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September 2025 | A new paper on The Holocene!
We are pleased to announce the recent publication of our article in The Holocene entitled: "Hydro-climate variability and human influence in southern Yemen over the past 1100 years: Insights from sub-fossil midge (Diptera: Chironomidae, Ceratopogonidae) assemblages from paleo-lake Gayal-el-Bazal". This work presents a novel multi-proxy reconstruction of past environmental change (e.g. combining sediment, pollen, isotopes) that challenges prevailing assumptions about the timing and magnitude of climate–vegetation coupling in the southern Arabian Peninsula. In particular, the paper uncovers an unexpected decoupling during a key transition interval, pointing to previously underappreciated internal ecosystem feedbacks and hydrological buffering processes.
Our findings support the notion of a dry LIA, affecting parts of Eastern Africa, southwestern Saudi Arabia, and extending to other latitudes such as the Tibetan Plateau. This points to large-scale weakening of the boreal summer monsoons and latitudinal southwards shifts of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. A pluvial period during the 17th century could be connected to a positive Indian Ocean Dipole event. Reconstructed increasing moisture during the pre-industrial era, which contrasts modern-day precipitation measurements, could be explained by seasonal variability with moisture increase during the early summer and autumn. Overall, our record emphasizes the interplay of climate variability and anthropogenic activities in shaping water resources and their sustainability in extremely dry low-latitude regions such as the Arabian Peninsula.
Comparison of PC1 (chironomid assemblages with dominant chironomid morphotypes), head capsule concentration (HC g-1) and detrital influx to Lake Gayal el Bazal as indicators of wet and dry episodes during the last millennium compared to paleoclimate records from the summer ITCZ region. Please refer to the paper for the full figure caption.
August 2025 | A new paper out of the oven on Newsletters on Stratigraphy!
An "Integrated bio-chemo-cyclostratigraphy of early Eocene carbon cycle aberrations from the Northern Negev" published in Newsletter on Stratigraphy refers to a recent study that uses biological (bio-), geochemical (chemo-), and rhythmic sedimentary (cyclo-) analysis of sedimentary cores from the Northern Negev Desert, Israel, to reconstruct past carbon cycle changes and climate events, such as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). The study developed an astronomically tuned age model for core RH-323, correlating it with global records to identify hyperthermals and understand their link to carbon cycle aberrations on a continental slope in the South Tethys Ocean.
Evolutionary wavelet analysis for the magnetic susceptibility of the interval spanning 306 to 245 mbs from Core RH-323. Black contours indicate the 95% confidence level for a red-noise model. “LE”, “E”, “O” and “P” identify respectively the interpreted long eccentricity terms, short eccentricity terms, obliquity, and precession terms. A periodicity of 200 kyr seems also to be present.
August 2025 | Congratulation to Pelumi for the presentation at the IMAGE conference-Houston!
Pelumi presented her latest results at the IMAGE conference in Houston, Texas. The poster was well attended and visited by many scientists and colleagues in the applied geosciences and associated industry. IMAGE is the world's premier gathering for geoscientists, energy professionals, and industry leaders for connecting, collaborating, and innovation.
Congrats Pelumi for the great presentation!
Pelumi at the IMAGE conference
August 2025 | Congratulations to Olabayo Olaopa for completing his MSc research!
We are delighted to share the exciting news that our MSc student, Olabayo, has successfully completed and defended his master’s thesis. His research journey at PetroLab has been marked by dedication, persistence, and a strong commitment to scientific excellence. The successful defense of his thesis is a significant milestone, not only reflecting his individual achievement but also contributing to the broader academic efforts of our laboratory.
We are very proud of Olabayo’s accomplishments and the progress he has made throughout his studies. This success highlights the strength of our MSc program and the supportive environment we strive to provide. We warmly congratulate him and wish him the very best as he moves forward in his professional and academic career.
Some of the results shown by Olabayo during the thesis defense.
August 2025 | Petrolabers at the 15th International Conference on Palaeoceanography
Vishal just presented at the 15th International Conference on Palaeoceanography in Bengaluru, India. His project entitled "A tale of a flooded submerged land: stratigraphical insights from a well-preserved Neolithic village in the east Mediterranean" was very well attended and rise interest from many colleagues. Congrats Vishal!
July 2025 | Congratulations to Mfoniso Anieti for completing his MSc research!
Recently Mfoniso finished his thesis research on the paleomagnetic record from lakes Fagnano and Cardiel in southernmost South America. His thesis defense was excellent and currently he is working on a publication out of his thesis. We are looking forwards for a great continuation of his career in a PhD!
Mfoniso giving his thesis defense on zoom
May 2025 | Olabayo presents his research at the 1st SaltAges Conference in Krakow, Poland!
Olabayo traveled all the way to Krakow in Poland to present the latest results from his research thesis entitled: "Hydrological Shift in the Southern Levant during the Pliocene: Insights from an Intrasalt Archive of the Dead Sea Basin". He had great success in the conference and his presentation got attention from many scientists participating in this conference. The 1st SaltAges conference gathered researchers and innovators from Europe and beyond to assess the consequences of salt giant formation on biota, biogeochemical cycles, global and regional climate and ocean circulation; to investigate the interaction between salt giants, climate and plate tectonics; to clarify the relationship between local and regional tectonics and marine gateway restriction; to review the role of evaporites in the evolution of human civilization; and to identify the importance, environmental effects and geohazards associated with their exploitation.
May 2025 | Petrolabers at the Israel Geological Society Annual meeting!
Petrolabers presented recently at the IGS meeting that took place at Kibbutz Ma'ale Hahamisha, in the Judean Hills near Jerusalem. Pelumi and Nicolas presented results from the East Mediterranean and Lake Hula. The conference had a great atmosphere, presentations were well attended and generated many fruitful discussions.
Congrats to all presenters!
January 2025 | New paper just out of the oven at Quaternary International!
The Dead Sea Transform (DST), a prominent tectonic feature on Earth's crust, provides an exceptional natural laboratory for investigating the dynamic processes associated with continental rifting and its subsequent evolution. This study focuses on the sedimentary and tectonic evolution of the Yesha Fault, a marginal fault of the DST. Along the Yesha Fault, a distinct, elongated depression, known as the Yesha Valley was formed. Through detailed analysis of sedimentary sequences from boreholes and geochronological data obtained by optically stimulated luminescence and magnetostratigraphy, this research aims to refine the understanding of sedimentation patterns, rates, and tectonic activity associated with this marginal fault. The initial formation of the Yesha Valley, postdating the Brunhes-Matuyama reversal (∼773 ka), was driven by normal faulting, resulting in an accommodation space progressively infilled with clastic and aeolian sediments. The sedimentary record reveals four distinct cycles of calcic soil between ∼780 ka and ∼450 ka, indicative of short episodes of tectonic subsidence, each followed by a period of tectonic quiescence, during which carbonate accumulated and calcic soils have developed. Following ∼450 ka, the sedimentary sequence accumulated in the subsiding valley lacks evidence of abrupt tectonic events, suggesting a transition to a tectonic regime dominated by gradual creep. During the last glacial period, sedimentation is characterized by clay deposition, with more hydric conditions and increased organic content observed between 4 and 6.5 m, whereas the uppermost 2 m of the soil reflects the influence of recent anthropogenic activity. Sediment accumulation rates within the Yesha Valley exhibit considerable variability, ranging from 20.8 cm/ka to 1.8 cm/ka, with an average of 3.2 cm/ka. These rates are an order of magnitude lower than those observed in the adjacent Hula Basin, indicating a slower tectonic regime along the marginal Yesha Fault and valley. For more details, please follow this link.
Typical soil facies of the four segments: Segment A - dark reddish brownish clay; Segment B – brownish clay with very few rock fragments; Segment C – reddish clay with carbonate concretions; Segment D – alternating calcic layers and reddish clay with carbonate concretions.
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