Adam M.

Forte

361 Howe-Russell-Kniffen Email: aforte8@lsu.edu

Department of Geology & Geophysics Web: http://adammforte.weebly.com
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803

EDUCATION
2012 Ph.D. in Geology
University of California, Davis
2007 M.S. in Geology
University of California, Davis
2005 B.S. in Geology
College of William & Mary, Highest Honors

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2017- present Assistant Professor, Department of Geology and Geophysics
Louisiana State University
2013-2017 SESE Exploration Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Earth and Space Exploration
Arizona State University
2013 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
University of California, Davis
2008-2012 Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
University of California, Davis

AWARDS, HONORS, AND FELLOWSHIPS

2013 SESE Exploration Postdoctoral Fellowship
2010 GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division Outstanding Student Research Award
2009 American Federation of Mineralogical Societies Scholarship
2006 Collaborative Classroom-Based Inquiry (CCBI) Fellowship (NSF GK-12)
2005 Highest Honors for Undergraduate Thesis
2005 W&M Alumni Award for Geology
2005 Phi Beta Kappa

GRANTS AWARDED AT LSU

Total: $296,091
[2] Co-PI: NSF –: ‘Collaborative Research: An Integrated Structural, Neotectonic, and Landscape
Evolutionary View for Understanding Gangdese Uplift, Extension, and Development of the
Internally Drained Tibetan Plateau and Yarlung River, 2019-2022, $276,091
[1] PI: Louisiana Board of Regents Contract LEQSF(2018-19)-RD-A-02: ‘Catchment Averaged
Erosion Rates Across Time in the Greater Caucasus Mountains: Combining Cosmogenic
Isotopes and Detrital Thermochronology in Single Samples’, 2018-2019, $20,000

GRANTS AWARDED PRIOR TO LSU

Total: $319,051
[13] Co-PI: NSF Grant EAR-450970: 'Reconciling Invariant Topography with Along-Strike Gradients
in Climate and Tectonics in the Greater Caucasus Mountains’, 2015-2017, $282,703

CV- p.1
 [12] SESE Exploration Postdoctoral Fellow Research Funds: ‘Bridging the Gap Between
Geomorphology and Stratigraphy with Detrital Thermo- and Geochronology: The Influence
of Surface Processes on the Detrital Zircon Record’, 2013-2015, $3,000
[11] Cordell Durrell Grant – UC Davis Department of Geology, 2011-2012, $2000
[10] UCD & Humanities Research Grant Award, 2010-2011, $1500
[9] AAPG Grant-in-Aid, 2010-11, $3,000
[8] GSA Research Grant, 2010-11, $3,598
[7] Cordell Durrell Grant – UC Davis Department of Geology, 2010-11, $2,500
[6] Marjorie & Charles Elliott Fellowship, 2010-11, $11,250
[5] Cordell Durrell Grant – UC Davis Department of Geology, 2009-10, $2,000
[4] UCD & Humanities Research Grant Award, 2008-09, $1,500
[3] Cordell Durrell Grant – UC Davis Department of Geology, 2008-09, $2,500
[2] Cordell Durrell Grant – UC Davis Department of Geology, 2006-07, $1,500
[1] Monroe Scholarship – College of William and Mary, 2003-2004, $2,000

PUBLICATIONS IN REVIEW
** Louisiana State University Student Advisee
[26] Wolpert, J.A.**, Forte, A.M., In Review, Response of transient base level knickpoints to
erosional efficiency contrast in bedrock streams, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
[25] Forte, A.M., Leonard, J.L., Rossi, M.W., Whipple, K.X., Heimsath, A.M., Sukhishvili, L., Godoladze,
T., Kadirov, F., In Review, Importance of threshold for relationships among climate,
tectonics, and topography, Nature Geoscience

PUBLICATIONS IN REVISION
[24] Taylor, M., Forte, A.M., Laskowski, D., In Prep for Submission to GSA Today, Active uplift of
Southern Tibet’s Gangdese Range, Revealed

PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

* Ilia State University Student Advisee
[23] Adams, B.A., Whipple, K.X., Forte, A.M., Heimsath, A.M., Hodges, K.V., 2020, Climate controls
on erosion in tectonically active landscapes, Science Advances, v.6, no. 42, doi:
10.1126/sciadv.aaz3166
[22] *Sukhishvili, L., Forte, A.M., Merebashvili, G., Leonard, J., Whipple, K.X., Javakhishvili, Z.,
Heimsath, A., Godoladze, T., 2020, Active deformation and Plio-Pleistocene fluvial
reorganization of the western Kura Fold-Thrust Belt, Georgia: implications for the evolution
of the Greater Caucasus mountains and seismic hazard, Geological Magazine, doi:
10.1017/S0016756820000709
[21] Forte, A.M., Whipple, K.X., 2019, Short communication: The Topographic Analysis Kit (TAK)
for TopoToolbox, Earth Surf. Dynam. Discuss., v. 7, p. 87-95, doi: 10.15194/esurf-7-87-2019
[20] Forte, A.M., Whipple, K.X., 2018, Criteria and tools for determining drainage divide stability:
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v.493, p. 102-117, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.04.026
[19] Cowgill, E., Niemi, N., Forte, A.M., Trexler, C., 2018, Relict basin closure and crustal shortening
budgets during continental collision: An example from Caucasus sediment provenance:
REPLY, Tectonics, doi: 10.1002/2017TC004793
[18] Whipple, K.X., DiBiase, R.A., Ouiment, W.B., Forte, A.M., 2017, Preservation or Piracy:
Diagnosing low-relief, high-elevation surface formation mechanisms: REPLY, Geology,
doi:10.1130/G39252Y.1
[17] Quigley, M.C., Forte, A.M., 2017, Science website traffic in natural disasters: Seismological
Research Letters, doi: 10.1785/0220160172

A.M. Forte CV- p.2

 [16] Whipple, K.X., Forte, A.M., DiBiase, R.A., Gasparini, N.M., Ouimet, W.B., 2017, Timescales of
landscape response to divide migration and drainage capture: Implications for the role of
divide mobility in landscape evolution: Journal of Geophysical Research – Earth Surface,
doi: 10.1002/2016JF003973
[15] Cowgill, E., Forte, A.M., Niemi, N., Avdeev, B., Tye, A., Trexler, C., Javakhishvili, Z., Elashvili, M.,
Godoladze, T., 2017, Relict basin closure and crustal shortening budgets during continental
collision: An example from Caucasus sediment provenance: Tectonics, doi:
10.1002/2016TC004295
[14] Whipple, K.X., DiBiase, R.A.,Ouimet, W.B., Forte, A.M., 2017, Preservation or Piracy: Diagnosing
low-relief, high-elevation surface formation mechanisms: Geology, v. 45, no. 1, p.91-94, doi:
10.1130/G38490.1
[13] Forte, A.M., Whipple, K.X., Bookhagen, B., Rossi, M., 2016, Decoupling of modern shortening
rates, climate, and topography in the Caucasus: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 449,
p. 282-294, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2016.06.013
[12] Forte, A.M., Yanites, B.J., Whipple, K.X., 2016, Complexities of landscape evolution during
incision through layered stratigraphy with contrasts in rock strength: Earth Surface
Processes and Landforms, doi: 10.1002/esp.9347
[11] Forte, A.M., Whipple, K.X., Cowgill, E., 2015, Drainage network reveals patterns and history of
active deformation in the eastern Greater Caucasus: Geosphere, v. 11, no. 5, doi:
10.1130/GES0112.1
[10] Mumladze, T., Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., Trexler, C.C., Niemi, N.A., Yikilmaz, M.B. and Kellogg, L.H.,
2015, Subducted, detached, and torn slabs in the Greater Caucasus: Implications for seismic
hazard: GeoResJ, v.5, p. 36-46, doi: 10.1016/j.grj.2014.09.004
[9] Forte, A.M., Cowgill E., Whipple, K.X., 2014, Transition from a singly- to doubly-vergent wedge
in a young orogen: The Greater Caucasus: Tectonics, v. 33, no. 11, p. 2077-2101, doi:
10.1002/2014TC003651
[8] Forte, A.M., Sumner, D.Y., Cowgill, E., Stoica, M., I., Murtuzayev, I., Kangarli, T., Elashvili, M.,
Godoladze, T., and Javakishvili, Z., 2014, Late Miocene to Pliocene stratigraphy of the Kura
Basin, a subbasin of the South Caspian Basin: Implications for the diachroneity of stage
boundaries, Basin Research, doi: 10.1111/bre.12069
[7] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., 2013, Late Cenozoic base-level variations of the Caspian Sea: A new
review of its history and proposed driving mechanisms: Palaeogeography,
Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 386, p. 392-407, doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.05.035
[6] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., Murtuzayev, I., Kangarli, T., and Stoica, M., 2013, Structural geometries
and magnitude of shortening in the eastern Kura fold-thrust belt, Azerbaijan: Implications
for the development of the Greater Caucasus Mountains: Tectonics, v. 32,
doi: 10.1002/tect.20032
[5] Van Baak, C.G.C., Vasiliev, I., Stoica, M., Kuiper, K., Forte, A.M., Aliyeva, E., and Krijgsman, W.,
2013, A magnetostratigraphic time frame for Plio-pleistocene transgression in the South
Caspian Basin, Azerbaijan: Global and Planetary Change, v. 103, p. 119-134.
[4] Bailey, C.M., Wooton, K.M., Forte, A.M., Hasty, B.A., Goldenbaum, L.A., and Shirvell, C.R., 2012,
Geologic Map of the Swift Run 7.5’ quadrangle, Virginia: Virginia Division of Geology and
Mineral Resources Publication 179.
[3] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., Bernardin, T., Kreylos, O., Hamann, B., 2010, Late Cenozoic deformation
of the Kura fold-thrust belt, southern Greater Caucasus: Geological Society of America
Bulletin, v. 122, p. 465-486.
[2] Forte, A.M., Bailey, C.M., 2007, Testing the utility of the porphyroclast hyperbolic distribution
method of kinematic vorticity analysis: Journal of Structural Geology v. 29, p. 983-1001.
[1] Bailey, C. M., Polvi, L. E., and Forte, A.M., 2007, Pure shear dominated high-strain zones in
basement terranes, in Hatcher, R. D., Jr., Carlson, M. P., McBride, J. H., and Martínez Catalán,

A.M. Forte CV- p.3

 J. R., The 4D Framework of Continental Crust: Geological Society of America Memoir 200, p.
93-108.

CITATION INDICES (GOOGLE SCHOLAR) - AS OF 10/18/2020

Citations: 707
h-index: 16
i10-index: 17

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
*Ilia State Student Advisee, ** LSU Student Advisee

[32] *Sukhishvili, L., Forte, A.M., Merebashvili, G., Javakhishvili, Z., Godoladze, T., 2019, Active
deformation and Plio-Pleistocene fluvial reorganization of the western Kura fold-thrust belt,
Georgia: Implications for the evolution of the Greater Caucasus and seismic hazard, AGU Fall
Meeting.
[31] **Gutterman, K., Forte, A.M., van Soest, M.C., 2019, Comparison of long-term exhumation
rates from modern detrital thermochronology with cosmogenic erosion rates in the Greater
Caucasus Mountains, AGU Fall Meeting.
[30] **Wolpert, J., Forte, A.M., 2019, Disentangling the signatures of climate, tectonics, and
lithology in the landscape of the Lesser Caucasus-Eastern Pontide Mountains, AGU Fall Meeting
[29] Forte, A.M., Leonard, J.S., Rossi, M., Whipple, K.X., Heimsath, A.M., 2019, When neither
climate or tectonics appear related to topography, erosion, and rock uplift rates: The curious
case of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, AGU Fall Meeting.
[28] Forte, A.M., Leonard, J.S., Whipple, K.X., Heimsath, A.M., 2019 (Invited), Reconciling along-
strike gradients in orogenic structure, rates of shortening, and climate with uniform rates of
erosion in the Greater Caucasus, GSA Fall Meeting.
[27] Forte, A.M., Whipple, K.X., 2018, Criteria and tools for determining drainage divide stability.
AGU Fall Meeting.
[26] Forte, A.M., Whipple, K.X., 2018 (Invited), Open source tools for tectonic geomorphology:
The Topographic Analysis Kit (TAK) and DivideTools, GSA Fall Meeting.
[25] *Sukhishvili, L., Javakhishvili, Z., Forte, A.M., Boichenko, G., Merebashvili, G., 2018,
Magnitude of shortening in the Western Kura fold-thrust belt, Georgia, EGU Annual Meeting
[24] Forte, A.M., Yanites, B.J., Whipple, K.X., 2017 (Invited), Influence of deformed stratigraphy on
drainage network structure, GSA Fall Meeting.
[23] Forte, A.M., Yanites, B.J., Whipple, K.X., 2016 (Invited), The influence of stratigraphic history
on landscape evolution, AGU Fall Meeting.
[22] Forte, A.M., Whipple, K.X., DiBiase, R.A., Gasparini, N.M., Ouimet, W.B., 2016, Evaulating
metrics of drainage divide mobility. AGU Fall Meeting.
[21] Forte, A.M., Yanites, B.J., Whipple, K.X., 2016 (Invited), Biasing of detrital records when
eroding through layered stratigraphy, GSA Fall Meeting
[20] Forte, A.M., Whipple, K.X., Bookhagen, B., Rossi, M., 2015, Reconciling invariant topography
with significant along-strike gradients in climate and tectonics in the Greater Caucasus. AGU
Fall Meeting.
[19] Forte, A.M., Whipple, K.X., Yanites, B.J., 2014, Influence of rock strength on landscape
evolution and sediment provenance records. AGU Fall Meeting.
[18] Forte, A.M., Whipple, K.X., 2014, Reconciling invariant topography with significant along-
strike gradients in climate and tectonics in the Greater Caucasus. Structural Tectonics Forum.
[17] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., 2013, Tectonic and topographic effects of collision between two
orogens. AGU Fall Meeting.

A.M. Forte CV- p.4

 [16] Forte, A.M., Kellogg, L.H., Kreylos, O., Yiklimaz, M.B., Oskin, M., Cowgill, E. Billen, M.I., Sumner,
D., Elliott, A., 2013 (Invited), Open-source virtual-reality based data visualization tools for
research and teaching: 3D Visualized, Crusta, and LidarViewer at KeckCaves. GSA Fall Meeting.
[15] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., Niemi, N., Avdeev, B., Mumladze, T., Elashvili, M., Trexler, C., 2013, A
cryptic continent-continent suture in the Caucasus? Closure of relict ocean basins may
accommodate continental convergence with minimal crustal shortening. GSA Fall Meeting.
[14] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., Kellogg, L.H., Oskin, M., Kreylos, O., Bernardin, T., Billen, M.I., Gold, P.,
Jadamec, M., Mackey, T., Steven, E., Sumner, D.Y., 2013, New approaches to data collection and
analysis using virtual-reality based data visualization tools 3D Visualizer, Crusta, and LiDAR
Viewer at KeckCAVES. AAPG Hedberg Conference “3D Structural Geologic Interpretation:
Earth, Mind, and Machine”
[13] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., 2012, Before they were plateaus: Views of early orogenesis from the
Greater Caucasus in the Arabia-Eurasia collision. AGU Fall Meeting.
[12] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., Niemi, N., 2012, Provenance of Miocene-Pleistocene sediments of the
Kura Basin: Implications for the structural development of the Greater Caucasus. GSA Fall
Meeting.
[11] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., 2011, Effect of wedge disruption and South Caspian subsidence on
the dynamic stability of the Greater Caucasus orogen. AGU Fall Meeting.
[10] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., Murtuzayev, I., 2011, Plio-Pleistocene stratigraphy of the Kura Basin,
Azerbaijan: Implications for the formation of the Greater Caucasus and Kura Fold-Thrust Belt.
EGU General Meeting.
[9] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., Murtuzayev, I., 2010, Style, magnitude, and timing of shortening at the
eastern end of Kura fold-thrust belt, Azerbaijan. AGU Fall Meeting.
[8] Forte, A.M., Gold, P., Cowgill, E., Bowles, C., Bernardin, T., Kreylos, O., 2010, Using GIS, Virtual
Terrain Models, and LiDAR to Augment Traditional Field Exercises and Encourage Scientific
Exploration. GSA Fall Meeting.
[7] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., Vasiliev, I., Van Baak, C., Murtuzayev, I., 2009, Along-strike variation in
the formation of the Greater Caucasus and Kura fold-thrust belt: Insights from the stratigraphy
of the Kura Basin, Azerbaijan. AGU Fall Meeting.
[6] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., Murtuzayev, I., Kangarli, T., 2008, Structural styles of active shortening
within the Kura fold-thrust belt: Insights from the Qaramaryam fold, Azerbaijan. AGU Fall
Meeting.
[5] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., 2008, Localization of Arabia-Eurasia convergence in the Kura fold-
thrust belt: The effect of the East Anatolian Plateau and pre-existing crustal weaknesses? GSA
Fall Meeting.
[4] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., Bernardin, T., Kreylos, O., Hamann, B., 2007, Focusing of 50-80% of total
Arabia-Eurasia convergence since 5 Ma along the southern margin of the Greater Caucasus:
Effects of strain localization along the margins of a rigid inclusion within a young orogen? AGU
Fall Meeting.
[3] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., 2007, Neotectonic and cross-sectional evidence of along strike variation
of strain in the Greater Caucasus Mountains. EGU Annual Meeting.
[2] Forte, A.M., Cowgill, E., 2006, Neotectonic evidence of along-strike variation of strain in the
Greater Caucasus Mountains. GSA Fall Meeting.
[1] Forte, A.M., Bailey, C.M., 2005, Testing the utility of the porphyroclast hyperbolic distribution
method of kinematic vorticity analysis. GSA Fall Meeting.

STUDENT SUPERVISION
LSU Graduate Student Primary Advisees
Fall 2019 – present Kristoffer Fowler (PhD)
Fall 2018 – present Kate Gutterman (MS)

A.M. Forte CV- p.5

Fall 2018 – Summer 2020 Joshua Wolpert (MS)

LSU Graduate Student Thesis Committee Membership (excluding Advisees)

2020 – present Matthew Kratochvil (MS)
2020 – present Elise Exnicios (MS)
2019 – present Kyle Tollefson (MS)
2017 – 2018 James Smith (MS)

Ilia State Graduate Students Co-Advisees

Fall 2015 – present Lasha Sukhishvili (PhD)

TEACHING HISTORY
Professor of Record
Fall 2020 GEOL 7900: Geochronology & Thermochronology – Methods and
Applications
Graduate level survey course on the use of radiometric dating for both geo- and
thermochronology. Course work includes reading of journal articles, problem
sets to practice the mathematical underpinnings of geo- and
thermochronology, and a final project.
Enrollment: 6
Spring 2020 GEOL 1001: Physical Geology
Introductory general education class for teaching basic principles of the Earth
Sciences.
Enrollment: 109
Spring 2018, Fall GEOL 4066: Plate Tectonics
2019 Undergraduate & graduate course covering plate kinematics and tectonic
environments. Course work includes weekly readings of journal articles, final
research projects, and presentations (graduate students).
Enrollment: 28 (2018), 11 (2019)
Spring 2019 GEOL 3071: Structural Geology
Undergraduate course covering the deformation of Earth materials. Course is
part of the core curriculum for Geology BS degrees in the Department of
Geology and Geophysics.
Enrollment: 10
Fall 2018 GEOL 1001: Physical Geology (co-taught w/ P. Persaud)
Introductory general education class for teaching basic principles of the Earth
Sciences.
Enrollment: 180

INVITED PRESENTATIONS
February 2020 University of Michigan
January 2020 Oregon State University
October 2019 University of New Orleans
September 2019 Geological Society of America Fall Meeting
March 2019 Indiana University
November 2018 University of Louisiana, Lafayette
November 2018 Baton Rouge Geological Society
November 2018 Geological Society of America Fall Meeting
March 2018 University of Kansas
February 2018 Tulane University

A.M. Forte CV- p.6

October 2017 Geological Society of America Fall Meeting
December 2016 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting
October 2016 Geological Society of America Fall Meeting
November 2015 Northern Arizona University
October 2013 Geological Society of America Fall Meeting

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Service to Louisiana State University
2019-present Diversity Committee (College of Science Level)
2018-present Common Use Lab Committee (Department Level)
2017- present Scholarship Committee (Department Level)

Review
2011-present Manuscript reviewer for Tectonics, Earth and Planetary Science Letters,
Journal of Geophysical Research – Earth Surface, Journal of Geophysical
Research – Solid Earth, Earth Surface Dynamics, Basin Research, Geosphere,
Geology, Geomorphology, Tectonophysics, Geophysical Research Letters,
Geological Magazine, Quaternary Research, Journal of Structural Geology,
Terra Nova, Geological Journal, Nature Geoscience, Nature Communications,
Frontiers in Earth Science, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, G-cubed,

Grant Proposal Service

2013-present Proposal reviewer for National Science Foundation (NSF) EAR – Tectonics,
NSF EAR-Geophyiscs, NSF EAR-CAREER, NSF EAR-IES, German Research
Foundation, Petroleum Research Fund, Israeli Science Foundation
Short Courses
2020 “An Introduction to the Topographic Analysis Kit (TAK)” – Oregon State
University Short Course - Leader
2019 “An Introduction to the Topographic Analysis Kit (TAK)” – GSA 2019 Annual
Meeting in Phoenix, AZ Short Course - Leader

Activities at Scientific Meetings

2019 Convener, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA:
“Advances in Tectonic Geomorphology: The Interplay of Tectonics, Climate, and
Surface Processes”
2019 Invited Participant, Climatic controls on continental erosion and sediment
transport, GSA Penrose Conference, Juneau Alaksa
2018 Convener (2 sessions), American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting,
Washington, D.C. “1) Drainage network reorganization from source to sink; 2)
Chronologic constraints on the processes and tempos of orogenesis archived in
sedimentary basins”
2018 Invited Participant, Coupling of Tectonics and Surface Processes workshop,
Boulder, CO
2014 Convener, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA: “To
see the work in a grain of sand: novel applications and important limitations to
detrital analyses in sedimentology, tectonics, and geomorphology”
2010 Convener, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA:
“Intramontane basins and flanking structures in the Arabia-Eurasia and Indo-
Asian Collisions”

A.M. Forte CV- p.7

 2007 Convener, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA
“Surface processes, crustal rheology, or regional geology: What controls the
structural architecture of convergent continental orogens?”

Professional Memberships
Geological Society of America, American Geophysical Union, American Association for the
Advancement of Science

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EXPERIENCE

2019 LSU Communications Across the Curriculum (CxC) Faculty Summer Institute
2018 Early Career Geoscience Faculty: Teaching, Research, and Managing Your
Career, SERC Workshop
2016 Alan Alda Center For Communicating Science Workshop
2013 Preparing for an Academic Career in the Geosciences – On The Cutting Edge
Workshop Series
2013 Paid consultant for ConocoPhillips
2011 ExxonMobil Field Course – Reservoir characterization in deep water
depositional systems

A.M. Forte CV- p.8