Department of Earth Sciences - Geochemistry
Faculty of Geosciences
Utrecht University
P.O. Box 80.021
3508 TA Utrecht
The Netherlands
room Z 011
e-mail:
+31 30 253.9580 (phone)
+31 30 253.5302 (Fax)
PhD project: Rapid global change during the Cenomanian/Turonian oceanic anoxic event in the tropical ocean: Examination of a natural climatic experiment in Earth history
The Mid-Cretaceous was a ‘greenhouse’ period. The atmosphere at the time was characterized by high CO2 levels (3-8 times pre-industrial values). In addition there was widespread deposition of oceanic sediments anomalously rich in organic carbon. These so called “oceanic anoxic events” (OAEs) were either due to oxygen-deficient conditions in the ocean and/or high fluxes of organic matter to the sea floor. One of these OAEs occured during the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary (C/T; 93.5 Ma). Complete, well preserved sections covering this event were obtained during ODP Leg 207 on Demerara Rise (off the coast of Surinam). Since these sediments are very well preserved they are ideal high-resolution organic proxy records of the C/T event. I will use this core to study changes in the chemocline, palaeo sea-surface temperature, phytoplankton composition and C3/C4 continental vegetation. The results will provide insight in the changes in the Mid-Cretaceous greenhouse climate and may provide information on the functioning of global biogeochemical cycles, possible feed-back mechanisms and, as a response, the evolution and extinction of different life forms.
Curriculum Vitae
2003–2004
Assistant researcher at the faculty of Earth and Life sciences at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam.
1997-2003
Studied Geology at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam.
Final research about sequence stratigraphy, carbonate buildups and OAE1a in the Aptian of Oman.
Results published in:
- A. Immenhauser, H. Hillgärtner and E. van Bentum (2005) Microbial-foraminiferal episodes in the Early Aptian of the southern Tethyan margin: Ecological significance and possible relation to oceanic anoxic event 1a. Sedimentology 52, 77-99
- A. Immenhauser et al. (2004) Barremian – lower Aptian Qishn Formation, Haushi-Huqf area, Oman: a new outcrop analogue for the Kharaib/Shu’aiba reservoir. GeoArabia, 9, 1, p. 153-194.
1990-1996
VWO Christelijke Scholengemeenschap Aquamarijn in Vlaardingen.
