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Faculty Member

Dr. Nathan Toke

Biography

I am an Earth scientist that is interested in fundamental and applied questions related to active tectonics, geomorphology, and interactions between tectonics, humans, and landscapes. Active tectonics and geologic hazards are exciting research areas. Equally exciting to me is realizing that today we are living in what could be thought of as the Anthropocene. We humans are now moving earth materials at rates comparable to that of global tectonics! Our imprint on the active landscape of Earth is expanding and we need to make smart decisions leading to societal sustainability. Which is one of many reasons why we need more students to be broadly trained as Earth Scientists (geologists, environmental scientists, geographers, etc.). I am interested in mentoring students on projects related to geomorphology, tectonics, geologic hazards, GIS/remote sensing, and urban geography. Please stop by my office or make an appointment to talk to me more about these issues.

Education

PhD, Arizona State University , 2011

Major: Geological Sciences

MS, Arizona State University, 2005

Major: Geological Sciences

BS, University of Vermont, 2003

Major: Geology

Teaching

GEOG 3650

Advanced Geographic Information Systems, Spring 2025

GEO 1010

Introduction to Geology PP, Spring 2025

GEO 1010

Introduction to Geology PP, Spring 2025

Presentations

Toke, Nathan , Farnworth, Parker , Richards, Veronica , 2026 International Conference on Geomorphology , "Examining Normalized Channel Steepness within the Basin and Range, Colorado Plateau and Transition Zone Physiographic Provinces of Utah, USA.", IAG, Christchurch, New Zealand. (February 3, 2026)
Toke, Nathan , Farnworth, Parker , Richards, Veronica , Bunds, Michael , Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, Geological Society of America, "Exploring what can be learned from Normalized Channel Steepness Across the State of Utah_ Faulting, Uplift, Rock Type, and Plateau Incision.", Geological Society of America, Provo, UT. (May 20, 2025)
Toke, Nathan , Smith, Kristen , Campbell, David , Johnson, David , Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, Geological Society of America, "Paleoseismic Characterization of Active Horst and Graben Faults Adjacent to West Mountain in Utah Valley on the Hanging Wall Side of the Provo Segment of the Wasatch Fault", Geological Society of America, Provo, Utah . (May 20, 2025)
Toke, Nathan , Farnworth, Parker , Richards, Veronica , Utah Quaternary Fault Parameters Working Group Meeting, "Examining what can be learned about active faulting in Utah through geomorphic metrics including normalized channel steepness (Ksn) and mountain front sinuosity (Smf)", Utah Geological Survey, Salt Lake City, Utah. (February 10, 2025)
Toke, Nathan , Farnworth, Parker , Richards, Veronica , Johnson, David , Smith, Kristen , Bunds, Michael , Annual Meeting of the American Geophysical Union , "Examining the Spatial Variability of Uplift Along the Wasatch Fault and Adjacent Basin and Range Normal Faults Using Normalized Channel Steepness (Ksn) and Mountain Front Sinuosity (MFS)", American Geophysical Union (AGU), Washington D.C., USA. (December 10, 2024)
Toke, Nathan , Johnson, David , Utah Quaternary Fault Parameters Working Group Meeting, "The Most Recent Rupture of the Thousand Lake Fault (Post LGM) – Examining Rupture Length and Average Displacement using Southern Utah Lidar Data", Utah DNR, Salt Lake City . (February 5, 2024)

Scholarly/Creative Works

Toke, Nathan , "Advanced GIS Applied to the Earth Sciences " . OER - Self Published .
Toke, Nathan , Bunds, Michael , Rittenour, Tammy , Ward, Sally , Richards, Rachel , Whitney, Brigham , Tolman, Alex , Memmott, Charles , "Surface Rupturing Earthquakes along the Northern Topliff Hill Fault Since ~52 ka, Utah, USA." . Seismica.
Toke, Nathan , Johnson, David , Bailey, Christopher M., Marchetti, David W., Rittenour, Tammy , Biek, Robert F. , Bartram, Hanna C., Ward, Sally , Richards, Rachel , Forster, Clayton , "Variable Geologic Slip Rate and the Most Recent Earthquakes along the Thousand Lake Fault, Eastern Basin and Range, Utah, USA" . Geosphere.
Toke, Nathan , Munsey, David , "Imaging Subsidence Rates and Structures within Cedar and Parowan Valleys, Utah, USA from Lidar Differencing." . Remote Sensing.
Ferrarini, Federica , Toke, Nathan , Carafa, Michele , Arrowsmith, J Ramon , (2021) "Editorial: Unveiling Active Faults_ Multiscale Perspectives and Alternative Approaches Addressing the Seismic Hazard Challenge" (vol. 9). Frontiers in Earth Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.738164
Toke, Nathan , Phillips, J , Langevin, C , Kleber, E , DuRoss, C B, Hiscock, A I, McDonald, G , Wells, J D, Carlson, J K, Horns, Daniel , (2021) "The Traverse Ridge Paleoseismic Site and Ruputres Crossing the Boundary Between the Provo and Salt Lake City Segments of the Wasatch Fault Zone – Utah, USA" (vol. 9). Frontiers in Earth Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.607018

Awards

Sabbatical

Utah Valley University - July, 2018

I was awarded a sabbatical for Earthquake Geology research and collaborations for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Dean's Award for Excellence in Scholarship

UVU College of Science and Health - April, 2015

2014-2015 Dean's Award for Scholarship in the College of Science and Health at UVU.

NSF GK-12 Fellowship

Arizona State University and the National Science Foundation - July, 2010

Graduate Teaching Fellowship for working with K-12 STEM Education, sponsored by the NSF and ASU's Engineering Program

GSA Diversity Scholarship

Geological Society of America - October, 2009

A graduate scholarship for research for scientists from diverse backgrounds awarded by the Geological Society of America.

Troy L. Pewe Award

School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University

Award for graduate scholarship in Quaternary Geology from the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University.

NSF IGERT Fellowship in Urban Ecology

Arizona State University and the National Science Foundation - August, 2006

Integrative Graduated Education and Research Training Fellowship providing full tuition and fees and a stipend for four years of my PhD 2006-2011.