Jon D . Pelletier
Professor in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arizona
Univ. of Arizona - University of Arizona
Pelletier's Univ. of Arizona page
PhD, Geological Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, 1997
Landforms on Earth's surface are sculpted by flowing water in the form of rivers and glaciers and by the wind and windborne particles. My work seeks to understand the intrinsic feedbacks between landforms on Earth's surface and the fluid flow above the surface which creates these self-organized patterns. I focus primarily on computer modeling and in the integration of model results with field and remote-sensing data. I have divided my research time roughly equally between fluvial geomorphology, tectonic geomorphology, hillslope/soil geomorphology, eolian geomorphology, and surface processes on Mars. I have also published a bit on Earth's climate system and ecosystem dynamics.
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CZO Publications
Papers/Books
2020
Resolving Deep Critical Zone Architecture in Complex Volcanic Terrain. Moravec B.G., White A.M., Root R.A, Sanchez A., Olshansky Y., Paras B.K., Carr B., McIntosh J., Pelletier J.D., Rasmussen C., Holbrook W.S., Chorover J. (2020): Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface 125(1): e2019JF005189 Cross-CZO
2018
Why Do Large‐Scale Land Surface Models Produce a Low Ratio of Transpiration to Evapotranspiration?. Chang L.-L., Dwivedi R., Knowles J.F., Fang Y.-H., Niu G.-Y., Pelletier J.D., Rasmussen C., Durcik M., Barron‐Gafford G.A., Meixner T. (2018): Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 123(17): 9109-9130
2018
Which way do you lean? Using slope aspect variations to understand Critical Zone processes and feedbacks. Pelletier J. D., Barron‐Gafford G. A., Gutiérrez‐Jurado H., Hinckley E.‐L. S., Istanbulluoglu E., McGuire L. A., Niu G.‐Y., Poulos M. J., Rasmussen C., Richardson P., Swetnam T. L., and Tucker G. E. (2018): Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 43(5): 1133–1154 Cross-CZO
2018
A net ecosystem carbon budget for snow dominated forested headwater catchments: linking water and carbon fluxes to critical zone carbon storage. Perdrial J., Brooks P.D., Swetnam T., Lohse K.A., Rasmussen C., Litvak M., Harpold A.A., Zapata-Rios X., Broxton P., Mitra B., Meixner M., Condon K., Huckle D., Stielstra C., Vázquez-Ortega A., Lybrand R., Holleran M., Orem C., Pelletier J., Chorover J. (2018): Biogeochemistry 138{3): 225–243 Cross-CZO
2018
Signatures of Obliquity and Eccentricity in Soil Chronosequences. Shepard C., Pelletier J.D., Schaap M.G., Rasmussen C. (2018): Geophysical Research Letters 45(20): 11147–11153
2018
Controlled Experiments of Hillslope Coevolution at the Biosphere 2 Landscape Evolution Observatory: Toward Prediction of Coupled Hydrological, Biogeochemical, and Ecological Change. Volkmann T.H.M., Sengupta A., Pangle L.A., Dontsova K., Barron-Gafford G.A., Harman C.J., Niu G.-Y., Meredith L.K., Abramson N., Meira Neto A.A., Wang Y., Adams J.R., Breshears D.D., Bugaj A., Chorover J., Cueva A., DeLong S.B., Durcik M., Ferre T.P.A., Hunt E.A., Huxman T.E., Kim M., Maier R.M., Monson R.K., Pelletier J.D., Pohlmann M., Rasmussen C., Ruiz J., Saleska S.R., Schaap M.G., Sibayan M., Tuller M., van Haren J.L.M., Zeng X. and Troch P.A. (2018): in: Hydrology of Artificial and Controlled Experiments (eds. Jiu-Fu Liu and Wei-Zu Gu), IntechOpen, pp. 25-74
2017
Geochemical evolution of the Critical Zone across variable time scales informs concentration-discharge relationships: Jemez River Basin Critical Zone Observatory. McIntosh J.C., Schaumberg C., Perdrial J., Harpold A., Vázquez-Ortega A., Rasmussen C., Vinson D., Zapata-Rios X., Brooks P.D., Meixner T., Pelletier J., Derry L., Chorover J. (2017): Water Resources Research 53(5): 4169–4196 Cross-CZO National
2017
Asymmetry of weathering-limited hillslopes: the importance of diurnal covariation in solar insolation and temperature. Pelletier J.D. and Swetnam T.L. (2017): Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 42(9): 1408–1418
2017
Coevolution of soil and topography across a semiarid cinder cone chronosequence. Rasmussen C., McGuire L., Dhakal P., Pelletier J.D. (2017): CATENA 156: 338-352
2016
Understanding ecosystem services from a geosciences perspective. Field J.P., Breshears D.D., Law D.J., Villegas J.C., López-Hoffman L., Brooks P.D., Chorover J., and Pelletier J.D. (2016): EOS 97
2016
Topographic correlations with soil and regolith thickness from shallow-seismic refraction constraints across upland hillslopes in the Valles Caldera, New Mexico. Olyphant J., Pelletier J.D., and Johnson R. (2016): Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 41(12): 1684–1696
2016
Constraining frequency–magnitude–area relationships for rainfall and flood discharges using radar-derived precipitation estimates: example applications in the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins, USA. Orem C.A. and Pelletier J.D. (2016): Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 20: 4483-4501
2016
The predominance of post-wildfire erosion in the long-term denudation of the Valles Caldera, New Mexico. Orem C.A. and Pelletier J.D. (2016): Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface 121(5): 843–864
2016
The influence of Holocene vegetation changes on topography and erosion rates: a case study at Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed, Arizona. Pelletier J. D., Nichols M. H., and Nearing M. A. (2016): Earth Surface Dynamics 4: 471-488
2016
Colloids and Organic Matter Complexation Control Trace Metal Concentration-Discharge Relationships in Marshall Gulch Stream Waters. Trostle K.D., Runyon J.R., Pohlmann M.A., Redfield S.E., Pelletier J., McIntosh J., and Chorover J. (2016): Water Resources Research 52(10): 7931–7944
2015
Critical Zone Services: Expanding Context, Constraints, and Currency beyond Ecosystem Services. Field J.P., Breshears D.D., Law D.J., Villegas J.C., López-Hoffman L., Brooks P.D., Chorover J., Barron-Gafford G.A., Gallery R.E., Litvak M.E., Lybrand R.A., McIntosh J.C., Meixner T., Niu G-Y., Papuga S.A., Pelletier J.D., Rasmussen C.R., and Troch P.A (2015): Vadose Zone Journal 14(1)
2015
Laser vision: lidar as a transformative tool to advance critical zone science. Harpold, A. A., Marshall, J. A., Lyon, S. W., Barnhart, T. B., Fisher, B. A., Donovan, M., Brubaker, K. M., Crosby, C. J., Glenn, N. F., Glennie, C. L., Kirchner, P. B., Lam, N., Mankoff, K. D., McCreight, J. L., Molotch, N. P., Musselman, K. N., Pelletier, J., Russo, T., Sangireddy, H., Sjöberg, Y., Swetnam, T., and West, N. (2015): Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 2881-2897 Cross-CZO National
2015
Quantifying the time scale of elevated geomorphic response following wildfires using multi-temporal LiDAR data: An example from the Las Conchas fire, Jemez Mountains, New Mexico. Orem C.A. and Pelletier J.D. (2015): Geomorphology 232: 224–238
2015
The Landscape Evolution Observatory: A large-scale controllable infrastructure to study coupled Earth-surface processes. Pangle L.A., DeLong S.B., Abramson N., Adams J., Barron-Gafford G.A., Breshears D.D., Brooks P.D., Chorover J., Dietrich W.E., Dontsova K., Durcik M., Espeleta J., Ferre T.P.A., Ferriere R., Henderson W., Hunt E.A., Huxman T.E., Millar D., Murphy B., Niu G-Y., Pavao-Zuckerman M., Pelletier J.D., Rasmussen C., Ruiz J., Saleska S., Schaap M., Sibayan M., Troch P.A., Tuller M., van Haren J., Zeng X. (2015): Geomorphology 244: 190-203 Cross-CZO
2015
Climate and landscape as drivers of carbon storage in forested headwater catchments: Insights from a complete C budget. Perdrial, J., Brooks, P., Swetnam, T., Lohse, K., Rasmussen, C., Litvak, M., Harpold, A., Zapata-Rios, X., Broxton, P., Mitra, B., Meixner, T., Condon, K., Huckle, D., Stielstra, C., Vazquez-Ortega, A., Lybrand, R., Holleran, M., Orem, C., Pelletier, J., and J. Chorover (2015): Global Change Biology
2015
Quantifying Topographic and Vegetation Effects on the Transfer of Energy and Mass to the Critical Zone. Rasmussen C., Pelletier J.D., Troch P.A., Swetnam T.L., and Chorover J. (2015): Vadose Zone Journal 14 (11)
2015
Rare Earth Elements as Reactive Tracers of Biogeochemical Weathering in Forested Rhyolitic Terrain. Vázquez-Ortega A., Perdrial J., Harpold A., Zapata-Ríos X., Rasmussen C., McIntosh J., Schaap M., Pelletier J.D., Brooks P.D., Amistadi M.K., Chorover J. (2015): Chemical Geology 391: 19-32 Cross-CZO
2014
Development of topographic asymmetry: Insights from dated cinder cones in the western United States. McGuire L.A., Pelletier J.D., and Roering J.J. (2014): Journal of Geophysical Research 119(8): 1725–1750
2014
An integrated modelling framework of catchment-scale ecohydrological processes: 2 The role of water subsidy by overland flow on vegetation dynamics in a semi-arid catchment. Niu G.-Y., Troch P.A., Paniconi C., Scott R.L., Durcik M., Zeng X., Huxman T. Goodrich D.C., and Pelletier J. (2014): Ecohydrology 7(2): 815–827
2014
How do sediment yields from post-wildfire debris-laden flows depend on terrain slope, soil burn severity class, and drainage basin area? Insights from airborne-lidar change detection. Pelletier J.D. and Orem C.A. (2014): Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 39(13): 1822–1832
2013
A robust, two-parameter method for the extraction of drainage networks from high-resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs): Evaluation using synthetic and real-world DEMs. Pelletier J. D. (2013): Water Resources Research 49(1): 75–89
2013
Coevolution of nonlinear trends in vegetation, soils, and topography with elevation and slope aspect: A case study in the sky islands of southern Arizona. Pelletier J.D., Barron-Gafford G.A., Breshears D.D., Brooks P.D., Chorover J., Durcik M., Harman C.J., Huxman T.E., Lohse K.A., Lybrand R., Meixner T., McIntosh J.C., Papuga S.A., Rasmussen C., Schaap M., Swetnam T.L., and Troch P.A. (2013): Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface 118(2): 741-758
2012
Analytic solution for the morphology of a soil-mantled valley undergoing steady headward growth: Validation using case studies in southeastern Arizona. Pelletier J.D. and Perron J.T. (2012): Journal of Geophysical Research, 117: F02018
2011
How Water, Carbon, and Energy Drive Critical Zone Evolution: The Jemez-Santa Catalina Critical Zone Observatory . Chorover J., Troch P.A., Rasmussen C., Brooks P., Pelletier J., Breshears D.D., Huxman T., Lohse K., McIntosh J., Meixner T., Papuga S., Schaap M., Litvak M., Perdrial J. Harpold A., and Durcik M. (2011): Vadose Zone Journal 10(3): 884-899
2011
Calibration and testing of upland hillslope evolution models in a dated landscape: Banco Bonito, New Mexico, USA . Pelletier J.D., McGuire L.A., Ash J.L., Engelder T.M., Hill L.E., Leroy K.W., Orem C.A., Rosenthal W.S. Trees M.A. Rasmussen C., and Chorover J. (2011): Journal of Geophysical Research, 116: F04004,
2011
An open system framework for integrating critical zone structure and function. Rasmussen C., Troch P.A., Chorover J., Brooks P., Pelletier J., and Huxman T. (2011): Biogeochemistry 102(1-3): 15-29
2009
Quantifying the climatic and tectonic controls on hillslope steepness and erosion rates. Pelletier J.D. and Rasmussen C. (2009): Lithosphere 1(2): 73-80
2009
Geomorphically based predictive mapping of soil thickness in upland watersheds. Pelletier J.D. and Rasmussen C. (2009): Water Resources Research 45: W09417
2009
Tectonic and structural control of fluvial channel morphology in metamorphic core complexes: The example of the Catalina-Rincon core complex, Arizona. Pelletier J.D., Engelder T.M., Comeau D., Hudson A., Leclerc M., Youberg A., and Diniega S. (2009): Geosphere 5(4): 363-384
Papers and books that explicitly acknowledge a CZO grant are highlighted in PALE ORANGE.
Other CZO Publications
2019
Catalina-Jemez CZO Annual Report 2019. Chorover J.D., Breshears D.D., McIntosh J.C., Pelletier J.D., Rasmussen C. (2019): University of Arizona
2018
Catalina-Jemez CZO Annual Report 2018. Chorover J.D., Breshears D.D., McIntosh J.C., Pelletier J.D., Rasmussen C. (2018): Catalina-Jemez CZO, University of Arizona
2018
Signatures of obliquity and eccentricity in soil chronosequences. Shepard, C, Pelletier, J.D., Schaap, M.G., Rasmussen, C. (2018): Abstract EP53F-1981 presented at 2018 AGU Fall Meeting, Washington, D.C., 10-14 Dec
2017
Insights into the base of the critical zone from geophysical logging and groundwater flow testing at US Critical Zone Observatories (CZO) and critical zone study sites (CZs). Carr, Bradley, Ye Zhang, Shuangpo Ren, Brady A Flinchum, Andrew Parsekian, W Steven Holbrook, Clifford S Riebe, Bryan G Moravec, Jon Chorover, Jon D Pelletier, Daniel deB. Richter (2017): American Geophysical Union 2017 Fall Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, 11-15 December 2017 Cross-CZO
2017
Catalina-Jemez CZO Annual Report 2017. Chorover J.D., Breshears D.D., McIntosh J.C., Pelletier J.D., Rasmussen C. (2017): Catalina-Jemez CZO, University of Arizona
2016
2016 Catalina-Jemez CZO Annual Report for NSF EAR-1331408 entitled "Transformative Behavior of Water, Energy and Carbon in the Critical Zone II: Interaction Between Long- and Short-term Processes that Control Delivery of Critical Zone Services". Chorover J.D., Breshears D.D., McIntosh J.C., Pelletier J.D., Rasmussen C. (2016): Catalina-Jemez CZO, University of Arizona
2015
Seeking GUTH, the Grand Unified Theory of Hillslopes: Linking weathering, erosion and landscapes. Anderson, SP, Dietrich, WE, Rempe, D, West, N, Brantley, SL, Bacon, AR, Buss, HL, Fisher, BA, Flinchum, B, Holbrook, S, Klos, PZ, Leopold, M, Moon, S, Nielson, T, Pelletier, J, and Terry, N. (2015): EP34A-01 Landscape Evolution from a Critical Zone Science Perspective III, presented at 2015 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 14-18 Dec. Cross-CZO
2015
2015 Catalina-Jemez CZO Annual Report for NSF EAR-1331408 entitled "Transformative Behavior of Energy, Water and Carbon in the Critical Zone II: Interactions between Long- and Short-term Processes that Control Delivery of Critical Zone Services". Chorover J.D., Breshears D.D., McIntosh J.C., Pelletier J.D., Rasmussen C. (2015): Jemez-Catalina CZO, University of Arizona
2015
Development of a hybrid 3-D hydrological model to simulate hillslopes and the regional unconfined aquifer system in Earth system models. Hazenberg P., Broxton P., Brunke M., Gochis D., Niu G.-Y., Pelletier J., Troch P., Zeng X. (2015): Abstract GC22A-06 presented at 2015 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 14-18 Dec.
2015
Scaling Critical Zone analysis tasks from desktop to the cloud utilizing contemporary distributed computing and data management approaches: A case study for project based learning of Cyberinfrastructure concepts. Pelletier J., Swetnam T., Merchant N., Callahan N., Lyons E. (2015): Abstract IN43B-1730 presented at 2015 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 14-18 Dec.
2014
2014 Catalina-Jemez CZO Annual Report for NSF EAR-1331408 entitled "Transformative Behavior of Energy, Water and Carbon in the Critical Zone II: Interactions between Long- and Short-term Processes that Control Delivery of Critical Zone Services". Chorover J.D., Breshears D.D., McIntosh J.C., Pelletier J.D., Rasmussen C. (2014): Jemez-Catalina CZO, University of Arizona
2014
Representing surface and subsurface hydrology at hyperresolution for Earth system models: Development of a hybrid 3-D approach. Hazenberg P., Broxton P., Brunke M., Gochis D., Lawrence D., Niu G-Y., Pelletier J., Troch P., Zeng X. (2014): Abstract GC33A-0497 presented at 2014 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 15-19 Dec.
2014
Controls on the Mean Spacing of Channels on Incised Alluvial Terraces in the Western US. McGuire L. and Pelletier J. (2014): Abstract EP33B-3643 presented at 2014 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 15-19 Dec.
2014
Controls on Yardang Morphology: Insights from Field Measurements, Lidar Topographic Analyses, and Numerical Modeling (Invited). Pelletier J. and Kapp P. (2014): Abstract EP51F-04 presented at 2014 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 15-19 Dec.
2014
Development of High-Resolution Regolith Thickness and Topographic Datasets for Regional/Global Land-Surface Modeling. Pelletier J., Broxton P., Hazenberg P., Zeng X., Troch P., Niu G-Y., Brunke M., Gochis D. (2014): Abstract H43G-1027 presented at 2014 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 15-19 Dec.
2013
Fluid Chemistry Dynamics Before and After Fire in the Jemez River Basin Critical Zone Observatory. Chorover J., Perdrial J.N., Field J.P., Pelletier J.D., Pohlmann M.A., Losleben M.V., Lasharr K., Amistadi M., Brooks P.D., McIntosh J.C., Meixner T., Gallery R., Rich V.I., Rasmussen C., Schaap M.G., Breshears D.D. (2013): Abstract B41F-05 presented at 2013 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 9-13 Dec.
2013
Bridging from Soil to Ecosystem Goods and Services Provided by the Critical Zone. Field J.P., Breshears D.D., Law D.J., Brooks P.D., Chorover J., Pelletier J.D., Troch P.A., López-Hoffman L., Rasmussen C., Papuga S., Harpold A., Biederman J.A., Barron-Gafford G.A., McIntosh J.C., Litvak M. (2013): Abstract presented at AGU Chapman Conference on Soil-mediated Drivers of Coupled Biogeochemical and Hydrological Processes Across Scales, Biosphere 2, Tucson, Arizona, 21-24 October 2013 (Poster) Cross-CZO
2013
Coevolution of topography, soils, and vegetation in upland landscapes: Using cinder cones to elucidate ecohydrogeomorphic feedback mechanisms . McGuire L., Pelletier J.D., Rasmussen C. (2013): Abstract EP13C-0884 presented at 2013 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 9-13 Dec.
2013
Using airborne and terrestrial LiDAR to quantify and monitor post-fire erosion following the Las Conchas fire, Jemez Mountains, New Mexico. Orem C.A. and Pelletier J.D. (2013): Abstract presented at Chapman Conference on Post-wildfire Runoff and Erosion Response, Estes Park, Colorado, 25 - 31 August
2012
Rare earth elements as reactive tracers of biogeochemical weathering in the Jemez River Basin Critical Zone Observatory. Vazquez A., Perdrial J. N., Harpold A. A., Zapata X., Rasmussen C., McIntosh J. C., Schaap M. G., Pelletier J. D., Amistadi M., Chorover J. (2012): Abstract H53I-1651 presented at 2012 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, Calif., 3-7 Dec (Poster). Cross-CZO
2011
Carbon, water and weathering limitations in the semi-arid critical zone. J. Chorover, P.A. Troch, J.D. Pelletier, C. Rasmussen, P.D. Brooks, J.C. McIntosh, D.D. Breshears, T.E. Huxman, S.A. Papuga, K.A. Lohse, T. Meixner, M.G. Schaap, M.E. Litvak, A.A. Harpold, J.N. Perdrial, M. Durcik (2011): AGU Fall Meeting Presentations Abstract B41H-05.
2011
Distinguishing grass from ground using LiDAR: Techniques and applications. Pelletier, J.D., Swetnam, T., Papuga, S.A., Nelson, K., Brooks, P.D., Harpold, A.A., Chorover , J. (2011): AGU Fall Meeting Presentations Abstract EP51E-05.
2010
Coevolution of topography, hydrology, soil development, and vegetation in sky islands of the southwestern United States. Pelletier, J.D., Rasmussen, C., Breshears, D.D., Brooks, P.D., Chorover, J., Huxman, T.E., Lohse, K.A., Meixner, T., McIntosh, J.C., Kurc, S.A., Schaap, M.G., Swetnam, T., Troch, P.A. (2010): AGU Fall Meeting Abstract EP42A-03.
2010
Application of thermodynamics to quantify the energetics of pedogenesis and critical zone evolution. Rasmussen, C., Troch, P.A., Brooks, P.D., Pelletier, J.D., Chorover, J. (2010): AGU Fall Meeting (Invited) Abstract H52B-03.
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News
Water Resources Research Special Collection: Concentration-discharge relations in the critical zone
30 Oct 2017 - Water Resources Research published a new special collection in September 2017 featuring concentration-discharge research from multiple CZOs.
2017 CZO Webinar Series: Critical Zone and Society
06 Apr 2017 - 2017 CZO Webinar Series: Critical Zone and Society.
CZNews: Fall 2016
11 Oct 2016 - CZO Newsletter CZNews: Fall 2016
Post-Wildfire Erosion Can Sculpt Forested Mountains
19 Apr 2016 - Researchers from the UA Santa Catalina Mountains & Jemez River Basin Critical Zone Observatory did before-and-after studies of how severe...
EOS Opinion: Understanding Ecosystem Services from a Geosciences Perspective
22 Jan 2016 - Assessment of ecosystem services can be improved by including broader spatial and temporal scales of geosciences perspectives.
Predicting post-wildfire erosion better
08 Dec 2014 - Jon Pelletier and his graduate student Caitlin Orem's research on the post Las Conchas fire erosion was highlighed in the Arizona Daily Star...
Community Workshop: The Next Generation of LiDAR Analysis for Critical Zone Research
27 Feb 2014 - A three-day workshop on LiDAR processing techniques will be held in Boulder, CO May 12th-14th, 2014 Early-career CZ researchers should apply to attend
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Events
CZO Webinar: Forecasting of Earth surface processes
Forecasting of Earth surface processes webinar presented by Jon Pelletier.
Online.Exploring Sky Islands Lecture Series
Hillslopes and River Channels of the Santa Catalina Mountains: How rock type and climate affects topography in Tucson's Sky Island
Theatre at Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium.SWES Colloquium Series 2012-2013
Co-evolution of soils and topography on upland landscapes
Marley 230.
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