Biography
Donald Johnson is, and has been, involved in various collaborative process and theoretical studies in soil geomorphology, tectonic geomorphology, pedology, geoarchaeology, and Quaternary zoogeography. Research areas include, or have included, various areas in the United States, Caribbean (Jamaica, Bonaire, Curacao), Central and South America (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Ecuador-Galapagos, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil), Australia (N.S.W., Northern Territories, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, A.C.T.), and Africa (Egypt Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, South Africa). Long-term research is on soil geomorphologic theory, particularly applications of dynamic denudation-biomantle theory, and on soil geomorphologic problems, involving select areas of California, including offshore Channel Islands, and of Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington. A principal research focus is on the role of biota in soil and landform evolution. Other key interests are: biodynamic evolution of tropical-subtropical-middle-high latitude landscapes: soils that contain stonelayers (stone-lines), and what stone-lines mean genetically; philosophy of science; and Mima mounds as locally thickened, point-centered biomantles -- and how their formation (on level or low slope ground) automatically promotes the co-formation of associated vernal pools. Drawing on these endeavors, Johnson and co-workers have formulated new concepts, principals, general truths, models, and paradigms in pedology, geomorphology, and geoarchaeology. Chief among these is the dynamic denudation framework, anchored by biomantle theory. Such theoretical perspectives provide new and different—and realistic—insights to understanding the evolution of earth landscape and its epidermal soil.
Menu of research pdfs: https://www.box.com/dljohnsonshared
Specializations / Research Interest(s)
- soil geomorphology
Education
- Ph.D. 1972, Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
- B.A. 1965, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- A.A. 1963, L.A. Valley College, Van Nuys, CA
Distinctions / Awards
- 2013 G.K. Gilbert Award for Excellence in Geomorphic Research
- 2005 Melvin Marcus Award for Distinguished Career (Assoc. Am. Geogs.)
- 1993 MacArthur Foundation 3-year Collaborative Award for Research in Burkino Faso, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, and Mozambique
- 1993 Rip Rapp Archaeological Geology Award for Excellence in Geoarchaeology (Geol. Soc. Amer.)
- 1990 G.K. Gilbert Award for Excellence in Geomorphic Research (Assoc. Am. Geogs.)
- 1989 Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of Texas, Austin TX
- 1985 University Fellow, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- 1982 Elected Fellow, Geological Society of America
External URLs
- https://www.box.com/dljohnsonshared