Eric Gayer

Content / Work

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Erosion is one of the most important processes in the evolution of Earth's surface. It sculpts the Earth's crust and shapes landscapes through its action on the Critical Zone, that thin layer where rock meets life—and in which we live.   Analyzing and understanding the processes and controls that govern landscape evolution—i.e., erosion–Critical Zone relationships—is not only a matter of fundamental geoscience but also of societal relevance, since our societies directly depend on these relationships for water resources, biological and mineral resources, agriculture, and the management of natural hazards (floods, landslides, famines, epidemics), etc.   To anticipate future challenges in managing our environment and to better answer questions about the consequences of erosion in the context of climate change, it is thus essential to understand erosional processes, to model them, and to characterize their controlling factors.

Research Interests

• Quantifying erosion (mechanical erosion & chemical weathering).
• Characterization of erosion mechanisms in the Critical Zone.
• Characterization of erosion controls.
• Characterization of the societal impact of erosion processes.