Picture of Giff Miller
Distinguished ProfessorDirector, Center for Geochemical Analysis of the Global Environment (GAGE)
• Quaternary stratigraphy • Geochronology • Paleoclimatology
Geological Sciences
INSTAAR office: 303 492-6962
INSTAAR lab: 303 492-5075

Benson Earth Sciences office: 303 492-8437

Amino Acid Geochronology Lab News about Giff

My primary scholarly interests focus on gaining an improved understanding of how the physical earth system operates.

Toward this end, I am specifically interested in using the Quaternary as a means to reconstruct the coupled ocean/atmospheric/ice climate system. By reconstructing past environmental changes it is possible to get a better understanding of the rates and magnitude of natural climate variability and the various feedback mechanisms in the global climate system. I am also interested in the role of humans in the modification of landscapes and ecosystem on Quaternary timescales.

My present research is on Quaternary stratigraphy and dating methods; amino acid geochronology and cosmogenic exposure dating; and glacial history of the Arctic, focusing on glacial chronology and ice-sheet dynamics using direct field evidence and quantitative estimates of the timing and magnitude of warm times in the Arctic. I also have research interests in monsoons on Quaternary time scales and the causes of megafauna extinctions.

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Education

  • PhD: Â鶹ӰԺ, 1975

Awards

  • Distinguished Professor, University of Colorado System, 2021
  • Distinguished Career Award, American Quaternary Association, 2018
  • Elected Fellow, American Geophysical Union, 2009
  • Elected Foreign Member, Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, 2008
  • Easterbrook Distinguished Scientist Award, Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division, Geological Society of America, 2005
  • Elected Fellow, Geological Society of America, 1986

Teaching

Current postdoc

Courses taught

  • GEOL 1060-003: Global Change: An Earth Science Perspective
  • GEOL 5700: Holocene Nonlinearities
  • GEOL 3040-003: Geological Record of Global Change
  • GEOL 5420: Quaternary Dating Methods
  • GEOL 5420-003: Quaternary Geochronology/Quaternary Stratigraphy
  • GEOL 5700-001: Volcanism in the Arctic System
  • CVEN 5838-001: Rockfalls and Avalanches

Publications

For a list of publications, .

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