Collaborative Research: Aquatic Paleoclimate Proxy Records of Tropical Temperature Variability

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole MA

Investigators

Abstract

The award supports research to examine the robustness of the archeal membrane lipid biomarker, TEX86, as a new paleoclimate proxy. Specifically, the researchers will examine: 1) what environmental factors could potentially mask the apparent temperature signal in the proxy; 2) at what depth do the Crenarchaeota bacteria live within the water column. If they live deep in the water column, how can they possibly reflect a surface water temperature; and 3) how these compounds get buried in marine and lacustrine sediments. If successful, this highly risky research will help create a new proxy measurement that could have broad impact when applied to the analysis of climate over time and varying natural environments.