Breadcrumb

Bio
My research interests are broad, but all revolve around the use of environmental stable isotope ratios.
I established and operated the Stable Isotope Laboratory for the analysis of stable isotope ratios of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. My specific areas of research include modeling the global carbon cycle using isotope ratios in atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane, development of techniques for measuring isotope ratios in atmospheric gases, reconstructions of paleo-environmental conditions using isotopes in ice cores, reconstructions of past environments from isotopes in organic materials, and tracing of ground water flow and recharge. I have been a member of several deep ice coring projects in Greenland (GISP2, NorthGRIP, and NEEM) and Antarctica (Siple Dome and Inland WAIS). I am also an affiliate of NOAA and work closely with the Carbon Cycle Group there.
Starting in the late 1980s, my ice core research has helped to show that large climate changes tend to occur in the natural system as abrupt and rapid shifts in mode probably driven by internal adjustments in the Earth climate system, rather than slow and gradual adjustments to changing external conditions, such as the amount of energy received from the sun. Shifts of more than 10˚C in mean temperature in less than a human lifetime are common in the paleoclimate record, and serve as a warning that adaptation to future climate changes may not be easy. My research in isotopes in the carbon cycle has also helped to show that land plants are capable of removing large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, amounts that equal our input of CO2 from fossil fuel burning on short time scales. Such large changes in the uptake of CO2 by plants is a key piece in the puzzle we must solve to formulate workable policy on CO2 levels and climate change.
Education
- PhD: Columbia University, 1983
Awards
- Highly Cited Researcher (2016-2019), Web of Science Group, 2019
- Robert L. Stearns Award, CU Boulder Alumni Association, 2016
- Highly Cited Researcher, Thomson Reuters, 2014
- Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2014
- Highly Cited Researcher, ISI, 2001
Research
Research interests: global scale climate and environmental dynamics; carbon dioxide concentrations and climate from stable hydrogen isotopes, peats and other organics; climate from deuterium excess and hydrogen isotopes in ice cores; isotopes in general circulation models; modern carbon cycle dynamics via isotopes of carbon dioxide and methane.
Publications
Recent publications
Recent changes in north-west Greenland climate documented by NEEM shallow ice core data and simulations, and implications for past-temperature reconstructions
Masson-Delmotte V; Steen-Larsen HC; Ortega P; Swingedouw D; Popp T; Vinther BM; Oerter H; Sveinbjornsdottir AE; Gudlaugs...
- Masson-Delmotte V
- Steen-Larsen HC
- Ortega P
- Swingedouw D
- Popp T
- Vinther BM
- Oerter H
- Sveinbjornsdottir AE
- Gudlaugsdottir H
- Box JE
Publication Date: 2015-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Water isotope diffusion rates from the NorthGRIP ice core for the last 16,000 years - Glaciological and paleoclimatic implications
Publication Date: 2014-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Centennial-scale changes in the global carbon cycle during the last deglaciation
Marcott SA; Bauska TK; Buizert C; Steig EJ; Rosen JL; Cuffey KM; Fudge TJ; Severinghaus JP; Ahn J; Kalk ML...
- Marcott SA
- Bauska TK
- Buizert C
- Steig EJ
- Rosen JL
- Cuffey KM
- Fudge TJ
- Severinghaus JP
- Ahn J
- Kalk ML
Publication Date: 2014-10-30
Type: Journal Article
Greenland temperature response to climate forcing during the last deglaciation
Buizert C; Gkinis V; Severinghaus JP; He F; Lecavalier BS; Kindler P; Leuenberger M; Carlson AE; Vinther B; Masson-Delmo...
- Buizert C
- Gkinis V
- Severinghaus JP
- He F
- Lecavalier BS
- Kindler P
- Leuenberger M
- Carlson AE
- Vinther B
- Masson-Delmotte V
Publication Date: 2014-09-05
Type: Journal Article
Climatic controls on water vapor deuterium excess in the marine boundary layer of the North Atlantic based on 500 days of in situ, continuous measurements
Steen-Larsen HC; Sveinbjoernsdottir AE; Peters AJ; Masson-Delmotte V; Guishard MP; Hsiao G; Jouzel J; Noone D; Warren JK...
- Steen-Larsen HC
- Sveinbjoernsdottir AE
- Peters AJ
- Masson-Delmotte V
- Guishard MP
- Hsiao G
- Jouzel J
- Noone D
- Warren JK
- White JWC
Publication Date: 2014-01-01
Type: Journal Article
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Apt J; Jaramillo P; Dowds JR; Dworkin M; Fertig E; Handschy M; Hines P; Hittinger E; Katzenstein W; Kirby E...
- Apt J
- Jaramillo P
- Dowds JR
- Dworkin M
- Fertig E
- Handschy M
- Hines P
- Hittinger E
- Katzenstein W
- Kirby E
Type: Chapter
Reconstruction of Northern Hemisphere 1950-2010 atmospheric non-methane hydrocarbons
Helmig D; Petrenko V; Martinerie P; Witrant E; Rockmann T; Zuiderweg A; Holzinger R; Hueber J; Thompson C; White JWC...
- Helmig D
- Petrenko V
- Martinerie P
- Witrant E
- Rockmann T
- Zuiderweg A
- Holzinger R
- Hueber J
- Thompson C
- White JWC
Publication Date: 2014-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Siple Dome shallow ice cores: a study in coastal dome microclimatology
Publication Date: 2014-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Gas transport in firn: multiple-tracer characterisation and model intercomparison for NEEM, Northern Greenland (vol 12, pg 4259, 2012)
Buizert C; Martinerie P; Petrenko VV; Severinghaus JP; Trudinger CM; Witrant E; Rosen JL; Orsi AJ; Rubino M; Etheridge D...
- Buizert C
- Martinerie P
- Petrenko VV
- Severinghaus JP
- Trudinger CM
- Witrant E
- Rosen JL
- Orsi AJ
- Rubino M
- Etheridge DM
Publication Date: 2014-01-01
Type: Journal Article
The amplification of Arctic terrestrial surface temperatures by reduced sea-ice extent during the Pliocene
Publication Date: 2013-09-15
Type: Journal Article
Biosphere model simulations of interannual variability in terrestrial C-13/C-12 exchange
van der Velde IR; Miller JB; Schaefer K; Masarie KA; Denning S; White JWC; Tans PP; Krol MC; Peters W...
- van der Velde IR
- Miller JB
- Schaefer K
- Masarie KA
- Denning S
- White JWC
- Tans PP
- Krol MC
- Peters W
Publication Date: 2013-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Onset of deglacial warming in West Antarctica driven by local orbital forcing
Fudge TJ; Steig EJ; Markle BR; Schoenemann SW; Ding Q; Taylor KC; McConnell JR; Brook EJ; Sowers T; White JWC...
- Fudge TJ
- Steig EJ
- Markle BR
- Schoenemann SW
- Ding Q
- Taylor KC
- McConnell JR
- Brook EJ
- Sowers T
- White JWC
Publication Date: 2013-08-22
Type: Journal Article
A revised 1000 year atmospheric delta C-13-CO2 record from Law Dome and South Pole, Antarctica
Rubino M; Etheridge DM; Trudinger CM; Allison CE; Battle MO; Langenfelds RL; Steele LP; Curran M; Bender M; White JWC...
- Rubino M
- Etheridge DM
- Trudinger CM
- Allison CE
- Battle MO
- Langenfelds RL
- Steele LP
- Curran M
- Bender M
- White JWC
Publication Date: 2013-08-16
Type: Journal Article
Siple Dome shallow ice cores: a study in coastal dome microclimatology
Type: Journal Article
Continental-scale temperature variability during the past two millennia
Ahmed M; Anchukaitis KJ; Asrat A; Borgaonkar HP; Braida M; Buckley BM; Buntgen U; Chase BM; Christie DA; Cook ER...
- Ahmed M
- Anchukaitis KJ
- Asrat A
- Borgaonkar HP
- Braida M
- Buckley BM
- Buntgen U
- Chase BM
- Christie DA
- Cook ER
Publication Date: 2013-05-01
Type: Journal Article
Recent climate and ice-sheet changes in West Antarctica compared with the past 2,000 years
Steig EJ; Ding Q; White JWC; Kuettel M; Rupper SB; Neumann TA; Neff PD; Gallant AJE; Mayewski PA; Taylor KC...
- Steig EJ
- Ding Q
- White JWC
- Kuettel M
- Rupper SB
- Neumann TA
- Neff PD
- Gallant AJE
- Mayewski PA
- Taylor KC
Publication Date: 2013-05-01
Type: Journal Article
Eemian interglacial reconstructed from a Greenland folded ice core
Dahl-Jensen D; Albert MR; Aldahan A; Azuma N; Balslev-Clausen D; Baumgartner M; Berggren A-M; Bigler M; Binder T; Blunie...
- Dahl-Jensen D
- Albert MR
- Aldahan A
- Azuma N
- Balslev-Clausen D
- Baumgartner M
- Berggren A-M
- Bigler M
- Binder T
- Blunier T
Publication Date: 2013-01-24
Type: Journal Article
Continuous monitoring of summer surface water vapour isotopic composition above the Greenland Ice Sheet
Steen-Larsen HC; Johnsen SJ; Masson-Delmotte V; Stenni B; Risi C; Sodemann H; Balslev-Clausen D; Blunier T; Dahl-Jensen ...
- Steen-Larsen HC
- Johnsen SJ
- Masson-Delmotte V
- Stenni B
- Risi C
- Sodemann H
- Balslev-Clausen D
- Blunier T
- Dahl-Jensen D
- Ellehøj MD
Type: Journal Article
West Antarctica's sensitivity to natural and human-forced climate change over the Holocene
Mayewski PA; Maasch KA; Dixon D; Sneed SB; Oglesby R; Korotkikh E; Potocki M; Grigholm B; Kreutz K; Kurbatov AV...
- Mayewski PA
- Maasch KA
- Dixon D
- Sneed SB
- Oglesby R
- Korotkikh E
- Potocki M
- Grigholm B
- Kreutz K
- Kurbatov AV
Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Type: Journal Article
A 60 yr record of atmospheric carbon monoxide reconstructed from Greenland firn air
Petrenko VV; Martinerie P; Novelli P; Etheridge DM; Levin I; Wang Z; Blunier T; Chappellaz J; Kaiser J; Lang P...
- Petrenko VV
- Martinerie P
- Novelli P
- Etheridge DM
- Levin I
- Wang Z
- Blunier T
- Chappellaz J
- Kaiser J
- Lang P
Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Type: Journal Article
PALEOCLIMATE - Paleoclimate History of the Arctic
Miller GH; Brigham-Grette J; Alley RB; Anderson L; Bauch HA; Douglas MSV; Edwards ME; Elias SA; Finney BP; Fitzpatrick J...
- Miller GH
- Brigham-Grette J
- Alley RB
- Anderson L
- Bauch HA
- Douglas MSV
- Edwards ME
- Elias SA
- Finney BP
- Fitzpatrick JJ
Type: Chapter
Continental-scale temperature variability during the past two millennia
Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Continuous monitoring of summer surface water vapor isotopic composition above the Greenland Ice Sheet
Steen-Larsen HC; Johnsen SJ; Masson-Delmotte V; Stenni B; Risi C; Sodemann H; Balslev-Clausen D; Blunier T; Dahl-Jensen ...
- Steen-Larsen HC
- Johnsen SJ
- Masson-Delmotte V
- Stenni B
- Risi C
- Sodemann H
- Balslev-Clausen D
- Blunier T
- Dahl-Jensen D
- Ellehoj MD
Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Recent climate and ice-sheet changes in West Antarctica compared with the past 2,000 years
Steig EJ; Ding Q; WHITE J; Küttel M; Rupper SB; Neumann TA; Neff PD; Gallant AJE; Mayewski PA; Taylor KC...
- Steig EJ
- Ding Q
- WHITE J
- Küttel M
- Rupper SB
- Neumann TA
- Neff PD
- Gallant AJE
- Mayewski PA
- Taylor KC
Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Increase in observed net carbon dioxide uptake by land and oceans during the past 50 years
Publication Date: 2012-08-02
Type: Journal Article
Pages
Teaching
My teaching interests at the undergraduate level focus on human interactions with the environment, as well as general geosciences. I have a strong commitment to undergraduate education in this area, as I believe that an educated citizenry is important in ensuring that reasonable environmental policy is made and implemented. I teach and helped to develop a large lecture class, Introduction to Environmental Studies (ENVS 1000). This course covers the broad spectrum of environmental studies, from the social to the natural sciences. In addition, I developed and teach a large upper level undergraduate course, GEOL 3520, Environmental Issues. This course addresses our present and future energy sources, and how those energy sources affect the Earth’s systems, including climate and biogeochemistry. At the graduate level, I teach courses in my research specialty, stable isotope geochemistry and biogeochemistry. I have also taught the ENVS Honor’s course, and supervised the ENVS Internship Program. I have also been relatively successful in securing funding for education at CU. With a number of other faculty at CU, I have had grants funded by NASA (Earth System Science Education), as well as a multi-million dollar NSF-IGERT graduate training grant. This grant supported 13 graduate students per year for five years in an experiment in team building, disciplinary silo breaking, and co-educating social science, natural science, and journalism graduate students in carbon cycle dynamics, economics and policy.
Past Courses
- ENVS 1000: Introduction to Environmental Studies
- ENVS 3930: Internship in Environmental Studies
- ENVS 4990: Senior Thesis in Environmental Studies
- ENVS 5900: Carbon, Climate, and Society
- ENVS/GEOL 3520: Environmental Issues in Geosciences
- GEOL 1070: Global Change
- GEOL 1110: Global Change Lab
- GEOL 5700: Environmental Isotopes
- GEOL 5700: Current Literature in Global Change Research
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Outreach
Videos about climate change
- Abrupt Impacts of Climate Change: Anticipating surprises
- 120 Seconds of Science with Doc Ryan
- Climate Change Impacts are Happening Faster and Faster