Dynamics of Carbon Movement within River and Ocean Basins
Event details
| Date | 30.09.2014 |
| Hour | 16:15 › 17:15 |
| Speaker | Dr Timothy I. Eglinton, Biogeoscience, Geological Institute, Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zürich |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
Abstract:
There is growing evidence that organic matter can be mobilized and widely dispersed by rivers, wind and ocean currents such that it may come to rest many hundreds to thousands of kilometers away from its site of formation. Moreover, the timescales over which carbon moves from biological source to sedimentary sink can vary considerably. Characterizing the nature and dynamics of organic carbontransport processes is important for our understanding of the role of organic matter in the global carbon cycle, for interpreting sediment records, and for understanding the dispersal of natural and anthropogenic chemicals in the aquatic environment.
Natural abundance variations in the radiocarbon content of organic matter provide a powerful tool to explore carbon dynamics. Radiocarbon measurements on source-specific “biomarker” organic compounds affordnovel insights into the sources and age of organic matter within the complex matrices encountered in the environment (soils, sediments etc.). When coupled with other information on organic carbon and sediment provenance, it is possible to build a detailed picture of carbon movement within river and ocean basins. In this presentation, I will outline the approach that we are pursuing, provide examples of observations stemming from studies of a range of terrestrial and marine systems, and discuss implications for our understanding of the carbon cycle and cycling of associated materials.
Short biography:
T. Eglinton obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Plymouth Polytechnic (UK), and Masters and PhD degrees in Organic Geochemistry from the University of Newcastle (UK). After postdoctoral positions in the Netherlands (Delft Technical University) and Norway (Oslo University), he was appointed to the Scientific Staff at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI (USA) in 1989. He was a member of the WHOI Scientific Staff for 21 years, including serving as Chair of the Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry Department between 2007 and 2010. In July 2010, he began a Professorship in Biogeoscience within the Geological Institute, Department of Earth Sciences at ETH Zürich.
T. Eglinton’s research is focused on understanding of the processes that govern the Earth’s carbon cycle from the molecular level to the global scale, and on the legacy of past biological activity and environmental conditions embedded in organic signatures that are preserved in the geologic record. This is centered on a “source-to-sink” approach that examines the production, transport, transformation and burial of organic materials produced by theterrestrial and marine biosphere at the Earth surface over a range of spatial and temporal scales. Current emphasis is placed on better understanding basin-scale organic matter dynamics within terrestrial and oceanic realms, with a focus on modern-day carbon cycle processes, and on variability in the carbon cycle during the Late Quaternary.
There is growing evidence that organic matter can be mobilized and widely dispersed by rivers, wind and ocean currents such that it may come to rest many hundreds to thousands of kilometers away from its site of formation. Moreover, the timescales over which carbon moves from biological source to sedimentary sink can vary considerably. Characterizing the nature and dynamics of organic carbontransport processes is important for our understanding of the role of organic matter in the global carbon cycle, for interpreting sediment records, and for understanding the dispersal of natural and anthropogenic chemicals in the aquatic environment.
Natural abundance variations in the radiocarbon content of organic matter provide a powerful tool to explore carbon dynamics. Radiocarbon measurements on source-specific “biomarker” organic compounds affordnovel insights into the sources and age of organic matter within the complex matrices encountered in the environment (soils, sediments etc.). When coupled with other information on organic carbon and sediment provenance, it is possible to build a detailed picture of carbon movement within river and ocean basins. In this presentation, I will outline the approach that we are pursuing, provide examples of observations stemming from studies of a range of terrestrial and marine systems, and discuss implications for our understanding of the carbon cycle and cycling of associated materials.
Short biography:
T. Eglinton obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Plymouth Polytechnic (UK), and Masters and PhD degrees in Organic Geochemistry from the University of Newcastle (UK). After postdoctoral positions in the Netherlands (Delft Technical University) and Norway (Oslo University), he was appointed to the Scientific Staff at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI (USA) in 1989. He was a member of the WHOI Scientific Staff for 21 years, including serving as Chair of the Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry Department between 2007 and 2010. In July 2010, he began a Professorship in Biogeoscience within the Geological Institute, Department of Earth Sciences at ETH Zürich.
T. Eglinton’s research is focused on understanding of the processes that govern the Earth’s carbon cycle from the molecular level to the global scale, and on the legacy of past biological activity and environmental conditions embedded in organic signatures that are preserved in the geologic record. This is centered on a “source-to-sink” approach that examines the production, transport, transformation and burial of organic materials produced by theterrestrial and marine biosphere at the Earth surface over a range of spatial and temporal scales. Current emphasis is placed on better understanding basin-scale organic matter dynamics within terrestrial and oceanic realms, with a focus on modern-day carbon cycle processes, and on variability in the carbon cycle during the Late Quaternary.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
- This event is internal
Organizer
- EESS - IIE
Contact
- Prof. Samuel Arey, LMCE