Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Research
Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences,
The University of British Columbia

Biogeochemical Cycles & Climate

Many researchers in the PCIGR work on quantifying the biogeochemical cycles of carbon and related elements in marine environments. As the marine biogeochemical cycle of carbon dictates the level of atmospheric CO2, this research has direct implications for societal concerns pertaining to greenhouse warming. The rapid increase in anthropogenic CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere during the last century is placing a strain on Earth’s climatic system that is unprecedented in human history.

There are still large uncertainties in ocean and climate model predictions and there is increasing urgency to better understand the underpinning of past climate, better predict future climate, and develop solutions to mitigate the rise of atmospheric CO2.

Some example research includes: understanding cellular requirements and acquisition mechanisms of Fe and other bioactive metals (e.g. Cu, Cd) in marine phytoplankton to constrain the cycling of trace elements in seawater; measurement of metal isotopes (e.g. Fe, Si, Pb) in seawater to study their sources and biological cycling in the ocean; reconstruction of oceanic meridional overturning circulation and resulting heat transport to assess the sensitivity of global climate to ocean circulation; measurement of major and trace elements, 230Th, He, O, N and C isotopes in marine sediments to establish the past efficiency of the ocean to naturally sequester atmospheric CO2; development of new isotopic tracers (Si, Cd, Cr, Mo, Cu, Zn, Fe) to evaluate past changes in ocean productivity, nutrient cycling, redox conditions and anthropogenic impact.

science snapshot Patton

science snapshot McAlister

science snapshot Estrade

science snapshot Bart

science snapshot McMillan

Maldonado, Maria (Maite)
Pakhomov, Evgeny
Francois, Roger
Orians, Kristin
Dipple, Greg
Tortell, Philippe
Weis, Dominique
Calvert, Steve
Pedersen, Tom