University of Rhode Island
2012-2013 Distinguished Lecturer 

Evidence for the expansion of oxygen minimum zones in the face of Early Pleistocene cooling

The transition from the warm Pliocene to the cool Pleistocene begins with onset of major Northern Hemisphere glaciation at 3.0-2.7 million years (Ma), cooling of the high latitudes and deep ocean and the shoaling of the thermocline. Cooling of the whole surface ocean and establishment of strong zonal and meridional atmospheric circulation began around 2.0 Ma. New high-resolution nitrogen isotope records from the eastern equatorial Pacific, together with existing records from the North Pacific and the Arabian Sea and a multi-site survey, show a regional intensification of oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) and the expansion of water column denitrification accompanying the cooling ~2.0 Ma. This may be due to the inception of a modern polar frontal system and mode water circulation, a the primary conduit of nutrients and oxygen to the low latitude thermocline, and ultimately to the OMZ. These results run counter to the anticipated expansion of the OMZs with warming and stress how climate-related changes in circulation may complicate our ability to predict future changes.

Robinson has participated in 3 ODP/IODP expeditions, as both a student technician (Leg 167) and a shipboard sedimentologist (Leg 202 and Exp 320).

September 28, 2012 – Colby College; Waterville, ME
October 15, 2012 – University of Georgia; Athens, GA
October 25, 2012 – Green Mountain College; Poultney, VT
November 12, 2012 – Indiana University Purdue; Indianapolis, IN
January 23-24, 2013 – Old Dominion University; Norfolk, VA
February 20, 2013 – University of Tulsa; Tulsa, OK
March 10-11, 2013 – Winona State University; Winona, MN