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Quantitative Paleoclimatology of the East African Monsoon
Quantitative Paleoclimatology of the East African Monsoon
Principle Investigator: Dr. William Lukens
Affiliation: James Madison University
I was a laboratory assistant on NSF Award #2103009 from 2024-2026. Along with other undergraduates, we utilized LOI and XRF analysis of paleosols from Baringo Basin, Kenya. Initial results suggest that the region was far wetter under the hotter climates of the Pliocene, and rainfall gradually decreased as the world cooled into the Pleistocene epoch. These results will advance our understanding of the East African Monsoon system overall, and will provide quantitative data to test against paleoclimate model output.
Modeling the Formation of Impact Craters on Titan: Implications for Astrobiology
Modeling the Formation of Impact Craters on Titan: Implications for Astrobiology
Principle Investigator: Dr. Laura Schaefer
Affiliation: Stanford University
This work was done during the Stanford SURGE REU program in the Summer of 2024. I analyzed the survivability of impact induced melt pools on one of Saturn’s moons, Titan, using ISALE2D Shock Physics Code. These modeling simulations revealed that for asteroids ranging from 1-10 km in size, significant melt pools were created, allowing for the presence of liquid water on the icy surface of Titan. These melt pools survived for up to ten million years, providing interesting insights into the possibility of multicellular life.
Preliminary characterization of sediment pellets to infer ice-rafting mechanism in the Eastern Fram Strait, IODP Expedition 403 Site U1623
Preliminary characterization of sediment pellets to infer ice-rafting mechanism in the Eastern Fram Strait, IODP Expedition 403 Site U1623
Principle Investigator: Dr. Kristen St John
Affiliation: James Madison University
I characterized marine sediment pellets in sediment core U1623 collected during IODP Exp 403. Using a Scanning Electron Microscope, I was able to identify microfeatures in quartz grains that indicate if these pellets were transported by icebergs or sea ice. This allowed us to better understand the dynamics of the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet and its influence on sediment rafting following the Last Glacial Maximum.
Multi-Proxy Evidence for the M2 Glaciation and Mid-Pliocene Warm Period at ODP Exp 151 Site 908
Multi-Proxy Evidence for the M2 Glaciation and Mid-Pliocene Warm Period at ODP Exp 151 Site 908
Principle Investigator: Dr. Kristen St John
Affiliation: James Madison University
A multi-proxy analysis was used to better characterize the M2 Glaciation and Mid-Pliocene Warm Period (MPWP). The M2 is a cold period within the MPWP that is heavily debated in terms of its duration and intensity. Our results found a distinct cold period that follows the expected timeline of the M2; however, it lasts longer than what this glaciation is documented to be. We believe it may be a result of capturing several cold periods due to a low resolution of samples. Findings point to a clear representation of the M2, helping us better understand its magnitude within the MPWP.
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