Clifford S . Riebe
Associate Professor; Geology, U. Wyoming
University of Wyoming - University of Wyoming
Riebe's University of Wyoming page
Ph.D., Geology and Geophysics, University of California, Berkeley, 2000
My group seeks quantitative insight on processes that break rock down and move sediment across landscapes. To obtain it, we use a variety of geochemical, isotopic, and geophysical methods to measure properties of the surface and shallow subsurface. Together these measurements reveal patterns of erosion, weathering, regolith formation, and biogeochemical cycling. This work is vital to understanding connections between life and landscapes and to making advances in understanding how humans and natural processes shape Earth's dynamic surface.
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CZO Publications
Papers/Books
2019
Arrested development: Erosional equilibrium in the southern Sierra Nevada, California, maintained by feedbacks between channel incision and hillslope sediment production. Callahan, R.P., Ferrier, K.L., Dixon, J., Dosseto, A., Hahm, W.J., Jessup, B.S., Miller, S.N., Hunsaker, C.T., Johnson, D.W., Sklar, L.S., Riebe, C.S. (2019): GSA Bulletin Cross-CZO
2019
Links between physical and chemical weathering inferred from a 65-m-deep borehole through Earth’s critical zone. Holbrook, W. Steven, Virginia Marcon, Allan R. Bacon, Susan L. Brantley, Bradley J. Carr, Brady A. Flinchum, Daniel D. Richter, & Clifford S. Riebe (2019): Scientific Reports 9: Article number 4495
2018
Subsurface plant-accessible water in mountain ecosystems with a Mediterranean climate. Klos, P. Z.; Goulden, M.; Riebe, C. S.; Tague, C.; O’geen, A. T.; Flinchum, B. A.; Safeeq, M.; Conklin, M. H.; Hart, S. C.; Berhe, A. A.; Hartsough, P. C.; Holbrook, S.; Bales R. C.; (2018): Hydrological Processes: 10.1002/wat2.1277
2018
Ideas and perspectives: Strengthening the biogeosciences in environmental research networks. Richter, D.D., S.A. Billings, P.M. Groffman, E.F. Kelly, K.A. Lohse, W.H. McDowell, T.S. White, S. Anderson, D.D. Baldocchi, S. Banwart, S. Brantley, J.J. Braun, Z.S. Brecheisen, C.W. Cook, H.E. Hartnett, S.E. Hobbie, J. Gaillardet, E. Jobbagy, H.F. Jungkunst, C.E. Kazanski, J. Krishnaswamy, D. Markewitz, K. O’Neill, C.S. Riebe, P. Schroeder, C. Siebe, W.L. Silver, A. Thompson, A. Verhoef, G. Zhang (2018): Biogeosciences 15: 4815-4832 Cross-CZO National
2017
Dust outpaces bedrock in nutrient supply to montane forest ecosystems. Aciego, S.M.; Riebe, C.S.; Hart, S.C.; Blakowski, M.A.; Carey, C.J.; Aarons, S.M.; Dove, N.C.; Botthoff, J.K.; Sims, K.W.; Aronson, E.L. (2017): Nature Communications
2017
Global patterns of dust and bedrock nutrient supply to montane ecosystems. Arvin, L.J.; Riebe, C.S.; Aciego, S.M.; Blakowski, M.A. (2017): Science Advances, Vol. 3, no. 12, eeao1588
2017
Controls on deep critical zone architecture: a historical review and four testable hypotheses. Riebe, C. S., Hahm, W. J., Brantley, S. L. (2017): Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 42 (1): 128–156 Cross-CZO National
2017
The problem of predicting the particle size distribution of sediment supplied by hillslopes to rivers. Sklar, L. S., Riebe, C. S., Marshall, J. A., Genetti, J., Leclere, S., Lukens, C. L., Merces, V. (2017): Geomorphology. 277 31.
2016
Microbial community structure of subalpine snow in the Sierra Nevada, California. Carey, C.J., S.C. Hart, S.M. Aciego, C.S. Riebe, M.A. Blakowski, E.L. Aronson (2016): Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research. 48(4):685-701. 2016
2016
Testing for supply limited and kinetic limited chemical erosion in field measurements of regolith production and chemical depletion. Ferrier, K. L., Riebe, C. S. and Hahm, W. J. (2016): Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 17 (6), 2270-2285.
2016
Grain size bias in cosmogenic nuclide studies of stream sediment in steep terrain . Lukens, C. E., Riebe, C. S., Sklar, L. S., Shuster D. L. (2016): Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. 121 (5), DOI: 10.1002/2016JF003859
2015
Climate and topography control the size and flux of sediment produced on steep mountain slopes. Riebe, C., Sklar, L., Lukens, C., and Shuster, D. (2015): Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
2015
Geophysical imaging reveals topographic stress control of bedrock weathering. St. Clair, J., S. Moon, W. S. Holbrook, J. T. Perron, C. S. Riebe, S. J. Martel, B. Carr, C. Harman, K. Singha, D. deB. Richter (2015): Science 350 (6260): 534-538 Cross-CZO National
2014
Tracing and pacing soil across slopes. Dixon, J. L., Riebe, C. S. (2014): Elements 5 (10)
2014 (In Review)
Making soil. Dixon, J. L., Riebe, C. S. (2014): Elements, in review Cross-CZO National
2014
Cosmogenic Nuclides in Weathering and Erosion. Granger, D.E. and Riebe, C.S. (2014): in Treatise on Geochemistry, Volume 5: Surface and Ground Water, Weathering, and Soils. (2nd edition): 401-436
2014
Bedrock composition regulates mountain ecosystems and landscape evolution. Hahm, W.J., Riebe, C.S., Lukens, C.E., and Araki, S. (2014): Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111(9):3338-3343
2014
Geophysical constraints on deep weathering and water storage potential in the Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory. Holbrook, W.S., Riebe, C.S., Elwaseif, M., Hayes, J.L., Harry, D. L., Basler-Reeder, K., Malazian, A., Dosseto, A., Hartsough, P. C., and Hopmans, J. W. (2014): Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 39:366-380.
2013
Quantifying effects of deep and near-surface chemical erosion on cosmogenic nuclide buildup in soils, saprolite and sediment . Riebe, C.S., Granger D. E. (2013): Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. Cross-CZO
2011
Twelve testable hypotheses on the geobiology of weathering. Brantley, S.L., Megonigal, J.P., Scatena, F.N., Balogh-Brunstad, Z., Barnes, R.T., Bruns, M.A., Van Cappellen, P., Dontsova, K., Hartnett, H.E., Hartshorn, A.S., Heimsath, A., Herndon, E., Jin, L., Keller, C.K., Leake, J.R., McDowell, W.H., Meinzer, F.C., Mozdzer, T.J., Petsch, S, Pett-Ridge, J., Pregitzer, K.S., Raymond, P.A., Riebe, C.S., Shumaker, K., Sutton-Grier, A., Walter, R., and Yoo, K. (2011): Geobiology 9(2): 140-165, Cross-CZO National
2011
Landscape response to tipping points in granite weathering: The case of stepped topography in the Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory. Jessup, B.S., Hahm, W.J., Miller, S.N., Kirchner, J.W., and Riebe, C.S. (2011): Applied Geochemistry, v. 26, no. Supplement 1, p. S48-S50.
2011
Landscape response to tipping points in granite weathering: The case of stepped topography in the Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory. Jessup, BS; Hahm, WJ; Miller, SN; Kirchner, JW; Riebe, CS. (2011): Applied Geochemistry
2010
Mineral-specific chemical weathering rates over millennial timescales: Measurements at Rio Icacos, Puerto Rico. Ferrier, K. L., Kirchner, J. W., Riebe, C. S. & Finkel, R. C. (2010): Chemical Geology 277:101-114 Cross-CZO
2010
Mineral-specific chemical weathering rates over millennial timescales: Measurements at Rio Icacos, Puerto Rico. Ferrier, KL; Kirchner, JW; Riebe, CS; Finkel, RC. (2010): Chemical Geology 277(1): 101-114 Cross-CZO
Papers and books that explicitly acknowledge a CZO grant are highlighted in PALE ORANGE.
Other CZO Publications
2019
Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory: 2018-2019 Annual Report to National Science Foundation. Bales, R.; Conklin, M.; Goulden, M.; Riebe, C.; Tague, C. (2019): NSF Award #1331939
2018
Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory: 2017-2018 Annual Report to National Science Foundation. Bales, R.; Tague, C.; Goulden, M.; Riebe, C.; Conklin, M. (2018): NSF Award #1331939
2017
Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory: 2016-2017 Annual Report to National Science Foundation. Bales, R. (2017): NSF Award #1331939
2017
Mountain erosion over decades and millennia: New insights from sediment yields and cosmogenic nuclides. Callahan, R. P.; Riebe, C. S.; Ferrier K. (2017): Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2017. Abstract EP33C-1950.
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
Predicting Plant-Accessible Water in the Critical Zone: Mountain Ecosystems in a Mediterranean Climate. Klos, P. Z.; Goulden, M.; Riebe, C. S.; Tague, C.; O’geen, A. T.; Flinchum, B. A.; Safeeq, M.; Conklin, M. H.; Hart, S. C.; Berhe, A. A.; Hartsough, P. C.; Holbrook, S.; Bales R. C.; (2017): Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2017. Abstract H23H-1769.
2017
Dust and chemical erosion biases in cosmogenic nuclide studies: A factor-of-ten problem that could mask strong climatic effects on landscape evolution. Riebe, C. S.; Arvin, L.; Ferrier, K.; Aciego S. (2017): Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2017. Abstract EP32C-08.
2017
The influence of subsurface porosity and bedrock composition on ecosystem productivity and drought resilience in the Sierra Nevada Batholith, California . Riebe, C. S.; Callahan, R. P.; Goulden, M.; Pasquest, S.; Flinchum, B. A.; Taylor, N. J.;. Holbrook S. (2017): Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2017. Abstract EP53D-1762.
2016
Global datasets and Nd isotopes in pine needles estimate dust inputs to ecosystems in eroding landscapes. Arvin, L.; Riebe, C.S.; Aciego, S.; Blakowski, M.A. (2016): Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2016. Abstract EP42B-04.
2016
Nd Isotopes in Soils and Pine Needles Trace Aeolian Inputs to Sierra Nevada Ecosystems. Arvin, L., Riebe, C., Aciego, S., Blakowski, M. (2016): Goldschmidt Abstracts. Yokohama, Japan.
2016
Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory: 2015-2016 Annual Report to National Science Foundation. Bales, R. (2016): NSF Award #1331939
2016
Using Cosmogenic and U-Series Nuclides in Stream Sediment to Test Hypotheses About Mountain Landscape Evolution . Callahan, R., Riebe, C., Dosseto, A. (2016): Goldschmidt Abstracts. Yokohama, Japan
2016
Probing the critical zone using passive- and active-source estimates of subsurface shear-wave velocities. Callahen, R.P.; Taylor, N.J.; Pasquet, S.; Dueker, K.G.; Riebe, C.S.; Holbrook, W.S. (2016): Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2016. Abstract EP43C-0966.
2016
Spatial variations in the size distribution of sediment supplied to channels: A synthesis of detrital thermochronometry from 11 size classes in Inyo Creek, California. Lukens, C.; Shuster, D.L.; Sklar, L.S.; Riebe, C.S. (2016): Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2016. Abstract EP34A-02.
2016
Comprehensive seismic surveys suggest that subsurface water-holding capacity is secondary to bedrock nutrient content as a regulator of vegetation productivity in the Sierra Nevada Batholith, California. Taylor, N.J.; Riebe, C.S.; Dueker, K.G.; Goulden, M.; Flinchum, B.A.; Pasquet, S.; Callahan, R.P.; Hahm, W.J.; Keifer, I.S.; Holbrook, W.S. (2016): Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2016. Abstract EP43C-0964.
2015
Aeolian transported and deposited microbial communities differ along an elevation gradient in the Southern Sierra CZO. Aronson, E., Riebe, C.S., Aciego, S., Blakowski, M., Hart, S.C., Carey, C. (2015): Ecology Society of America Annual Meeting. Baltimore, Maryland.
2015
Aeolian and soil microbial communities differ at multiple elevations in the Southern Sierra CZO. Aronson, E.L., Carey, C., Riebe, C., Aciego, S., Blakowski, M., Hart, S.C. (2015): Soil Ecology Society Biennial Meeting. Colorado Springs, Colorado
2015
Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory: 2014-2015 Annual Report to National Science Foundation. Bales, R. (2015): NSF Award 1331939
2015
The role pf elevation and time in structuring soil microbial communities in the Sierra Nevada, California . Carey, C.J., Hart, S.C, Riebe, C.S., Aciego, S., Blakowski, M., Aronson, E. (2015): Ecology Society of America Annual Meeting. Baltimore, Maryland
2015
Generating Porosity in the Critical Zone: Does Volumetric Strain Dominate Chemical Mass Loss?. Hayes, J., Riebe, C., Holbrook, S., Hartsough, P. (2015): EP31B. Landscape Evolution from a Critical Zone Science Perspective I Posters, presented at 2015 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 14-18 Dec.
2015
If Rocks Could Talk: Origin Stories of Stream Sediment Told by Apatite Helium Ages and Cosmogenic Nuclides. Lukens, C., Riebe, C., Sklar, L., Shuster, D (2015): American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA
2015
If Rocks Could Talk: Origin Stories of Stream Sediment Told by Apatite Helium Ages and Cosmogenic Nuclides. Lukens, C., Riebe, C., Sklar, L., Shuster, D. (2015): EP41C. Mechanistic Underpinnings of Damage, Distruption, and Transport of Rock and Regolith Posters, presented at 2015 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 14-18 Dec.
2015
Climate and topography control the size and flux of sediment produced on steep mountain slopes. Riebe, C., Sklar, L., Lukens, C., and Shuster, D. (2015): Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
2015
Using Three-Dimensional Passive Seismic Imaging to Capture Near-Surface Weathering and Its Influence on Overlying Vegetation. Taylor, N., Dueker, K., Riebe, C., Chen, P., Flinchum, B., Holbrook, S. (2015): EP53A-0962 Earth and Planetary Surface Processes: General Contribution Posters. presented at 2015 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 14-18 Dec.
2014
Altitudinal contrasts in drought-driven aeolian microbial inputs to montane soil ecology: impacts of a 500year drought in the Sierra Nevada, California. Aronson, E., Carey, C., Riebe, C., Aciego, S., Hart, S. (2014): AGU Fall Meeting
2014
Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory: 2013-2014 Annual Report to National Science Foundation. Bales, R. (2014): NSF Award 1331939
2014
Testing for supply-limited chemical erosion in field measurements of soil production and chemical depletion. Ferrier, K.; C. Riebe; W.J. Hahm; J. Kirchner (2014): American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2014, abstract #EP13E-04
2014
Report on Drilling, Sampling, and Imaging the Depths of the Critical Zone, an NSF Workshop. Riebe, C. S. and Chorover, J. (2014): Open Project Report to the Critical Zone Community Cross-CZO National
2013
Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory: 2007-2013 Final Report to National Science Foundation. Bales, R. (2013): NSF Award 0725097
2013
Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory: 2012-2013 Annual Report to National Science Foundation. Bales, R. (2013): NSF Award 1239521
2013
Strong Lithologic Control on Mountain Ecosystem Productivity and Landscape Evolution. Hahm, W.J., C.S. Riebe, C.E. Lukens, and S. Araki. (2013): The Geological Society of America annual meeting
2013
Evidence for climatic and topographic control of the size and flux of eroded sediment across a steep mountain catchment. Lukens, C., C.S. Riebe, L.S. Sklar, and D.L. Shuster. (2013): American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2013, abstract EP52A-05.
2013
Bedrock composition limits mountain ecosystem productivity and landscape evolution. Riebe, C.S. W.J. Hahm; and C. Lukens (2013): American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2013, abstract #B13L-02
2013
Cosmogenic 10Be in quartz and magnetite:Using the same nuclide in multiple minerals to quantify differential weathering. Rogers, H. E.; Riebe, C. S.; Granger, D. E. (2013): American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2013, abstract #H51B-1188
2012
Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory: 2011-2012 Annual Report to National Science Foundation. Bales, R. (2012): NSF Award 0725097
2012
Geophysics in the Critical Zone: constraints on deep weathering and water storage potential in the Southern Sierra CZO. Holbrook, W., Riebe, C.S., Hayes, J.L., Reeder, K., Harry, D.L., Malazian, A.I., Dosseto, A., Hartsough, P.C., and Hopmans, J.W. (2012): Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2012. Abstract EP41I-03.
2012
Moving beyond the average in cosmogenic nuclide studies of erosion and weathering. Lukens, C., Riebe, C.S., Sklar, L.S., and Shuster, D.L. (2012): Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2012. Abstract EP41D-0822.
2012
Fractures in the Critical Zone: Insights from GPR and seismic refraction surveys. St. Clair, J.T., Holbrook, W., Riebe, C.S. (2012): Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2012. Abstract EP43B-0871.
2011
Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory: 2010-2011 Annual Report to National Science Foundation . Bales, R. (2011): NSF Award 0725097
2011
From minerals to hillslopes: Towards an integrated framework for interpreting chemical and physical erosion. Hahm, W. J., Riebe C. S., Ferrier, K., Kirchner, J. W. (2011): Fall meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2011. Abstract EP43C-0715.
2011
Critical zone weathering in the southern Sierra Nevada and Laramie Mountains imaged by seismic tomography. Hayes, J.L., Holbrook, W.S., Riebe, C.S. (2011): Fall meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2011. Abstract H41D-1059.
2011
Tracing the Origins of Coarse Sediment in Steep Mountain Catchments. Lukens, C.E., Riebe, C.S., Shuster, D.L., Sklar, L.S., Beyeler, J.D. (2011): Fall meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2011, Halls A-C, 8:00 AM. Abstract EP51A-0824.
2011
Effects of Chemical Erosion on Cosmogenic Nuclide Buildup in Soils, Saprolite and Sediment. Riebe, C.S., Granger, D.E. (2011): Fall meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2011. Abstract EP41B-0606.
2010
Erosion, Weathering and Stepped Topography in the Sierra Nevada, California, Quantifying the Dynamics of Hybrid (Soil-Bedrock) Landscapes. Jessup, B.S., Miller, S.N., Kirchner, J.W., Riebe, C.S. (2010): Fall meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2010. Abstract EP41D-0736.
201
Using Three-Dimensional Passive Seismic Imaging to Capture Near-Surface Weathering and Its Influence on Overly Vegetation. Taylor, N., Dueker, K., Riebe, C., Chen, P., Flinchum, B., Holbrook, S. (201): EP53A-0962 Earth and Planetary Surface Processes: General Contribution Posters. presented at 2015 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 14-18 Dec.
2009
Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory: 2008-2009 Annual Report to National Science Foundation. Bales, R. (2009): NSF Award 0725097
2009
Variations in rock-fragment abundance and bulk geochemistry of soils across the Southern Sierra Nevada CZO: Implications for hillslope-channel coupling (Invited) . Riebe, C.S., Hunsaker, C.T., Johnson, D.W., Jessup, B.S. (2009): Fall meeting, American Geophysical Union, December 2009. 90(52). Abstract EP51E-02.
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News
Calhoun weathering paper published in Nature’s Scientific Reports
14 Mar 2019 - Calhoun weathering paper is out in Nature's Scientific Reports.
Elevating the biogeosciences within environmental research networks
02 Mar 2018 - This manuscript, led by Dan Richter with six Calzones co-authors, was just submitted to Biogeosciences Discussions.
NSF News Release: Dust on the wind: Study reveals surprising role of dust in mountain ecosystems
08 Dec 2017 - Southern Sierra Nevada forests rely on nutrients from windborne dust
New SSCZO comic artfully communicates research
19 Jul 2017 - Wonder what soils and sponges have in common? Or why some trees in the Sierra Nevada are dying while others are surviving? Find out in our new comic.
Gobi Desert Dust Helps Sustain California’s Sierra Nevada
28 Mar 2017 - A team of researchers found that dust provides a much greater amount of nutrients to vegetation in the Sierra Nevada than previously thought.
NSF: Dust contributes valuable nutrients to Sierra Nevada forest ecosystems
28 Mar 2017 - NSF Press Release: New research finding provides insight into role dust may play as ecosystems change
SSCZO’s Cliff Riebe and Claire Lukens shed light on the role of sediment size in landscape evolution
26 Jan 2016 - Riebe et al. combine old isotopic techniques in new ways, with big results showing connections between sediment size, erosion, topography, and climate
New study suggests bedrock weathering based on topography
30 Oct 2015 - St. Clair et al. suggest tectonic stresses interact with topography to influence bedrock weathering.
Job Opening: PhD in Critical Zone Science
07 Aug 2014 - PhD assistantship opportunity with Department of Geology & Geophysics, Univ of Wyoming
UW Study: Bedrock Influences Forests More Than Previously Believed
10 Feb 2014 - Bedrock influences forests and landscape evolution much more than was previously thought, according to a study by University of Wyoming scientists.
CZO researchers present at GSA in Denver
04 Nov 2013 - CZO researchers presented the results of various scientific studies at the 125th annual meeting of the Geological Society of America.
Cyberseminar-Nutrient Deserts of the Sierra Nevada and Their Effects on Life, Soil & Topography
05 Apr 2013 - CZO Cyberseminar was hosted by Dr. Cliff Riebe and students, University of Wyoming on April 18th
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Events
Critical Zone Town Hall
CZO Town Hall at 2014 Goldschmidt Conference
Sacramento Convention Center Complex, California..Controls on Size and Flux of Sediment; Riebe
Climate and Topography Control the Size and Flux of Sediment Produced on Steep Mountain Slopes
CCC Mile High Ballroom 2C.Depths of the Critical Zone
Drilling, Sampling, and Imaging the Depths of the Critical Zone: NSF Workshop
Denver, CO.
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