backResearcher Profile

Brian MacLean

Job Title: Emeritus Scientist (Marine Geologist)
Employer: Natural Resources Canada [Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic)]
Place of Birth: Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada
Public School attended: Sydney Mines
High School attended: Sydney Mines
Further Education: Acadia University (B.Sc.), Carleton University (specialized geology courses).
Geographic focus of research: Mainly seabed geology of Canada's Eastcoast continental shelf, and Eastern and High Arctic marine areas, embracing both near surface bedrock and surficial sediments, and Quaternary geological history (including late glacial, deglacial, and postglacial history). Also some geological investigations of terrestrial areas in Eastern and High Arctic.

Brief synopsis of current research:
For the last several years I've have been engaged with other Geological Survey and University researchers in a major study of the geology and Quaternary history of Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay. The final report resulting from this work was recently completed and submitted for publication.

Mailing address:
Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic), Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P. O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, N.S. B2Y 4A2

Recent Publications:

Marine geology of hudson Strait and Ungava Bay: late Quaternary sediments, depositional environments, and late glacial-deglacial history derived from marine and terrestrial studies. Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin, in press. This is a compendium containing contributed papers dealing with various facets of the marine and terrestrial geology.Principal authors include: B. MacLean (also coordinating editor), J.T. Andrews, B. Deonarine, J. Gray, F. Hall, I. Hardy, A. Jennings, W. Manley, W. Pfeffer, and G. Vilks.

Papers outlining results of the Hudson Strait studies have been presented by the various authors at Arctic Workshops and in the scientific journals and in Geological Survey Current Research publications dating back to 1986, and more recently from 1991 onwards.

Marine geological and geotechnical investigations in Wellington, Byam Martin, Austin, and adjacent channels, Canadian Arctic Archipelago. By B. MacLean, G. Sonnichsen, G. Vilks, C. Powell, K. Moran, A. Jennings, D. Hodgson, and B. Deonarine. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 89-11, 1989, 69p.

Comments:
This has been a fascinating science to have been a part of, both in terms of interesting science, and more so if one enjoys ships, the sea, and seeing new places. Geological data relating to seabed composition, conditions, stability, etc. in conjunction with oceanographic and bathymetric data (e.g. currents, water depths, storm conditions, biological, and environmental paramaters are utilized by industry in planning seabed engineering activities of various kinds. The paleo-geological record is also a source of information relevant to the changing global climate.