Desert Research Institute President Stephen G. Wells has received the Farouk El-Baz Award for Desert Research from the Geological Society of America for his research into the evolution of natural desert pavement surfaces. The award, from the Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division of GSA, was presented during the association's international annual meeting in Reno in November.
The award recognized the research of Wells and colleague Leslie D. McFadden of the University of New Mexico on the natural formation of "armored" soil surfaces of desert valleys. The process, which creates a thin, protective top layer, influences the stability of surface soils and is a significant factor affecting vegetation patterns, precipitation run-off and erosion due to wind.
Wells became DRI president in January 1999 and was previously director of one of DRI's research divisions. He continues his research into the processes affecting surface landforms.
The award's namesake, geology professor Farouk El-Baz of Boston University, is a native of Egypt who became a renown American scientist and is recognized for his dramatic advances in employing satellite remote sensing technology to the study of arid lands.