PhD University of Michigan Oceanography (1996)

M.S. University of Michigan Oceanography (1993)

B.S. University of California, Davis Chemistry (1989)

Paleoceanography, marine geology and low-temperature geochemistry

Email: jerry@rice.edu
Phone: 713-348-4940
713-348-5130
Office: Martel House, 001
Keith Wiess Earth Science, 323
Web Address:
Research Projects

(1) Oceanic gas hydrates: Clathrate hydrates of gas (gas hydrates) are crystalline substances composed of water and certain gases (usually methane) that occur naturally in pore space of marine sediment. These hydrates are of interest because they represent a potential future energy resource and modulator of climate change. My research has included studies on the distribution and composition of gas hydrate in sediment columns, experimental work on the thermodynamic conditions of gas hydrate formation and dissociation, and numerical models pertaining to the release of methane into the ocean and atmosphere.

(2) Geochemical cycling during major oceanographic change: This pursuit involves the construction of chemical profiles in marine sediment across critical time intervals in the evolution of our ocean. Previous work has included trace element profiles across the Cenomanian/Turonian and Miocene/Pliocene boundaries. Currently I am working toward understanding events in the early Paleogene (Paleocene-middle Eocene) and early Aptian, times characterized by major wamrth and massive input of carbon.

(3) Sediment-hosted metalliferous ore deposits: marine sedimentary rocks are the host to large ore deposits of certain metals, including iron, manganese, vanadium and barium (e.g., ores of Fe, V, Ba). In most cases, these deposits result from the combination of unusual paleoceanographic conditions and subsequent weathering or alteration processes. My current research in this area focuses on the origin of BIF hosted iron ores and black-shale hosted vanadium ores in Australia.

(4) Mixed siliciclastic/carbonate margins: Many continental margins, both modern and ancient, receive significant amounts of terrigenous clastic and shallow marine carbonate sediment. These mixed siliciclastic/carbonate depositional systems have not been well-studied in the past. The North Queensland margin of Australia is the largest extant mixed clastic/carbonate system. Currently I am quantifying sediment deposition on this margin with the aim of establishing a flux-based model of accumulation.

Publications

Dickens, G.R. "The riddle of the clays."  Nature Geoscience, 1 (2008): 86-88.

Bhatnager, G., W.G. Chapman, G.R. Dickens, B. Dugan & G.J. Hirasaki "Sulfate-methane transition as a proxy for average methane hydrate saturation in marine sediments."  Geophysical Research Letters, 35 (2008): doi:10.1029/2007GL032500.

Tcherepanov, E., A.W. Droxler, G.R. Dickens, S.J. Bentley, L. Beaufort, L.C. Peterson, J. Daniell & B.N. Opdyke "Neogene evolution of the mixed carbonate-siliciclastic system in the Gulf of Papua, Papua New Guinea."  Journal of Geophysical Research, Earth Surface, 113 (2008): F01S21, doi:10.1029/2006JF000684.

Dickens, G.R. "Methane release from gas hydrates."  Fire in the Ice, Summer (2008): 9-12.

Febo, L.A., S.J. Bentley, J.H. Wrenn, A.W. Droxler, G.R. Dickens, L.C. Peterson & B.N. Opdyke "Late Pleistocene and Holocene sedimentation, organic carbon delivery and paleoclimatic inferences on the continental slope of the northern Pandora Trough, Gulf of Papua."  Journal of Geophysical Research, Earth Surface, 113 (2008): F01S18, doi:10.1029/2006JF000677.

Muhammed, Z., S.J. Bentley, L.A. Febo, A.W. Droxler, G.R. Dickens, L.C. Peterson & B. Opdyke "Excess 210Pb inventories and fluxes along the continental slope basins of the Gulf of Papua."  Journal of Geophysical Research, Earth Surface, 113 (2008): F01S17, doi:10.1029/2006JF000676.

Francis, J., J. J. Daniell, A.W. Droxler, G.R. Dickens, S.J. Bentley, L.C. Peterson, B. Opdyke & L. Beaufort "Deep-water geomorphology of the mixed siliciclastic-carbonate system."  Journal of Geophysical Research, Earth Surface, 113 (2008): : F01S16, doi:10.1029/2007JF000851.

Jorry, S.J., A.W. Droxler, G. Mallarino, G.R. Dickens, S.J. Bentley, L. Beaufort, L.C. Peterson & B.N. Opdyke "Bundled turbidite deposition in the Central Pandora Trough (Gulf of Papua) since Last Glacial Maximum: Linking sediment nature and accumulation to sea-level fluctuations at millennial time scale."  Journal of Geophysical Research, Earth Surface, 113 (2008): : F01S19, doi:10.1029/2006JF000649.

Carson, B.E., J.M. Francis, R.M. Leckie, A.W. Droxler, G.R. Dickens, S.J. Jorry, S.J. Bentley, L.C. Peterson & B.N. Opdyke "Benthic foraminiferal response to sea level change in the mixed siliciclastic-carbonate system of southern Ashmore Trough (Gulf of Papua)."  Journal of Geophysical Research, Earth Surface, 113 (2008): F01S20, doi:10.1029/2006JF000629.

Zachos, J.C., G.R. Dickens & R.E. Zeebe "An early Cenozoic perspective on greenhouse warming and carbon-cycle dynamics."  Nature, 451 (2008): 279-283.

Sluijs, A., H. Brinkhuis, S. Schouten, S.M. Bohaty, C.M. John, J.C. Zachos, G.-J. Reichert, J.S. Sinninghe-Damste, E.M. Crouch & G.R. Dickens "Environmental precursors to rapid light carbon injection at the Palaeocene/Eocene boundary."  Nature, 450 (2007): 1218-1221.

Bhatnager, G., W.G. Chapman, G.R. Dickens, B. Dugan & G.J. Hirasaki "Generalization of gas hydrate distribution and saturation in marine sediments by scaling of thermodynamic and transport processes."  American Journal of Science, 307 (2007): 861-900.

Exon, N.F., Y. Lafoy, P.J. Hill, G.R. Dickens & I. Pecher "Geology and petroleum potential of the Fairway Basin in the Tasman Sea."  Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 54 (2007): 629-645.

Snyder, G.T., G.R. Dickens & D.G. Castellini "Labile barite contents and dissolved barium concentrations on Blake Ridge: New perspectives on barium cycling above gas hydrate systems."  Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 95 (2007): 48-65.

Nicolo, M.J., G.R. Dickens, C.J. Hollis & J.C. Zachos "Multiple early Eocene hyperthermals: Their sedimentary expression on the New Zealand continental margin and in the deep-sea."  Geology, 35 (2007): 699-702.

Snyder, G.T., A. Hiruta, R. Matsumoto, G.R. Dickens, H. Tomaru, R. Takeuchi, J. Komatsubara, Y. Ishida & H. Yu "Pore water profiles and authigenic mineralization in shallow marine sediments above the methane-charged system on Umitaka Spur, Japan Sea."  Deep-Sea Research (II), 54 (2007): 1216-1239.

Hancock, H.J.L., G.R. Dickens, E. Thomas & K.L. Blake "Reappraisal of early Paleogene CCD curves: foraminiferal assemblages and stable carbon isotopes across the carbonate facies of Perth Abyssal Plain."  International Journal of Earth Sciences (2007): DOI 10.1007/s00531-006-0144-0.

Francis, J.M., G.B. Dunbar, G.R. Dickens, I.A. Sutherland & A.W. Droxler "Sediment composition in Queensland Trough: Regional transport and accumulation of riverine material on a tropical mixed siliciclastic-carbonate margin."  Journal of Sedimentary Research, 77 (2007): 572-586.

Castellini, D.G., G.R. Dickens, G.T. Snyder & C.D. Ruppel "Barium cycling in shallow sediment above active mud volcanoes in the Gulf of Mexico."  Chemical Geology, 226 (2006): 1-30.

Oosting, A.M., H. Leereveld, G.R. Dickens, R.A. Henderson & H. Brinkhuis "Correlation of Barremian-Aptian (Mid Cretaceous) dinoflagellate cyst assemblages between the Tethyan and Austral realms."  Cretaceous Research, 27 (2006): 792-813.

Donohue, C.M., G.R. Dickens & G.T. Snyder "Data Report: Major cation concentrations of interstitial waters collected from deep subsurface microbial communities (ODP Leg 201)."  Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Reports, 201 (2006).

G.R. Dickens, C.M. Donohue & G.T. Snyder "Dissolved fluoride concentrations in methane-charged sediment sequences."  Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, 204 (2006).

Bowen, G.J., T.J. Bralower, M.L. Delaney, G.R. Dickens, D.C. Kelly, P.L. Koch, L.R. Kump, J. Meng, L.C. Sloan, E. Thomas, S.L. Wing & J.C. Zachos "Eocene hyperthermal event offers insight into greenhouse warming."  EOS (Trans AGU), 87 (2006): 165-169.

Brinkhuis, H., S. Schouten, M.E. Collinson, A. Sluijs, J.S. Sinninghe-Damste, G.R. Dickens, M. Huber, T.M. Cronin, J. Onodera, K. Takahashi, J.P. Bujak, R. Stein, J. van der Burgh, J.S. Eldrett, I.C. Harding, A.F. Lotter, F. Sangiorgi, H. van Konihnenberg-van Cittert, J.W. DeLeeuw, J. Matthiessen, J. Backman, K. Moran & Expedition 302 Scientists "Episodic fresh surface waters in the Eocene Arctic Ocean."  Nature, 441 (2006): 606-609.

Tr¿hu, A.M., C. Ruppel, M. Holland, G.R. Dickens, M.E. Torres, T.S. Collett, D. Goldberg, M. Riedel & P. Schultheiss "Gas hydrates in marine sediments."  Oceanography, 19 (2006): 76-94.

Bhatnagar, G. W.G. Chapman, G.R. Dickens, B. Dugan & G.J. Hirasaki "Scaling of thermodynamic and transport procecesses fro methane hydrate saturation in marine sediments worldwide."  SPE (2006): 106519-STU.

Dickens, G.R., A.W. Droxler, S.J. Bentley, L.C. Peterson, B.N. Opdyke, L. Beaufort, J. Daniell, L.A. Febo, J. Francis, P.T. Harris, S. Jorry, G. Mallarino, M. McFadden, Z. Muhammed, B. Carson, L. Patterson, E. Tcherepanov & C.A. Zarikian "Sediment accumulation on the shelf edges, adjacent slopes, and basin floors of the Gulf of Papua."  Margins Newsletter, 16 (2006): 1-5.

Sluijs, A. S. Schouten, M. Pagani, M. Woltering, H. Brinkhuis, J.S. Sinninghe-Damste, G.R. Dickens, M. Huber, G.-J. Reichert, R. Stein, J. Matthiessen, L.J. Lourens, N. Pedentchouk, J. Backman, K. Moran & Expedition 302 Scientists "Subtropical Arctic Ocean temperatures during the Palaeocene Eocene thermal maximum."  Nature, 441 (2006): 610-613.

Pagani, M., N. Pendentchouk, M. Huber, A. Sluijs, S. Schouten, H. Brinkhuis, J.S. Sinnighe-Damste, G.R. Dickens & Expedition 302 Scientists "The Arctic's hydrological response to global warming during the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum."  Nature, 442 (2006): 671-675.

Moran, K., J. Backman, H. Brinkhuis, S.C. Clemens, T. Cronin, G.R. Dickens, F. Eynaud, J. Gattaccea, M. Jakobsson, R.W. Jordan, M. Kaminski, J. King, N. Koc, A. Krylov, N.Martinez, J. Matthiessen, D. McInroy, T.C. Moore, Jr., J. Onodera, M. O'Regan, H. Palike, B. Rea, D. Rio, T. Sakamoto, D.C., Smith, R. Stein, K. St. john, I. Suto, N. Suzuki, K. Takahashi, M. Watanabe, M. Yamamoto, J. Farrell, M. Frank, P. Kubik, W. Jokat & Y. Kristoffersen "The Cenozoic paleoenvironment of the Arctic Ocean."  Nature, 441 (2006): 601-605.

Rohling, E.J. & G.R. Dickens "Welcome fromt he new editors."  Paleoceanography, 21 (2006): doi:10.1029/2006PA001272.

Hollis, C.J., G.R. Dickens, B.D. Field, C.M. Jones & C.P. Strong "The Paleocene-Eocene transition at Mead Stream, New Zealand: A southern Pacific record of early Cenozoic global change."  Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 215 (2005): 313-343.

Page, M.C. & G.R. Dickens "Sediment fluxes through the Last Glacial cycle in the southern Great Barrier Reef Province, Marion Plateau: new constraints on 'transgressive-shedding' on the northeast Australian margin."  Marine Geology, 219 (2005): 27-45.

Fielding, C.R., J.D. Trueman, G.R. Dickens & M. Page "Response of a major river system to the last glacial cycle: geomorphology and internal architecture of the ancestral Burdekin River across the Great Barrier Reef shelf, northeast Australia."  International Association of Sedimentologists Special Publication, 35 (2005): 321-347.

Ruppel, C., G.R. Dickens, D.G. Castellini, W. Gilhooly & D. Lizarralde "Heat and salt inhibition of gas hydrate in the northern Gulf of Mexico."  Geophysical Research Letters, 32 (2005): L04605.

Hancock, H.J.L. & G.R. Dickens "Carbonate dissolution episodes in Paleocene and Eocene sediment, Shatsky Rise, West-Central Pacific."  Proceedings ODP, Scientific Reports, 198 (2005): 198SR-116.

Hollis, C.J., B.D. Field, C.M. Jones, C.P. Strong, G.J. Wilson & G.R. Dickens "Biostratigraphy and carbon isotope stratigraphy of uppermost Cretaceous-lower Cenozoic Muzzle Group in middle Clarence Valley, New Zealand."  Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 35 (2005): 345-383.

Webb, A.W., G.R. Dickens & N.H.S. Oliver "Carbonate alteration of the upper Mt. McRae Shale beneath the martite-microplaty hematite ore deposit at Mt. Whaleback, Western Australia."  Mineralium Deposita, 39 (2004): 632-645.

Milkov, A.V., G.R. Dickens, G.E. Claypool, Y.-J. Lee, W.S. Borowski, M.E. Torres, W. Xu, H. Tomaru, A.M. Trehu & P. Schultheiss "Co-existence of gas hydrate, free gas, and brine within the regional gas hydrate stability zone at the southern summit of Hydrate Ridge (Oregon margin): Evidence from prolonged degassing of a pressurized core."  Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 222 (2004): 829-843.

Dickens, G.R. & J.M. Francis "Comment: A case for a comet impact trigger for the Paleocene/Eocene thermal maximum and carbon isotope excursion."  Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 217 (2004): 197-200.

Dickens, G.R. "Comment: Methane-driven oceanic eruptions and mass extinctions."  Geology (2004).

D'Hondt, S., B.B. Jorgensen, D.J. Miller, R. Blake, B.A. Cragg, G.R. Dickens, T. Ferdelman, K.-U. Hinrichs, N. Holm, R. Mitterer, A. Spivack, B. Bekins, K. Ford, G. Gettemy, C.G., Skilbeck, I.W. Aiello, H. Cypionka, G. Guerin, C. House, F. Inagaki, P. Meister, T. Naehr, S. Niitsuma, R.J. Parkes, A. Schippers, D.C. Smith, A. Teske, J. Wiegel, C.N. Padilla, J.L.S Acosta, G. Wang, S.D. Rutherford "Distributions of metabolic activities in deep subseafloor sediments."  Science, 306 (2004): 2216-2221.

Dickens, G.R. "Hydrocarbon-driven warming."  Nature, 429 (2004): 513-515.

Dickens, G.R. "Methane hydrate and abrupt climate change."  Geotimes, November (2004): 18-22.

Fielding, C.R., J.D. Trueman, G.R. Dickens & M. Page "Response of a major river system to the last glacial cycle: geomorphology and internal architecture of the ancestral Burdekin River across the Great Barrier Reef shelf, northeast Australia."  International Association of Sedimentologists Special Publication, 35 (2004).(In Press)

Trehu, A.M., G. Bohrmann, F.R. Rack, T.S. Collett, D.S. Goldberg, P. E. Long, A.V. Milkov, M. Riedel, P. Schultheiss, M.E. Torres, N.L. Bangs, S.R. Barr, W.S. Borowski, G.E. Claypool, M.E. Delwiche, G.R. Dickens, E. Gracia, G. Guerin, M. Holland, J.E. Johnson, Y-J. Lee, C-S. Liu, X. Su, B. Teichert, H. Tomaru, M. Vanneste, M. Watanabe & J.L. Weinberger "Three-dimensional distribution of gas hydrate beneath southern Hydrate Ridge: constraints from ODP Leg 204."  Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 222 (2004): 845-862.

Brown, M.C., N.H.S. Oliver & G.R. Dickens "Veins and fluid flow around the Mt. Whaleback iron ore district, eastern Hamersley Province, Western Australia."  Precambrian Research, 128 (2004): 441-474.

Dickens, G.R. "A methane trigger for rapid warming."  Science, 299 (2003): 1017.

Fielding, C.R., J.D. Trueman, G.R. Dickens & *M. Page "Anatomy of the buried Burdekin river channel across the Great Barrier Reef shelf: How does a major river operate on a tropical mixed siliciclastic/carbonate margin during sea level lowstand."  Sedimentary Geology, 157 (2003): 291-301.

Dickens, G.R., T. Fewless, E. Thomas & T.J. Bralower "Excess barite accumulation during the Paleocene/Eocene thermal maximum: Massive input of dissolved barium from seafloor gas hydrate reservoirs."  Causes and Consequences of Globally Warm Climates in the Early Paleogene, Geological Society of America Special Publication, 369 (2003): 11-23.

Hancock, H.J.L, Dickens, G. R., C.P. Strong, C.J. Hollis & B.D. Field "Foraminiferal and carbon isotope stratigraphy through the Paleocene-Eocene transition at Dee Stream, Marlborough, New Zealand.."  New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 46 (2003): 1-19.

Webb, A.W., Dickens, G. R. & N.H.S. Oliver "From BIF to iron ore: Major element chemistry and mineralogy across the Hamersley Province, Western Australia."  Chemical Geology, 197 (2003): 215-251.

Milkov, A.V., G.E. Claypool, Y.J. Lee, W. Xu, G.R. Dickens, W.S. Borowski & the ODP Leg 204 Scientific Party "In situ methane concentrations at Hydrate Ridge offshore Oregon: New constraints on the global gas hydrate inventory from an active margin."  Geology, 31 (2003): 833-836.

Dunbar, G.B. & G.R. Dickens "Late Quaternary shedding of shallow marine carbonate along a tropical mixed siliciclastic-carbonate shelf: Great Barrier Reef, Australia."  Sedimentology, 50 (2003): 1061-1078.

Dunbar, G.B. & G.R. Dickens "Massive siliciclastic discharge to slopes of the Great Barrier Reef Platform during sea-level transgression: New constraints from cores between 15 and 16 ?S latitude."  Sedimentary Geology, 162 (2003): 141-158.

Dickens, G.R. "Rethinking the global carbon cycle with a large, dynamic and microbially mediated gas hydrate capacitor."  Earth and Planetary Science Letters (Frontiers), 213 (2003): 169-182.

Crouch, E.M., G.R. Dickens, H. Brinkhuis, M.P. Aubry, C.J. Hollis, K.M. Rogers & H. Visscher, 2003 "The Apectodinium acme and terrestrial discharge during the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum: new palynological, geochemical and calcareous nannoplankton observations at Tawanui, New Zealand."  Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 194 (2003): 387-403.

Dickens, G.R., D. Schroeder, K.U. Hinrichs & the Leg 201 Scientific Party "The pressure core sampler (PCS) on Ocean Drilling Program Leg 201: General operations and gas release."  Initial Reports of the Ocean Drilling Program, 201 (2003).

Page, M.C., G.R. Dickens & G.B. Dunbar "Tropical view of Quaternary sequence stratigraphy: Siliciclastic accumulation on slopes east of the Great Barrier Reef since the Last Glacial Maximum."  Geology, 31 (2003): 1013-1016.

Grant, K.M. & G.R. Dickens "Coupled productivity and carbon isotope records in the southwest Pacific Ocean during the late Miocene-early Pliocene biogenic bloom."  Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, Palaeogeography, 187 (2002): 61-82.

Hancock, H.J.L. & G.R. Dickens "Data Report: Carbonate concentrations of Paleogene sediment at Hole 1121B, Campbell Drift."  Proceedings ODP, Scientific Reports, 181 (2002): http://www-odp.tamu.edu/publications/181_SR/204/20.

Dickens, G.R. "Data Report: Dissolved manganese concentrations in deep drill holes off New Zealand (ODP Leg 181)."  Proceedings ODP, Scientific Reports, 181 (2002): http://www-odp.tamu.edu/publications/181_SR/202/20.

Hancock, H.L., G. Chaproniere, G.R. Dickens & R.A. Henderson "Early Palaeogene planktonic foraminifera and carbon isotope stratigraphy at ODP Site 762, Exmouth Plateau, Northwest Australian margin."  Journal of Micropalaeontology, 21 (2002): 29-42.

Heap, A.D., G.R. Dickens, L.K. Stewart & K.J. Woolfe "Holocene storage of siliciclastic sediment around islands on the middle shelf of the Great Barrier Reef Platform, Northeast Australia."  Sedimentology, 49 (2002): 603-621.

Malone, M.J., G. Claypool, J.B. Martin & G.R. Dickens "Variable methane fluxes in shallow marine systems: The composition and origin of pore waters and authigenic carbonates on the New Jersey shelf."  Marine Geology, 189 (2002): 175-196.

Dickens, G.R. "The potential volume of oceanic methane hydrates with variable external conditions."  Organic Geochemistry, 32 (2001): 1179-1193.

Dobson, D.M., G.R. Dickens & D.K. Rea "Terrigenous sedimentation on Ceara Rise: A Cenozoic record of South American orogeny and erosion."  Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 165 (2001): 215-229.

Dickens, G.R. "Sulfate profiles and barium fronts in sediment on the Blake Ridge: Present and past methane fluxes through a large gas hydrate reservoir."  Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 65 (2001): 529-543.

Dickens, G, N. Exon, D. Holdway, Y. Lafoy, J-M Auzende, G. Dunbar & R. Summons "Quaternary sediment cores from the Southern Fairway Basin on the northern Lord Howe Rise (Tasman Sea)."  Australian Geological Survey Organisation Record, 31 (2001): 29 pp..

Dickens, G.R. "On the fate of past gas: what happens to methane released from a bacterially mediated gas hydrate capacitor?."  Geochem. Geophys. Geosys., 2 (2001).

Dickens, G.R. "Modeling the global carbon cycle with a gas hydrate capacitor: Significance for the Latest Paleocene thermal maximum."  Natural Gas Hydrates: Occurrence, Distribution and Detection, AGU Geophysical Monograph Series, 124 (2001): 19-38.

Heap, A.D., G.R. Dickens & L.K. Stewart "Late Holocene sediment in Nara Inlet, central Great Barrier Reef platform, Australia: sediment accumulation on the middle shelf of a tropical mixed clastic/carbonate system."  Marine Geology, 176 (2001): 39-54.

Dickens, G.R. "Carbon addition and removal during the late Paleocene thermal maximum: Basic theory with a preliminary treatment of the isotope record at Ocean Drilling Program Site 1051, Blake Nose."  Western North Atlantic Palaeogene and Cretaceous Paleoceanography, Geological Society London Special Publication, 183 (2001): 293-306.

Presentations

"Reconstructing the global carbon (and barium) cycle with gas hydrates."  Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Geochemistry Seminar Series, Woods Hole, MA.  (August 17, 2002)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate."  National Center of Atmospheric Research Seminar, Boulder, Colorado.  (January 20, 2004)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate capacitor."  Columbia University, Palisades, NY.  (February 7, 2003)

"Rethinking the global carbon cycle with a dynamic seafloor methane reservoir."  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.  (January 2006)

"Rethinking the global carbon cycle with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated seafloor reservoir of methane."  Institute of Geological Nuclear Sciences, Wellington, New Zealand.  (January 18, 2005)

"A global carbon cycle with gas hydrate."  Gordon Research Conference, Organic Geochemistry, Plymouth, NH.  (August 19, 2002)

"Global carbon cycling with seafloor methane."  Department of Energy (DOE) Methane Symposium, MIT, Boston.  (February 2008)

"Methane Driven Environmental Change in the Geological Record."  Annual AAAS Meeting, Washington DC.  (February 20, 2005)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate."  Colorado School of Mines, Chem. Engineering Seminar, Golden, Colorado.  (January 21, 2004)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate capacitor."  Hobart College, Geneva, NY.  (February 20, 2003)

"Early Cenozoic Climate and Carbon Cycling: The Sedimentary Record of Global Warming and Massive Carbon Input."  University of Alabama (Geoscience Dept. Seminar), Tuscaloosa, AL.  (Sep 2008)

"Reconstructing the global carbon (and barium) cycle with gas hydrates."  Texas A & M Dept. of Oceanography Seminar Seriers, College Station, TX.  (September 9, 2002)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate."  Stanford University, Geophysics Department Seminar, Stanford, California.  (February 12, 2004)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate capacitor."  Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.  (February 8, 2003)

"Rethinking the global carbon cycle with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated seafloor reservoir of methane."  University of Texas, Institute of Geophysics, Austin.  (April 15, 2005)

"The Global carbon cycle with seafloor methane."  Oregon State University, Corvallis.  (April 2007)

"Reconstructing the global carbon (and barium) cycle with gas hydrates."  University of Michigan Dept. of Geological Sciences Seminar Series, Ann Arbor, MI.  (September 20, 2002)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate capacitor."  U. Southern Mississippi, Hattiesberg, MS.  (March 6, 2003)

"Rethinking the global carbon cycle with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated seafloor reservoir of methane."  Chinese University of Geoscience, Wuhan, China.

"Role of Gas Hydrates in Carbon Cycling and Environmental Change."  AAAS Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington.  (February 13, 2004)

"The Global Carbon Cycle with Seafloor Methane."  Virginia Tech (Geoscience Dept. seminar), Blacksburg, VA.  (Sep 2008)

"Early Cenozoic Climate and Carbon Cycling: The Sedimentary Record of Global Warming and Massive Carbon Input."  Amherst College ("Five college" talk for geoscience), Amherst, MA.  (Oct 2008)

"Gas Hydrates and the global carbon cycle."  NOAA Workshop on Gas Hydrates, Boulder, Colorado.  (May 13, 2004)

"Global warming: New insights from the Arctic Ocean."  What's New For Lunch?, Rice University.  (January 2006)

"Reconstructing the global carbon (and barium) cycle with gas hydrates."  Lawrence University (JOI/USSAC Lecture), Appleton, WI.  (October 3, 2002)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate capacitor."  Gulf Coast Marine Laboratory, Ocean Springs, MS.  (March 7, 2003)

"Rethinking the global carbon cycle with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated seafloor reservoir of methane."  University of Kentucky, Lexington.  (October 15, 2005)

"Constraints on methane release during the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum."  Darwin Symposium on Global Change, Utrecht, Netherlands.  (September, 2006)

"Early Cenozoic Climate and Carbon Cycling: The Sedimentary Record of Global Warming and Massive Carbon Input."  SUNY Albany (Geoscience Dept. Seminar), Albany, NY.  (Oct 2008)

"Naturally occurring gas hydrates."  Nano-Energy Conference, Rice University.  (May 2, 2003)

"Reconstructing the global carbon (and barium) cycle with gas hydrates."  University of Wisconsin Dept. of Geology and Geophysics Seminar Series, Madison, WI.  (October 4, 2002)

"Rethinking the global carbon cycle with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate."  Houston Geological Society Monthly Seminar, Houston, Texas.  (May 11, 2004)

"Early Cenozoic Climate and Carbon Cycling: The Sedimentary Record of Global Warming and Massive Carbon Input."  Memorial University (Geoscience Dept. Seminar), St. Johns, NF.  (Oct 2008)

"Reconstructing the global carbon (and barium) cycle with gas hydrates."  Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT.  (November 18, 2002)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate."  University of Irvine, Earth Sciences Seminar, Irvine California.  (June 9, 2004)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate capacitor."  Wright St. University, Dayton, OH.  (May 22, 2003)

"Early Cenozoic Climate and Carbon Cycling: The Sedimentary Record of Global Warming and Massive Carbon Input."  University of Ottawa (Geoscience Dept. seminar), Ottawa, ON.  (Oct 2008)

"Global warming: New insights from the Arctic Ocean."  Society of Rice University Women (SRUW), Houston.

"Reconstructing the global carbon (and barium) cycle with gas hydrates."  Yale University Dept. of Geology & Geophysics Lecture Series, New Haven, CT.  (November 19, 2002)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate."  USC Wrigley Institute Geomicrobiology Course, Catalina Island, California.  (July 10, 2004)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate capacitor."  Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA.  (September 8, 2003)

"Early Cenozoic Climate and Carbon Cycling: The Sedimentary Record of Global Warming and Massive Carbon Input."  University of Iowa (Geoscience Dept. seminar), Iowa City, IA.  (Oct. 2008)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate."  University of Oslo Geophysics Seminar, Oslo, Norway.  (August 5, 2004)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate capacitor."  University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.  (October 3, 2003)

"Early Cenozoic Climate and Carbon Cycling: The Sedimentary Record of Global Warming and Massive Carbon Input."  U. Texas, Arlington, Arlington, TX.  (Nov 2008)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate."  Colorado School of Mines Geology Van Tuyl Lecture, Golden, Colorado.  (November, 5, 2004)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate capacitor."  Fugro, Houston, TX.  (October 17, 2003)

"Methane release at the Paleocene/Eocene boundary."  Paleogene Climate Change Workshop, Bremen, Germany.  (November 12, 2004)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate capacitor."  Tulane University, New Orleans, LA.  (October 24, 2003)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate."  University of Bremen Geological Sciences Seminar, Bremen, Germany.  (November 15, 2004)

"Rethinking the global carbon and barium cycles with a large, dynamic, and microbially mediated gas hydrate capacitor."  University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA.  (December 5, 2003)

Keynote speaker for spessial seesion: Gas Hydrates : Energy for the futrue of global warming?

"Global warming: New insights from the Arctic Ocean."  Rice Old Men Eating Out (ROMEO), Houston.

"A source to sink explanation for clastic sediment around islands on the middle shelf of the Great Barrier Reef Platform."  American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, San Francisco.  (December 13) With A.D. Heap, L.K. Stewart.

Taught graduate classes for a week.  "Methane in Marine Sediments."  Austral Summer School in Oceanography, Concepcion, Chile.  (January 2007) With Kai Hinrichs, Antje Boetius.

"Massive off-shelf siliciclastic fluxes on the northeast Australian margin during transgression."  American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, San Francisco.  (December 13) With M.C. Page.

"Environmental change at the time of the Paleocene-Eocene biotic turnover; a palynological perspective."  American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, San Francisco.  (December 12) With E.M. Crouch, H. Brinkhuis, C. Heilman-Clausen, T. Adatte, H.E. Morgans, H. Visscher.

"Gas hydrates and Paleocene carbon injections."  Urbino Summer School of Paleoclimatology, Urbino Italy.  (July 2006)

"Modeling the potential volume of gas hydrates over time and during transient climate events (INVITED)."  American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, San Francisco.  (December 12)

"Sulfate profiles and barium fronts in sediment on the Blake Ridge: Present and past depths of anaerobic methane oxidation above a large gas hydrate reservoir."  American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, San Francisco.  (December 10)

"Carbon cycling in the Cenozoic (multiple lectures)."  Urbino Summer School in Paleoclimatology, Urbino, Italy.  (July 2007)

"Stable isotopic composition of interstitial waters and authigenic carbonates, New Jersey Shelf: Origin of carbonates and implication for methane flux."  American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, San Francisco.  (December 10) With M.J. Malone, G. Claypool, J.B. Martin.

"A Paleogene world with a gas hydrate capacitor."  Johns Hopkins Earth Science Lecture Series (Invited Seminar), Baltimore, Maryland.  (November 9)

"A Paleogene world with a gas hydrate capacitor."  Utrecht University Paleobotany Lecture Series (Invited Seminar), Utrecht, Netherlands.  (October 5)

"A Paleogene world with a gas hydrate capacitor."  University of Rochester Earth and Enviromental Science Seminar Series (Invited Seminar), Rochester, New York.  (September 26)

"A Paleogene world with a gas hydrate capacitor."  International Conference of Paleoceanography (ICP) VII (Plenary Talk - cancelled because of airplane crisis), Sapporo, Japan.  (September 18) With James Zachos.

"The role of paleoenvironment in the formation of sediment-hosted metal ores: three examples from Australia."  Gordon Research Conference, Inorganic Geochemistry (Invited Talk), Proctor, Academy, New Hampshire.  (August 20)

"Modeling the Paleogene world with a gas hydrate capacitor."  Society of Sedimentary Geologists (SEPM) Diamond Jubilee Symposium (Plenary Talk), Denver, Colorado.  (June 2)

"Modeling the Paleogene world with a gas hydrate capacitor."  Stanford University Ocean Seminar Series (Invited Seminar), Stanford, California.  (May 30)

"Global Climate Change Forum."  LeTourneau University, Longview Texas.  (April 2007)

"The Global carbon cycle with seafloor methane."  University of Wisconsin, Madison.  (February 2007)

"A global carbon cycle with seafloor methane."  First Chinese Oceanographic Institution, Qingdao, China.  (July 2007)

"Geosystems: Ancient Greenhouse Emissions and Hothouse Climates."  AAAS, St Louis, MO.  (February 2006) With Isabel Montanez.

"Carbon cycling in the Cenozoic (multiple lectures)."  Urbino Summer School in Paleoclimatology, Urbino, Italy.  (July 22 - August 2 2008)

Editorial Positions

Editor in Chief, Paleoceanography.  American Geophysical Union.  (Dec 2005-Dec 2009).

Editor in Chief, Paleoceanography.  American Geophysical Union.  (Dec 2005-Dec 2009).

Theses

Carmen Fraticelli, PhD.  "Eustastic and Climatic Influence on Upper Slope Depostion, Offshore Texas."  (2003).(Committee Member)

Adam Webb, PhD.  "Chemical and mineralogical constraints on the genesis of the giant Mt. Whaleback."  (2003).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)

Gabriel J. Bowen, PhD.  "Paleogene greenhouse gas and terrestrial carbon cycle feedbacks."  (2003).(Committee Member)

Michael Page, PhD.  "Quaternary sediment accumulation along the Great Barrier Reef."  (2004).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)

Anja Oosting, PhD.  "Palaeoenvironmental and climatic changes in Australia during the Early Cretaceous."  (2004).(Committee Member)

Anja Oosting, PhD.  "Palaeoenvironmental and climatic changes in Australia during the Early Cretaceous."  (2004).(Committee Member)

Michael Page, PhD.  "Quaternary sediment accumulation along the Great Barrier Reef."  (2004).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)

Alexander Ray Simms, Ph.D.  "Late Quaternary/Holocene Evolution of the Nueces Incised Valley, Central Texas."  (2005).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)

Jorge Lorenzon, "Member, Thesis Committee."  

Lisa Oaks, "Member, Thesis Committee."  

Awards

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Distinguished Lecturer, AAPG.  (2008).

Positions Held

Chief Editor, Paleoceanography, American Geophysical Union.  (December 2005 - December 2009).
This is the number one journal in my field, and among the most cited journals in all of Earth Sciences

Chief Editor, Paleoceanography, American Geophysical Union.  (December 2005 - December 2009).
This is the number one journal in my field, and among the most cited journals in all of Earth Sciences

Chief Editor, Paleoceanography, American Geophysical Union.  (December 2005 - December 2009).
This is the number one journal in my field, and among the most cited journals in all of Earth Sciences

Member, Science Steering Evaluation Panel, Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP).  (March, 2005 - November, 2007).

Guest Associate Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research, American Geophysical Union.  (July 2006 - ).
Alogn with two other editors, we are editing a special volume with 24 manuscripts

Board Member, Research Center on Ocean Margins (RCOM) at U Bremen.  (July 2005 - June 2009).

Editorial Board, Geo-Marine Letters, Springer Verlag.  (January 2001 - ).

Guest Associate Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research, American Geophysical Union.  (July 2006 - ).
Alogn with two other editors, we are editing a special volume with 24 manuscripts

Editorial Board, Geo-Marine Letters, Springer Verlag.  (January 2001 - ).

Scientific Board Member, Research Center on Ocean Margins (Bremen, Germany).  (July 2006 - ).

Editorial Board, Geo-Marine Letters, Springer Verlag.  (January 2001 - ).

Panel Member, Science evaluation and Steering Committee, Ocean Drilling Consortium.  (Summer 2008 - ).

Scientific Board Member, Research Center on Ocean Margins (Bremen, Germany).  (July 2006 - ).

Scientific Board Member, Research Center on Ocean Margins (Bremen, Germany).  (July 2006 - ).

Panel Member, Science evaluation and Steering Committee, Integrated Ocean Drilling Program.  (March 2005 - ).

Panel Member, Science evaluation and Steering Committee, Integrated Ocean Drilling Program.  (March 2005 - ).

Professional Experience

Rice University, , Associate Professor.  (Aug 2001 - Jun 2008). (, )

Rice University, , Professor.  (July 2008 - ). (, )

Outreach Activities

Other  Invited international opponent for the doctoral defense of Erica Crouch, Utrecht University, Holland. October 5, 2001.