Dr. Jeff Marshall

Undergraduate Research Advising

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Student: Shawn Morrish

Research Project: Tectonic geomorphology and paleo-river terraces of the Río Ora Valley, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica

Shawn Morrish describing a soil profile on an uplifted Pleistocene river terrace, Río Ora Valley, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica (July 2008)	Shawn working in his “field office”, generating longitudinal profiles for paleo-river terraces, Puerto Carrillo, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica (July 2008).	Shawn using hand held GPS to locate an outcrop of the Cretaceous Puerto Carrillo marine breccia, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica (July 2008)

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Images: Project photos and illustrations

Project Overview:

Shawn Morrish’s senior thesis research examines Quaternary river terraces along the Río Ora on the central Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. His study involves mapping terrace surfaces, describing fluvial deposits and soils, and generating longitudinal terrace profiles. He is also correlating the Río Ora terraces with marine terraces along the coast and other fluvial terraces within the peninsula’s interior. The goal of this investigation is to unravel the late Quaternary history of terrace formation, tectonic uplift, and stream capture. This project is part of a larger regional investigation of Nicoya Peninsula neotectonics and paleogeodesy directed by Dr. Marshall.

Research Abstracts:

2008 GSA Annual Meeting Abstract: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Houston, Texas, 2008

2008 NSF MARGINS Program SEIZE Workshop: Seismogenic Zone Experiment: The next decade, Mt. Hood, Oregon, 2008

2008 Central American Geologic Congress Abstract: Congreso Geológico de América Central, San José, Costa Rica, 2008

Senior Thesis:

Morrish, S., in progress, Tectonic geomorphology and paleo-river terraces of the Río Ora Valley, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: [B.S. Thesis] Cal Poly Pomona University, Pomona, California.

Honors and Awards:

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