SURF Mentoring

Potential projects/topics: Throughout geologic history, changes in topography have had significant impacts on climate. However, reconstructing topography in the past is extremely difficult. Geologists analyze the chemistry of minerals that precipitate at earth's surface as a proxy for topography change in the past, but these geochemical proxies are complicated by other climatic processes unrelated to topography. Therefore, this project aims to explore the potential of a new geochemical proxy to better reconstruct both topography and climate of the past. Here at Rice in the EEPS department, we have a relatively new analytical tool in the field of geochemistry that measures the isotopic composition of sulfate. Sulfate is common in the geologic record, yet it has been underutilized as a geochemical proxy for topography and climate. The student's contribution to this project can be tailored to their interests and skills. If the student is interested lab experience, there are several samples already available and they can learn how to collect and analyze data. If the student is interested in numerical modeling, they can work on adapting existing theoretical models to make predictions about how the composition of sulfate would be dependent topography.

Potential skills gained: lab skills, data collection and analysis, stable isotope geochemistry

Required qualifications:

• Preferred course completions: There are no required skills, I will teach the student what they need to know to finish the project. Chemistry and Earth Science coursework is helpful but not necessary.

Direct mentor: Post-doctorate