Other projects involve examining carbon and oxygen isotopes in carbonates associated with concrete degradation, and carbonates in soils and lake marl as indicators of paleoclimatic changes. 1981 Research focuses on the evolution of the western margin of North America during the last 3 billion years. Current projects include studies of the origin of continental crust, deformation within ancient island-arc systems in southern California and western Arizona, and the role of carbon, sulfur, and water in arc volcanism and global climate. Research interests include physical geography and geographic methods including physical systems of the environment, biogeography, cultural biogeography and applied spatial statistics, with expertise in human-caused vegetation change. He has studied causes and consequences of deforestation of the Los Haitises karst region in the Dominican Republic.
Current research focuses on regeneration of forests after fire.
A new project combines remote sensing and field work to analyze vegetation contrasts between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Current projects include developing ways to determine the minimum size sample that needs to be taken to characterize an environment. He is also working with the I.U. School of Continuing Studies to develop courses to be taught using the Internet. In addition to course development, he is studying ways to assess students' achievement in distance education courses. 1970 Research is on polymer-surfactant complexes.