Research interests
Specialism:
Palaeoceanography
My research is primarily focused on past episodes of large-scale climate change between ~60 and 25 million years ago when the Earth transitioned from a globally warm 'Greenhouse' to a glaciated 'Icehouse' state. I am particularly interested in the onset of Antarctic glaciation, behaviour of Antarctic ice sheets once formed, and global palaeoceanographic responses/feedbacks to glaciation. I utilise marine sediments to reconstruct past changes in temperature, ocean chemistry, ocean circulation, global ice volume, and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. My primary techniques include development of high-resolution geochemical and chemostratigraphic records, plankton microfossil analysis for age dating and palaeoecological reconstructions, and integrated stratigraphy and correlation of deep-sea drillcores.
My current research projects are focused on development of robust paleoclimate histories for the Paleogene time interval. The ultimate aim of these studies is to decipher and quantify relationships between polar glaciation, ocean temperature, ocean circulation, and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Specific research questions include high-latitude ocean temperature reconstruction during the peak 'Greenhouse' intervals of the Eocene, the timing of initial ice-sheet formation on Antarctica, and the stability of the early Antarctic ice sheets.
Current research projects:
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Oligocene glacial–interglacial dynamics of the Southern Ocean
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Palaeoceanography of Northwest Atlantic sediment drifts, IODP Exp. 342 (Newfoundland margin)
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Antarctic climate & glacial history during the Eocene and Oligocene, IODP Exp. 318 (Wilkes Land)
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Global stratigraphy of the Eocene-Oligocene Climate Transition
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Paleogene circulation and climate history of the Southwest Atlantic (Falkland Plateau)
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Development of novel stable isotope methods for palaeoclimate studies
Research group
Palaeoceanography and Palaeoclimate
Dr Steven Bohaty
Ocean and Earth Science
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
University of Southampton Waterfront Campus
European Way
Southampton SO14 3ZH
UK
Room Number :
NOCS/164/40
