Research
Climate change: Past, present and future
My CV ▸
Today, I apply the tools of stable isotope geochemistry to examine questions in two areas: 1) Paleoclimate and paleoaltimetry, and 2) Interactions between aerosols and precipitation.
I produce and interpret records of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon isotopes in clay and carbonate minerals to reconstruct the climate and elevation histories of mountain belts.
Following my appointment at Santa Clara University, I developed the capability to measure δD, δ18O and (theoretically) δ17O in liquid waters in the Stable Isotope Laboratory. This lab forms the backbone of my research on modern waters. These studies fall into three areas: 1) Modern precipitation and water vapor isotopes to evaluate rainout and post-condensation processes in storms, 2) Hydrograph separation analysis of streams in the Russian River (CA) watershed and Zambales catchments (Philippines), and 3) Comparing modern water isotopes to speleothem records in Santa Cruz, CA.
My journey to my current field really begins at Albemarle High School, in Charlottesville, VA, when I took earth science and chemistry during my sophomore year. It seemed like each course was constantly referring to the other! I continued with a year-long independent study in geology with Mr. Don Foss, a life changing mentor.
At Stanford, I jumped right into the geosciences curriculum. My first research experiences were with Elizabeth Miller and Anne Egger, looking at the structure and tectonics of the Warner Range and Surprise Valley, CA/NV. I loved the scale of the research, but I felt structure was somehow too amorphous. The following year, I worked on volcanology of the Yellowstone hotspot. I absolutely love igneous geochemistry, but had trouble connecting my work to environmental problems of the future. Then, I joined Steve Davis in Page Chamberlain‘s terrestrial paleoclimate lab. Stable isotope paleoclimatology allowed me to think at the biggest scales, use semi-quantitative methods, and connect my work to anthropogenic climate change. After graduating with a B.S. in Geological and Environmental Sciences, I began my PhD in Environmental Earth System Science, in which I produced and interpreted Cenozoic terrestrial paleoclimate records from western North America and Central Asia.
Late Cretaceous and early Cenozoic stratigraphy, western Mongolia.
Me, Jeremy-Caves Rugenstein and Matt Winnick in Fish Lake Valley, CA/NV.
Bromine pentaflouride laser line coupled with a MAT-252 mass spectrometer, Stanford Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry Laboratory
Preparing to sample precipitation during an atmospheric river event, Santa Cruz, CA.
The LGR TWIA-45EP in the Santa Clara University Stable Isotope Laboratory
Precipitation sampling, Bodega Bay, CA.
My advisee Sean Reilly, now a Rhodes Scholar, and Dr. Andrew Martin (Portland State) sampling aerosols and water vapor isotopes, Bodega Bay, CA.
Collecting several years of anthropogenic dust from a crevasse, c. 20,000 ft, Lobuche East, Everest region, Nepal.