Further information about
Professor David J. Lowe
University of Waikato, Hamilton,
New Zealand
November 2014
Recent and earlier research and contributions
David has published widely in a range of disciplines (tephrochronology, pedology, Quaternary
science) with more than 160 refereed publications in scientific journals or books (including 22
chapters) to his name. He has undertaken research in New Zealand, Antarctica, Australia, Canada,
Japan, and the U.K., and also has field experience in Taiwan, France, Germany, Ireland,
Switzerland, western U.S.A. (eight states including Alaska and Hawaii), and Fiji.
Since 2011, David has led a Marsden-funded project “New views from old soils” examining
research questions (1) how allophane sequesters and protects carbon in allophanic soils and
paleosols, and (2) is ancient DNA (aDNA) stored and protected in such materials and, if so, can
such aDNA can be extracted and used to inform past environmental reconstructions. This work
has involved collaboration with Prof Alan Cooper and Dr Jock Churchman, and Jennifer Young
(University of Adelaide) and Dr Nic Rawlence (University of Otago), and Dr Jamie Wood (Landcare
Research, Lincoln). The Waikato group includes PhD student Yu-Tuan (Doreen) Huang, Dr Ray
Cursons, and Heng Zhang. The group has been using synchrotron facilities at the National
Synchrotron Radiation Research Centre (NSRRC), Hsinchu, Taiwan.
In August, 2013, the final volume of the AUSTALASIAN INTIMATE project was published as Vol. 74
of Quaternary Science Reviews (pp. 1-280) “Linking Southern Hemisphere records and past
circulation patterns: the AUS-INTIMATE project” (edited by J. Reeves, B. Alloway, T. Barrows).
David contributed or co-authored three papers for this volume (2013), two earlier papers towards
the project (2007, 2008), and contributed to a poster and bulletin published by GNS Science
(2005).
David (with Prof Louis Schipper) convened the second Waikato-Bay of Plenty regional soils
meeting, Wai-BoP Soils 2013, on 5 Dec, 2013, at the University of Waikato on behalf of the NZ
Society of Soil Science. David and Louis co-convened the first Wai-BoP Soils meeting in December
2011.
In July 2011, David co-convened a session on tephrochronology at the Inqua Congress in Bern,
Switzerland, and represented New Zealand on the International Council. He and colleagues are
currently working towards convening two symposia at the forthcoming Inqua Congress in Nagoya,
Japan, in July-August 2015.
In May 2010, David gave a public lecture in Kirishima, Kyushu Island, Japan, as part of the INTAV
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"Active Tephra" conference. He also presented a series of seminars at 4 universities during a JSPSsponsored tour of Japan after the conference.
In 2009, David was invited by the Queensland Branch of the Australian Society of Soil Science to
give the Ron McDonald Memorial Lecture in Brisbane, the first New Zealander to be given the
award. His lecture was entitled "Where pedology meets geology - insights into Andisols in
Australasia".
In November 2007, David was a key-note plenary speaker at an international symposium on
Quaternary environmental change that was held in Tsukuba, Japan, to mark the 50th anniversary
of the Japan Quaternary Association (JAQUA). David also gave a seminar at the National Taiwan
University (NTU) in Taipei, Taiwan, in November, 2007. Earlier David gave two keynote talks at the
INQUA congress held in Cairns in July-August 2007. In March 2006 David was an invited speaker at
a conference on Andisols in the Mt Fuji area of central Japan. David also worked for several
months in 2006 at both the Waikato Radiocarbon Dating Lab in Hamilton and at Scion Research in
Rotorua.
In 2005, David attended an international tephra conference in the Yukon Territory (Canada) and
visited colleagues in Saskatchewan and central Alaska as part of his sabbatical leave. Earlier, David
spent eight months undertaking palaeoenvironmental and tephrochronological research in
universities in Northern Ireland and Great Britain during sabbatical leave in 1998-99, and ten
months undertaking pedological and volcanological research on Quaternary volcanic eruptives
and associated soils in southeast South Australia whilst at CSIRO (Division of Soils) in Adelaide
1991-92.
David's early professional experience includes soil survey-related work for the Soil Bureau of DSIR,
Hamilton, and benzene synthesis in the liquid-scintillation based Waikato Radiocarbon Dating
Laboratory. In Antarctica during the 1978-79 field season, David's four-man field party (led by
now-Emeritus Professor Michael Selby) manhauled a sledge whilst undertaking geological,
geomorphological and pedological mapping in the Transantarctic Mountains. The party also
discovered unique iron meteorites, one of which is displayed in the Canterbury Museum
(Antarctic Wing), Christchurch.
Recently completed research projects
Recently completed research undertaken with colleagues from New Zealand and overseas, and
with postgraduate students, includes:
1. Developing new age models for key tephra marker beds for New Zealand since 30,000 years
ago using Bayesian modelling techniques including revising the age of Kawakawa/Oruanui
tephra (published in 2008 and 2013).
2. Contributing to the development of the New Zealand climate event stratigraphy (NZCES) as
part of the NZ-INTIMATE project (published in the AUS-INTIMATE issue of Quaternary Science
Reviews Vol. 74, 2013). Previously contributed to the preliminary NZCES in 2007.
3. Comprehensive review of the discipline of tephrochronology and its application from a global
perspective.
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4. Evaluating the likelihood of the “bipolar seesaw” mechanism operating in the New Zealand
region since 30 cal ka.
5. Determining the timing and impacts of early Polynesian settlement in New Zealand, and
assessing the impacts of volcanism on early Maori in New Zealand.
6. Developing a comprehensive model relating tephras to archaeology in New Zealand, and
determining the calendar age of the Kaharoa eruption of Mt Tarawera at AD 1314 ±12 using
dendrochronological wiggle-match dating and radiocarbon dating.
7. Using tephrochronology with palynology and other palaeoenvironmental proxies to compare
the synchroneity or otherwise of abrupt climate change during the transition from marine
isotope Stage (MIS) 2 to Stage 1 (Last Termination), including identification of a cooling event
from ca. 13,800-12,600 cal yr BP.
8. Reviewing the Andisols of the world and of New Zealand and Australia.
9. Determining climatic and vegetational change from MIS 5e (Last Interglacial) through to MIS 1
(Holocene) in Northland using analyses of cores from Lake Omapere near Kaikohe.
10. Developing new models of upbuilding pedogenesis in tephra and loess deposits in New
Zealand.
11. Developing soil-landscape modelling techniques to map target soil properties in plantation
forests in Southland, central volcanic plateau and Northland regions, and assessing the affects
of forest harvesting on the efficacy of such modelling.
12. Testing the sustainability of plantation forestry on Mamaku Plateau, central North Island,
using soil and foliar phosphorus measurements associated with two rotations of Pinus radiata.
13. Contributing to two joint papers defining the climate event stratigraphy of New Zealand as
part of the Australasian INTIMATE project (in 2007 and 2013).
14. Contributing to a chapter on tephrostratigraphy and tephrochronology for Elsevier’s
Encyclopaedia of Quaternary Science (including a revised 2nd edition published in 2013), and
contributed a chapter on tephrochronology to Encyclopaedia of Scientific Dating Methods in
2014.
15. Determining the paleoclimate of the Auckland region during MIS 2 using tephropalynological
analysis of cores from Kohuora Crater, Auckland Volcanic Field.
16. Reviewing the alteration, formation and occurrence of minerals in soils.
17. Developing improved tephra correlation techniques using electron microprobe analysis of
glass shards in bi-modal Rotorua Tephra, and of melt inclusions in strongly weathered tephra
deposits.
18. Reviewing the use of palaeoenvironmental ancient DNA in Quaternary research.
19. Evaluating carbon sequestration by allophanic soils and mechanisms for DNA binding to
allophanic materials using synchrotron radiation.
20. Assessing drivers of plantation forest productivity on eroded and non-eroded soils in hilly and
steep land in eastern North Island.
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Paddy fields growing rice near Tokyo
Ultisol landscape, Mahurangi Forest, Northland
World tephra specialists, Dawson City, Yukon Pedology students in Whakarewarewa Forest
Territory, 2005
Rotorua, 2013
Publications
Tephrochronology, Quaternary science and environmental change
Rawlence, N.J., Lowe, D.J., Wood, J.R., Young, J., Churchman, G.J., Huang, Y.-T., Cooper, A. 2014.
Using palaeoenvironmental DNA to reconstruct past environments: progress and prospects.
Journal of Quaternary Science 29, 610-626 [open access].
Lowe, D.J., Alloway, B.V. 2014. Tephrochronology. [Chapter 19] In: Rink, W.J.; Thompson, J.W.
(editors). “Encyclopaedia of Scientific Dating Methods”. Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 1-26 (doi:
10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_19-1)
Available
online
http://www.springerreference.com/docs/html/chapterdbid/358980.html
Lowe, D.J. 2014. Marine tephrochronology: a personal perspective. In: Austin, W.E.N., Abbott, P.M.,
Davies, S.M., Pearce, N.J.G., Wastegård, S. (editors), “Marine Tephrochronology”. Geological
Society (London) Special Publication 398, 7-19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP398.11
Alloway, B.V., Lowe, D.J., Larsen, G., Shane, P.A.R., Westgate, J.A. 2013. Tephrochronology. In: Elias,
S.A., Mock, C.J. (editors) The Encyclopaedia of Quaternary Science, 2nd edition, Vol. 4, pp. 277304. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Barrell, D.J.A., Almond, P.C., Vandergoes, M.J., Lowe, D.J., Newnham, R.M., NZ-INTIMATE members
2013. A composite pollen-based stratotype for inter-regional evaluation of climatic events in
New Zealand over the past 30,000 years (NZ-INTIMATE project). Quaternary Science Reviews 74,
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4-20.
Vandergoes, M.J., Hogg, A.G., Lowe, D.J., Newnham, R.M., Denton, G.H., Southon, J., Barrell, D.J.A.,
Wilson, C.J.N., McGlone, M.S., Allan, A.S.R., Almond, P.C., Petchey, F., Dalbell, K., DieffenbacherKrall, A.C., Blaauw, M. 2013. A revised age for the Kawakawa/Oruanui tephra, a key marker for
the Last Glacial Maximum in New Zealand. Quaternary Science Reviews 74, 195-201.
Lowe, D.J., Blaauw, M., Hogg, A.G., Newnham, R.M. 2013. Ages of 24 widespread tephras erupted
since 30,000 years ago in New Zealand, with re-evaluation of the timing and palaeoclimatic
implications of the late-glacial cool episode recorded at Kaipo bog. Quaternary Science Reviews
74, 170-194.
Newnham, R.M.; Vandergoes, M.; Sikes, E.; Carter, L.; Wilmshurst, J.; Lowe, D.J.; McGlone, M.S.;
Sandiford, A. 2012. Does the bipolar seesaw extend to the terrestrial southern mid-latitudes?
Quaternary Science Reviews 36, 214-222.
Hogg, A.G.; Lowe, D.J.; Palmer, J.G.; Boswijk, G.; Bronk Ramsey, C.J. 2012. Revised calendar date for
the Taupo eruption derived by 14C wiggle-matching using a New Zealand kauri 14C calibration
data set. The Holocene 22, 439-449.
Lowe, D.J.; Moriwaki, H.; Davies, S.M., Suzuki, T.; Pearce, N.J. (Editors) 2011. “Enhancing
tephrochronology and its application (INTREPID project): Hiroshi Machida commemorative
volume”. Quaternary International 246, pp.1-396.
Lowe, D.J.; Davies, S.M.; Moriwaki, H.; Pearce, N.J.; Suzuki, T. 2011. [Preface] Enhancing
tephrochronology and its application (INTREPID project): Hiroshi Machida commemorative
volume. Quaternary International 246, 1-5.
Holt, K.A.; Lowe, D.J.; Hogg, A.G.; Wallace, R.C. 2011. Distal occurrence of mid-Holocene Whakatane
Tephra on the Chatham Islands, New Zealand, and potential for cryptotephra studies.
Quaternary International 246, 344-351.
Moriwaki, H.; Suzuki, T.; Murata, M.; Ikehara, M.; Machida, H.; Oba, T.; Lowe, D.J. 2011. SakurajimaSatsuma (Sz-S) and Noike-Yumugi (N-Ym) tephras: new tephrochronological marker beds for the
last deglaciation, southern Kyushu, Japan. Quaternary International 246, 203-212.
Lowe, D.J. 2011. Tephrochronology and its application: a review. Quaternary Geochronology 6 107153.
Holt, K.; Wallace, R.C.; Neall, V.E.; Kohn, B.P.; Lowe, D.J. 2010. Quaternary tephra marker beds and
their potential for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction on Chatham Islands east of New Zealand,
southwest Pacific Ocean. Journal of Quaternary Science 25, 1169-1178.
Lowe, D.J.; Wilson, C.J.N.; Newnham, R.M.; Hogg, A.G. 2010. Dating the Kawakawa/Oruanui
eruption: comment on “Optical luminescence dating of a loess section containing a critical
tephra marker horizon, SW North Island of New Zealand” by R. Grapes et al. Quaternary
Geochronology 5, 493-496.
Walker, M.; Johnsen, S.; Rasmussen, S.O.; Popp, T.; Steffensen, J.-P.; Gibbard, P.; Hoek, W.; Lowe,
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J.J.; Andrews, J.; Björck, S.; Cwynar, L.; Hughen, K.; Kershaw, P.; Kromer, B.; Litt, T.; Lowe, D.J.;
Nakagawa, T.; Newnham, R.M.; Schwander, J. 2009. Formal definition and dating of the GSSP
(Global Stratotype Section and Point) for the base of the Holocene using the Greenland NGRIP
ice core, and selected auxiliary records. Journal of Quaternary Science 29, 3-17.
Lowe, D.J. 2008. Globalization of tephrochronology: new views from Australasia. Progress in
Physical Geography 32, 311-335.
Lowe, D.J.; Alloway, B.V.; Shane, P.A.R. 2008. Far-flung markers [Tephras] In: Graham, I.J. (chief
editor) “A Continent on the Move: New Zealand Geoscience into the 21st Century”. Geological
Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication 124, 170-173.
Lowe, D.J.; Shane, P.A.R.; Alloway, B.V.; Newnham, R.M. 2008. Fingerprints and age models for
widespread New Zealand tephra marker beds erupted since 30,000 years ago: a framework for
NZ-INTIMATE. Quaternary Science Reviews 27, 95-126.
Froese, D.G.; Slate, J.L.; Lowe, D.J.; Knott, J. (editors) 2008. "Global Tephra Studies: John Westgate
and Andrei Sarna-Wojcicki Commemorative Volume". Quaternary International 178, 1-320.
Froese, D.G.; Alloway, B.V.; Lowe, D.J. 2008. John A. Westgate - Global tephrochronologist,
stratigrapher, mentor. Quaternary International 178, 4-9.
Lowe, D.J.; Tonkin, P.J.; Neall, V.E.; Palmer, A.S.; Alloway, B.V.; Froggatt, P.C. 2008. Colin George
Vucetich (1918-2007) - pioneering New Zealand tephrochronologist. Quaternary International
178, 11-15.
Gehrels, M.J.; Newnham, R.M.; Lowe, D.J.; Wynne, S.; Hazell, Z.J.; Caseldine, C. 2008. Towards rapid
assay of cryptotephra in peat cores: review and evaluation of selected methods. Quaternary
International 178, 68-84.
Leonard, G.; Lowe, D.J.; McSaveney, E.; Smith, R.T.; Stewart, C.; Wright, I. 2007. Living on the ring of
fire - volcanoes. In: Te Ara team (editors), "Life on the Edge - New Zealand's Natural Hazards and
Disasters". David Bateman, Auckland, pp. 76-115.
Newnham, R.M.; Lowe, D.J.; Giles, T.M., Alloway, B.V. 2007. Vegetation and climate of Auckland,
New Zealand, since ca. 32 000 cal. yr ago: support for an extended LGM. Journal of Quaternary
Science 22, 517-534.
Newnham, R.M.; Vandergoes, M.J.; Hendy, C.H.; Lowe, D.J.; Preusser, F. 2007. A terrrestrial
palynological record for the last two glacial cycles from southwestern New Zealand. Quaternary
Science Reviews 26, 517-535.
Alloway, B.V.; Lowe, D.J.; Barrell, D.J.A.; Newnham, R.M..; Almond, P.C.; Augustinus, P.C.; Bertler,
N.A.; Carter, L.; Litchfield, N.J.; McGlone, M.S.; Shulmeister, J.; Vandergoes, M.J.; Williams, P.W.
and NZ-INTIMATE members 2007. Towards a climate event stratigraphy for New Zealand over
the past 30,000 years (NZ-INTIMATE project). Journal of Quaternary Science 22, 9-35.
Newnham, R.M.; Vandergoes, M.J.; Garnett, M.H.; Lowe, D.J.; Prior, C.; Almond, P.CJ. 2007. Test of
AMS 14C dating of pollen concentrates using tephrochronology. Journal of Quaternary Science
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22, 37-51.
Alloway, B.V.; Larsen, G.; Lowe, D.J.; Shane. P.A.R.; Westgate, J.A. 2007. Tephrochronology. In: Elias,
S.A. (editor-in-chief) Encyclopaedia of Quaternary Science. Elsevier, London, pp. 2869-2898.
Smith, R.T.; Lowe, D.J.; Wright, I.C. 2006. “Volcanoes.” Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
[Online]. Updated 9 June 2006. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Wellington.
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/NaturalHazardsAndDisasters/Volcanoes/en
Briggs, R.M.; Lowe, D.J.; Esler, W.R.; Smith, R.T.; Henry, M.A.C.; Wehrmann, H.; Manning, D.A. 2006.
Geology of the Maketu area, Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand. Sheet V14 1:50 000.
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Waikato, Occasional Report 26. 44 pp + map.
[Published in collaboration with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Whakatane.]
Gehrels, M.J.; Lowe, D.J.; Hazell, Z.J.; Newnham, R.M. 2006. A continuous 5300-yr Holocene
cryptotephrostratigraphic record from northern New Zealand and implications for
tephrochronology and volcanic-hazard assessment. The Holocene 16, 173-187.
Hajdas, I.; Lowe, D.J.; Newnham, R.M.; Bonani, G. 2006. Timing of the late-glacial climate reversal in
the Southern Hemisphere using high-resolution radiocarbon chronology for Kaipo bog, New
Zealand. Quaternary Research 65, 340-345.
Participants on ‘Ashes & Issues’ field trip Nov 2008
Tephra section and Prof Masami Nanzyo
near Mt Tarawera Nov 2008
Pedology and soil and land evaluation and management, clay mineralogy, geohazards
Kleyburg, M.A., Moon, V.G., Lowe, D.J., Nelson, C.S. 2015. Paleoliquefaction in Late Pleistocene
alluvial sediments in Hauraki and Hamilton basins, and implications for paleoseismicity.
Proceedings, 12th Australia New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics (ANZ 2015), 22-25 Feb,
2015, Wellington, pp.1-8 (in press).
Heaphy, M.J., Lowe, D.J., Palmer, D.J., Jones, H.S., Gielen, G.J.H.P., Oliver, G.R., Pearce, S., 2014.
Assessing drivers of plantation forest productivity on eroded and non-eroded soils in hilly land,
eastern North Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 44: 24 (pp.1-10)
[open access] (doi: 10.1186/s40490-014-0024-5).
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Churchman, G.J., Lowe, D.J. 2014. Clay minerals in South Australian Holocene basaltic volcanogenic
soils and implications for halloysite genesis and structure. In: Gilkes, R. (editor), Proceedings of
the 23rd Biennial Australian Clay Minerals Society Conference, University of Western Australia,
Perth, 3-4 Feb, 2014, pp. 3-6.
Huang, Y-T., Lowe, D.J., Churchman, G.J., Schipper, L., Rawlence, N.J., Cooper, A. 2014. Carbon
storage and DNA adsorption in allophanic soils and paleosols. In: Hartemink, A.E.; McSweeney,
K. (eds). “Soil Carbon”. Progress in Soil Science Series, Springer, New York pp. 163-172.
Hartemink, A.E., Balks, M.R., Chen, Z-S., Drohan, P., Field, D.J., Krasilnikov, P., Lowe, D.J.,
Rabenhorst, M., van Rees, K., Schad, P., Schipper, L.A., Sonneveld, M., Walter, C. 2014. The joy
of teaching soil science. Geoderma 217-218, 1-9
Moon, V.G., Cunningham, M.J., Wyatt, J.B., Lowe, D.J., Mörz, T., Jorat, M.E. 2013. Landslides in
sensitive soils, Tauranga, New Zealand. In: Chin, T.Y. (Ed.), “Hanging by a thread – lifelines,
infrastructure, and natural disasters”. Proceedings 19th New Zealand Geotechnical Society
(NZGS) Geotechnical Symposium, Queenstown (20-23 November 2013), Vol 38, Issue 1 (GM),
pp. 537-544.
Lowe, D.J., Lanigan, K.M., Palmer, D.J. 2012. Where geology meets pedology: Late Quaternary
tephras, loess, and paleosols in the Mamaku Plateau and Lake Rerewhakaaitu areas. In: Pittari,
A. (compiler). Field Trip Guides, Geosciences 2012 Conference, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Geoscience Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication 134B, pp. 2.1−2.45.
Churchman,
G.J.;
Lowe,
D.J.
2012.
Alteration,
formation,
and
occurrence of minerals in soils. In: Huang, P.M.; Li, Y; Sumner, M.E. (eds-in-chief) “Handbook of
Soil Sciences. 2nd edition. Vol. 1: Properties and Processes”. CRC Press (Taylor & Francis), Boca
Raton, FL, pp.20.1-20.72.
McDaniel, P.A.; Lowe, D.J.; Arnalds, O.; Ping, C.-L. 2012. Andisols. In: Huang, P.M.; Li, Y; Sumner,
M.E. (eds-in-chief) “Handbook of Soil Sciences. 2nd edition. Vol. 1: Properties and Processes”.
CRC Press (Taylor & Francis), Boca Raton, FL, pp.33.29-33.48.
Lowe, D.J.; Neall, V.E., Hedley, M; Clothier, B.; Mackay, A. 2010. Guidebook for pre-conference
North Island, New Zealand ‘Volcanoes to Ocean’ field tour (27-30 July, 2010). 19th World Soils
Congress, International Union of Soil Sciences, Brisbane. Soil and Earth Sciences Occasional
Publication No. 3, Massey University, Palmerston North, 239pp. ISSN No. 1175-4966.
Lowe, D.J.; Tonkin, P.J. 2010. Unravelling upbuilding pedogenesis in tephra and loess sequences in
New Zealand using tephrochronology. In: Gilkes, R.J.; Prakongkep, N. (eds), Proceedings 19th
World Congress of Soil Science (1-6 Aug., 2010, Brisbane), Symposium 1.3.2 Geochronological
techniques and soil formation, pp. 34-37. Published at http://www.iuss.org.
Takesako, H.; Lowe, D.J.; Churchman, G.J.; Chittleborough, D. 2010. Holocene volcanic soils in the
Mt Gambier region, South Australia. In: Gilkes, R.J.; Prakongkep, N. (eds), Proceedings 19th
World Congress of Soil Science (1-6 Aug., 2010, Brisbane,), Symposium 1.3.1 Pedogenesis: ratio
and range of influence, pp. 47-50. Published at http://www.iuss.org.
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Watt, M.J.; Palmer, D.J.; Kimberley, M.O.; Höck, B.K.; Payn, T.; Lowe, D.J. 2010. Development of
models to predict Pinus radiata productivity throughout New Zealand. Canadian Journal of
Forest Research 40, 488-499.
Palmer, D.J.; Hock, B.K.; Kimberley, M.O.; Lowe, D.J.; Payn, T.W. 2009. Comparison of spatial
prediction techniques for developing Pinus radiata productivity surfaces across New Zealand.
Forest Ecology and Management 258, 2046-2055.
Inoue, Y.; Baasansuren, J.; Watanabe, M.; Kamei, H.; Lowe, D.J. 2009. Interpretation of pre-AD 472
Roman soils from physicochemical and mineralogical properties of buried tephric paleosols at
Somma Vesuviana ruin, southwest Italy. Geoderma 152, 243-251.
Palmer, D.J.; Watt, M.S.; Höck, B.K.; Lowe, D.J.; Payn, T.W. 2009. A dynamic framework for spatial
modelling Pinus radiata soil-water balance (SWatBal) across New Zealand. Forest Research
Bulletin No. 234, 1-93.
Palmer, D.J.; Höck, B.K.; Lowe, D.J.; Dunningham, A.G.; Payn, T.W. 2009. Developing national-scale
terrain attributes for New Zealand (TANZ). Forest Research Bulletin No. 232, 1-81
Lowe, D.J.; Tonkin, P.J.; Palmer, A.S.; Palmer, J. 2008. Dusty horizons [Loess] In: Graham, I.J. (chief
editor) “A Continent on the Move: New Zealand Geoscience into the 21st Century”. Geological
Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication 124, 270-273.
Lowe, D.J. (Editor) 2008. Guidebook for Pre-conference North Island Field Trip A1 ‘Ashes and
Issues’, 28-30 November, 2008. Australian and New Zealand 4th Joint Soils Conference, Massey
University, Palmerston North (1-5 Dec.). New Zealand Society of Soil Science, 1-194. ISBN 978-0473-14476-0
Lowe, D.J. (editor) 2006. Guidebook for ‘Land and Lakes’ field trip, New Zealand Society of Soil
Science Biennial Conference, Rotorua. New Zealand Society of Soil Science, Lincoln. 63pp.
Claessens, L.; Lowe, D.J.; Hayward, B.W.; Schoorl, J.M.; Veldkamp, A. 2006. Reconstructing highmagnitude/low-frequency landslide events based on soil redistribution modelling and a LateHolocene sediment record from New Zealand. Geomorphology 74, 29-49
Lowe, D.J.; Palmer, D.J. 2005. Andisols of New Zealand and Australia. Journal of Integrated Field
Science 2, 39-65.
Palmer, D.J.; Lowe, D.J.; Payn, T.W.; Höck, B.K.; McLay, C.D.A.; Kimberley, M.O. 2005. Soil and foliar
phosphorus as indicators of sustainability for Pinus radiata plantation forestry in New Zealand.
Forest Ecology and Management 220, 140-154.
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Shallow peat at Waihi Beach, North Island;,
Kaharoa tephra (erupted c. 1314 AD from
Mt Tarawera) showing prominently (from
Lowe 2011)
Ancient Maori village site (kainga) at Papamoa,
North Island, on sand dune with white Kaharoa
tephra forming the pre-village datum
Geoarchaeology and tephrochronology; science policy
Lowe, D.J., Pittari, A. 2014. An ashy septingentenarian: the Kaharoa tephra turns 700 (with notes on
its volcanological, archaeological, and historical importance). Geoscience Society of New Zealand
Newsletter 13, 35-46.
Bryan, K.R., Lowe, D.J. 2014. How the Marsden Fund has failed to achieve its potential in the ESA
panel: evidence of limitations in scope, biased outcomes, and futile applications. New Zealand
Science Review 71 (1), 3-9.
Lowe, D.J. 2008. Polynesian settlement of New Zealand and the impacts of volcanism on early
Maori society: an update. In: Lowe, D.J. (ed), Guidebook for Pre-conference North Island Field
Trip A1 ‘Ashes and Issues’, 28-30 November, 2008. Australian and New Zealand 4th Joint Soils
Conference, Massey University, Palmerston North (1-5 Dec.). New Zealand Society of Soil
Science. Pp.142-147.
Lowe, D.J.; Newnham, R.M. 2004. Role of tephra in dating Polynesian settlement and impact, New
Zealand. Past Global Changes 12 (No. 3), 5-7 + 3 pages full references at www.pagesigbp.org/products/newsletters/ref2004_3.html
Gumbley, W.; Higham, T.F.G.; Lowe, D.J. 2004. Prehistoric horticultural adaptation of soils in the
middle Waikato Basin: review and evidence from S14/201 and S14/185, Hamilton. New Zealand
Journal of Archaeology 25, 5-30.
Hogg, A.G., Higham, T.F.G., Lowe, D.J., Palmer, J.; Reimer, P.; Newnham, R.M. 2003. Wiggle-match
date for Polynesian settlement of New Zealand. Antiquity 77, 116-125.
Lowe, D.J.; Newnham, R.M.; McCraw, J.D. 2002. Volcanism and early Maori society in New Zealand.
In: R. Torrence & J. Grattan (eds) "Natural Disasters, Catastrophism and Cultural Change",
Routledge, London, pp. 126-161.
Lowe, D.J.; Newnham, R.M.; McFadgen, B.G.; Higham, T.F.G. 2000. Tephras and New Zealand
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archaeology. Journal of Archaeological Science 27, 859-870.
PDFs of some papers are available at the University of Waikato 'Research Commons' at
http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/sci_eng/
Participants in INTAV’s “Active Tephra” conference in Japan 12 May, 2010. Sakurajima volcano in
background erupted later that day. Photo: Koji Okumura.
Recognition
Honours and distinctions
David was Chair of the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Waikato, from
July, 2012, until April, 2014, when the department was merged with several others to form
the new School of Science in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of
Waikato. He is currently programme convenor, and postgraduate coordinator, for the Earth
sciences group within the school.
David has held elected office in both international and national geoscience organizations and
is the current president of the International Focus Group on Tephrochronology and Volcanism
(INTAV) within the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA). David has been
involved for more than three decades in organizing and leading conference and society
activities, thereby helping facilitate science communication for professional scientist and
students from New Zealand and overseas. In addition, David has hosted and supported
dozens of visiting academics and young scientists, including 16 long-term visitors, from the
USA, Canada, Australia, The Netherlands, Norway, England, Ireland, and Japan.
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David convened an international Inter-INQUA field conference on tephra, loess and paleosols
in New Zealand in 1994 whilst Secretary of the Commission of Tephrochronology of INQUA,
and he helped to organise the “Active Tephra” conference in Japan in 2010 for the
International Focus Group on Tephrochronology and Volcanism (INTAV) of INQUA.
He convened the annual conference of the Geological Society of New Zealand in Hamilton in
2001. David has been on the organising committees of three further Geosciences Society of
New Zealand annual conferences including most recently in November 2012 when the
conference was hosted at the University of Waikato in Hamilton.
Currently David is currently a member of the editorial panels (boards) for three journals,
Quaternary International, Journal of Quaternary Science, and Frontiers in Earth Sciences, and
he was an associate editor for Soil Science Society of America Journal for 6 years from 2006 to
2011.
David’s contributions to research and lecturing have been recognised by awards and honours
both internationally and in New Zealand.
2011
- Awarded the McKay Hammer Award by the Geoscience Society of New Zealand “for the
most meritorious contribution to New Zealand geology published in the years 2008-2010”
- Lead co-guest editor of volume 246 of set of papers "Enhancing tephrochronology (INTREPID
project): Hiroshi Machida commemorative volume" for journal Quaternary International
- Elected President, International Focus Group on Tephrochronology and Volcanism (INTAV) of
INQUA, 2011-2015.
- New Zealand delegate (Royal Society of New Zealand) to International Council, 18th
International INQUA Congress, Bern, and current New Zealand representative 2011-2015
- Co-convenor of tephrochronology symposium at 18th International INQUA Congress, BERN
- Participated in a Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) television documentary in episode
“Western Pacific Rim” for series “Geologic Journey II”
- Awarded “Citation of Excellence for Associate Editors for 2010” by Soil Science Society of
Americal Journal
2010
- Elected Fellow of Royal Society of New Zealand
- Awarded Marsden Fund funding for 3-year project on ancient DNA and paleosols in the
North Island
- Awarded Fellowship of Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science for lecture tour of
Japan in May
- “Outstanding reviewer” award for papers handled 2008-9 from Quaternary Science Reviews
2009
- Ron McDonald Memorial Lecture award, Queensland branch, Australian Society of Soil
Science
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- Leader of INTREPID project of INTAV "Enhancing tephrochronology as a global research tool"
and INTREPID II (ongoing project supported by INQUA)
- The book "A continent on the Move: New Zealand Geoscience into the 21st Century",
published in 2008 by the Geological Society of NZ, and of which David was one of 3
technical/scientific editors, was awarded "best book in environment" category at Montana
NZ Book Awards.
2008
- Appointed to a personal chair (professorship) at Waikato University 1 February
- Presented inaugural professional lecture "A date with tephra" 16 December
- Invited participant at international consortium workshop "Studying uncertainty in palaeoenvironmental reconstruction - a net" (SUPRAnet) in U.K.
- Co-guest editor of volume (vol. 178) of papers "Global Tephra Studies - John Westgate and
Andrei Sarna-Wojcicki Commemorative Volume" for journal Quaternary International
2007
- Invited plenary keynote speaker at international symposium "Quaternary Environmental
Change in Asia and the Western Pacific", Tsukuba, Japan, November.
- Invited keynote speaker in two sessions 'Recent advances in tephrochronology' (S. Davies/K.
Aoki, convenors) and 'Abrupt environmental and archaeologic changes' (J. Lowe/C. Turney,
convenors) at 17th International INQUA Congress, Cairns, Australia, 28 July- August.
- Elected Full Voting Member, International Union for Quaternary Research Commission on
Stratigraphy and Chronology (INQUA-SACCOM), 2007-2011
- Appointed Secretary, International Focus Group on Tephrochronology and Volcanism
(INTAV) of INQUA, 2007 - 2011.
- Official New Zealand delegate (Royal Society of NZ) to International Council, 17th
International INQUA Congress, Cairns.
2006
- Invited key-note speaker at international field conference on "Volcanic-ash Soils", Mt Fuji
area, Japan (March)
- Associate investigator in team (lead by Professor Rewi Newnham) awarded funding by the
Nature Environment Research Council (NERC), UK, for research on cryptotephra studies in
northern New Zealand
2005
- Invited co-author of chapters in international and national encyclopaedias ( Encyclopaedia of
Quaternary Science, Encyclopaedia of New Zealand )
- Invited speaker at international inter-INQUA tephra conference "Tephra Rush" in Dawson
City, Yukon Territory, Canada
2004
- Invited key-note speaker at the 2nd International Workshop on Andisols in Sendai, northeast
Japan
- Invited by the Vice-Chancellor to speak at the 40th Anniversary Celebration Winter Lecture
Series at University of Waikato
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2003
- Associate investigator in team (led by Dr Alan Hogg) awarded Marsden funding for
palaeoclimatic analysis and radiocarbon calibration of marine isotope stage 3 using Agathis
australis (kauri).
2002
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Awarded the N.H. Taylor Memorial Lecture Award of the New Zealand Society of Soil
Science
Awarded Fellowship of the New Zealand Society of Soil Science
2000
- Invitation Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, undertaking a lecture
tour of five universities and carrying out pedological and tephrostratigraphic field work on
Hokkaido, Honshu and Kyushu islands, Japan.
1999
- Participated in a Television New Zealand documentary on the origins and timing of
settlement of early Polynesians in New Zealand
- Associate investigator in team (led by Professor Rewi Newnham) awarded funding by the
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), U.K., for research on interhemispheric
synchrony of global climate change
1998
- Distinguished Scholar Award, Queen's University of Belfast, U.K.
1996
- Sole guest editor of volumes 34-36 "Tephra, Loess, and Paleosols - An Integration" for
journal Quaternary International
1995
- Awarded a Higher Education 'Link' Award by the British Council to facilitate joint research
with Plymouth University, England.
Earlier
- Academic Merit Award of the University of Waikato (1992)
- Visiting scientist award, CSIRO Division of Soils, Adelaide (1991-1992)
- W.A. Pullar Prize of the Geological Society of New Zealand (1986) (inaugural prize winner)
- Sir Theodore Rigg Award of the New Zealand Society of Soil Science (inaugural Waikato
University prize winner, 1982)
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Professors Lowe, Chen (National Taiwan Univ., Symbolic ancient altar depicting the soils of
Taipei) and Takesako (Meiji Univ., Japan) in China (at Taiwan Soil Museum, Taichung,
Prof Chen’s lab, 2007
Taiwan)
External Involvement
Membership of professional and learned societies
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President of International Focus Group on Tephrochronology and Volcanism (INTAV)
2011–2015; previously Secretary 2007-2011 and 1991-1995;
Co-convenor of two Waikato-Bay of Plenty regional soil science meetings, “Wai BoP
Soils”, at Waikato University (Dec 2011, 2013) on behalf of NZ Society of Soil Science
• New Zealand Quaternary representative for INQUA from 2007Fellow of the Royal
Society of New Zealand since 2010
Co-leader of North Island field trip "Volcanoes to Ocean" for 19th World Soil Congress
in Brisbane 2010.
Co-organiser of INTAV "Active Tephra" conference in Kirishima, Japan, 2010.
Co-leader of North Island field trip "Ashes and Issues" for 4th joint international soils
conference of Australian and New Zealand soil science societies in Palmerston North
2008
Co-scientific/technical editor of Geological Society of New Zealand book "A Continent
on the Move" (2008), winner of 'environment' award of Montana New Zealand Book
Awards, 2009.
Visited national soil museums in Taichung, Taiwan, and Tsukuba, Japan, 2007;
Co-leader of field trip “Land and Lakes” for biennial conference of society in Rotorua
2006; Fellow of New Zealand Society of Soil Science (FNZSSS) since 2002; N.H. Taylor
Memorial Lecturer in 2002; member of society since 1975
Member of Royal Society of New Zealand (MRSNZ) from 1994 to 2010
Member of Geological Society of New Zealand since 1975 (foundation member Waikato
Branch); on National Committee GSNZ two terms 2000-2003; convenor of annual
conference "Advances in Geosciences", Hamilton, 2001
Foundation member of Australasian Quaternary Association (AQUA) since 1979
Executive Secretary of Commission on Tephrochronology (COT) of International Union
for Quaternary Research (INQUA) 1991-1995; Convenor international inter-INQUA field
conference "Tephras, Loess, Paleosols", Hamilton, 1994
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Co-leader New Zealand field trip, 10th International Clay Conference, Adelaide, in 1993
Editorial Advisory Panel, New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics for 7 years
2004-2010
Editorial Board (Review Editor), Frontiers in Earth Sciences since 2014
Editorial Board, Quaternary International since 2005
Editorial Board, Journal of Quaternay Science since 2008
Associate Editor, Soil Science Society of America Journal (Pedology Division) for 6 years
from 2006 to 2011
North Island soils tour, World Soils Congress
July 2010
With Meiji University staff and grad students,
exchange visit to New Zealand, Nov 2012
Prof Mike Hedley explains management of
Horotiu soils, North Is. soils tour, WSC July
2010
Participants on ‘Geology meets pedology’ field trip
for Geociences Society of NZ conference, Nov 2012
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