About
Brian Romans is the author the popular geoscience blog Clastic Detritus where he writes about topics in the field of sedimentary and marine geology and shares photographs of geologic field work from around the world. He is fascinated by the dynamic processes that shape our planet and the science of reconstructing ancient landscapes preserved in the geologic record. Brian came to the Bay Area in 2003 and completed a Ph.D. in geology at Stanford University in 2008. He lives in Berkeley with his wife, a high school science teacher, and is currently working as a research scientist in the energy industry. Follow him on Twitter.
Website: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/clasticdetritus
All Contributions by Brian:
Rivers in the Sky Can Lead to Flooding on the Ground
One tool to remind ourselves of what is possible when it comes to 'rare' natural events is science.
Post on Jan 20, 2011
Skiing Volcano Country
Next time you're sitting on the chair lift waiting to take that next run at Kirkwood, look around at these beautiful mountains and picture the ancient volcanic landscape that created the terrain.
Post on Jan 06, 2011
The Unique Geometry of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
The geologic history of the greater Bay Area helps explain the unique geometry of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Post on Dec 16, 2010
The Rhythms of the El Niño-La Niña Climate Pattern
El Niño is the nickname of the climate pattern called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO.
Post on Dec 02, 2010
San Francisco Bay Slowly Recovering From Gold Rush Miners' Devastating Legacy
USGS geologists are finding that Gold Rush-induced sediment levels in the San Francisco bay might be diminishing.
Post on Nov 18, 2010
Greater Bay Area Geo-Attractions: San Gregorio Beach
San Gregorio State Beach is approximately 40 miles south of San Francisco near the junction of Highway 1 and 84. This beach is one of my favorite spots along the coast between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz.
Post on Oct 28, 2010
Sand Waves and the Golden Gate
Mapping of the underwater topography (called bathymetry) reveals landscapes fundamental to understanding the Bay Area's unique geology. The Golden Gate strait connects the San Francisco Bay to the open Pacific Ocean and is only one mile across.
Post on Oct 14, 2010
Geology of the Devil's Slide Area
The combination of steep terrain and the geology of the Devil's Slide area have made this area prone to landslides since Highway 1 was constructed in the mid 1930s.
Post on Oct 07, 2010
Landfill and Liquefaction
Although it may not be obvious at first glance, the bay side of San Francisco is largely artificial.
Post on Sep 30, 2010
Earthquake Preparedness in the Bay Area
The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that occurred a couple weeks ago near Christchurch, New Zealand is yet another reminder for those of us living in the Bay Area about the inevitable seismic danger we face. While many details of the New Zealand earthquake are different than what we face in the Bay Area, there are a few aspects that are comparable.
Post on Sep 23, 2010
A Submarine Grand Canyon Offshore Central California
Not unlike on land, features of the undersea landscape – such as Monterey submarine canyon – have a significant influence on the quantities and diversity of animals.
Post on Sep 16, 2010
Greater Bay Area Geo-Attractions: Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore is not only a haven for birds and other wildlife but has a geologic story that is uniquely Californian. Learn about this area in the first in a series of posts highlighting the geology of the Bay Area's scenic landscapes.
Post on Sep 09, 2010
The Importance of Studying the History of Sea-Level Change in San Francisco Bay
Sea-level rise is happening and more than 100 million people could be affected globally over the next century even under somewhat conservative projections.
Post on Sep 02, 2010
A Record of the East Bay’s Past Revealed During Caldecott Tunnel Construction
If you use Highway 24 as part of your daily commute you are already familiar with the Caldecott Tunnel, which connects Orinda and Oakland, but do you know about the geology of the hills through which the tunnel was constructed?
Post on Aug 19, 2010
Geologic Context and History of the San Joaquin River
The biggest river restoration project in California's history, however, is now underway for the San Joaquin River.
Post on Aug 12, 2010
Learn the Facts About Serpentinite Before It's Removed as California's State Rock
Why introduce a bill to the state assembly devoted to removing the state rock?
Post on Aug 05, 2010
