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Paleoceanography, marine geochemistry, and climate change
Kelly Gibson kellygi (at) usca (dot) edu twitter: @marinemudgirl Assistant Professor: USC Aiken, Department of Biology/Geology Adjunct Assistant Professor: USC Columbia, School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment Welcome!
As a paleoclimatologist, I'm interested in using the geochemistry and composition of marine sediments and microfossils to reconstruct changes in climate and the marine environment throughout time. I focus on planktonic and benthic foraminifera, single-celled, heterotrophic organisms that secrete shells of calcium carbonate while they are living. The faunal assemblages and shell geochemistry of foraminifera unlock the mysteries of past ocean climate change. In particular, I'm interested in rapid, abrupt climate changes (those that happen in several decades or less), and studying the marine realm during periods of major global climate system reorganization, such as the Mid-Pleistocene Transition and The Present! My research and field work have taken me to the Tropical North Atlantic (Caribbean), Eastern Tropical North Pacific, and Indo-Pacific Oceans, and of course, our coastal "backyard" in South Carolina! If you're interested in learning more about my research, teaching, experience, or personal interests, please click the buttons above or the links below. Thank you for visiting! Current Projects: - Reconstructing nutrient dynamics and primary productivity in the Western Pacific Warm Pool during the Mid-Pleistocene Transition - Using foraminiferal shell weight as a proxy for seawater carbonate chemistry in key time intervals - Benthic foraminifera and coastal change: salt marshes, estuarine health, and sea level |
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