Research Tools
I combine nitrogen and oxygen stable isotope ratio measurements with supplementary paleoclimate proxies, climate simulations and theoretical modelling to explore the mechanisms driving past ocean circulation and climate variability.
Stable isotopes for paleoenvironmental reconstruction
Simple numerical models for paleoceanography
Climate simulations for paleoclimate proxy data validation
Stable oxygen isotope ratio measurements made on planktonic foraminifera calcite shells provide information on changes to past surface ocean physical properties. Stable nitrogen isotope ratio measurements made on biomineral-bound organic matter are largely unaffected by contaminant N and diagenetic imprints, providing valuable insights into past changes to ocean biogeochemistry, including carbon and nitrogen cycling. Combining these two proxies provide a strong tool to investigate atmosphere-ocean-land interconnections through time.
Simple physics-based theoretical models can be integrated with paleoclimate proxy records (such as stable oxygen isotope measurements) to quantify the natural processes governing ocean property changes (for example, the influence of monsoon runoff on surface ocean salinity). Another aspect of this work focuses on marine gateways, where simple numerical models are developed to investigate the influence of tectonic activity on gateway adjustments, and consequent impacts on regional and global climate evolution.
Climate simulations provide insights into processes governing Earth system changes. Thus, simulations of past climates are essential to understanding the mechanisms behind paleoenvironmental transformations. Here, (paleo)climate simulations are designed and run in collaboration with climate modellers. Subsequently, proxy data are compared against simulated model results, to interpret the mechanisms behind changes observed in data. A secondary component involves the analysis of available pre-industrial/ historical and future simulation results to provide future implications through the findings from paleoclimate data-model comparisons.