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Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Nebraska paleontologist Ross Secord and Judy Diamond pose next to a Mesohippus skeleton. The two are working together at Looking Back for Future Climate Clues. With a nearly $350,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, Secord’s pursuing a first-of-its-kind study that explores how climate change affected the environment, ecosystems and organisms during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum. The EECO took place about 52 million years ago and was the warmest interval of the past 70 million years.   

 

Marked by a shift to high carbon dioxide levels, warm temperatures and increased precipitation, the transition from pre-EECO to the EECO is considered a good analogue for future climate change. Better understanding ecological changes during this time may provide clues to scientists trying to forecast future conditions. 

 

“Studying intervals in the geologic record where the global warming experiment has already occurred gives you a way of figuring out what the possible outcomes of climate change may be,” said Secord, associate professor of earth and atmospheric sciences.  

 

Secord and collaborators are analyzing fossil records from Wyoming’s Bighorn and Wind River basins, which have rich collections from the EECO. They will identify the types of forest structure that prevailed during that period. Their findings will clarify the interrelationship between climate change, forest structure and mammal evolution. 

 

Secord will analyze fossil teeth of EECO mammals to infer the types of habitats present in the environment. Mammalian tooth enamel preserves the different types of carbon found in the plants they consumed. This process is part of stable isotope geochemistry, one of Secord’s specialties.   

 

Nebraska’s Judy Diamond is leading an outreach plan that provides 50 rural and tribal libraries in Nebraska and across the nation with current information about climate change, water resources, mammal evolution a

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Nebraska paleontologist Ross Secord and Judy Diamond pose next to a Mesohippus skeleton. The two are working together at Looking Back for Future Climate Clues. With a nearly $350,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, Secord’s pursuing a first-of-its-kind study that explores how climate change affected the environment, ecosystems and organisms during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum. The EECO took place about 52 million years ago and was the warmest interval of the past 70 million years.   

 

Marked by a shift to high carbon dioxide levels, warm temperatures and increased precipitation, the transition from pre-EECO to the EECO is considered a good analogue for future climate change. Better understanding ecological changes during this time may provide clues to scientists trying to forecast future conditions. 

 

“Studying intervals in the geologic record where the global warming experiment has already occurred gives you a way of figuring out what the possible outcomes of climate change may be,” said Secord, associate professor of earth and atmospheric sciences.  

 

Secord and collaborators are analyzing fossil records from Wyoming’s Bighorn and Wind River basins, which have rich collections from the EECO. They will identify the types of forest structure that prevailed during that period. Their findings will clarify the interrelationship between climate change, forest structure and mammal evolution. 

 

Secord will analyze fossil teeth of EECO mammals to infer the types of habitats present in the environment. Mammalian tooth enamel preserves the different types of carbon found in the plants they consumed. This process is part of stable isotope geochemistry, one of Secord’s specialties.   

 

Nebraska’s Judy Diamond is leading an outreach plan that provides 50 rural and tribal libraries in Nebraska and across the nation with current information about climate change, water resources, mammal evolution a

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Liang Chen, Assistant Professor, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. New Faculty and Staff Orientation. August 17, 2022. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.

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Leen-Kiat Soh (from left), Wendy Smith, Mindi Searls and Brittany Duncan sit in Avery Hall. The Husker researchers are spearheading a new five-year, $3 million project funded by the National Science Foundation. They are the Center for Science, Mathematics and Computer Education. Awarded a grant for Practices and Research on Student Pathways in Education from Community College and Transfer Students in STEM. June 23, 2022. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.

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Lynne Elkins, Assistant Professor in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, is an NSF CAREER award winner. Her research focuses on volcanic processes, mantle dynamics, and mantle-crust interactions and drivers at divergent boundaries, hotspots, and anomalous or poorly explained volcanic regions. July 14 2021. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.

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Studio portrait of Karrie Weber, Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences and Associate Professor in the school of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. October 14, 2020. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.

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Studio portrait of Andrea Watson, Research Assistant Professor, Animal Science. October 14, 2020. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.

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Studio portrait of Ross Secord, Associate Professor, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. January 9, 2020. Photo by Greg Nathan / University Communication.

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In January 2020, Tracy Frank will visit the Burren, a west-central region of Ireland renowned for its limestone-encrusted landscape. The professor of Earth and atmospheric sciences will travel to Ireland by way of a coveted Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award. October 8, 2019. Photo by Gregory Nathan / University Communication.

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In January 2020, Tracy Frank will visit the Burren, a west-central region of Ireland renowned for its limestone-encrusted landscape. The professor of Earth and atmospheric sciences will travel to Ireland by way of a coveted Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award. October 8, 2019. Photo by Gregory Nathan / University Communication.

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Studio portrait of Erin Haacker, Assistant Professor, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. New Faculty. August 21, 2019. Photo by Greg Nathan / University Communication Photography.

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Student photos from summer of 2019 TORUS chase. Adam Houston, Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, led the TORUS project — the most ambitious drone-based investigation of severe storms and tornadoes ever conducted — chased supercells for more than 9,000 miles across five states this summer. The project, led by Nebraska's Adam Houston, features more than 50 scientists and students from four universities. The 2019 team included 13 Huskers — 10 undergraduates and three graduate students. The $2.5 million study is funded through a $2.4 million, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation with additional support provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. June 25, 2019. Photo provided to University Communication.

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Student photos from summer of 2019 TORUS chase. Adam Houston, Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, led the TORUS project — the most ambitious drone-based investigation of severe storms and tornadoes ever conducted — chased supercells for more than 9,000 miles across five states this summer. The project, led by Nebraska's Adam Houston, features more than 50 scientists and students from four universities. The 2019 team included 13 Huskers — 10 undergraduates and three graduate students. The $2.5 million study is funded through a $2.4 million, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation with additional support provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. June 25, 2019. Photo provided to University Communication.

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Student photos from summer of 2019 TORUS chase. Adam Houston, Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, led the TORUS project — the most ambitious drone-based investigation of severe storms and tornadoes ever conducted — chased supercells for more than 9,000 miles across five states this summer. The project, led by Nebraska's Adam Houston, features more than 50 scientists and students from four universities. The 2019 team included 13 Huskers — 10 undergraduates and three graduate students. The $2.5 million study is funded through a $2.4 million, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation with additional support provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. June 25, 2019. Photo provided to University Communication.

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Student photos from summer of 2019 TORUS chase. Adam Houston, Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, led the TORUS project — the most ambitious drone-based investigation of severe storms and tornadoes ever conducted — chased supercells for more than 9,000 miles across five states this summer. The project, led by Nebraska's Adam Houston, features more than 50 scientists and students from four universities. The 2019 team included 13 Huskers — 10 undergraduates and three graduate students. The $2.5 million study is funded through a $2.4 million, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation with additional support provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. June 25, 2019. Photo provided to University Communication.

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Student photos from summer of 2019 TORUS chase. Adam Houston, Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, led the TORUS project — the most ambitious drone-based investigation of severe storms and tornadoes ever conducted — chased supercells for more than 9,000 miles across five states this summer. The project, led by Nebraska's Adam Houston, features more than 50 scientists and students from four universities. The 2019 team included 13 Huskers — 10 undergraduates and three graduate students. The $2.5 million study is funded through a $2.4 million, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation with additional support provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. June 25, 2019. Photo provided to University Communication.

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Student photos from summer of 2019 TORUS chase. Adam Houston, Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, led the TORUS project — the most ambitious drone-based investigation of severe storms and tornadoes ever conducted — chased supercells for more than 9,000 miles across five states this summer. The project, led by Nebraska's Adam Houston, features more than 50 scientists and students from four universities. The 2019 team included 13 Huskers — 10 undergraduates and three graduate students. The $2.5 million study is funded through a $2.4 million, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation with additional support provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. June 25, 2019. Photo provided to University Communication.

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Student photos from summer of 2019 TORUS chase. Adam Houston, Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, led the TORUS project — the most ambitious drone-based investigation of severe storms and tornadoes ever conducted — chased supercells for more than 9,000 miles across five states this summer. The project, led by Nebraska's Adam Houston, features more than 50 scientists and students from four universities. The 2019 team included 13 Huskers — 10 undergraduates and three graduate students. The $2.5 million study is funded through a $2.4 million, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation with additional support provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. June 25, 2019. Photo provided to University Communication.

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Student photos from summer of 2019 TORUS chase. Adam Houston, Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, led the TORUS project — the most ambitious drone-based investigation of severe storms and tornadoes ever conducted — chased supercells for more than 9,000 miles across five states this summer. The project, led by Nebraska's Adam Houston, features more than 50 scientists and students from four universities. The 2019 team included 13 Huskers — 10 undergraduates and three graduate students. The $2.5 million study is funded through a $2.4 million, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation with additional support provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. June 25, 2019. Photo provided to University Communication.

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Student photos from summer of 2019 TORUS chase. Adam Houston, Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, led the TORUS project — the most ambitious drone-based investigation of severe storms and tornadoes ever conducted — chased supercells for more than 9,000 miles across five states this summer. The project, led by Nebraska's Adam Houston, features more than 50 scientists and students from four universities. The 2019 team included 13 Huskers — 10 undergraduates and three graduate students. The $2.5 million study is funded through a $2.4 million, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation with additional support provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. June 25, 2019. Photo provided to University Communication.

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Adam Houston, Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, led TORUS project — the most ambitious drone-based investigation of severe storms and tornadoes ever conducted — chased supercells for more than 9,000 miles across five states this summer. The project, led by Nebraska's Adam Houston, features more than 50 scientists and students from four universities. The 2019 team included 13 Huskers — 10 undergraduates and three graduate students. The $2.5 million study is funded through a $2.4 million, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation with additional support provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. June 25, 2019. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.

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Adam Houston, Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, led TORUS project — the most ambitious drone-based investigation of severe storms and tornadoes ever conducted — chased supercells for more than 9,000 miles across five states this summer. The project, led by Nebraska's Adam Houston, features more than 50 scientists and students from four universities. The 2019 team included 13 Huskers — 10 undergraduates and three graduate students. The $2.5 million study is funded through a $2.4 million, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation with additional support provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. June 25, 2019. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.

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Adam Houston, Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, led TORUS project — the most ambitious drone-based investigation of severe storms and tornadoes ever conducted — chased supercells for more than 9,000 miles across five states this summer. The project, led by Nebraska's Adam Houston, features more than 50 scientists and students from four universities. The 2019 team included 13 Huskers — 10 undergraduates and three graduate students. The $2.5 million study is funded through a $2.4 million, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation with additional support provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. June 25, 2019. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.

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Adam Houston, Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, led TORUS project — the most ambitious drone-based investigation of severe storms and tornadoes ever conducted — chased supercells for more than 9,000 miles across five states this summer. The project, led by Nebraska's Adam Houston, features more than 50 scientists and students from four universities. The 2019 team included 13 Huskers — 10 undergraduates and three graduate students. The $2.5 million study is funded through a $2.4 million, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation with additional support provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. June 25, 2019. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.

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All photos are available to UNL departments at no charge. Email the titles of the photos to Craig Chandler or Monica Myers.

cchandler2@unl.edu
mmyers2@unl.edu

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