, California: Quaternary Research, v. 52, p. 328-336
Hooke, R. LeB., Hanson, B., Iverson, N.R., Jansson, P., and Fischer, U., 1997, Rheology of till beneath Storglaciären, Sweden. Journal of Glaciology, v. 43, No. 143, p. 172-179.
Hooke, R. LeB. and Dorn, R.T., 1992. Segmentation of alluvial fans in Death Valley, California: New insights from surface exposure dating. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, v. 17, p. 557-574.
Hooke, R. LeB., 1991. Positive feedbacks associated with erosion of glacial cirques and overdeepenings. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bulletin, v. 103, p. 1104-1108.