Home > Faculty > John Van Hoesen

John Van Hoesen Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Geology
Ames Hall 101
One College Circle
Poultney, VT 05764-1199
Email Address: vanhoesenj@greenmtn.edu
802-287-8387; Fax: 802-287-8099

My fascination with geology began as a child in the Helderberg Mountains of Upstate New York. I grew up surrounded by trees, rocks, lakes, etc., and for some reason I took a liking to fossils. So at the age of seven, I decided I wanted to be a paleontologist. I "re-discovered" my passion during my sophomore year at the University of Albany when I took Environmental Geochemistry, and found my calling. My extracurricular interests include (in the order of preference): telemark skiing, photography, ice climbing, mountain biking, paddling, hiking, fussing with computers, fiddling with foreign cars (primarily Volkswagens), and attempt to find time for recreational reading somewhere along the way.

Research
I specialize in (1) glacial and periglacial geomorphology, (2) using GIS and Visual Basic to evaluate natural Earth processes, and (3) addressing long and short term climate change gleaned from the geomorphic record. I also have an interest in evaluating and improving undergraduate education in the Earth Sciences. My current research focuses on the climatic significance of periglacial landforms in the arid southwestern United States, utilizing GIS as a predictive tool for studying these features, and addressing the genesis of rock glaciers. Other projects include investigating the spatial relationships between Chilean petroglyphs and historic travel networks, developing a three-dimensional computer exercise for visualizing a variety of landforms, cataloging the various micro-textures on glacially affected clasts, and attempting to quantify the effects of topographic shielding with regards to cosmogenic dating.

Education
B.S. State University of New York at Albany (Geology)
M.S. University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Geoscience)
Ph.D. University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Geoscience)

Teaching and Mentoring
Courses
ELA/ENV 1013 - Environmental Science
ELA/GLG 1011 - Introduction to Geology
ELA/GLG 1034 - Natural Disasters
ENV 2010 - GIS Applications for Environmental Studies
GLG 2000 - Geology in Film
GLG/ELA 2041 - Geology of the Adirondacks
GLG 2012 - Environmental Biogeology of Hawaii
GLG 2041 - Geomorphology
GLG 3041 - Hydrology
GLG 3051 - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

Independent Studies Supervised
GLG 3003 - Three-dimensional Digital Modeling of Geomorphology

Selected Publications
Buck, B.J. and Van Hoesen John G., 2005, Assessing the applicability of isotopic analysis of pedogenic gypsum as a paleoclimate indicator: Jornada and Tularosa basins, southern New Mexico. Journal of Arid Environments, 60: 99-114.

Van Hoesen, John G. and Orndorff, R.L., 2004, A Comparative SEM Study Assessing the Micromorphology of Glaciated Clasts of Varying Lithologies. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 41: 1123-1139.

Orndorff, R.L., Van Hoesen, John G., and Saines, M., 2003, Implications of New Evidence for Late Quaternary Glaciation in the Spring Mountains, Southern Nevada. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 36(1): 37-45.

Van Hoesen, John G. and Orndorff, Richard L., 2003, Using GIS To Evaluate An Enigmatic Diamicton In The Spring Mountains, Southern Nevada. Professional Geographer 55: 206- 215.

Van Hoesen, John G., 2002, Geologic Tour of Red Rock National Conservation Area, in: Geology of the Southern Nevada Region, National Association of Geology Teachers Far Western Section, Spring Field Conference, Las Vegas, NV, pg. 86-95.

Buck, B.J., and Van Hoesen, John G., 2002, Snowball Morphology and SEM Analysis of Pedogenic Gypsum, southern New Mexico, Journal of Arid Environments: v.51, 469-487.

Orndorff, R.L. and Van Hoesen, John G., 2001, Using GIS to predict the spatial distribution of perennial snow under modern and Pleistocene conditions in the Snake Range, Nevada. 69th Annual Meeting of the Western Snow Conference, Sun Valley, Idaho, 2001, pg. 119-123.

Van Hoesen, John G., Buck, B.J., Merkler, D.J., and McMillan, N., 2001, An investigation of salt micromorphology and chemistry, Las Vegas Wash, Nevada: Proceedings of the 36th Annual Symposium on Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering. Luke, Jacobson, and Werle (eds), University of Nevada, Las Vegas, March 28-30, pg. 729-737.

Phillips, P.J., Wall, G.R., and Van Hoesen, J., 1999, Metolachlor and it's Metabolites in Tile Drain and Stream Runoff in the Canajoharie Creek Watershed, Environmental Science and Technology, v. 33, i. 20, p. 3531-3537.

Abstracts
Eger, James and Van Hoesen, John G., 2005, Geologic History of Selected Climbing Crags in New York and New England. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Saratoga Spring, New York.

Van Hoesen, John G., 2004, Evaluating a GIS-Based Approach to Predicting the Spatial Distribution of Periglacial Deposits in the Interior Great Basin of the Southwestern United States. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Denver, Colorado, Vol. 36, No. 5.

Van Hoesen, John G., 2004, Integrating Field-Based Service-Learning and Community Learning into and Introductory Hydrology Course. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Denver, Colorado, Vol. 36, No. 5.

Van Hoesen, John G., 2003, Improving 3D spatial visualization of stream channel morphology: A geomorphic application of ArcView 3D Analyst Extension. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Seattle, Washington, in press.

Van Hoesen, John G. and Orndorff, Richard L., 2003, The micromorphology of glacial and non-glacial clasts: Evaluating the effects of lithology and age. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Seattle, Washington, in press.

Van Hoesen, John G. and Orndorff, Richard L., 2001, Late Quaternary glacial and periglacial deposits in the Snake Range, East-Central Nevada, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Boston, Massachusetts, Vol. 33, No.6.

Van Hoesen, John G., 2001, A preliminary assessment of the glacial geology and geomorphology of Great Basin National Park, East-Central Nevada: The Geologic Transition, High Plateaus to Great Basin, ed. M.C. Erskine, J.E. Faulds, J.M. Bartley, and P.D. Rowley, p.430.

Wolff, K.L., Buck, B.J., Merkler, D.J., and Van Hoesen, John G., 2001, Salt dynamics of the Las Vegas Wash Wetlands, Las Vegas, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Boston, Massachusetts, Vol. 33, No.6.

Orndorff, R.L. and Van Hoesen, John G., 2001, Using GIS to predict the spatial distribution of perennial snow under modern and Pleistocene conditions in the Snake Range, Nevada. 69th Annual Meeting of the Western Snow Conference, Sun Valley, Idaho, 2001, pg. 119-123.

Orndorff, R.L. and Van Hoesen, John G., 2001, Microclimate controls on perennial snow in the Snake Range, Nevada: 45th Annual Meeting of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Van Hoesen, John G. and Orndorff, R.L., 2001, SEM Micromorphology of limestone clasts from a Pleistocene ice contact deposit, Spring Mountains, Nevada: 2nd Annual Graduate Student Research Forum, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV.

Bailley, T.L., Gilbert, J., Howley, R.A., Rees, M.N., Shiefelbein, I.M., Taylor, W.J., and Van Hoesen, John G., 2001, A geologic guide to Red Rock Canyon: Integrating research and education: 45th Annual Meeting of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Van Hoesen, John G. and Orndorff, R.L., 2001, Using GIS to predict the spatial distribution of perennial snow and ice under modern and Pleistocene conditions in the Spring Mountains, Nevada. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Universal City, California, v. 33, no. 3, p. A67.

Van Hoesen, John G. and Orndorff, R.L., 2000, Evidence for Pleistocene Glaciation in the Spring Mountains, Nevada. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Reno, Nevada, v.32, no.7.

Van Hoesen, John G. and Orndorff, R.L., 2000, SEM micromorphology of Pleistocene aged till, Spring Mountains, Nevada. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Reno, Nevada, v.32, no.7.

Buck, B.J. and Van Hoesen, John G., 2000, Assessing the potential of stable isotopic analysis of pedogenic gypsum as a paleoclimate indicator, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Reno, Nevada, v.32, no.7.

Activities, Honors and Recognitions

  • 2002-2003: Barrick Fellowship, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

  • 2002: Outstanding Student Research Award, Geological Society of America Research Grant

  • 2001: Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society Research Grant

  • 2001: American Alpine Club Research Grant

  • 2001 Colorado Scientific Society Research Grant

  • 2000 Best Student Paper Award: Geological Society of America Cordilleran Section Meeting

Professional Memberships

  • National Association of Geoscience Teachers (2001-present)

  • The Association of American Geographers (2001-present)

  • Sigma Xi Scientific Society (2001-present)

  • Colorado Scientific Society (2001-present)

  • Canadian Quaternary Association (2000-present)

  • American Quaternary Association (1999-present)

  • Geological Society of America (1998-present)

  • The Association of American Geographers (2001-present)

  • Geological Society of Nevada (1998-2003)

  • Vermont Cavers Association (2005 - present)

  • Vermont Geological Society (2003 - present)
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