
Alexander B. Neely, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Geomorphology, sediment transport, and field geology
1955 East Sixth Street PO Box 210184 Tucson, AZ 85721
Education
- Ph.D., 2020, Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University
- M.S., 2015, Earth Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara
- B.S., 2013, Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University
Current and Recent Projects
- Sediment production and movement through steep landscapes
- Wildfire effects on sediment production and mobility
- Quantification and prediction of erosion, Germany-wide search for a deep geologic storage repository
Research Interests
- Debris flows and floods
- Field instrumentation and high-resolution topography (cameras, gauges, photogrammetry)
- Measuring rates of landscape change over human and geologic timescales
- Science communication
Selected Publications
- Neely, A.B., Moon, S., DiBiase, R.A., Sklar, L.S. and Argueta, M.O., 2024. The grain size of sediments delivered to steep debris‐flow prone channels prior to and following wildfire. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5819
- Neely, A.B. and DiBiase, R.A., 2023. Sediment controls on the transition from debris flow to fluvial channels in steep mountain ranges. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 48(7), pp.1342-1361. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5553
- Neely, A.B. and DiBiase, R.A., 2020. Drainage area, bedrock fracture spacing, and weathering controls on landscape‐scale patterns in surface sediment grain size. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, p.e2020JF005560. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JF00556
Bio
Hi there! My name is Al! I’m originally an east coaster who returned from two years abroad in Germany to get a sunburn and unpack the rich geologic history here in Arizona. I am interested in the development of landscapes through geologic time and how various landscapes respond to changes in land use over human timescales. In my free time I enjoy creating animations, fidgeting with electronics, and listening to a good story.