Christopher C. Barton, Ph.D.

Department:
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Title:
Professor, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Science & Mathematics
Address:
Brehm Laboratory 265, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, OH 45435-0001
Phone:
937-775-3444
Email:
chris.barton@wright.edu

Christopher C. Barton is Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences. He is a pioneer in the identification and quantification of nonlinear dynamics and complexity in earth, environmental, human, and economic systems. He uses the mathematical tools of fractals, chaos, and complexity to analyze, model, and forecast future behavior of complex systems. Current research topics include fluid flow through fractured rock masses, shoreline dynamics, the pattern of reversals in the Earth’s magnetic field, the temporal dynamics of stream and river discharge, arctic and antarctic ice floe size distributions, precipitation travel time through watersheds, and the economics of film. He is an expert on risk assessment of natural hazards and petroleum assessment. He is the founder of the Wright State University Complex Systems Research Group which is composed of faculty and students conducting research on Complex Systems. Dr. Barton received two master’s degrees (1976, 1977), and a Ph.D. (1983) from Yale University. He was a post-doctoral fellow at U.C. Berkeley. He was a senior research scientist and project chief the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) from 1984 until his retirement in 2004. He has twice been a USGS G.K. Gilbert Fellow at IBM with Benoit Mandelbrot, the "father of Fractals.” He is an investigator at the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study since 1990 and has been a trustee of the Hubbard Brook Research foundation. He is the author of more than 70 published research papers and is the senior editor of two books. He is a contributing editor to the international journal, Fractals.

 

Education History

Ph.D. Yale University, 1983

M.Phil. Yale University, 1977 

M.S. Yale University, 1976 

Post-doctoral fellow U.C. Berkeley 

Teaching

Fall Semester:

  • EES 1050 Dynamic Earth, 4 Hrs.
  • EES 4430/6430 Analysis and Prediction of Complex Natural and Human Systems, 3 Hrs
  • EES 6990 Independent Study: Matlab Programming for Science Research, 3 Hrs.
  • EES 6270 Seminar (Complexity); 0.5-2 Hrs

Spring Semester:

  • EES 1050 Dynamic Earth, 4 Hrs.
  • ES 7160 Complexity in Environmental Systems, 4 Hrs. (taught odd numbered years)
  • EES 4210/6210 Structural Geology and Tectonics, 3 Hrs. (taught even numbered years)
  • EES 6990 Independent Study: Matlab Programming for Science Research, 3 Hrs.
  • EES 6270 Seminar (Complexity); 0.5-2 Hrs

 

Service

President - Nonlinear Geophysics Section of American Geophysical Union ( XXX )

Editorial Board  - Fractals Complex, Patters, Scaling in Nature and Society (2004-Present)

Investigator - Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study, LTER, Woodstock, New Hampshire (1990-Present) Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study

Co-Director - Colombia Consortium for Risk Management in a Changing Environment (2000-Present)

Students Advised

  • Tristan Coffey, MS Candidate, Graduation May 2021 
  • Thesis title: 3-D Monte Carlo Simulation of Bedrock Geology and Discrete Fracture Networks in Crystalline Bedrock Beneath the Mirror Lake Watershed, Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, Woodstock, NH
  • Thesis research uses FracMan software, Golder Associates, Inc.
  • View AGU 2020 Fall Meeting Oral Presentation  Fractured Rock Hydrology

 

  • Greg Grierson, MS Candidate, 2021
  • David Peterman, Ph.D. Graduate, 2020
  • Erik Vasko, MS Graduate, 2018
  • Patrick Craig, MS Graduate, 2013
  • Rachel Taylor, MS Graduate, 2012
  • Andrew Lyda, MS Graduate, 2012

Publications

 

68. Barton, C.C., and Angelier, J., 2020, Direct Inversion Method of Fault Slip Analysis to Determine the Orientation of Principal Stresses and Relative Chronology for Tectonic Events in Southwestern White Mountain Region of New Hampshire, USA, Geosciences, 10(11), 464; Switzerland, https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences10110464

 

67. Malin, P.E., Leary, P.C., Cathles, L.M., Barton, C.C., 2020, Observational and Critical State Physics Descriptions of Long-Range Flow Structures, Geosciences, 10(2), 50, Switzerland, ; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences10020050

 

66. Barton, C.C., Rundle, J.B. and Turcotte, D.L., 2019, A history of the Nonlinear Geophysics Section of the American Geophysical Union, Earth and Space Science, published by AGU Publications, Wiley, online July 9, 2019, https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2019EA000591.

 

65. Peterman, D.J., Barton, C.C., and Yacobucci, M.M. 2019. The hydrostatics of Paleozoic ectocochleate cephalopods (Nautiloidea and Endoceratoidea) with implications for modes of life and early colonization of the pelagic zone. Palaeontologia Electronica 22.2.27A 1-29. https://doi.org/10.26879/884.

 

64. Peterman, D.J., and Barton, C.C. 2019, Power scaling of ammonitic suture patterns from Cretaceous Ancyloceratina: constraints on septal/sutural complexity. Lethaia 52:77-90, doi: 10.1111/let.12291.

 

63. Geise, G.R., Barton, C.C., Tebbens, S.F., 2017, Power Scaling and Seasonal Changes of Floe Areas in the Arctic East Siberian Sea, Pure and Applied Geophysics, 174, Issue 1, pp.387-396.

 

62. van Gaalen, J.F., Tebbens, S.F.and Barton, C.C., 2016, Longshore Sediment Transport Directions and Rates from Northern Maine to Tampa Bay, Florida: Literature Compilation and Interpretation, Journal of Coastal Research, Volume 32, Issue 6: pp. 1277 – 1301. http://dx.doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-15-00002.1.

61. Barton, C.C., Lovejoy, S., Schertzer, D.J., and Turcotte, D.L., 2012, Benoit B. Mandelbrot 1925-2010, Eos, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union.

60. Repperger, D.W.; Farris, K.A.; Barton, C.C.; Tebbens, S.F., 2009; Time series data analysis using fractional calculus concepts and fractal analysis: Systems, Man and Cybernetics, IEEE International Conference, San Antonio, TX, 11-14 Oct. 2009 p. 3311 – 3315.

59. Johnson, C.E., and Barton, C.C., 2004, Using GPS effectively in environmental field studies: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, v. 2, issue 9, p.475-482

58. Genova, Ezequiel, and Barton, C.C., 2004, Global positioning system accuracy and precision at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, Grafton County, NH: A guide to the limits of handheld GPS receivers: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 03-316 (CD-ROM).

57. Barton, C.C., Dismukes, Jeffrey S., and Morton, R.A., 2003, Complexity analysis of the change in shoreline position at Duck, NC: Proceedings, Coastal Sediments ‘03, 5th International Symposium on Coastal Engineering and Science of Coastal Sediment Processes, May 18-23, 2003, Clearwater Beach, FL, CD-ROM, 10 p.

56. Tebbens, S.F., Burroughs, S.M., Barton, C.C., and Naar, D.F., 2001, Statistical self-similarity of hotspot seamount volumes modeled as self-similar criticality: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 28, no. 14, p. 2711-2714.

55. Murnane, R.J.; Barton, Chris; Collins, Eric; Donnelly, Jeffrey; Elsner, James; Emanuel, Kerry; Ginis, Isaac; Howard, Susan; Landsea, Chris; Liu, Kam-bui; Malmquist, David; McKay, Megan; Micheals, Anthony, Nelson, Norm; O’Brien, James; Scott, David; Web III, Thompson, 2000, Model estimates hurricane wind speed probabilities: Eos, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, v. 81, no. 38, p.433 and 438. R

54. McDonald, G.D., Paillet, F.L., Barton, C.C., and Johnson, C.D., 1997, Borehole sampling of fracture populations – compensating for borehole sampling bias in crystalline bedrock aquifers, Mirror Lake, Grafton County, New Hampshire: International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, v. 34, nos. 3-4, paper 239. (no pages, published as CD-ROM).

53. Rappaport, Yoav, Naar, D.F., Barton, C.C., and Hey, R.N., 1997, Morphology and distribution of seamounts surrounding Easter Island: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 102, no. B11, p. 24,713 - 24,728.

52. Barton, C.C., Camerlo, R.H., and Bailey, S.W., 1997, Bedrock geologic map of the Hubbard Brook experimental forest and maps of fractures and geology in roadcuts along interstate 93, Grafton County, New Hampshire, Sheet 1, Scale 1:12,000; Sheet 2, Scale 1:200: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-2562.

51. Nishenko, S.P., and Barton, C.C., 1996, Scaling laws for natural disaster fatalities: in Rundle, J.B., Turcotte, D.L., and Klein, W., eds., Reduction and Predictability of Natural Disasters: Proceedings Volume XXV in the Santa Fe Institute Studies of Complexity, Addison-Wesley, Reading MA, p. 3-17.

50. Malamud, B.D., Turcotte, D.L., and Barton, C.C., 1996, The 1993 Mississippi flood: a one hundred or a one thousand year event: Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, v. II, no. 4, Winter 1996, p. 479-486. R

49. Barton, C.C., 1996, Characterizing bedrock fractures in outcrop for studies of ground-water hydrology--An example from Mirror Lake, Grafton County, New Hampshire: in Morganwalp, D.W., and Aronson, D.A., eds., U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program - - Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Colorado Springs, Colorado, September 20-24, 1993, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigation Report 94-4015, p. 81-87.

48. Haeni, F.P., Lane, J.W., Lieblich, D.A., and Barton, C.C., 1996, Fracture detection in crystalline rocks, Mirror Lake, New Hampshire: in Morganwalp, D.W., and Aronson, D.A., eds., U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program - - Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Colorado Springs, Colorado, September 20-24, 1993, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigation Report 94-4015, p. 95-102.

47. Barton, C.C. 1995, Fractal analysis of the scaling and spatial clustering of fractures in rock: in Barton, C.C. and La Pointe, P.R., eds., Fractals in the Earth Sciences: Plenum Press, New York, p. 141-177.

46. Barton, C.C., and Scholz, C.H., 1995, The fractal size and spatial distribution of hydrocarbons: in Barton, C.C., and La Pointe, P.R., eds., Fractals in Petroleum Geology and Earth Processes: Plenum Press, New York, p. 13-33.

45. Barton, C.C. and La Pointe, P.R., eds., 1995, Fractals in Petroleum Geology and Earth Processes: Plenum Press, New York, 317 p.

44. Barton, C.C. and La Pointe, P.R., eds., 1995, Fractals in the Earth Sciences: Plenum Press, New York, 265 p.

43. Crovelli, R.A., and Barton, C.C., 1995, Fractals and the Pareto distribution applied to petroleum field-size distributions, in Barton, C.C. and La Pointe, P.R., eds., Fractals in Petroleum Geology and Earth Processes: Plenum Press, New York, p. 59-72.

42. La Pointe, P.R., and Barton, C.C., 1995, Creating reservoir simulations with fractal characteristics: in Barton, C.C., and La Pointe, P.R., eds., Fractals in Petroleum Geology and Earth Processes: Plenum Press, New York, p. 263-276.

41. Barton, C.C., and Troussov, G.L., 1994, Fractal methodology for petroleum resource assessment and FRA- - A computer program, which calculates the volume and number of, undiscovered hydrocarbons: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1128, 23 p. 1 diskette.

40. Cortini, Massimo, and Barton, C.C., 1994, Chaos in geomagnetic reversal records: Comparison between Earth’s magnetic field data and model disk dynamo data: Journal of Geophysical Research, v.99, no. B9, p. 18,021-18,033.

39. Saouma, V.E., and Barton, C.C., 1994, Fractals, fractures, and size effects in concrete: Journal of Engineering Mechanics, American Society of Civil Engineering, v. 20, no. 4, p. 835-842.

38. Barton, C.C., and Scholz, C.H., 1993, The fractal size and spatial distribution of hydrocarbons--Implications for resource assessment and exploration strategy: U.S. Geological Survey Administrative Report, 34 ms. p., 1 table.

37. Hsieh, P.A., Shapiro, A.M., Barton, C.C., Haeni, F.P., Johnson, C.D., Martin, C.W., Pailett, F.L., Winter, T.C., and Wright, D.L., 1993, Methods of characterizing fluid movement and chemical transport in fractured rock, Geological Society of America Field Trip Guidebook for the Northeastern United States, 1993, Boston, v. 2, p. R1-R30

36. Barton, C.C., Larsen, Eric, Page, W.R., and Howard, T.M., 1993, Characterizing fractured rock for fluid-flow, geomechanical, and paleostress modeling--methods and results from Yucca Mountain, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-269, 31 p.

35. Ulmishek, G.F., Charpentier, R.R., and Barton, C.C., 1993, The global oil system--The relationship between oil generation, loss, half-life, and the world crude oil resource--Discussion: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 77, no. 5, p. 896-899.

34. Cortini, Massimo, and Barton, C.C., 1993, Nonlinear forecasting analysis of inflation-deflation patterns of an active caldera (Campi Flegrei, Italy): Geology, v. 21, p. 239-242

33. Crovelli, R.A., and Barton, C.C., 1993, Fractals and the Pareto distribution applied to petroleum field-size distributions: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-18, 29 p.

32. Miller, L.D., Barton, C.C., Fredericksen, R.S., and Bressler, J.R., 1992, Structural evolution of the Alaska-Juneau Lode Gold Deposit, Southeastern Alaska: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 29, no. 5, p. 865-878.

31. Saouma, V.E., Barton, C.C., and Gamaleldin, N.A., 1990, Fractal characterization of fracture surfaces in concrete: Engineering Fracture Mechanics, v. 35, no. 1/2/3, p. 47-53.

30. Hofland, G.S., and Barton, C.C., 1990, FREQFIT--Computer program which performs numerical regression and statistical chi-squared goodness of fit analysis: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 89-139, 62 p.

29. Nordstrom, D.K., Lindblom, Sten, Donahoe, R.J., and Barton, C.C., 1989, Fluid inclusions in the Stripa Granite and their possible influence on the ground-water chemistry: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 53, no. 8, p. 1741-1755.

28. Barton, C.C., and Hsieh, P.A., 1989, Physical and hydrologic-flow properties of fractures: American Geophysical Union, Field Guide Book, T385, 28th International Geological Congress, July 1989, 36 p.

27. Barton, C.C., 1988, Fractal mathematics used to characterize fracture networks through which fluids move through rock: The Outcrop, Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, December, p. 8.

26. Barton, C.C., Page, W.R., and Morgan, T.L., 1989, Fractures in outcrops in the vicinity of drill hole USW G-4, Yucca Mountain, Nevada--Data analysis and compilation: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 89-92, 133 p.

25. Barton, C.C., and Throckmorton, C.K., 1987, Mapping fractures on pavements, outcrops, and along traverses, technical detailed procedure GP-12, R1: U.S. Geological Survey Manual of Technical Procedures, 8 p.

24. Scott, R.B., McKeown, M.H., Barton, C.C., Beason, S.C., Fairer, G.M., and Thompson, R.A., 1987, Experimental procedure--Prototype underground geologic mapping, WBS 1.2.6.9.4.1.1 and 1.2.6.9.4.1.2: NNWSI Project, For use by DOE, 21 p.

23. Barton, C.C., and Scott, R.B., 1987, Rationale for a continuous map of geologic features in the exploratory shaft and drifts: NNWSI Project, For use by DOE and their reviewers, 15 p.

22. Barton, C.C., and Light, T.D., 1987, Structural fabric analysis of the Perseverance Slate and gold-bearing quartz veins in the South Ore Body of the Alaska-Juneau lode system, southeastern Alaska, in Hamilton, T.D., and Galloway, J.P., eds., Geologic studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey during 1986: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 998, p. 110-112.

21. Barton, C.C., Beason, S.C., Fairer, G.M., and Thompson, R.A., 1986, Geologic studies of the exploratory shaft facility: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigation Plan 6912G-01, 32 p.

20. Barton, C.C., Beason, S.C., Fairer, G.M., and Thompson, R.A., 1986, Prototype test of geologic studies of the exploratory shaft facility: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigation Plan 6941G-01, 35 p.

19. Scott, R.B., Barton, C.C., Fairer, G.M., Thompson, R.A., and Beason, S.C., 1986, Geologic studies of the Exploratory Shaft Facility (Interim SIP): Scientific Investigation Plan USGS-SIP-6921G, RO, 44 p.

18. Scott, R.B., Barton, C.C., Fairer, G.M., Thompson, R.A., and Beason, S.C., 1986, Prototype Exploratory Shaft Facility Geologic Studies: Scientific Investigation Plan USGS-SIP-6941G-RO, 49 p.

17. Scott, R.B., Barton, C.C., and Fairer, G.M., 1986, Drift mapping, in Exploratory Shaft Test Plan, Revision 1, Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations: Department of Energy, Revision to replace Chapters 2.5 and 2.6, 63 p.

16. Barton, C. C., 1985, Mapping fractures on pavements, technical detailed procedure GP-12, RO: U.S. Geological Survey Manual of Technical Procedures, 8 p.

15. Barton, C.C., and Sternlof, K.R., 1985, Logging fractures in core, technical detailed procedure GP-11, RO: U.S. Geological Survey Manual of Technical Procedures, 32 p.

14. Scott, R.B., and Barton, C.C., 1985, Lateral coring from drifts, in Exploratory Shaft Test Plan, Revision 1, Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations, Department of Energy: ch. 2.6, p. 1-38.

13. Scott, R.B., and Barton, C.C., 1985, Drift-wall mapping and photography, in Exploratory Shaft Test Plan, Revision 1, Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations, Department of Energy: ch. 2.5, p. 1-46.

12. Scott, R.B., and Barton, C.C., 1985, Lateral exploratory coring from within the exploratory shaft, in Exploratory Shaft Text Plan, Revision 1, Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations, Department of Energy: ch. 2.4, p. 1-18.

11. Scott, R.B., and Barton, C.C., 1985, Vertical exploratory coring from within the exploratory shaft, in Exploratory Shaft Test Plan, Revision 1, Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations, Department of Energy: ch. 2.3, p. 1-20.

10. Scott, R.B., and Barton, C.C., 1985, Shaft-wall mapping, photography, and hand specimen sampling, in Exploratory Shaft Test Plan, Revision 1, Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations, Department of Energy: ch. 2.2, p. 1-52.

9. Peck, L., Barton, C.C., and Gordon, R.B., 1985, Microstructure and the resistance of rock to fracture: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 90, no. B13, p. 11,533-11,546.

8. Barton, C.C, and Larsen, Eric, 1985, Fractal geometry of two-dimensional fracture networks at Yucca Mountain, southwest Nevada, in Stephansson, Ove, ed., Fundamentals of rock joints: International Symposium on Fundamentals of Rock Joints, Bjorkliden, Lapland, Sweden, September 1985, Centek Publishers, Lulea, Sweden, Proceedings, p. 77-84.

7. Peck, L., Nolen-Hoeksema, R.C., Barton, C.C., and Gordon, R.B., 1985, Measurement of the resistance of imperfectly elastic rock to the propagation of tensile cracks: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 90, no. B9, p. 7827-7836.

6. Barton, C.C., 1983, Systematic jointing in the Cardium Sandstone along the Bow River, Alberta, Canada: New Haven, Conn., Yale University, Ph.D. Dissertation, University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Mich., 301 p.

5. Tutluoglu, L., Hood, M., and Barton, C.C., 1983, An investigation of the mechanics of water-jet assistance on the rock cutting process: 24th U.S. Symposium on Rock Mechanics, 1983, Proceedings, p. 743-749.

4. Barton, C.C., 1982, Variables in fracture energy and toughness testing of rock, in Goodman, R.E., and Heuze, F.E., eds., Issues in rock mechanics: Society of Mining Engineers, AIME, 23rd Symposium on Rock Mechanics, 1982, Proceedings, p. 449-462.

3. Kulander, B.R., Barton, C.C., and Dean, S.L., 1979, Applications of fractography to core and outcrop investigations: U.S. Department of Energy METC/SP-79/3, 174 p. R

2. Kulander, B.R., Dean, S.L., and Barton, C.C., 1977, Fractographic logging for determination of pre-core and core-induced fractures, Nicholas Combs No. 7239 well, Hazard, Kentucky: U.S. ERDA MERC/CR-77/3, 44 p.

1. Barton, C.C., 1975, Agricultural applications of geothermal energy, in Howard, J.H., ed., Present status and future prospects for nonelectrical uses of geothermal resources: UCRL 51926, p. 58-65.

Is this you? Log in to update your profile.

Attachments

The views and opinions expressed on unofficial pages of Wright State University faculty, staff, or students are strictly those of the page authors. The content of these pages has not been reviewed or approved by Wright State University.