Carol Dehler, Ph.D.

Field: Earth Science
Areas of Focus: Geology, Sedimentology, Stratigraphy

Expertise

• Stratigrapher
• Sedimentologist
• Deep Time specialist
• Field geologist

Bio

Dr. Dehler is a professor in the Department of Geosciences at Utah State University.

She earned a Bachelors Degree in Geology at Humboldt State University, a Masters Degree in Geology at Northern Arizona University, and a PhD in Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of New Mexico.

Dr. Dehler studies the layered rocks on Earth, which are the record of surface conditions on the planet through different stages of its history. This is a powerful way to learn about the evolution of our biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and lithosphere over the past 4.56 billion years. Learning about the Earth's past can help us understand its capabilities and make predictions about the future, especially with respect to climate change.

She uses many tools to inform her research. In addition to detailed field geology, Dr. Dehler extracts chemical signatures and fossils from the strata to understand organic evolution and how it is affected by changes in geochemical cycles. She also seeks out the mineral zircon in the rocks she studies; zircon contains the radioactive element Uranium and can be used to date the rocks. These combined data sets are also used to condition the Geologic Time Scale, which allows us to understand rates of change amongst the Earth systems. Dr. Dehler thrives on collaborative research and is funded by the National Science Foundation.