School of Earth Sciences

Hydrographic changes through the Mid

Pleistocene Transition (MPT)

Supervisors: Mark Siddall and Bärbel Hönisch (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, NY)

The glacial cycles remain the predominant puzzle in climate change. What drove the quasi 100 kyr variability in the earth’s climate that caused the growth of huge ice sheets across much of the surface? A clue to this problem may be in the transition from ~40 kyr to ~100 kyr variability around 700 kyr ago known as the Mid Pleistocene Transition or MPT. Something changed at that time and that something must be behind the glacial cycles…

This PhD will consider the deep-ocean temperature and hydrographic changes in the deep ocean over the MPT using the benthic foraminiferal oxygen isotope record. This record includes information regarding both temperature and ice volume, but it can be unraveled using data constraints on ice volume and temperature. Early clues indicate that changes in the deep ocean might be fundamental in limiting the latitudinal transport of heat in the earth system and therefore be a fundamental driver behind the glacial cycles (Siddall et al 2010).

The PhD student will gain skills in analysing diverse data sets, interpreting the paleo record and much sought-after skills in the statistical interpretation of a variety of different types of instrumental and ‘proxy’ data. Alongside this training, it is anticipated that this PhD project will result in a series of innovative publications thus creating an ideal start to the candidate’s research career.

Siddall M., Hönisch B., Waelbroeck C., Huybers P., 2010: Changes in deep Pacific temperature during the mid-Pleistocene transition and Quaternary, Quaternary Science Reviews, 29(1-2), 170-182