Professional Interests
Jeni’s research interests lie in understanding how fluvial systems interact with and shape our world, both at the orogen scale through the interplay between surface processes, deformation, and tectonics, as well as at a smaller scale where surface water and groundwater dynamically interact with our human environment, affecting the quality and availability of water resources while defining the very surface on which we live.
Research interests:
- Continental tectonics, especially neotectonics, the formation and continued development of orogenic systems, climate-erosion-tectonic feedback loops, and the role of extensional faulting in collisional orogens.
- Low-temperature thermochronology, including single crystal apatite and zircon (U-Th)/He and muscovite and biotite 40Ar/39Ar thermochronometers.
- Landform evolution and geomorphology, with an emphasis on using geomorphic tools and river profiles to understand tectonically active regions.
- Water resource renewal and water quality.
Courses:
- GEOL 115: Environmental Geology
- GEOL 252: Earth Surface Processes and Geomorphology
- GEOL 410: Hydrogeology
- GEOL 460: Advanced Regional Geology and Field Methods
Recent Publications:
McDermott, J.A., Hodges, K.V., Whipple, K.X.,van Soest, M.C.,Hurtado, J.M., Jr. (2015) Evidence for Pleistocene Low-Angle Normal Faulting in the Annapurna-Dhaulagiri Region, Nepal. Journal of Geology, 123, DOI:10.1086/68121.
McDermott, J.A., Whipple, K.X, Hodges, K.V., van Soest, M.C. (2013) Evidence for Plio-Pleistocene north-south extension at the southern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, Nyalam region. Tectonics, 32, doi:10.1002/tect.20018.
McDermott, J.A., Avisar, D., Johnson, T.A., Clark, J.F. (2008). Groundwater travel times near spreading ponds: Inferences from geochemical and physical approaches. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, vol 13, no11.
Abstracts:
Spangenberg, ., McDermott, J.A. (2016) Investigating timing of slip along N-S extensional faults in the Modi Khola and Marsyandi Valleys, Annapurna Himalaya, Nepal. Poster presentation at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in San Francisco, CA December 14, 2016.
Conrad, D., Arnhold, ., McDermott, J.A. (2016) A comparison of slope-area analysis and chi-plot methods in a geomorphic analysis of the Norwegian ‘passive’ margin. Poster presentation at the Geological Society of America Regional Cordilleran Section in Ontario, CA April 5, 2016.
Kellner, J., McDermott, J.A. (2016) Constraining the timing of incision of the Virgin River Gorge. Poster presentation at the Geological Society of America Regional Cordilleran Section in Ontario, CA April 5, 2016.
Spangenberg, C., McDermott, J.A. (2016) Investigation of erosional patterns along Mississippi River gorge tributary streams. Poster presentation at the Geological Society of America Regional Cordilleran Section in Ontario, CA April 5, 2016.
Arnhold, C., Conrad, D., and McDermott, J.A. (2015) Geomorphic analysis of the More-Trondelag fault complex in southern Norway. GSA Abstracts with Programs, 47, p. 15.
McDermott, J.A., Redfield, T.F., Osmundsen, P.T., Arnhold, C., Conrad, D. (2015) A Geomorphological Analysis of the Cenozoic Rejuvenation of the Southwestern Norwegian ‘Passive’ Margin. European Geological Union Annual Meeting, Vienna, Austria.
McDermott, J.A., Hodges, K.V., Whipple, K.X., van Soest, M.C. (2013) Structural, geomorphic, and thermochronologic evidence for Quaternary N-S extension at the southern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Geological Society of America Annual Conference 2013.
McDermott, J.A., Whipple, K.X, Hodges, K.V., van Soest, M.C. (2012) Plio-Pleistocene N-S extension at the southern margin of the Tibetan Plateau as evidenced from fluvial incision patterns and thermochronology. European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2012.
McDermott, J.A., Whipple, K.X, Hodges, K.V., van Soest, M.C. (2011) Quaternary N-S extension near the Himalayan crest: An investigation using river profiles and low-temperature thermochronology. European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2011.
McDermott, J.A., Hodges, K.V., Whipple, K.X., van Soest, M.C. (2010) Exploring evidence for possible recent N-S extension along the Himalayan crest. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting
Whipple, K.X., McDermott, J.A., Adams, B.A. (2010) Expression of Active Tectonics in Erosional Landscapes. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting.
McDermott, J.A., Hodges, K.V., and van Soest, M.C. (2009) Polyphase (Miocene-Pleistocene?) slip on the South Tibetan fault system in the Dhaulagiri Himalaya. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting
McDermott, J.A., Hodges, K.V., Whipple, K.X. Monteleone, B.D., van Soest, M.C., Wang, E., and Fan, C. (2008)Polyphase extension at the southern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, Ama Drime Range, Tibet. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting.
Clark, J.F. & McDermott, J.A. (2006) Groundwater travel times determined with geochemical and physical techniques near artificial recharge ponds. Geological Society of America annual meeting.
McDermott, J., Clark, J.F., Avisar, D., Hudson, G.B. (2005). A comparison of hydrogeologic models, tritium/3He, and deliberate tracer experiments to understand ground water residence time. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. Also presented at 2005 Geological Society of America Cordilleran Section.
,Smith, D.P., Vincent, M.M., McDermott, J.A., Carlson, Z. (2005) Quantified chronic sediment load from road construction in Garrapata watershed, a steep coastal trout stream on the Big Sur Coast, CA. Geological Society of America Cordilleran Section.