The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $284,622 Project Grant under the Geosciences Program (CFDA 47.050) to The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, operating as Columbia University. The grant, awarded on February 15, 2025, supports a collaborative research project to advance the calibration of a carbonate ion proxy using marine sediment samples. The goal is to develop a rapid, inexpensive method to estimate past changes in seawater carbonate ion concentration, which is key to understanding the relationship between atmospheric CO2 levels and global climate changes over the last 800,000 years. The project involves a three-pronged calibration effort using previously collected samples to determine if the Globorotalia menardii fragmentation index (MFI) can reliably measure changes in bottom water carbonate ion concentration. This research has the potential to provide new insights into the carbon cycle and climate dynamics, with broader impacts including training and mentoring of undergraduate students in geoscience research.
Generated 3/4/25, 8:48 AM