Tom Paradise

I have been a professor of physical geography and environmental studies at the University of Hawaii at Hilo since 1993. I have a varied background in earth sciences (geomorphology, geology/mining) climatology, cartography, and architecture. This unique combination of training and experience has guided my work towards the study of landform change and architectural deterioration due to environmental influences like climate, pollution, and human use. My research has brought me to the Mediterranean and Middle East, where my expertise has been requested by national agencies in Italy, Egypt, and Jordan, in addition to UNESCO and the U.S. State Department (USIA, CIES). I was recently awarded a Fulbright research award to continue my research on architectural deterioration in Petra, Jordan from 1998-2000.

Reared in San Francisco's North Beach and Telegraph Hill (the City's big Italian neighborhood), I attended the Mackay School of Mines in Nevada (BS), and both Georgia (MS) and Arizona (PhD) State Universities where I studied earth sciences, climatology, cartography, and architecture.

My teaching schedule at UHH includes geomorphology, environmental studies, cartography and GIS, natural hazard studies, field mapping and research methods. I am also the Chief Cartographer of the newly released ATLAS OF HAWAII. Released in 1998, the third edition of the ever-popular state atlas includes new chapters on the environment, natural hazards, and human services, all in a new large upright format (10" by 12") with new satellite photographs and computer-generated maps and graphics.

I attended the University of Nevada at Reno, Mackay School of Mines for a BS in geological sciences (1980), where I was fortunate to have pursued interests in the earth sciences (paleontology, ore deposits, geomorphology, stratigraphy & sedimentology) and art/architecture (classical history, art and design). I then studied gemology and gem materials at the Gemmological Institute of Great Britain (FGA-London) and the Gemological institute of America (GG-Los Angeles) to obtain degrees from both institutes. After a stint as a gem appraiser with offices in SF, LA and Atlanta and numerous graduate classes across the US, I received a masters in Physical Geography from Georgia State University in Atlanta under the extraordinary guidance of Frank Magilligan (a geomorphologist now at Dartmouth) and Zhi-Yong Yin (the hydrologist at GSU). My thesis investigated the distribution of weathering pits or gnammas on Stone Mountain, Georgia -- a spectacular granite dome near Atlanta. I was then awarded a three-year assistantship at Arizona State University in Tempe to pursue a Ph.D. in physical geography. Located in one of America's most beautiful places, the department was exciting, insprirational and well-guided. My dissertation research was conducted in Petra, Jordan and investigated the environmental variables responsible for the decay of Petra's sandstone architecture. Focussing on the huge Roman Theater of Petra (that probably seated more than 10,000 persons two thousand years ago), a number of questions were answered while more questions arose, which leads me to continue my research in rock weathering studies in arid regions today. I am fortunate to have a research interest that is exciting, useful, fun and in an exotic place!

My research has been or is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Information Agency (USIA), Council for the International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) and the University of Hawaii Research Council (UH-ORA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

I was recently given the Regents' Award for Excellence in Teaching at the University of Hawaii, in addition to being named one of the University of Hawaii's Ninety Fabulous Faculty, in honor of the University's Ninetieth Anniversary. We recently completed the new ATLAS of HAWAI'I, a completely revamped version of the University of Hawaii Press best-seller. The hardback and softcover books each contain more than 300 pages with 300 photographs and 300 maps and diagrams. Critics have called the ATLAS OF HAWAI'I, "beautiful, informative and fascinating -- the only book on Hawaii that you will ever need!".

"At last, a new Hawaii atlas! Nearly every page has an easy-to-understand informational graphic.
It is both art and science and gives insight into the unknowable." Honolulu Star-Bulletin

"If you want to gain some in-depth knowledge on almost every aspect of Hawaii -
this is probably the book of the decade. It's fantastic!" Hawaii Books Online

The new ATLAS OF HAWAII can be ordered in hardback or softcover through Hawaii Books Online at www.hawaiibooks.com

Introduction to the Natural Environment (GEOG-101)
Introduction to the Planet Earth (GEOG-114, GEOL-114)
Research Methods (GEOG-201)
Natural Hazards: assessment, mitigation & policy (GEOG-319)
Geomorphology (GEOG-320, GEOL-342)
Computer Cartography (GEOG-375)
Physical Cartography & Cartometrics (GEOG-390, ENGIN-390)
Directed Readings & Seminars: geomorphology, hazards, production cartography (GEOG-399)
Advanced Cartographic Techniques and Geographic Information Systems-GIS (GEOG-480)
Coastal Geomorphology (GEOG-494, GEOL-494)
Advanced Studies and Senior Theses in Geomorphology (GEOG-499)

We have a strong Environmental Studies program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo where all students graduate with a good understanding and background in the physical and cultural environment, field and research methods, computer cartography and geographic information systems (GIS), urban and rural planning, natural and cultural resources management, and regional studies (tropical and Pacific Basin).

CURRENT RESEARCH in the near east
the beautiful banded sandstones of Petra

When I am not teaching in Hawaii, I work mostly in Petra, Jordan a huge ruined city carved out of the beautiful red sandstone of Southern Jordan. It was constructed and hewn about two thousand years ago by the Nabataeans and later the Romans. This ruined City contains more than 500 spectacular tombs and structures and was unknown to the West until the 19th Century when first described to the Western world in the writings of Jacob Burckhardt - a notable Swiss explorer.

Recently, since the Valley Of Petra was used in the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Israel and Jordan opened their borders, tourism has increased dramatically from a few thousand each year to hundreds of thousands. Israeli visitors now outnumber all other tourist groups. Because the increased hordes climb, touch and collect while visiting, in some areas Petra's magnificent architecture has decayed more in the last six years than in the previous two thousand! So, I have been studying the impacts of nature and tourists on this famous valley. In addition, a team of German conservators are working in the Valley to conserve the architecture from further accelerated weathering. By carefully measuring deterioration features across the elaborately carved façades and analyzing climatic, lithologic, and biotic influences, I am working to estimate the rates of surface recession and rank these influences affecting rock decay.

When the Roman Empire expanded into Middle East during the first and second centuries (AD), huge cities were built with monumental arches, bathhouses, temples, citadels and fora. Like Petra, other classical cities like Byblos in Lebanon were added onto or built atop by the Romans, so I am expanding my research into these other areas to use classical architecture of the same age, of differing rock, and in differing climates to expand the important results from Petra across the Near East. I plan to expand my research to Lebanon, through Jordan and into the Sinai and eastern Egypt.

My research has been published in numerous earth science and architectural conservation publications including Journal of Physical Geography, American Journal of Archaeology, Conservation and Geografiska Annaler. I have also written a number of book chapters on the region including 'The Environment of Petra', in the upcoming book by Professor M. Joukowsky The Great Southern Temple of Petra published by Brown University.

Paradise, T. R. (1998) "Limestone Variability and Weathering, Great Temple of Amman" in Physical Geography 19

Paradise, T. R. (1998) "The Environment of Petra" chapter in The Great Southern Temple of Petra (editor M. Joukowsky). Brown University Press: Providence

Paradise, T. R. (1997) "Limestone Weathering Analysis, Great Temple of Amman, Jordan". in American Journal of Archaeology 101

Paradise, T. R. (1997) "Sandstone Weathering from Lichen Overgrowth, Red Mountain, Arizona" in Geografiska Annaler (Stockholm, Sweden) 79(3)

Paradise, T. R. (1997) "Deterioration of Petra's Tomb Façades" prepared for the American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR) ACOR Press: Amman, Jordan

Paradise, T. R. (1996) "Natural Hazards in the Hawaiian Islands" in The Atlas of Hawaii (editors Sonia & Jim Juvik). University of Hawaii Press: Honolulu

Paradise, T. R. (1995) "Sandstone Weathering Thresholds in Petra, Jordan" in Physical Geography 16

Paradise, T. R. (1995) "Deterioration and Weathering of the Roman Theater, Petra, Jordan" in American Journal of Archaeology 99

Paradise, T. R. (1994) "Limestone Weathering Analysis" in Roman Architecture: The Great Temple of Amman (editor C. Kanellopoulos). ACOR: Amman, Jordan.

Paradise, T. R. (1994) "Weathering of the Roman Theater in Petra, Jordan" in American Journal of Archaeology 98

Paradise, T. R. and Z.Y. Yin. (1993) "Weathering Pit Characteristics and Topography, Stone Mountain, Georgia" in Physical Geography 14

These photographs represents some of the famous sites in West Hawaii on the Big Island, all within one hour of Hilo. This is a landscape of scale, both grand and intimate -- waterfalls from tropical rains, rainforests filled with life, blacksand beaches borne of volcanoes, and great mountains capped with telescopes, snow and cinder cones! A university in this environment is a rare jewel!

These photographs give you an idea of the beauty and intensity of Jordan and Lebanon's landscape. While visiting in the 19th century, an Italian chef noted the changing, vibrant colors of Petra by saying it was 'a world where everything is made of chocolate, ham, curry powder and chicken'. You cannot visit these places without taking a bit back in your soul.


Akaka Falls on The Hamakua Coast	Hawaii's Waipio Valley, majestic and mystical

a bubbling lava skylight, Volcanoes Nat'l Park	Hilo's Rainbow Falls or Waianuenue


the immensity of Jordan's Wadi Ram	the Outer Siq at the Khazneh al-Faroun

the Khazneh al-Faroun or the Treasury	the location of Petra, Jordan and the Near East


Ad-Deir - note the man in the doorway!	steps to Petra's High Place of Sacrifice

me and Hussein, a bedouin friend in Petra	the great six columns of Baalbek, Lebanon