Description
Among the important features of the Albuquerque area are the picturesque landscapes of the Sandia Mountains that dominate the eastern skyline. The Elena Gallegos Open Space, located at the foot of the Sandias, offers visitors a network of hikes and opportunities to view diverse landforms, such as: bajadas and their associated alluvial fans, pediments, steep spectacular cliffs, and “corestone” topography. Les McFadden focuses on the processes such as tectonic uplift, climate change, erosion, weathering and soil formation responsible for the origins and evolution and important relationships between vegetation communities and landforms.
Les McFadden is a professor emeritus in the UNM Earth & Planetary Sciences (E&PS) Department. He received an MS & PhD in geosciences from the University of Arizona and a BA in anthropology from Stanford. He served as chair of the E&PS Department. He has received the Kirk Bryan Award for Excellence.