Newcastle University

Background

BSc Environmental Geography (UCL)

MSc Quaternary Science (UCL/RHUL) Thesis "Validating diatom-hydrological and hydrochemical transfer functions in an Ethiopian lake"

NERC funded PhD (Newcastle) Thesis "Lipid biomarkers in Spanish saline lake sediments: indicators of source inputs and environmental change"

Roles and Responsibilities

Chair of the Newcastle University Expeditions Committee (ExCo) (2010- )

Chair of Geography's Sonia Stonehouse Expedition Fund Committee (2008 - )

Faculty research representative on the University Research Forum (2009 - )

Facilities Manager for Geography's Chemistry, Biology and Geomorphology teaching laboratories, and Organic Geochemistry (Biomarker) and Palaeoecology research laboratories.

Research Interests

Palaeoclimate reconstruction, Quaternary and Holocene environmental change, organic geochemistry, biomarkers, lake sediments.

My research focuses on the use of lipid biomarkers for reconstructing past environmental and climatic change, with the main focus being on Quaternary sediment archives. 

Current Work

1. Reconstructing Holocene climate change across the Polar Frontal Zone (PFZ): PhD supervisor with Dr Steve Roberts and Dr Dominic Hodgson (BAS) and Dr Steve Juggins (Newcastle University). Funded by NERC via British Antarctic Survey/Newcastle University PhD studentship to Louise Taylor (2011-2015).

This project examines variations in the movement of the PFZ and changes in the strength, intensity and position of the Southern Hemisphere westerly wind circulation over the Holocene. Geochemical, sedimentological, isotopic and biomarker techniques will be applied to reconstruct changes in temperature, precipitation and nutrient flux using lake sediments from the Antarctic Peninsula, sub-Antarctic islands and East Antarctica.

2. Deciphering timings and rates of abrupt climate changes over the Lateglacial-Holocene period: The Lake Suigetsu biomarker record. PI, with CoI Prof Takeshi Nakagawa (Newcastle University) and Suigetsu 2006 Project members (www.suigetsu.org). Funded by NERC (2009-2010).

This project examines the Late Glacial-Holocene biomarker record of Lake Suigetsu, Japan, with a focus on deciphering timings and rates of climate change across the Bølling onset, Younger Dryas and Holocene boundaries. The Lake Suigetsu sediments are also being examined for evidence of the “8.2ka event”. Biomarkers are being used to provide information on changes in source inputs and processes occurring within the lake and catchment while compound specific isotope analysis (δD) is being used provide information on past hydrological conditions. Fourier Transform Near Infra Red Spectroscopy (FT-NIRS) is being used to reconstruct changes in sediment total organic content (TOC).

3. Development of glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) as temperature indicators in lake sediments. PI. Funded by Newcastle University (Faculty Research Fund) (2007-2008).

This project focuses on the calibration of GDGT biomarkers as temperature indicators in small lake systems and includes lakes from Scandinavia, Europe, Japan, central and South America, East Africa and Antarctica.

Postgraduate Supervision

Palaeolimnology, development and application of biomarkers to reconstruct past environments and climate (including lacustrine alkenone and GDGT temperature calibration), Quaternary and Holocene environmental change, timings and rates of abrupt climate changes.

Memberships 

American Geophysical Union (AGU), British Organic Geochemical Society (BOGS), European Association of Organic Geochemists (EAOG), International Paleolimnology Association (IPA), Quaternary Research Association (QRA), North East Quaternary Association (NEQUA), Newcastle University Quaternary Research Group (QRG)

Projects

• Deciphering timings and rates of abrupt climate changes: The Lake Suigetsu biomarker record
  Project Leader(s): Dr Emma Pearson (PI); Dr Takeshi Nakagawa (Co-I)

Undergraduate Teaching

I am involved with undergraduate fieldwork and laboratory practicals on the following modules:
GEO2037 Ireland fieldtrip
GEO2042 Aquatic Pollution
GEO2052 Iceland Fieldtrip
GEO3074/GEO3099 Dissertation

• Pearson EJ, Juggins S, Talbot HM, Weckström J, Rosén P, Ryves D, Roberts S, Schmidt R. A lacustrine GDGT-temperature calibration from the Scandinavian Arctic to Antarctic: Renewed potential for the application of GDGT-paleothermometry in lakes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 2011, 75(20), 6225-6238.
• Schouten S, Hopmans E, Van Der Meer J, Mets A, Bard E, Bianchi T, Diefendorf A, Escala M, Freeman K, Furukawa Y, Huguet C, Ingalls A, Ménot-Combes G, Nederbragt A, Oba M, Pearson A, Pearson E, Rosell-Melé A, Schaeffer P, Shah S, Shanahan T, Smith R, Smittenberg R, Talbot H, Uchida M, Van Mooy B, Yamamoto M, Zhang Z, Damsté J. An interlaboratory study of TEX86 and BIT analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 2009, 10(3), Q03012.
• Pearson E, Juggins S, Farrimond P. Distribution and significance of long-chain alkenones as salinity and temperature indicators in Spanish saline lake sediments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 2008, 72(16), 4035-4046.
• Pearson EJ, Farrimond P, Juggins S. Lipid geochemistry of lake sediments from semi-arid Spain: Relationships with source inputs and environmental factors. Organic Geochemistry 2007, 38(7), 1169-1195.
• Maddy D, Demir T, Veldkamp A, Candy I, Pearson E. Reconstructing Early Pleistocene environments in the Gediz river valley. Anatolian Archaeology 2007, 13, 8-10.
• Talbot H, Watson D, Pearson EJ, Farrimond P. Diverse biohopanoid compositions of non-marine sediments. Organic Geochemistry 2003, 34(10), 1353-1371.