Project description
Seasonality data for ocean acidification prediction
Marine organisms that are sensitive to pH are overstressed by the increased seasonal pCO2 difference. The rising of the seasonal cycle of sea surface temperature (SST) aggravates the situation, making the understanding of its effects on ocean acidification instrumental. However, no data for long-term SST-pH dynamics assessment are available. The EU-funded STAMINA training-through-research project will combine SST and pH to obtain the first record of seasonality for the collapse of the Late Palaeozoic Ice Age that presents analogies with today’s climate change. It will inquire into the seasonality in modern brachiopods’ shells, extract seasonal time series of SST and pH from key fossils, compare deep past and recent long-term series, and promote understanding for predicting future changes.
Objective
The seasonal pCO2 difference has globally increased, implying stronger stress for marine organisms sensitive to pH. This mechanism is reinforced by an overall increase in the seasonal cycle of sea surface temperature (SST), but it would be striking to understand its extent and effect on ocean acidification. Unfortunately, no records exist to evaluate long-term SST-pH dynamics. With this training-through-research project, the Experienced Researcher (ER) will gain the first record of seasonality, coupling SST and pH, for the Late Palaeozoic Ice Age demise, which is analogous to the current climate changes. After calibrating a method to investigate the seasonality in the modern brachiopods’ shells, he will extract seasonal time series of SST and pH from key fossils. Comparing the long term series of the deep past with the recent, the ER will foster the discussion and the understanding about the expected future changes for this chemico-physical system. The employed method will provide a classic model to deal with high resolution paleoenvironmental data using the brachiopods archive, establishing a turning point for the next-generation of scientists, which aim to study deep-past climate variability with high resolution. The University of Cambridge is an outstanding host where the researcher will be included in a high-level team of experts in geosciences. Under the mentor of the supervisor, the ER will gain and transfer relevant knowledge related to population structure and growth of shelled invertebrates, shell morphology, geochemistry and statistics. He will disseminate and communicate the results of his research and he will perform outreach activities to increase the attention of the society about problems concerning climate changes. At the host, he will be involved in training activities aimed to develop transversal and transferrable skills, to complete his formation as scientist, being thus ready for the next stage of his career.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
CB2 1TN Cambridge
United Kingdom