LAWRENCE H. TANNER
Teaching Interests
Most of my courses support the majors in Environmental Science Systems and Environmental Studies. The former is a uniquely science-based version of Environmental Science (click here for link to the program page). The latter is a policy oriented version of the study of environmental issues (click here for link to program page). Currently I direct both of these programs, and also serve as Director for the Center for the Study of Environmental Change, the hub that links environmental curricula, research and outreach at Le Moyne (click here for link to Center web page). As a teacher, I encourage students to conduct geological or environmental research projects that involve field work and/or use of our modern laboratories that are equipped with a new JEOL JSM 6510-LV SEM with EDS, a new Bruker D2 Phaser XRD, and a Leco TruSpec C/N.
Research Interests
Studying the Lower Jurassic Whitmore Point Member of the Moenave Formation in the
Vermillion Cliffs in the Arizona-Utah border.
Mesozoic Systems. Much of my work focuses on the paleogeography and
paleoclimate of the Mesozoic world (probably a consequence of my childhood
fascination with dinosaurs). My current research in this area examines the
environmental conditions (climatic, atmospheric, etc.) as dinosaurs rose to
ascendancy in the Late Triassic, the record and causes of extinctions for
the early Mesozoic, and the global environmental processes responsible for
mass extinctions in general. Primarily, this research is conducted through
field studies (sedimentology and stratigraphy) of early Mesozoic formations
in the Four Corners area and the Canadian Maritimes.
At the classic K/T boundary section near Gubbio, Italy
Volcanology. A secondary interest is in volcanology, particularly the recognition of volcanic processes through the study of volcanoclastic deposits. Most of my work in this area has been concentrated on the volcanoes of southern Italy (Etna, Stromboli and the Iblean Plateau of Sicily), where I have worked for some years with Dr. Sonia Calvari of the INGV in Catania, Sicily;. We have recently completed work on an introductory text, Volcanoes: Windows on Our Dynamic Planet, due out in 2011 from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Press. I am also deeply interested in the effects on the climate and environment of large-scale volcanic eruptions, such as those of large igneous provinces.
On the summit of Etna, looking into the Bocca Nuova crater in 2002.
Our Environment. Finally, I have passionate concern for our Earth
environment. The realization that modern climate change is already
having a significant impact on the ecology has motivated me to start a
new line of research investigating changes in soil structure and
composition in such diverse locations as Iceland and Costa Rica.
Reindeer grazing in front of Hoffelsjökull in southern Iceland.
Click here for complete CV to see list of about 70 papers and books and 75 or so meeting abstracts.
Selected recent publications
Tanner, L.H., Wang, X., Morabito, A.C.*, 2012. Fossil charcoal from the Middle Jurassic of the Ordos Basin, China, and its paleoatmospheric implications. Geoscience Frontiers doi:10.1016/j.gsf.2011.12.001 (pdf).
Lucas, S.G., Tanner, L.H., Donohoo-Hurley, L.L., Geissman, J.W., Kozur, H.W., Heckert, A.B., Weems, R.E., 2011. Position of the Triassic-Jurassic boundary and timing of the end-Triassic extinctions on land: Data from the Moenave Formation on the southern Colorado Plateau, USA. Palaeogeography, Palaeoecology, Palaeoclimatology 304, 194-207 (pdf).
Marzoli, A., Jourdan, F. Puffer, J.H., Cuppone, T., Tanner, L.H., Weems, R.E., Bertrand, H., Cirilli, S., Bellieni, G., De Min, A., 2011. Timing and duration of the Central Atlantic magmatic province in the Newark and Culpeper basins, eastern U.S.A. Lithos 122, 175-188 (pdf).
Calvari, S., Tanner, L.H., 2011. The Miocene Costa Giardini diatreme, Iblean Mountains, southern Italy: Model for maar-diatreme formation on a submerged carbonate platform. Bulletin of Volcanology DOI 10.1007/s00445-010-0436-x (pdf; available online 12-31-2010).
Tanner, L.H. and Khalifa, M.A., 2010, Origin of ferricretes in fluvial-marine deposits of the Lower Cenomanian Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt, submitted to Journal of African Earth Sciences 56, 179-189 (pdf).
Tanner, L.H., 2010. Cyclostratigraphic record of the Triassic: a critical examination. In, Lucas, S.G. (ed.), The Triassic Timescale, Geological Society, London, Special Publication 334, 119-137.
Tanner, L.H., 2010. The Triassic isotope record. The Triassic Timescale, In, Lucas, S.G. (ed.), The Triassic Timescale, Geological Society, London, Special Publication 334, 103-118.
Tanner, L.H. and Lucas, S.G., 2010. Deposition and deformation of fluvial-lacustrine sediments of the Upper Triassic - Lower Jurassic Whitmore Point Member, Moenave Formation, northern Arizona. Sedimentary Geology 223, 180-191 (pdf).
Tanner, L.H., 2010. Terrestrial carbonates as indicators of palaeoclimate. In: Alonso-Zarza, A.M. and Tanner, L.H. (Eds), Carbonates in Continental Environments: Geochemistry, Diagenesis and Applications. Elsevier Developments in Sedimentology Series vol. 62., pp. 180-214.
Cirilli, S., Marzoli, A., Tanner, L.H., Bertrand, H., Buratti, N., Jourdan, F., Bellieni, G., Kontak, D., Renne, R.P., 2009. The onset of CAMP eruptive activity and the Tr-J boundary: Stratigraphic constraints from the Fundy Basin, Nova Scotia. Earth and Planetary Science Letters (pdf).
Jourdan, F., Marzoli A., Bertrande, H., Cirilli, S., Tanner, L.H., Kontak, D.J., McHone, G., Renne, P.R., Bellieni, G., 2009. 40Ar/39Ar ages of CAMP in North America: implications for the Triassic-Jurassic boundary and the 40K decay constant bias. Lithos 110-167-180 (pdf).
Tanner, L.H., Kyte, F.T. and Walker, A.E.*, 2008. Multiple Ir anomalies in uppermost Triassic to Jurassic-age strata of the Blomidon Formation, Fundy basin, eastern Canada. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 274, 103-111 (pdf).
FAMILY LIFE
Even I know that research isn’t everything. I wouldn’t be doing all the neat stuff without the support of my great family. Emily, now in high school, is a talented pianist, and loves animals and reading. My wife Linda LeMura, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Le Moyne , is a noted researcher in the field of physiology, with a specialty in the study of pediatric obesity. I’m fortunate to have them accompany me (occasionally) in the field.
Emily at the keys of the Yamaha (see a clip of Emily's Spring 2010 recital here).
On vacation in Boston in July, 2009
Checkers, Prince among felines, may he rest in peace (1998-2011).
OTHER INTERESTS
My family and I are ardent supporters of the amazingly active and diverse Syracuse cultural scene. We regularly attend the Syracuse Opera, the Chamber Music series, Syracuse Stage, as well as the many events at Le Moyne College (Gifford Family Theater, Piano in the Panasci, etc.).
