SciCafe: Earth’s Timekeepers

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

7 pm

A sheer wall of reddish rock in the desert. Clearly delineated, horizontal layers with distinct coloration correlate with different geological eras.
© desertsolitaire / Adobe Stock

Join geochemist Lucien Nana Yobo, assistant professor of isotope geochemistry at Texas A&M University as he explores the deep-time record of Earth’s history and what it may tell us about ongoing climate change.

In this fascinating talk, Nana Yobo uses geochemistry to reconstruct past oceanic and atmospheric conditions, providing insight into what our world looked like millions of years ago.

Discover the big questions driving his research, including: What was the chemistry of ancient oceans, and how does it reflect Earth’s past atmosphere? By delving into the rock record, Nana Yobo uncovers how Earth has responded to extreme hot periods and explores how these past adaptations might inform how we navigate our current climate crisis. 

Resources for SciCafe’s Frequent Geeks  

Quick Pick: The Discovery of the Oceanic Anoxic Events

Big Bite: Ocean Acidification

Deep Dive: 

Changing inputs of continental and submarine weathering sources of Sr to the oceans during OAE 2

 

This SciCafe is presented in collaboration with the International Ocean Discovery Program.