Professor Sahagion's research spanning paleoclimatology, volcanology, stratigraphy, geodynamics and tectonics, global hydrology and sea level. His research has included models that explore the driving mechanisms of volcanic eruptions, exploration of the human factors impacting modern sea level. His work led him to Lehigh where he integrated disparate disciplines to shape the Environmental Initiative into a leading program for environmental science, technology, economics, policy, and the myriad interactions between people and the environment.
Dork Sahagian
Professor
610.758.6379
dos204@lehigh.edu
424 STEPS
Education:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (B.S.)
Rutgers University (M.S.)
University of Chicago (Ph.D.)
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Research Areas
Additional Interests
- Tectonics
- Volcanology
- Environmental Change
Research Statement
Biography
Dork Sahagian is a Professor of Earth & Environmental Sciences at Lehigh University. Professor Sahagian received his B.S. in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, his M.S. in Geosciences from Rutgers University, and his Ph.D in Geophysics from the University of Chicago. He then served the Navy as a NORDA Oceanographer at Dartmouth College, Associate Research Scientist at Lamont-Doherty (Columbia University), and Research Scientist at the Byrd Polar Research Center (Ohio State University). He served as Executive Director of the Global Analysis, Integration, and Modelling Task Force of the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP/GAIM) at the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space at the University of New Hampshire from 1994 until 2004, when he moved to Lehigh University, where he served as Director of the Environmental Initiative from 2004 to 2010. Professor Sahagian has been conducting research in paleoclimatology, volcanology, stratigraphy, geodynamics and tectonics, global hydrology, sea level, the environmental impacts of human activities, and science education. Part of his research led him to coauthor the pivotal reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was jointly awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former vice president Al Gore. He also served as the Principal Scientific Reviewer for Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-5) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Professor Sahagian has taught courses in the earth & environmental sciences, physics and astronomy, volcanology, human-climate interactions, stratigraphy, and other areas related to his research and that of his students. His currently offered advanced class “Scientific Foundations for Environmental Policy Design” is required for all Environmental Policy Design MA graduate students. The second edition of his book, “A User’s Guide for Planet Earth” was recently published for use as a textbook in introductory Environmental Science courses nationwide. He was instrumental in establishing the new section of the American Geophysical Union in "Biogeosciences" and has directed his efforts to organizing and integrating a number of diverse research communities. Toward the goal of understanding of Earth’s processes and environment, he continues to work toward the integration of disparate disciplines in geology, environmental science, technology, policy, and the myriad interactions between people and the world in which we live.
Selected Publications
Sahagian, D., P. Diplas, C. Urban, Z. Cheng, M. David, In search of a unifying criterion for meandering systems: Examples from natural and built environments, Env. Fluid Mech., 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-022-09851-8
Sahagian, D., and T. Carley, Explosive volcanic eruptions and spinodal decomposition: A different approach to deciphering the tiny bubble paradox, Geochem., Geophys., Geosystems (G-Cubed), 2020. DOI: 10.1029/2019GC008898
Peters, S., J. Blake, J. Burrows, G. Yasko, J. Lofaro, K. Smith and D. Sahagian, Metals Remaining in Soils Surrounding Palmerton, PA from 20th Century Zinc Smelting, in From Superfund Site to Wildlife Refuge: A Story of Ecological Restoration at the Lehigh Gap, Pennsylvania, PA Academy of Sciences, 2022, In Press.
Wygel, C., S. Peters, J. McDermott, and D. Sahagian, 2019. Bubbles and Dust: Experimental Results of Dissolution Rates of Metal Salts and Glasses from Volcanic Ash Deposits in Terms of Surface Area, Chemistry, and Human Health Impacts, GeoHealth, 3, 338-355. DOI: 10.1029/2018GH000181
Hammond, T., A. Bodzin, D. Anastasio, B. Holland, K. Popejoy, D. Sahagian, S. Rutzmoser, J. Carrigan, and W. Farina, 2018, “You know you can do this, right?”: Developing geospatial technological pedagogical content knowledge (GS-TPACK) and enhancing teachers’ cartographic behaviors with Socio-Environmental Science Investigations (SESI), Cartography and Geographic Information Science, 45(4), 305-318. Doi: 10.1080/15230406.2017.1419440
Hammond, T.C., Bodzin, A.M. Anastasio, D., Holland, B., Popejoy, K. and Sahagian, D., Socioenvironmental science investigations (SESI) using mobile data collection for geospatial thinking and reasoning: Design process, pedagogy, and professional development. Contemporary Issues in Technology Education. (accepted with revision)
Sahagian, D., The Magic of Fairy Circles: Built or Created? J. Geophys. Res. – Biogeosciences, 2017, DOI: 10.1002/2017JG003855.
Benfield, A, D. Sahagian, and S. Peters, 2017, What controls maximum leaf size? Science, Eletters. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/357/6354/917/tab-e-letters
Sahagian, D. (2017), Responding to climate change deniers with simple facts and logic, Eos, 98, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018EO065273
Jiang, M., B. Felzer and D. Sahagian, 2016, Characterizing predictability of precipitation means and extremes over the conterminous United States, 1949-2010, J. Climate, 29, 2621-2633. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-15-0560.1
D. Sahagian, A. Proussevitch, L. Ancuta, B. Idleman, and P. Zeitler, 2016, Uplift of Central Mongolia Recorded in Vesicular Basalts, J. Geol., 124, 435-445. DOI: 10.1086/686272
Bodzin, A., Anastasio, D., Sahagian, D., & Henry, J. , 2016, A curriculum-linked professional development approach to support teachers’ adoption of Web GIS tectonics Investigations. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 16
Jiang, M., B. Felzer and D. Sahagian, 2016, Predictability of precipitation over the conterminous U.S. Based on the CMIP5 Multi-Model Ensemble. Nature- Sci. Rep. 6, 33618. doi: 10.1038/srep33618.
Sahagian, D. (2016), The proof of our science lies in the telling, Eos, 97, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018EO045371.
S. Na, T. Chung, and D. Sahagian, Did the Little Ice Age Release Earthquakes? Science Discovery, 2, 47-50, 2014, doi: 10.11648/j.sd.20140204.11
B. Felzer and D. Sahagian, 2014, Climate Impacts on Regional Ecosystem Services in the United States from CMIP3-based Multimodel Comparisons, Climate Research, 61, 133-155. doi 10.3354/cr01249.
K. Genareau, G. Mulukutla, A. Proussevitch and D. Sahagian, Sizing up the bubbles that result in very fine ash production during explosive volcanic eruptions, Geophys. Res. Lett,. 39, DOI: 10.1029/2012GL052471, 2012
J. Johnson, J. Lees, A. Gerst, D. Sahagian & N. Varley, 2008, Long-period earthquakes and co-eruptive dome inflation seen with particle image velocimetry, Nature, 456, 377-381
A. Frappier, D. Sahagian, L. Gonzales, and S. Carpenter, 2002, El Niño events recorded by stalagmite carbon isotopes, Science, 298, 565.
D. Sahagian, 2000, Global Physical Effects of Anthropogenic Hydrological Alterations: Sea Level and Water Redistribution, Global & Planet. Change, 25, 39-48
D. Sahagian, 1999, Magma fragmentation in eruptions, Nature, 402, 589-591.
A.A. Proussevitch and D.L Sahagian, 1998. Dynamics and Energetics of Bubble Growth in Magmas: Analytical Formulation and Numerical Modeling, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 18223-18251.
D.L. Sahagian and J. Maus, 1994. Basalt vesicularity as a measure of atmospheric pressure, Nature, 372, 449-451.
D.L. Sahagian, D.K. Jacobs, and F.W. Schwartz, 1994. Direct anthropogenic contributions to sea level rise in the twentieth century - Reply to separate comments by B. Chao & E. Rodenberg, Nature, 370, 258.
D.K. Jacobs and D.L. Sahagian, 1993. Climate-induced fluctuations in sea level during non-glacial times, Nature, 361, 710-712.
D.L. Sahagian and A.A. Proussevitch, 1992. Bubbles in volcanic systems, Nature, 359, 485.
D. L. Sahagian, 1980. Sublithospheric upwelling distribution, Nature, 287, 217-218.
Teaching
Courses:
Environmental Science (EES 2)
Volcanology (EES 363)
Scientific Foundations for Environmental Policy Design (EES 402)
Human Climate Interactions (EES 446)