Reconstructing Oceanic Heat Content in Past Climate

The ocean is absorbing ~90% of the heat created by human-caused climate change though the long-term impacts and the ability of the ocean to accommodate this heat is poorly constrained. This project aims to reconstruct oceanic heat content over the last twenty million years to help understand the ocean’s capacity to store heat. 

Using geochemical techniques including stable isotopes and minor and trace elements, this project will use microfossils found in marine sediment to reconstruct surface and subsurface ocean conditions.

Potential research direction includes focusing on specific data-climate model comparison targets and/or understanding long-term climate evolution.  Improving our understanding of the ocean’s ability to store heat has broad implications and impact on storm strength, sea ice and ice sheet stability and the ocean’s ability to mitigate future warming.