Research Interests
My overall research objective is to utilize the sedimentary record to investigate and understand past and present Earth conditions. The sedimentary record is a representation of Earth surface processes through time and, as such, can be analyzed to reconstruct ancient environments as they relate to tectonism, climatic and sea-level fluctuations, oceanic conditions, and intrinsic dynamics of depositional systems.
My Ph.D. research (completed 2008) was focused on ancient and modern deep-marine depositional systems with an emphasis on the distribution of terrigenous sediment in basins adjacent to active continental margins. Preserved strata in these settings are commonly the most complete record of the transfer of sediment from continents to oceans over long geologic time scales. Moreover, the character of the sediment itself (e.g., composition, age, etc.) holds clues to the nature of mountain belts that have long since eroded away.
Investigation of Quaternary sediment dispersal systems from source-to-sink addresses the transfer of terrigenous material across continental margins. Relatively precise dating techniques (e.g., radiocarbon) provide a temporal framework helpful for understanding the timing of events, transport rates, and residence times along the dispersal pathway. Source-to-sink studies increase our understanding of how various forcings such as climate, tectonics, etc. are manifested in the sedimentary record.
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BLOG POSTS ABOUT RESEARCH
Posts about peer-reviewed papers in which I’m the primary author (other papers are currently in press or in review, so check back in the future for more):
- Stratigraphic Evolution of an Ancient Depositional Slope System (Cretaceous Tres Pasos Formation, southern Chile)
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Here are some posts about papers I’ve co-authored:
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I am also very interested in fundamental concepts and theory in sedimentary geology and stratigraphy:
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PUBLICATIONS
PEER-REVIEWED PAPERS
Romans, B.W., Normark, W.R., McGann, M.M., Covault, J.C., and Graham, S.A., in press, Coarse-grained sediment delivery and distribution in the Holocene Santa Monica Basin, California: Implications for evaluating source-to-sink flux at millennial time scales. GSA Bulletin.
Covault, J.A. and Romans, B.W., in press, Growth patterns of deep-sea fans revisited: Turbidite-system morphology in confined basins of the Quaternary California Borderland: Marine Geology.
Covault, J.A., Romans, B.W., and Graham, S.A., 2009, Outcrop expression of a continental-margin-scale shelf-edge delta from the Cretaceous Magallanes Basin, Chile: Journal of Sedimentary Research., v. 79, p. 523-539. doi: 10.2110/jsr.2009.053 [html]
Armitage, D.A., Romans, B.W., Covault, J.A., and Graham, S.A., 2009, The influence of mass transport deposit surface topography on the evolution of turbidite architecture: The Sierra Contreras, Tres Pasos Formation (Cretaceous), southern Chile. Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 79, p. 287-301. [html]
Romans, B.W., Hubbard, S.M., and Graham, S.A., 2009, Stratigraphic evolution of an outcropping continental slope system, Tres Pasos Formation at Cerro Divisadero, Chile: Sedimentology, v. 56, p. 737-764. doi: 10.1111/j/1365-3091.2008.00995.x [html], [blog post]
Hubbard, S.M., Romans, B.W., and Graham, S.A., 2008, Deep-water foreland basin deposits of the Cerro Toro Formation, Magallanes basin, Chile: Architectural elements of a sinuous basin axial channel belt: Sedimentology, v. 55, p. 1333-1359. doi: 10.1111/j/1365-3091.2007.00948. [html]
Covault, J.A., Normark, W.R., Romans, B.W., and Graham, S.A., 2007, Highstand fans of the California Borderland: The overlooked deep-water depositional system: Geology, v. 39, p. 783-786. [html], [pdf], [blog post]
Hubbard, S.M., Romans, B.W., and Graham, S.A., 2007, An outcrop example of large-scale conglomeratic intrusions sourced from deep-water channel deposits, Cerro Toro Formation, Magallanes Basin, Southern Chile: in A. Hurst and J. Cartwright, eds., Sand Injectites: Implications for Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Memoir 87, p. 199-207. [blog post]
Romans, B.W., Fildani, A., Graham, S.A., Hubbard, S.M., and Covault, J.A., in review, Importance of predecessor basin history on sedimentary fill of a retroarc foreland basin: Provenance analysis of the Cretaceous Magallanes basin, Chile (50S-52S): Basin Research.
Hubbard, S.M., Fildani, A., Romans, B.W., Covault, J.A., and McHargue, T.R., in review, High-relief slope clinoform development: Insights from outcrop, Magallanes Basin, Chile: Journal of Sedimentary Research.
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SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS
Normark, W.R., Piper, D.J.W., Romans, B.W., Covault, J.A., and Dartnell, P., 2009, Submarine canyon and fan systems of the California Continental Borderland: in H. Lee & W.R. Normark, eds., Earth Science in the Urban Ocean: The Southern California Continental Borderland: Geological Society of America Special Paper 454, p. 141-168. [html]
Fildani, A., Romans, B.W., Fosdick J.F., Crane, W.H., and Hubbard, S.M., 2009, Orogenesis of the Patagonian Andes as reflected by basin evolution in southernmost South America. in Spencer, J.E. and Titley, S.R., eds., Ores and orogenesis: Circum-Pacific tectonics, geologic evolution, and ore deposits: Tuscon, Arizona, Arizona Geological Society Digest 22., p. 259-268. [html]
Gardner, M.H., Borer, J.M., Romans, B.W., Baptista, N., Kling, E.K., Hanggoro, D., Melick, J.J., Wagerle, R.M., Carr, M.M., Amerman, R., and Atan, S., 2008, Stratigraphic models for deep-water sedimentary systems: 28th Annual Gulf Coast Section SEPM Foundation Bob F. Perkins Research Conference.
Covault, J.A., Romans, B.W., and Graham, S.A., 2008, Highstand fans of the California Borderland; REPLY: Geology; Online forum, e167. [html], [pdf], [blog post]
Romans, B.W., Shultz, M.R., Hubbard, S.M., and Graham, S.A., 2007, Facies architecture of slope channel complexes, Tres Pasos Formation at Cerro Divisadero, southern Chile: in T. Nilsen, R. Shew, G. Steffens, and J. Studlick, eds., Atlas of Deep-Water Outcrops: AAPG Studies in Geology, 56, p. 132-137.
Hubbard, S.M., Romans, B.W., and Graham, S.A., 2007, Deepwater channel margin architecture, Cerro Toro Formation (Campanian), Cerro Mocho, Chile: in T. Nilsen, R. Shew, G. Steffens, and J. Studlick, eds., Atlas of Deep-Water Outcrops: AAPG Studies in Geology, 56, p. 128-131.
Hubbard, S.M., Romans, B.W., Erohina, T., and Lowe, D.R., 2007, Facies and internal architecture of deepwater channel fill in the Cerro Toro Formation, Sarmiento Vista, Chile: in T. Nilsen, R. Shew, G. Steffens, and J. Studlick, eds., Atlas of Deep-Water Outcrops: AAPG Studies in Geology, 56, p. 140-142.
Fildani, A., Crane, W.H., Romans, B.W., Hubbard, S.M., and Shultz, M.R., 2007, Mesozoic through early Tertiary stratigraphic evolution and deep-water deposition of the Magallanes Basin, southern Patagonia, Chile: in T. Nilsen, R. Shew, G. Steffens, and J. Studlick, eds., Atlas of Deep-Water Outcrops: AAPG Studies in Geology, 56, p. 140-142.
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CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS
Clark, J.D., Pyrcz, M.J., Romans, B.W., Fildani, A., Sullivan, M.D., McHargue, T.R., Sullivan, M.D., Posamentier, H.W., and Levy, M.E., 2008, Event-based modeling of deep-water slope channel systems: calibrating experimental results with observed stratigraphic architecture. [html]
Hubbard, S.M., Fildani, A., Romans, B.W., Covault, J.A., Drinkwater, N.J., Clark, J.D., McHargue, T.R., Sullivan, M.D., and Posamentier, H.W., 2008, Supplementing subsurface characterization with insights from outcrop: Sandstone distribution in slope deposits of the Tres Pasos Formation, Chile: GSA Annual Meeting, Houston, Texas. [html]
Fildani, A., Pyrcz, M.J., Romans, B.W., McHargue, T.R., Sullivan, M.D., Clark, J.D., Drinkwater, N.J., and Posamentier, H.W., 2008, Event-based forward modeling – a new approach to improve our understanding deep-water sedimentary systems: GSA Annual Meeting, Houston, Texas. [html]
Pyrcz, M.J., Sullivan, M.D., McHargue, T.R., Posamentier, H.W., Drinkwater, N.J., Clark, J.D., Fildani, A., and Romans, B.W., 2008, Numerical modeling of deepwater channel stacking pattern from outcrop and the quantification of reservoir significance: SEPM Research Conference, County Clare, Ireland.
Hogan, P.J., Lane, A., Hooper, J., Broughton, A. and Romans, B.W., 2008, Geohazard challenges of the Woodside OceanWay Secure Energy LNG development, offshore southern California: Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, TX. [html]
Romans, B.W., Covault, J.C., Hubbard, S.M., and Fildani, A., 2008, Sedimentologic processes and stratigraphic record of linked delta-continental slope progradation, Magallanes Basin, Chile: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Research Conference, Ushuaia, Argentina. [html]
Covault, J.A., Romans, B.W., and Graham, S.A., 2008, Stratigraphic signals of shelf-edge delta progradation with special reference to delta-front turbidites: Upper Cretaceous Tres Pasos and Dorotea formations, Magallanes Basin, Chile: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention Official Program, San Antonio, Texas.
Romans, B.W., Hubbard, S.M., and Covault, J.C., 2008, Application of turbidite bed amalgamation metric to slope deposits of the Tres Pasos Formation of southern Chile: Implications for evaluating reservoir connectivity and sedimentary body architecture from one-dimensional data: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention Official Program, San Antonio, Texas. [html]
Romans, B.W., Normark, W.R., McGann, M.M., Covault, J.A., and Graham, S.A., 2007, Controls on coarse-grained sediment delivery and distribution in the Holocene Santa Monica Basin, California: Implications for evaluating source-to-sink flux at millennial time scales. AGU Fall Meeting. [html], [blog post]
Covault, J.A., Normark, W.R., Romans, B.W., and Graham, S.A., 2007, Growth patterns of deep-sea fans revisited: Evolving fan and related turbidite-system morphology in the inner basins of the southern California Continental Borderland: EOS Trans. AGU 88, Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS33A-0997.
Hubbard, S.M., Fildani, A., and Romans, B.W., 2007, Cretaceous slope deposits of the Tres Pasos Formation, Sierra Dorotea, Chile: Insight into the sedimentary fill of deepwater foreland basins: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. [html]
Fildani, A., Hubbard, S.M., Romans, B.W., and Fosdick, J.C., 2007, Orogenesis of the Patagonian Andes as reflected by basin evolution in southernmost South America: Ores and Orogenesis Meeting, Arizona Geological Society, Tuscon, Arizona. [html]
Romans, B.W., and Normark, W.R., 2007, High-resolution spatial and temporal patterns of sand accumulation on an active highstand submarine fan in Santa Monica Basin, offshore California: Implications for controls on deep-marine sedimentation: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention Official Program, Long Beach, California. [html]
Romans, B.W., and Hubbard, S.M., 2007, Multi-scale comparison of proximal lobe and channel-fill deposits on a prograding deep-marine slope, Tres Pasos Formation, Cerro Divisadero, Chile: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention Official Program, Long Beach, California.
Romans, B.W., and Normark, W.R., 2006, Distribution and rates of terrigenous sediment accumulation on the Hueneme submarine fan in the late Holocene (4.3 ka – present), Santa Monica Basin, California: EOS Trans. AGU, 87(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS23A-1633.
Fosdick, J.C., Romans, B.W., and Hubbard, S.M., 2006, Exhumation of the Magallanes foreland basin, Patagonian Andes, Chile (51°S): EOS Trans. AGU, 87(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract T31C-0457.
Romans, B.W., Fildani, A., Hubbard, S.M., Crane, W.H., and Graham, S.A., 2006, Emplacement of thrust-sheets recorded in Upper Cretaceous basin fill, Magallanes (Austral) Basin, southern Chile: Geological Society of America and Asociación Geológica Argentina joint meeting, Mendoza, Argentina.
Normark, W.R., Paull, C.K., Ussler, W., Mitts, P., and Romans, B.W., 2006, Redondo and Hueneme sand-rich canyon-fan systems, offshore southern California: EOS Trans. AGU, 87(36), Ocean Sci. Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS45A-02.
Normark, W.R., Piper, D.J.W., Romans, B.W., Covault, J.A., and McGann, M., 2006, Late Quaternary (MIS 1-3) turbidite deposition in the California Continental Borderland; comparison of close and open basin settings: Geological Society of London and SEPM Burlington House Meeting, March 27-29.
Gardner, M.H., Melick, J.J., Borer, J.M., Kling, E., Baptista, N., and Romans, B.W., 2006, Evaluating intrinsic and extrinsic controls on the Permian record of deep-water sedimentation in the Delaware Basin, west Texas, USA: Geological Society of London and SEPM Burlington House Meeting, March 27-29.
Romans, B.W., and Normark, W.R., 2005, Temporal patterns of deposition at the termination of an active submarine channel-levee: Hueneme Fan (4 ka – present), Santa Monica Basin, California Borderland: EOS Trans. AGU, 86(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract H51D-0397.
Romans, B.W., and Hubbard, S.M., 2005, Facies and architectural complexity within and among outcropping slope channel complexes, Upper Cretaceous Tres Pasos Formation, Sierra de los Baguales, southern Chile: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention Official Program, Calgary.
Hubbard, S.M., Romans, B.W., and Graham, S.A., 2005, Large-scale sedimentary intrusions sourced from deep-water channel deposits, Cerro Toro Formation, Chilean Patagonia: An outcrop analog to North Sea reservoirs: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention Official Program, Calgary.
Hubbard, S.M., Romans, B.W., Graham, S.A., and Lowe, D.R., 2004, Downstream variability in deep-water channel deposit character and associated sedimentary processes, Cretaceous Cerro Toro Formation outcrop belt, Magallanes basin, Chile: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, no. 5.
Romans, B.W., and Gardner, M.H., 2003, Patterns of Permian basinal sedimentation in the western Delaware Basin, Cutoff, Brushy Canyon, and Cherry Canyon formations, west Texas: A new stratigraphic model for deep-water clastics: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention Official Program, Salt Lake City.
Romans, B.W., 2001, Proximal-distal relationships of the Permian Brushy Canyon Formation, west Texas: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 33, no. 6, p. 36.
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