Project Info
Climate map of an extremely warm Earth
Piret Plink-Bjorklund | pplink@mines.edu
We are all used to the current global climate distribution, with warm and wet equatorial tropics, highly seasonal warm subtropics, temperate climates and the cold poles. During extremely warm past conditions, the Earth climate distribution was distinctly different. There is an abundance of data from one such period in Paleogene, but no global climate map has ever been made. This project seeks to synthesize all available climate data and illustrate the extreme climate conditions by constructing a global climate map that will not only provide information about the past but also project what the future warming is likely to bring.
More Information
https://www.mines.edu/sedimentology/
McInerney F.A. & Wing, S.L. (2011) – The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum: A perturbation of carbon cycle, climate, and biosphere with implications for the future. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 39, 489-516.
Grand Engineering Challenge: Not applicable
Student Preparation
Qualifications
I am looking for a highly motivated student with interest in climatology, paleo-climatology or climate change, who is willing to collect data from published resources, and help to synthesize that data into a paleo-climate map for an extremely warm Earth.
Time Commitment
Flexible
Skills/Techniques Gained
Climate and paleo-climate analyses and data types
global warming consequences
paleo-climatic conditions
Mentoring Plan
The student will be working closely with the faculty advisor. I will teach all the adequate methodology and provide background reading. I will meet with the student regularly, at least bi-weakly. I will encourage the student to disseminate the results at a national conference, as well as to co-author a publication.