Seasonal Temperatures and Acidification of sensitive Marine settings: Insight of an uNmatched macro-invertebrate Archive.

Descripción del proyecto

Datos estacionales para predecir la acidificación del océano

Los organismos marinos que son sensibles al pH sufren un estrés excesivo debido al aumento de la diferencia estacional de la presión parcial de CO2. El incremento del ciclo estacional de la temperatura de la superficie del mar (TSM) empeora la situación, lo cual hace que la comprensión de sus efectos en la acidificación del océano sea fundamental. Sin embargo, no existen datos a largo plazo sobre la evaluación de la dinámica del pH en la TSM. El proyecto de formación práctica a través de la investigación STAMINA, financiado con fondos europeos, combinará la TSM y el pH a fin de obtener el primer registro de estacionalidad sobre el colapso de la Edad de Hielo en el Paleozoico superior, el cual tiene similitudes con el actual cambio climático. Se investigará sobre la estacionalidad en las conchas de los braquiópodos actuales, se extraerán series temporales estacionales de la TSM y el pH a partir de los principales fósiles, se compararán las actuales series a largo plazo con las del pasado y se fomentará la comprensión para predecir futuros cambios.

Objetivo

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.