Education
Ph.D. Rutgers University, 2005
B.Sc., Universitat de Barcelona
(Spain), 2000
Research Interests
Peatland Geophysics: Ground
Penetrating Radar (GPR), Resistivity
and Induced Polarization (IP)
imaging, EM31
Electrical and hydrological
properties of organic sediments:
electrical IP properties of peat;
hydraulic measurements in organic
sediments, methane quantification
and genesis in peat soils
Environmental hydrogeophysics:
applications in wetland studies
Teaching
GLYC4700 Geomorphology
GLYC6934 Environmental Geophysics
GLYC4700 Geomorphology
GLYC4400 Structural Geology
GLYC6934 Wetlands Geosciences
List of Theses
Supervised
Recent Publications and
Presentations
Kettridge, N.,
Comas, X., Baird, A., Slater, L.,
Strack, M., Thompson, D., Jol, H.,
and Binley A. 2008.
Ecohydrologically-important
subsurface structures in peatlands
are revealed by Ground-Penetrating
Radar and resistivity measurements.
Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences,
113, G04030,
doi:10.1029/2008JG000787.
Comas, X., Slater L., and Reeve A.
2008. Seasonal geophysical
monitoring of biogenic gases in a
northern peatland: Implications for
temporal and spatial variability in
free phase gas production rates,
Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences,
113, G01012,
doi:10.1029/2007JG000575.
Slater, L.,
Comas, X., Ntarlagiannis, D. and Roy
Moulik, M., Resistivity-based
monitoring of biogenic gasses in
peat soils. Water Resources
Research, In Press. Water Resources Research, 43, W10430, doi:10.1029/2007WR006090.
Comas, X. and Slater, L. 2007.
Evolution of biogenic gasses in peat
blocks inferred from non-invasive
dielectric permittivity
measurements. Water Resources
Research, 43, W05424, doi:
10.1029/2006WR005562.
Comas, X., Slater, L., and Reeve,
A., 2007. In situ monitoring of
ebullition from a peatland using
ground penetrating radar (GPR).
Geophysical Research Letters, 34
(6), L06402, doi:
10.1029/2006GL029014.
Comas, X., Slater, L and Reeve, A.,
2005. Geophysical and hydrological
evaluation of two bog complexes in a
Northern Peatland: Implications for
the distribution of biogenic gasses
at the basin scale. Global
Biogeochemical Cycles, 19, GB4023,
doi: 10.1029/2005GB002582.
Comas, X., Slater, L. and Reeve, A.,
2005. Stratigraphic controls on pool
formation in a domed bog inferred
from ground penetrating radar (GPR).
Journal of Hydrology, 315 (1-4),
40-51.
Comas, X., Slater, L and Reeve, A.,
2005. Spatial variability in
biogenic gas accumulations in peat
soils is revealed by ground
penetrating radar (GPR). Geophysical
Research Letters, 32 (8), L08401,
doi: 10.1029/2004GL022297.
Comas, X. and Slater, L., 2004.
Low-frequency electrical properties
of peat. Water Resources Research,
40 (12), W12414, doi:
10.1029/2004WR003534.
Comas, X., Slater, L. and Reeve, A.,
2004. Geophysical evidence for peat
basin morphology and stratigraphic
controls on vegetation observed in a
northern peatland. Journal of
Hydrology, 295, 173-184.
BOOK CHAPTERS
Slater L., and Comas, X. The
contribution of GPR to water
resources research. Chapter 7 of GPR
Radar Theory and Applications,
Edited by H. Jol, Elsevier, In
Press. 544 pp. Expected publication
date Spring 2009.
Comas, X. and Slater, L.,
Non-invasive field-scale
characterization of gaseous-phase
methane dynamics in peatlands using
the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
method. Northern Peatlands and
Carbon Cycling, AGU Monograph,
Accepted, Expected publication date:
Fall 2009.
EDITED BOOKS
Northern Peatlands and Carbon
Cycling, Edited by Belyea, L., A.
Baird, X. Comas, A. Reeve, and L.
Slater. American Geophysical Union,
AGU Monograph Series. Expected
publication date: Fall 2009.
NEWS PIECES
Slater, L., Comas, X., Reeve, A.,
and Jol, H. 2007. Peatlands
geophysics workshop. Eos Trans. AGU,
In Press. Eos Trans. AGU, In Press.
ABSTRACTS
Parsekian, A., Comas, X., Nolan, J.,
Glaser, P., Chanton, J., and Slater,
L. 2008. Assessing biogenic methane
content in various peatland
landforms using GPR . Eos Trans.
AGU, 89(53), Fall Meet. Suppl.
Abstract B33B-0417.
Comas, X., Slater, L., Reeve, A.,
Nolan, J., and Jol, H. 2008. Pool
patterning in a northern peatland
using near surface geophysics: the
role of glacial deposition. Eos
Trans. AGU, 89(23), Jt. Assem.
Suppl. Abstract NS24A-04
Parsekian, A., Nolan, J., Comas, X.,
and Slater, L. 2008. Non-invasive
Investigation of Free Phase Gas
Accumulation in a Northern Peatland
Using GPR: Vegetation Effects. Eos
Trans. AGU, 89(23), Jt. Assem.
Suppl. Abstract NS31B-10
Tyczka, Z. D., Reeve, A., Comas, X.
2008. Temporal changes in hydraulic
conductivity in a large Maine
peatland and its impact on 3-D
groundwater flow simulations. The
Society of Wetland Scientist (SWS)
2008 Conference, May 26-30, 2008,
Washington D. C. Abstract 100.
Comas, X., Slater, L., Reeve, A. and
Nolan, J. 2007. Geophysical
monitoring of biogenic gas dynamics
in a northern peatland: seasonal
variability and implications for
production rates. Eos Trans. AGU,
88(52), Fall Meet. Suppl. Abstract
B52C-06
Nolan, J., Slater, L., Glaser, P.,
Comas, X., and O’Brien, M. 2007.
Geophysical evidence for abiotic
controls on peatland patterning at
multiple scales. Eos Trans. AGU,
88(52), Fall Meet. Suppl. Abstract
H51H-0865.
Jol, H. M.,Comas, X., Slater, L.,
Fisher, T. G., and Reeve A., 2007.
Ground Penetrating Radar: a
non-invasive, high-resolution method
for the development of facies models
in eskers. Geological Society of
America (GSA) Annual Meeting, Oct
28-31, 2007, Denver, CO. Paper 43-6.
Reeve A., Slater, L., and Comas, X.,
2007. Hydrogeologic assessment of
the eutrophication of the Sieur de
Monts Spring, Acadia National Park.
Geological Society of America (GSA)
Annual Meeting, Oct 28-31, 2007,
Denver, CO. Paper 11-3.
Comas, X., Slater, L., and Reeve,
A., 2007. Long term monitoring of
biogenic gasses in peat soils using
electromagnetic (EM) measurements.
Eos Trans. AGU, 88(23), Jt. Assem.
Suppl. Abstract NS43A-04.
Slater, L., Roy Moulik, M., Comas,
X., Ntarlaginannis, D., 2007.
Resistivity-based geophysical
monitoring of biogenic gas dynamics
in a large peat block. Eos Trans.
AGU, 88(23), Jt. Assem. Suppl.
Abstract NS43A-05.
Reeve, A., Comas, X., Slater, L.,
2007. Hydrogeologic assessment of
the eutrophication of the Sieur de
Monts spring, Acadia National Park.
Maine Water Conference, March 21,
2007, Augusta, ME.
Comas, X., Slater, L., Reeve A.,
Nolan, J., and O’Brien, M., 2006.
Evolution of biogenic gasses in peat
soils using Ground Penetrating Radar
(GPR). Geological Society of America
(GSA) Annual Meeting, Oct 22-25,
2006, Philadelphia, PA. Paper
104-11. Abstract 113741.
Roy Moulik, M., Comas, X., and
Slater, L., 2006. The relationship
between electrical resistivity and
biogenic free phase gas (FPG) build
up in peat soils. Geological Society
of America (GSA) Annual Meeting, Oct
22-25, 2006, Philadelphia, PA. Paper
104-12. Abstract 113480.
Nolan, J., Slater, L., Comas, X.,
and O’Brien, M., 2006. Geophysical
investigation of Kanokolus Bog
(Maine): implications for peat basin
development. Geological Society of
America (GSA) Annual Meeting, Oct
22-25, 2006, Philadelphia, PA. Paper
104-13. Abstract 116104.
Slater, L., Comas, X., and Reeve A.,
2006. Using Near Surface Geophysics
to characterize peatland systems.
Geological Society of America (GSA)
Annual Meeting, Oct 22-25, 2006,
Philadelphia, PA. Paper 104-5.
Abstract 113600.
Comas, X. and Slater, L., 2006.
Evolution and Distribution of
Biogenic Gasses in Peat Soils. 18th
IAGA WG 1.2 Workshop on
Electromagnetic Induction in the
Earth, El Vendrell, Spain, September
17-23. Extended Abstract, S.1- P.20.
Comas, X., Slater, L., and Roy
Moulik, M., 2006. The use of
geophysical techniques to monitor
the evolution and spatial
distribution of biogenic gasses in
peat soils. Eos Trans. AGU, 87(36),
Jt. Assem. Suppl. Abstract NS24A-04.
Comas, X., Slater, L. and Reeve A.,
2005. Estimation of biogenic gas
distribution in a northern peatland
using surface and borehole Ground
Penetrating Radar. Eos Trans. AGU,
86(18), Jt. Assem. Suppl. Abstract
NB33C-16.
Comas, X. and Slater, L., 2003.
Electrical and hydraulic properties
of humified bog peat as a function
of pore-fluid conductivity. American
Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Dec
6-10, 2003, San Francisco, CA. Eos
Trans. AGU, 84(46), Fall Meet.
Suppl. Abstract H22C-0938.
Comas, X., Slater, L. and Reeve A.,
2003. Stratigraphic and lithologic
controls on pool formation in a
northern peatland using ground
penetrating radar. Geological
Society of America (GSA) Annual
Meeting, Nov 2-6, 2003, Seattle, WA.
Paper 165-4. Abstract 65363.
Slater, L., Reeve, A., Utne, I. J.,
Comas, X., and Ulrich, C. A., 2002.
Geophysical Evidence for Lithologic
and Hydrogeological Controls on
Vegetation Communities in a Large
Northern Peatland. Eos Trans. AGU,
83(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract
H52A-0841.
Comas, X. and Slater, L., 2002. Low
frequency electrical properties of
organic sediments. Society
Exploration Geophysics (SEG)
Expanded abstracts 2002, Historical
Series, NEG 2 - NSG 2: Non-Seismic
Studies, 1456-1459.
Recent Grants and
Contracts
Subcontract to “A hydrogeophysical
study of northern raised bogs:
implications for generic models of
peatland formation, vegetation
patterning, pool formation and
biogenic gas generation”, National
Science Foundation 0609534, $50,000,
08/01/06-07/31/08.
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