USGS geologists at a site of new sediment core in a trans-disciplinary effort to reconstruct past climate change across the country near Hannah, Wyoming, on June 26, 2024. Pictured left to right: Marci Robinson and Jean Self-Trail both Research Geologist, Northeast Region; and Marieke Dechesne, Reasearch Geologist, Rocky Mountain Region.
Marci M Robinson, Ph.D. (Former Employee)
Science and Products
Paleo Research: Integrating Systems and Models (PRISM5)
PRISM5 addresses how the world, and particularly the US east coast, is affected by change. We study past warm periods from the Pliocene, Middle Miocene and early Eocene because these periods provide a suite of natural experiments in which marine ecosystems responded to rapidly changing temperature, sea-level and atmospheric CO2 for comparison to modern and future projections. We study how both...
Geological Investigations of the Neogene
More than a third of the United States population lives in counties directly on the shoreline, making them vulnerable to hazards associated with changing sea level and storm surges associated with hurricanes and severe storms. The geologic record contains many examples of past intervals of warm climate and high sea level. "Geological Investigation of the Neogene" is examining proxy records of...
Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping (PRISM4)
PRISM will help distinguish the USGS as a world leader in paleoclimate research, data generation and delivery for use in addressing the modern world's climate-related needs. We will be recognized for the passion of our researchers and partners in providing quality, innovative paleoclimate interpretation and data analysis to the science (climate change) community and to the public we serve.
Geological Investigations of the Neogene Project
Geological Investigations of the Neogene explores past warmer-than-modern climates of the mid-Miocene (about 14-17 million years ago) and Piacenzian (about 3 million years ago) to assess the potential environmental and economic impacts to population centers along the US Atlantic coast under different rates and magnitudes of changes related to warmer temperatures. Specifically, we look at past...
Eocene Hyperthermals Project
Sudden and extreme global warming events of the past are known as hyperthermals. The most intensely studied of these is the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) that occurred about 56 million years ago. During the PETM, global temperatures rose by ~5°C, ocean acidification was widespread, floral and faunal communities were severely disrupted, and changing oceanic circulation and a disrupted...
PlioMIP (Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project) Strategy, Communications and Synthesis for the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (IPCC AR5)
USGS PRISM (Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping) Project global data sets of Pliocene conditions, which form the most comprehensive global reconstruction for any warm period prior to the recent past, are used to drive numerical climate model simulations designed to explore the impact of climate forcings and feedbacks during the Pliocene. The Pliocene world provides an...
USGS Geologist compare sediment core
USGS geologists at a site of new sediment core in a trans-disciplinary effort to reconstruct past climate change across the country near Hannah, Wyoming, on June 26, 2024. Pictured left to right: Marci Robinson and Jean Self-Trail both Research Geologist, Northeast Region; and Marieke Dechesne, Reasearch Geologist, Rocky Mountain Region.
Planktic Foraminifera from Southern Maryland
Ten species of planktic foraminifera from PETM sediments in southern Maryland. The scale bars measure 150 microns (0.015 cm). Each specimen is similar in size to a grain of sand.
Ten species of planktic foraminifera from PETM sediments in southern Maryland. The scale bars measure 150 microns (0.015 cm). Each specimen is similar in size to a grain of sand.
Marine Sediment Cores from Southern Maryland
A USGS marine sediment core from southern Maryland. The changes in deposition at the PETM are clearly apparent in the core as it changes abruptly from dark sand (lower right side of box is oldest) to lighter clay (upper left side of box is youngest), indicating sudden environmental changes associated with a large pulse of atmospheric carbon.
A USGS marine sediment core from southern Maryland. The changes in deposition at the PETM are clearly apparent in the core as it changes abruptly from dark sand (lower right side of box is oldest) to lighter clay (upper left side of box is youngest), indicating sudden environmental changes associated with a large pulse of atmospheric carbon.
Science and Products
Paleo Research: Integrating Systems and Models (PRISM5)
PRISM5 addresses how the world, and particularly the US east coast, is affected by change. We study past warm periods from the Pliocene, Middle Miocene and early Eocene because these periods provide a suite of natural experiments in which marine ecosystems responded to rapidly changing temperature, sea-level and atmospheric CO2 for comparison to modern and future projections. We study how both...
Geological Investigations of the Neogene
More than a third of the United States population lives in counties directly on the shoreline, making them vulnerable to hazards associated with changing sea level and storm surges associated with hurricanes and severe storms. The geologic record contains many examples of past intervals of warm climate and high sea level. "Geological Investigation of the Neogene" is examining proxy records of...
Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping (PRISM4)
PRISM will help distinguish the USGS as a world leader in paleoclimate research, data generation and delivery for use in addressing the modern world's climate-related needs. We will be recognized for the passion of our researchers and partners in providing quality, innovative paleoclimate interpretation and data analysis to the science (climate change) community and to the public we serve.
Geological Investigations of the Neogene Project
Geological Investigations of the Neogene explores past warmer-than-modern climates of the mid-Miocene (about 14-17 million years ago) and Piacenzian (about 3 million years ago) to assess the potential environmental and economic impacts to population centers along the US Atlantic coast under different rates and magnitudes of changes related to warmer temperatures. Specifically, we look at past...
Eocene Hyperthermals Project
Sudden and extreme global warming events of the past are known as hyperthermals. The most intensely studied of these is the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) that occurred about 56 million years ago. During the PETM, global temperatures rose by ~5°C, ocean acidification was widespread, floral and faunal communities were severely disrupted, and changing oceanic circulation and a disrupted...
PlioMIP (Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project) Strategy, Communications and Synthesis for the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (IPCC AR5)
USGS PRISM (Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping) Project global data sets of Pliocene conditions, which form the most comprehensive global reconstruction for any warm period prior to the recent past, are used to drive numerical climate model simulations designed to explore the impact of climate forcings and feedbacks during the Pliocene. The Pliocene world provides an...
USGS Geologist compare sediment core
USGS geologists at a site of new sediment core in a trans-disciplinary effort to reconstruct past climate change across the country near Hannah, Wyoming, on June 26, 2024. Pictured left to right: Marci Robinson and Jean Self-Trail both Research Geologist, Northeast Region; and Marieke Dechesne, Reasearch Geologist, Rocky Mountain Region.
USGS geologists at a site of new sediment core in a trans-disciplinary effort to reconstruct past climate change across the country near Hannah, Wyoming, on June 26, 2024. Pictured left to right: Marci Robinson and Jean Self-Trail both Research Geologist, Northeast Region; and Marieke Dechesne, Reasearch Geologist, Rocky Mountain Region.
Planktic Foraminifera from Southern Maryland
Ten species of planktic foraminifera from PETM sediments in southern Maryland. The scale bars measure 150 microns (0.015 cm). Each specimen is similar in size to a grain of sand.
Ten species of planktic foraminifera from PETM sediments in southern Maryland. The scale bars measure 150 microns (0.015 cm). Each specimen is similar in size to a grain of sand.
Marine Sediment Cores from Southern Maryland
A USGS marine sediment core from southern Maryland. The changes in deposition at the PETM are clearly apparent in the core as it changes abruptly from dark sand (lower right side of box is oldest) to lighter clay (upper left side of box is youngest), indicating sudden environmental changes associated with a large pulse of atmospheric carbon.
A USGS marine sediment core from southern Maryland. The changes in deposition at the PETM are clearly apparent in the core as it changes abruptly from dark sand (lower right side of box is oldest) to lighter clay (upper left side of box is youngest), indicating sudden environmental changes associated with a large pulse of atmospheric carbon.