Principal Lecturer
339 Brackett
Clemson, SC 29634
864.656.1897
E-mail: acoulso@clemson.edu
Ph.D. Geosciences, 2009, University of South Carolina
M.S. Geology, 1998, Texas Tech University
B.S. Geology, 1996, Bowling Green State University
Classes | Publications | Honors | CV
Faculty Overview
Alan Coulson’s primary teaching and research interests are vertebrate paleontology and stable isotope geochemistry relating to paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Recent and ongoing projects include paleoceanic reconstruction of the Late Cretaceous Western Interior seaway, taphonomic assessment of avian skeletal elements, and the description of a new dinosaur species from Utah.
Class Information
For current syllabi, please search the Clemson University Syllabus Repository.
GEOL 1010 Physical Geology
GEOL 1020 Historical Geology
GEOL 1030 Lab in Physical Geology
GEOL 1200 Natural Hazards
GEOL 2020 Earth History
GEOL 2021 Earth History Laboratory
GEOL 2050 Mineralogy
GEOL 2070 Mineralogy Laboratory
GEOL 4910 Research Synthesis I
GEOL 4920 Research Synthesis II
Selected Presentations & Publications
Lazar, K.B., Moysey, S.M., Brame, S., Coulson, A.B., Lee, C.M., Wagner, J.R., 2018. Breaking out of the traditional lecture hall: Geocaching as a tool for experiential learning in large geology service courses. J. Geosci. Educ. 1–16. doi:10.1080/10899995.2018.1453191
Ciravolo, A., Coulson, A. 2012. Comparing the effects of transport-induced fluvial abrasion on avian and nonavian vertebrate skeletal remains. GSA Abstratcs with Program 44, n 4. --Presented at the Geological Society of America Southeast regional meeting, Asheville, March 2012.
Coulson, A.B., Kohn, M.J., Barrick, R.E., 2011. Isotopic evaluation of ocean circulation in the Late Cretaceous North American seaway. Nat. Geosci. 4, 852–855. doi:10.1038/ngeo1312
Coulson, A. 2011. Evaluating thermohaline stratification in the Late Cretaceous Mississippi Embayment and Western Interior Seaway using phosphate oxygen isotopes from marine vertebrate fossils. GSA Abstracts with Program 43, n. 2. 58. --Presented at the Geological Society of America Southeast regional meeting, Wilmington, March 2011.
Coulson, A. 2010. Using marine turtle fossil geochemistry to reconstruct paleoceanic conditions of the Late Cretaceous Mississippi Embayment and Western Interior Seaway. --Presented at the Third Annual Meeting, Southeast Association of Vertebrate Paleontology, Columbia, June 2010.
Coulson, A., Kohn, M., Barrick, R. 2010. Paleotemperature reconstruction of the Late Cretaceous Mississippi Embayment and Western Interior Seaway using oxygen isotopes from marine vertebrate fossils. GSA Abstracts with Program 42, n. 1. 169.
Coulson, A.B., Kohn, M.J., Shirley, M.H., Joyce, W.G., Barrick, R.E., 2008. Phosphate–oxygen isotopes from marine turtle bones: Ecologic and paleoclimatic applications. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 264, 78–84. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.04.008
Coulson, A. 2007. Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Western Interior Seaway of North America using oxygen isotopes from marine vertebrate fossils. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 27, supplement to n. 3. 62A.
Coulson, A. 2006. Phosphate oxygen isotopic variation in marine turtle bones and its potential ecological utility. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 26, supplement to n. 3. 53A. --Presented at the 66th annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, October, 2006.
Lehman, T.M., Coulson, A.B., 2002. A juvenile specimen of the sauropod dinosaur Alamosaurus sanjuanensis from the Upper Cretaceous of Big Bend National Park , Texas. J. Paleontol. 76, 156–172.
Awards & Honors
Graduate Student Research Competition winner, University of South Carolina, 2007
