Aaron Putnam

Aaron Putnam is the George H. Denton Associate Professor in the School of Earth and Climate Sciences at the University of Maine. He also holds an Adjunct Associate Research Scientist position at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University.

His research focuses on understanding Earth’s climate system through geomorphological analysis and geochronological methods (e.g., 10Be surface-exposure dating, 14C, U-series, and dendrochronology). Key interests include glacial cycles, abrupt climate change, and interactions between Earth’s surface, atmosphere, cryosphere, and oceans. Fieldwork spans global sites such as the Himalayas, Rocky Mountains, Swiss Alps, New Zealand’s Southern Alps, and South America’s southern Andes.

He investigates how natural and anthropogenic factors influence climate, leveraging quantitative modeling and landscape-scale observations. His work bridges paleoclimate reconstruction with modern environmental dynamics.

• Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine.