Staff Members - Academic

| Earth & Ocean Sciences Staff | Publications |

Professor David J. Lowe

Role: Professor Qualifications: BSc MSc PhD (Waikato) FNZSSS MRSNZ Email: d.lowe@waikato.ac.nz Location: DE.1.02 Contact: [+64] (7) 838 4438 DD [+64] (7) 856 2889 UNI

Research Interests:

Tephrochronology (correlation of tephra deposits and their application to dating geological, ecological or archaeological deposits/events); pedology (origin, distribution and classification of soils, especially in volcanic terrains); and Quaternary science (palaeoenvironmental reconstruction for deposits aged c. 2.6 Ma to the present). The photo below shows a Holocene tephra and buried-soil sequence near Mt Tarawera, central North Island.

If this page does not have the information you are looking for, please go to the extended staff page.

Selected Publications:

Tephrochronology, Quaternary science, and environmental change
Walker, M.; Johnsen, S.; Rasmussen, S.O.; Popp, T.; Steffensen, J.-P.; Gibbard, P.; Hoek, W.; Lowe, J.J.; Andrews, J.; Björck, S.; Cwynar, L.; Hughen, K.; Kershaw, P.; Kromer, B.; Litt, T.; Lowe, D.J.; Nakagawa, T.; Newnham, R.M.; Schwander, J. 2009. Formal definition and dating of the GSSP (Global Stratotype Section and Point) for the base of the Holocene using the Greenland NGRIP ice core, and selected auxiliary records. Journal of Quaternary Science 29, 3-17.

Lowe, D.J. 2008. Globalization of tephrochronology: new views from Australasia. Progress in Physical Geography 32, 311-335.

Lowe, D.J.; Shane, P.A.R.; Alloway, B.V.; Newnham, R.M. 2008. Fingerprints and age models for widespread New Zealand tephra marker beds erupted since 30,000 years ago: a framework for NZ-INTIMATE. Quaternary Science Reviews 27, 95-126.

Froese, D.G.; Slate, J.L.; Lowe, D.J.; Knott, J.; (editors) 2008. "Global Tephra Studies: John Westgate and Andrei Sarna-Wojcicki Commemorative Volume". Quaternary International vol. 178, Elsevier, Oxford, 1-320.

Lowe, D.J.; Alloway, B.V.; Shane, P.A.R. 2008. Far-flung markers [Tephras] In: Graham, I.J. (chief editor) “A Continent on the Move: New Zealand Geoscience into the 21st Century”. Geological Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication 124, 170-173.

Gehrels, M.J.; Newnham, R.M.; Lowe, D.J.; Wynne, S.; Hazell, Z.J.; Caseldine, C. 2008. Towards rapid assay of cryptotephra in peat cores: review and evaluation of selected methods. Quaternary International 178, 68-84.

Leonard, G.; Lowe, D.J.; McSaveney, E.; Smith, R.T.; Stewart, C.; Wright, I. 2007. Living on the ring of fire - volcanoes. In: Te Ara team (editors), "Life on the Edge - New Zealand's Natural Hazards and Disasters". David Bateman, Auckland, pp. 76-115.

Newnham, R.M.; Lowe, D.J.; Giles, T.M., Alloway, B.V. 2007. Vegetation and climate of Auckland, New Zealand, since ca. 32 000 cal. yr ago: support for an extended LGM. Journal of Quaternary Science 22, 517-534.

Alloway, B.V.; Lowe, D.J.; Barrell, D.J.A.; Newnham, R.M..; Almond, P.C.; Augustinus, P.C.; Bertler, N.A.; Carter, L.; Litchfield, N.J.; McGlone, M.S.; Shulmeister, J.; Vandergoes, M.J.; Williams, P.W. and NZ-INTIMATE members 2007. Towards a climate event stratigraphy for New Zealand over the past 30,000 years (NZ-INTIMATE project). Journal of Quaternary Science 22, 9-35.

Newnham, R.M.; Vandergoes, M.J.; Garnett, M.H.; Lowe, D.J.; Prior, C.; Almond, P.CJ. 2007. Test of AMS 14C dating of pollen concentrates using tephrochronology. Journal of Quaternary Science 22, 37-51.

Alloway, B.V.; Larsen, G.; Lowe, D.J.; Shane. P.A.R.; Westgate, J.A. 2007. Tephrochronology. In: Elias, S.A. (editor-in-chief) Encyclopaedia of Quaternary Science. Elsevier, London, pp. 2869-2898.

Smith, R.T.; Lowe, D.J.; Wright, I.C. 2006. Volcanoes. Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand [Online]. Updated 9 June 2006. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Wellington. URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/NaturalHazardsAndDisasters/Volcanoes/en

Gehrels, M.J.; Lowe, D.J.; Hazell, Z.J.; Newnham, R.M. 2006. A continuous 5300-yr Holocene cryptotephrostratigraphic record from northern New Zealand and implications for tephrochronology and volcanic-hazard assessment. The Holocene 16, 173-187.

Hajdas, I.; Lowe, D.J.; Newnham, R.M.; Bonani, G. 2006. Timing of the late-glacial climate reversal in the Southern Hemisphere using high-resolution radiocarbon chronology for Kaipo bog, New Zealand. Quaternary Research 65, 340-345.

Sidle, R.C.; Taylor, D.; Lu, X.X.; Adger, W.N.; Lowe, D.J.; de Lange, W.P.; Newnham, R.M.; Dodson, J.R. 2004. Interactions of natural hazards and society in Austral-Asia: evidence in past and recent records. Quaternary International 118-119, 181-203.

Newnham, R.M.; Lowe, D.J.; Green, J.D.; Turner, G.M.; Harper, M.A.; McGlone, M.S.; Stout, S.L.; Horie, S.; Froggatt, P.C. 2004. A discontinuous ca. 80 ka record of Late Quaternary environmental change from Lake Omapere, Northland, New Zealand. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 207, 165-198.

Turney, C.S.M.; Lowe, J.J.; Davies, S.M.; Hall, V.A.; Lowe, D.J.; Wastegard, S.; Hoek, W.Z.; Alloway, B.V. 2004. Tephrochronology of Last Termination sequences in Europe: a protocol for improved analytical precision and robust correlation procedures (a joint SCOTAV-INTIMATE proposal). Journal of Quaternary Science 19, 111-120.

Buck, C.E.; Higham, T.F.G.; Lowe, D.J. 2003. Bayesian tools for tephrochronology. The Holocene 13, 639-647.

Shane, P.A.R.; Smith, V.C.; Lowe, D.J.; Nairn, I.A. 2003. Re-identification of c. 15 700 cal yr BP tephra bed at Kaipo Bog, eastern North Island: implications for dispersal of Rotorua and Puketarata tephra beds. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 46, 591-596.

Newnham, R.M.; Eden, D.N.; Lowe, D.J.; Hendy, C.H. 2003. Rerewhakaaitu Tephra, a land-sea marker for the Last Termination in New Zealand, with implications for global climate change. Quaternary Science Reviews 22, 289-308.

Pedology and land management
Palmer, D.J.; Höck, B.K.; Kimberley, M.O.; Lowe, D.J.; Payn, T.W. 2009. Comparison of spatial prediction techniques for developing Pinus radiata productivity surfaces across New Zealand. Forest Ecology and Management doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2009.07.057

Inoue, Y.; Baasansuren, J.; Watanabe, M.; Kamei, H.; Lowe, D.J. 2009. Interpretation of pre-AD 472 Roman soils from physicochemical and mineralogical properties of buried tephric paleosols at Somma Vesuviana ruin, southwest Italy. Geoderma 152, 243-251.

Palmer, D.J.; Höck, B.K.; Lowe, D.J.; Dunningham, A.G.; Payn, T.W. 2009. Developing national-scale terrain attributes for New Zealand (TANZ). Forest Research Bulletin No. 232, 1-81.

Palmer, D.J.; Watt, M.S.; Höck, B.K.; Lowe, D.J.; Payn, T.W. 2009. A dynamic framework for spatial modelling Pinus radiata soil-water balance (SWatBal) across New Zealand. Forest Research Bulletin No. 234, 1-93.

Lowe, D.J.; Tonkin, P.J.; Palmer, A.S.; Palmer, J. 2008. Dusty horizons [Loess] In: Graham, I.J. (chief editor) “A Continent on the Move: New Zealand Geoscience into the 21st Century”. Geological Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication 124, 270-273.

Lowe, D.J. (Editor) 2008. Guidebook for Pre-conference North Island Field Trip A1 ‘Ashes and Issues’, 28-30 November, 2008. Australian and New Zealand 4th Joint Soils Conference, Massey University, Palmerston North (1-5 Dec.). New Zealand Society of Soil Science, 1-194. ISBN 978-0-473-14476-0

Claessens, L.; Lowe, D.J.; Hayward, B.W.; Schoorl, J.M.; Veldkamp, A. 2006. Reconstructing high-magnitude/low-frequency landslide events based on soil redistribution modelling and a Late-Holocene sediment record from New Zealand. Geomorphology 74, 29-49.

Palmer, D.J.; Lowe, D.J.; Payn, T.W.; Höck, B.K.; McLay, C.D.A.; Kimberley, M.O. 2005. Soil and foliar phosphorus as indicators of sustainability for Pinus radiata forestry in New Zealand. Forest Ecology and Management 220, 140-154.

Burgess, A.; Palmer, G.T.; Lowe, D.J.; Cooke, P.J. 2003. Progressing the science of effluent treatment using lasersizer diffraction analysis: a pilot study. In: Currie, L.D.; Hanly, J.A. (eds), “Tools for nutrient and pollutant management: applications to agriculture and environmental quality”. Fertilizer and Lime Research Centre, Massey University, Occasional Report 17, 249-252.

Prehistory-archaeology and tephrochronology
Lowe, D.J.; Newnham, R.M. 2004. Role of tephra in dating Polynesian settlement and impact, New Zealand. Past Global Changes 12 (No. 3), 5-7 + 3 pages full references at www.pages-igbp.org/products/newsletters/ref2004_3.html

Gumbley, W.; Higham, T.F.G.; Lowe, D.J. 2004. Prehistoric horticultural adaptation of soils in the middle Waikato Basin: review and evidence from S14/201 and S14/185, Hamilton. New Zealand Journal of Archaeology 25, 5-30.

Hogg, A.G., Higham, T.F.G., Lowe, D.J., Palmer, J.; Reimer, P.; Newnham, R.M. 2003. Wiggle-match date for Polynesian settlement of New Zealand. Antiquity 77, 116-125.

Lowe, D.J.; Newnham, R.M.; McCraw, J.D. 2002. Volcanism and early Maori society in New Zealand. In: R. Torrence & J. Grattan (eds)"Natural Disasters, Catastrophism and Cultural Change", Routledge, London, pp. 126-161.

Lowe, D.J.; Newnham, R.M.; McFadgen, B.G.; Higham, T.F.G. 2000. Tephras and New Zealand archaeology. Journal of Archaeological Science 27, 859-870.

Research Publications:

You may like to view publications from 1997 onwards for Professor David J. Lowe