TGRES · The Greenhouse Earth System

Human activity is fundamentally changing the chemical composition of the atmosphere and warming the Earth. However, the impact of these changes, especially on continental precipitation patterns and biogeochemical cycles, remains poorly understood. The study of ancient climates allows a mechanistic exploration of the Earth system and the opportunity to evaluate new generations of climate models. My proposed research will focus on three inter-related paleoclimatic themes, applied to the very warm climates of the Early Eocene, one of the most fascinating intervals in Earth history. First, I will generate new records of continental temperature using bacterial membrane lipid based proxies that have been recalibrated and critically evaluated for wetland environments. Second, I will assess how the global hydrological cycle responded to both transient and long-term warmth, including evaluating precipitation change and its impact on erosional and weathering regimes