Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
2010-2011 Distinguished Lecturer
Diatom Oozes in Marine Sediments: Archives of Past Climate Change and Habitats for Microbial Life

Since their appearance in the oceans more than 150 million years ago, diatoms have been played a fundamental role in regulating the Earth’s climate. Diatoms depend on sunlight, nutrients, and silica to grow; they record these conditions in their skeletal remains, which accumulate as on the ocean floor.

Dr. Aiello uses diatoms deposits to reconstruct past changes in ocean conditions and works with microbiologists to investigate life in deeply buried marine sediments, suggesting a fascinating link between past oceanographic variability and the modern distribution of the subseafloor biomass.

Dr. Aiello has sailed on Ocean Drilling Program Leg 201 and Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 323.

November 19, 2010 – Bowling Green State University
November 22, 2010 Adelphi University
December 30, 2010 – University of Arkansas
March 9, 2011 – The Florida Aquarium
April 11-12, 2011 – Ohio State University
April 13, 2011 – University of Southern California
October 12, 2012 – Stony Brook University