Stefan Grab

Position: Associate Professor
Qualification:Phd
Department: Geography
Phone: 27 11 717 6512
Email:stefan.grab@wits.ac.za
Room:BPB 105

PhD Higher Diploma in Education (Kwa-Zulu Natal)

Research Interests

Students

Julian Ogondo (PhD - Quaternary Environmental Change)

Miopone Letsie (PhD - Place vulnerability in Lesotho)

Robert Kruger (MSc - Fluvial history of the Limpopo)

Jonathan Linde (MSc - Remote sensing of fine-scale snow cover change in Lesotho)

Puleng Morake (MSc - Historical faunal changes in Lesotho)

Kirsten Robinson (MSc - Remote sensing of fire patterns and impacts on tussock grass, Lesotho)

Research thrusts

Historical (last few 100 years) climate and environmental change reconstructions using various proxy approaches.

Quantification of recent (last century) climate change using instrumental records.

Quaternary climate/environmental reconstructions using geomorphological and sedimentary records.

Process geomorphology and long-term monitoring: rock weathering, periglacial processes.

Mountain environments.

Geomorphology and GIS (Remote sensing and aerial photography: fluvial change analysis, slope geomorphology, soil erosion).

Sedimentology and geomorphology within archaeological contexts.

Collaboration with

University of Madrid, Spain

Queen Mary University of London, UK

Oxford University, UK

Brighton University, UK

Stockholm University, Sweden

Mondlane University, Mozambique

Publications

* = PDF available on request
Le Baron, J.C., Kuman, K. & Grab , S.W. (submitted). The landscape distribution of Stone Age artefacts on the Hackthorne Plateau, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology .

Grab , S.W. (in press). Alpine turf exfoliation pans in Lesotho, southern Africa: climate-process- morphological linkages. Geomorphology.

Nash, D.J. & Grab , S.W. (in press). ?A sky of brass and burning winds?: Documentary evidence of rainfall variability in the kingdom of Lesotho, southern Africa, 1824-1900. Climatic Change.

Grab , S. (2009). Drakensberg escarpment: Mountains of Geomorphic Diversity. In: Mignon, P. (Editor), Landscapes of the World, Springer (in press).

^* Grab , S. W. & Nash, D.J. (2009). Documentary evidence of climate variability during cold seasons in Lesotho, southern Africa, 1833-1900. Climate Dynamics DOI 10.1007/s00382-009-0598-4.

^* Mills, S.C., Grab , S.W. & Carr, S.J. (2009). Recognition and palaeoclimatic Implications of Late Quaternary niche glaciation in eastern Lesotho. Journal of Quaternary Science,DOI:10.1002/jps.1247.

^* Grab , S.W., Mulder, N., & Mills, S.C. (2009). Spatial associations between longest-lasting winter snow cover and cold region landforms in the high Drakensberg, southern Africa. Geografiska Annaler, 91A, 83-97.

^* Mills, S.C., Grab , S.W. & Carr, S.J. (2009). Late Quaternary moraines along the Sekhokong range, eastern Lesotho: contrasting the geomorphic history of north- and south-facing slopes. Geografiska Annaler, 91A, 121-140.

Mulder, N. & Grab , S. (2009). Contemporary spatio-temporal patterns of snow cover over the Drakensberg. South African Journal of Science (June/July).

Grab , S. (2009). Climate and Cryospheric Change within the Trans-African Alpine Zone: Scientific advances and future prospects. In: Hirzel, G. (Editor), Mountains as Early Indicators of Climate Change. United Nations Environment Programme, Vienna, p63-73.

^* Grab , S. & Kalibbala, F. (2008). ?Anti-erosion? logs across paths in the southern uKhahlamba- Drakensberg Transfrontier Park , South Africa : cure or curse? Catena, 73, 134-145.

^* Grab , S., Dickinson, K.J.M., Mark, A.F. & Maegli, T. (2008). Ploughing boulders on the Rock and Pillar Range, south-central New Zealand: their geomorphology and alpine plant associations. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand , 38, 51-70.

Linde, J. & Grab , S. (2008). Regional contrasts in mountain tourism development in the Drakensberg, South Africa . Mountain Research & Development, 28, 65-71.

Grab , S. (2007). Landforms of the High Drakensberg, southern Africa: Indicators of climate change. Geography Review  , 20, 8-12.

Grab , S. (2007). Near-surface rockwall temperatures in high Drakensberg basalt: spatio-temporal differences and possible implications for weathering. Zeitschrift f?eomorphologie, 51, 103-113.

Grab , S. (2007). Rock surface temperatures of basalt in the Drakensberg alpine environment, Lesotho . Geografiska Annaler, 89A, 185-193.

McKechnie, C., Grab , S. & Drennan, G. (2007). Lichen-induced mechanical weathering of quartzitic sandstone at K psehoop, Mpumalanga. South African Journal of Science, 103, 117-120.

^* Hinze, A., Pillay, N. & Grab , S. (2006). The burrow system of the African ice rat Otomys sloggetti robertsi . Mammalian Biology, 71, 356-365.

^* Mills, S. & Grab , S. (2005). Debris ridges along the southern Drakensberg escarpment as evidence for Quaternary glaciation in southern Africa. Quaternary International , 129, 61-73.

Bamford, M. & Grab , S. (2005). Highlights of Quaternary research in southern Africa and proceeding forwards. Quaternary International, 129, 1-3.

Grab , S . (2005). Aspects of the geomorphology, genesis and environmental significance of earth hummocks (th?, pounus): miniature cryogenic mounds. Progress in Physical Geography, 29, 139- 155.

Grab , S. (2005). Earth hummocks (thufur): new insights to their thermal characteristics and development in eastern Lesotho, southern Africa. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 30, 541- 555.

Grab , S ., Van Zyl, C. & Mulder, N. (2005). Controls on basalt terrace formation in the eastern Lesotho highlands. Geomorphology , 67, 473-485.

Grab , S ., Scott, L., Rossouw, L. & Meyer, S. (2005). Holocene palaeoenvironments inferred from a sedimentary sequence in the Tsoaing River Basin, western Lesotho. Catena, 61, 49-62.

Grab , S . and Deschamps, C. (2004). Geomorphological and geoecological controls and processes following gully development in alpine mires, Lesotho. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research, 36, 49-58.

Grab , S .; Gatebe, C.K. & Kinyua, A.M. (2004). Ground thermal profiles from Mount Kenya. Geografiska Annaler , 86A, 131-141.

Grab , S. (2004). Thermal regime through a sorted circle and stone-banked lobe, Drakensberg, southern Africa. Zeitschrift f?eomorphologie, 48, 501-518.

Grab , S. (2004). Reply to the comments by Sumner on ?Characteristics and palaeoenvironmental significance of relict sorted patterned ground, Drakensberg plateau, southern Africa. Quaternary Science Reviews , 23, 1203-1204.

Grab , S. (2004). Needle ice. In Goudie, A. (Editor), Encyclopaedia of Geomorphology, Routledge, p709.

Grab , S. (2002). Turf exfoliation in the high Drakensberg, southern Africa. Geografiska Annaler, 84A, 39-50.

Grab , S. (2002). Characteristics and palaeoenvironmental significance of relict sorted patterned ground, Drakensberg Plateau, southern Africa. Quaternary Science Reviews, 21, 1729-1744.

Grab , S. (2002). Periglacial phenomena in Ethiopia: a review. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes , 13, 71-76.

Grab , S. (2002). A note on needle-ice mound formation in the high Drakensberg, southern Africa. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes , 13, 315-318.

Mulder, N. & Grab , S. (2002). Remote sensing for snow cover analysis along the Drakensberg escarpment. South African Journal of Science, 98, 213-217.

N?r, M. & Grab , S. (2002). Land degradation and soil erosion in the eastern highlands of Lesotho, southern Africa. Die Erde, 133, 291-311.

Grab , S. & N?r, M. (2001) Towards an integrated research approach for the Drakensberg and Lesotho mountain environments: a case study from the Sani plateau region. The South African Geographical Journal., 83, 64-68.

Grab , S. (2001). Needle ice observations from the high Drakensberg, Lesotho. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes , 12, 227-231.

Grab , S. (2000). Periglacial phenomena. In: Partridge, T.C. and Maud, R.R. (Editors),The Cenozoic of Southern Africa . Oxford University press, Oxford, p207-217.

Grab , S. W. (2000) Stone-banked lobes and environmental implications, High Drakensberg, southern Africa . Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, 11, 177-187.

Grab , S. & Simpson, A. (2000). Climatic and environmental impacts of cold fronts over KwaZulu- Natal and the adjacent interior of southern Africa. South African Journal of Science, 96, 602-608.

Grab , S. & Morris C. (1999). Soil and water resource issues of the eastern alpine belt wetlands in Lesotho . In: Hurni, H. and Ramamonjisoa, J. (Editors), African Mountain Development in a Changing World. African Mountains Association, African Highlands Initiative, and United Nations University, Antananarivo, p 207 - 219.

Grab , S.W. (1999). Block and debris deposits in the high Drakensberg, Lesotho, Southern Africa: implications for high altitude slope processes. Geografiska Annaler, 81A, 1-16.

Grab , S.W. (1999). A pilot study on needle ice induced stream-bank erosion in the Mashai Valley, Lesotho Highlands. The South African Geographical Journal, 81, 126-134.

Grab , S.W. (1998). Non-sorted patterned ground in the high Drakensberg: some new data. The Geographical Journal , 164, 19-31.

Grab , S.W. (1998). Africa?s Rooftop: Altitudinal zonation on Kilimanjaro. Geography Review, 12, 38- 41.

Grab , S.W. (1998). Periglacial Research in Africa: Past, Present and Future. Progress in Physical Geography , 22, 375-384.

Morris, C. & Grab , S. (1997). A Threatened Resource: Lesotho?s alpine wetlands, unique in many ways, are facing a complexity of threats. African Wildlife, 51, 14-16.

Grab , S.W. (1997). Annually re-forming miniature sorted patterned ground in the high Drakensberg, Lesotho, southern Africa. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 22, 733-745.

Grab , S. W. (1997). Analysis and characteristics of high altitude air temperature data from northern Lesotho : implications for cryogeomorphic occurrences. Geo?LUS, 4, 109-118.

Grab , S.W. (1997). Thermal regime for a thufa and its adjoining depression, Mashai Valley, Lesotho. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes , 8, 437-445.

Grab , S. W. (1996). Debris deposits in the high Drakensberg, southern Africa :possible indicators for plateau, niche and cirque glaciation. Zeitschrift f?eomorphologie, Suppl. Bd. 103, 389-403.

Grab , S.W. & Hall, K. (1996). North-facing hollows in the Lesotho / Drakensberg Mountains hypothetical palaeoenvironmental reconstructions? South African Journal of Science, 92, 183-184.

Grab , S.W. (1996). A note on the morphology of miniature sorted stripes at Mafadi Summit, High Drakensberg. The South African Geographical Journal, 78, 59-63.

Grab , S.W. (1996). The occurrence of a Holocene rock glacier on Mount Kenya : Some observations and comments. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, 7, 381-389.

Back?, I & Grab , S. (1995). Mires in Lesotho. In: Moen, A. (Ed.) Gunneria, 70, 241-250.

Grab , S. W. (1994). Thufur in the Mohlesi valley, Lesotho, southern Africa. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, 5, 111-118.