Tammy Rittenour

Tammy Rittenour is a Professor in the Geosciences Department at the Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Utah State University. Her research focuses on Quaternary geology, geomorphology, and geochronology, utilizing optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating to understand landscape evolution, fluvial systems, and paleoclimate dynamics.

• Institutional affiliation: Utah State University
• College: Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
• Department: Geosciences
• Academic rank: Professor

Research Interests

Rittenour's work explores:

• Fluvial and glacial geomorphology
• Quaternary climate change and sedimentation
• Luminescence dating methodologies
• Active tectonics and faulting
• Coastal and dune system evolution
• Human-environment interactions in paleoecology

Publication Trends

Her recent publications (2021-2025) emphasize transdisciplinary applications of geochronology to critical questions in:

• Greenland Ice Sheet history
• Colorado River incision patterns
• Submarine fan growth rates
• Cascadia subduction zone dynamics
• Aeolian dune chronology
• Neolithic tsunami impacts

Rittenour's methodological expertise in luminescence dating bridges geological and archaeological studies, with fieldwork spanning the western US, Australia, New Zealand, and the Mediterranean region.