Peter C. Hartsough

I am working with the O'Geen Lab studying soil hydrology and soil formation processes along an elevation gradient in the Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory. The critical zone is defined as the intersection of physical, chemical and biological systems from the top of the vegetation canopy to unweathered bedrock below. At our mid-elevation locations in the Southern Sierra, the unweathered bedrock is more than 10m below ground surface! In collaboration with colleagues at the University of Wyoming, we are using a combination of direct sampling and geophysics to understand in situ soil formation controls across this rain to snow transition. I am particularly interested in complex interplay between water and vegetation and trying to better understand the feedback provided by vegetation distribution and its role in soil formation.