Research Projects:

The Paleocene - Eocence - Thermal Maximum (PETM):Of particular interest for evaluating our theoretical understanding of the complex processes that govern the carbon cycle and for testing the sensitivity of coupled climate/biogeochemical models to extreme forcing, is a transient global warming event characterized by a carbon cycle perturbation at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary (55 Mya), referred to as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). This warming event is regarded as a suitable analog for future climate change and uptake of carbon in the ocean.

Future Climate Change Simulations: The potential for two-way interactions and feedbacks between the carbon cycle and the climate system comes from the radiative properties of CO2, other greenhouse gases, and other radiative forcings in the atmosphere. Increases of atmospheric CO2 through anthropogenic emissions from fossil fuel burning, for example, may lead to significant changes in climate including changes in the ocean circulation, and magnitude and extent of continental ice sheets. In this study a comprehensive Earth System Model from the Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology has been applied to investigate these interactions.

Climate Change at Permian-Triassic Boundary:The causes and dynamics of the Permian-Triassic mass extinction remain uncertain. Gradual deterioration of marine and terrestrial environments during the Late Permian, also reflected in changes in seawater chemistry and atmospheric composition, and persistence of inhospitable conditions through the Early Triassic suggest that long-term factors such as changing climate were important. In this NSF-funded project we explore causes favorable for the widespread extinction events.

Abrupt climate change during the last deglaciation: Webpage is coming soon !!!!

Urban climate of Dallas-Fort Worth: Webpage is coming soon !!!!

Completed projects:

Interannual fluctuations of the marine carbon cycle (NOCES and NASA-Carbon Cycle)

Assimilation of chlorophyll and nutrients into a 3-D marine carbon cycle model (NASA-Carbon Cycle)

Simulation of particle fluxes in the ocean (NASA-Carbon Cycle)

Thickness, extent and basal conditions of the Scandinavian ice sheet around the last glacial maximum

The ocean structure at the last glacial maximum

Remote sensing of the Indian Ocean Tsunami

WUN Online Marine Biogeochemical Models

Data:

SEAWIFS CHL-A