David Jon Furbish
Ph.D. University of Colorado, 1985
Hydrology, Geomorphology and Fluid Mechanics

office: 5717A Science & Engineering Bldg.
phone: 615-322-2137
email: david.j.furbish@vanderbilt.edu
 

David Furbish’s research involves environmental fluid mechanics and transport theory applied to problems in hydrology and geomorphology, and the intersection of these fields with ecology.  His work combines theoretical, experimental, computational and field-based components aimed at understanding the dynamics of Earth surface, and near-surface, systems spanning human to geomorphic time scales.  More recently, David has become increasingly involved in research — inspired by Calvin Miller and his students — aimed at understanding the fluid dynamics of magma chambers.  David has taught courses in introductory geology, hydrology and geomorphology, transport processes in Earth and environmental systems, and hydrodynamics.  He is author of the text, "Fluid Physics in Geology," published by Oxford University Press.

GEOL 261: Geomorphology
GEOL 255: Transport Processes in Earth and Environmental Systems
GEOL 390.2: Earth Fluids 2007
HUM 161 (Spring 2005 only): New Global Crisis: Earth's Energy and Water Resources in the 21st Century

David’s current research with the Earth-Surface Dynamics and Fluid Mechanics group is centered on four projects involving collaborators around the nation.  The first is aimed at clarifying the mechanisms of soil transport and production associated with biological activity in concert with geochemical processes, and the coevolution of soils and hillslopes over thousands to millions of years.  The second project is aimed at clarifying the dynamics of river bars as influenced by flooding, and nutrient transport and spiraling in relation to bar morphology, benthic habitat and benthic trophic structure.  This work involves theoretical and field-based components.  The third project is focused on coastal eco-hydrology; it is aimed at characterizing the geomorphic-ecological response of salt marshes to changing sea level as influenced by feedbacks between tidal inundation and plant structure.  In addition, David is collaborating with Calvin Miller and his students on theoretical and experimental work aimed at clarifying how magmas and particles interact and undergo stirring and mixing during emplacement within magma chambers.

Student research projects span a wide breadth of topics in hydrology and geomorphology, and typically combine theory with field-based, computational or experimental work.  Recent and current examples include: the theory and measurement of flow-velocity structure in very rough channels as this pertains to river mechanics problems; hyporheic flow and hydrodynamic dispersion related to channel bar structure as this influences nutrient spiraling; the geomorphic evolution of soil-mantled hillslopes as influenced by biological and geochemical processes; tidally-driven groundwater circulation in a coastal aquifer modeled with a Hele-Shaw apparatus; the physical-biological responses of coastal salt marshes to sea-level rise; the hydrodynamics of sand dollars in relation their functional morphology and group behavior; and high-speed imaging of sediment grain motions during rainsplash transport.  Students acquire training in the universal languages of fluid mechanics and transport phenomena — skills that contribute to their developing a flair for interdisciplinary communication and research.  Former students have pursued careers in academics, government agencies, private consulting firms, and environmental law.

Susan Howell (Ph.D.) Environmental Science
Andrew Roberts (M.S.) Earth and Environmental Sciences
Laura Robertson (M.S.) Earth and Environmental Sciences
John Roseberry (M.S.) Earth and Environmental Sciences

Furbish, D. J., Schmeeckle, M. W. and Roering, J. J. 2008. Thermal and force-chain effects in an experimental, sloping granular shear flow. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 33, 2108-2117, doi: 10.1002/esp.1655.

*Mudd, S. M. and Furbish, D. J. 2007. Responses of soil-mantled hillslopes to transient channel incision rates. Journal of Geophysical Research – Earth Surface, 112, F03S18, doi: 10.1029/2006JF000516.

Furbish, D. J., *Hamner, K. K., Schmeeckle, M. W., *Borosund, M. N. and *Mudd, S. M. 2007. Rainsplash of dry sand revealed by high-speed imaging and sticky-paper splash targets. Journal of Geophysical Research – Earth Surface, 112, F01001, doi: 10.1029/2006JF000498.

Furbish, D. J. 1998. Irregular bed forms in steep, rough channels: 1. Stability analysis. Water Resources Research, 34, 3635-3648.

Furbish, D. J., *Thorne, S. D., *Byrd, T. C., Warburton, J., *Cudney, J. J. and *Handel, R. W. 1998. Irregular bed forms in steep, rough channels: 2. Field observations. Water Resources Research, 34, 3649-3659.


* student author