Deciphering high resolution records of marine environmental change during past warm extremes of climate to assist development of observational and numerical models. These models are designed to aid prediction of potential environmental responses under the present phase of global warming. While the research involves large scale perspective of the climate ocean system, it focuses on the New Zealand region, which because of its oceanic isolation, has its own particular its own response to warming. Application of the results of the recently completed first phase of the Antarctic Drilling (ANDRILL) programme to identify the affect of a changing Ross Ice Shelf on the ocean circulation and water masses in the New Zealand region. Determining the processes that govern the transport of sediment from the mountains to the ocean off the central eastern North Island (in collaboration with the US MARGINS programme). This region is a prime site because of its large environmental signals, e.g., rivers have the highest sediment input in N.Z., strong El Niño-Southern Oscillation signal, and its location at the meeting place of subtropical and subantarctic waters. The research, which is in collaboration with US partners and NIWA, also takes the opportunity to relate ocean change with that occurring onshore.

marine environmental change , Earth Sciences