High-resolution geochemistry of environmental records
What can trace amounts of elements and isotopes in organic and inorganic materials tell us about processes and environmental conditions?
What can that tell us about our present environment and future climate?
My current research focuses on optimising the use of laser ablation mass spectrometry methods to measure geochemical signals lying in the carbonate shells and skeletons of marine organisms, particularly reef-building corals.
These proxies record environmental conditions at the time of growth which can be used to reconstruct changes over time. A particularly relevant signal is sea surface temperatures: with long coral records, these can be traced back beyond the instrumental record, providing important context for understanding current and future climate change.
I have also used the geochemical signals preserved in sand grains as a way of tracking the waxing and waning of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. By fingerprinting particular populations of sand grains and linking them to sources of erosion under the ice sheet using isotope geochemistry and geochronology, marine sediments comprising sand which has been transported offshore by icebergs can be used to understand how the ice sheet has responded to past climate change.
Antarctic expedition
The highlight of my scientific adventures so far was sailing as a micropalaeontologist on a marine geology expedition on the German research icebreaker Polarstern. Read a series of letters I wrote documenting the two months I spent on the East Antarctic coast here.
Photo shows me engaged in the glamorous job of "deck monkey", clearing mud off the deck (though with a nice view).
Teaching & outreach
I've helped deliver practical sessions covering palaeoceanography, ocean biogeochemistry, geological mapping, statistics, spectral analysis, R and MATLAB, and field courses (my favourite) on the Jurassic Coast and in Pembrokeshire.
I've also talked about ocean temperature at the Southampton Science and Engineering Festival, and given a talk on my Antarctic research at the Pint of Science festival in Southampton.