The High-resolution Sedimentology work group investigates sedimentary archives to reconstruct past climate and environmental changes at very high temporal resolution. By combining innovative imaging procedures with geochemical methods, we obtain detailed information from laminated marine and terrestrial sediments to better understand rapid climate changes and dynamics within the Earth system.
Our research links local to global scales and contributes to a process-based understanding of climate variability beyond the instrumental period, enabling a long-term perspective on environmental change.
Our Laboratory for Imaging of Sedimentary Archives (Laboratory for Imaging of Sedimentary Archives – LISA) investigates sedimentary and other geological archives at micrometre-scale resolution in order to comprehensively reconstruct past climate and environmental development within the Earth system sciences.
The High-resolution Sedimentology work group focuses on decoding ultra-high-resolution palaeoclimate signals preserved in laminated marine and terrestrial sediments. As instrumental climate records cover only the last ~160 years, the group aims to reconstruct climate variability at sub-annual to interannual cadence from the geological past, thereby gaining crucial insights into rapid climate change and its impacts on the Earth system and society.
To this end, we have established a laboratory for imaging analyses (Laboratory for Imaging Analyses – LISA) at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, equipped with advanced, non-destructive techniques such as micro X-ray fluorescence (μXRF) and hyperspectral imaging (HI). These methods enable detailed characterisation of sediment composition and structure at micrometre level. In addition, we have access to mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) in Bremen, allowing high-resolution maps of molecular biomarkers to be produced to enable quantitative palaeoclimate reconstructions.
Our research integrates both marine and terrestrial sediment archives and makes it possible to link local and regional climate signals. A key archive is the Eifel Laminated Sediment Archive (ELSA), a unique collection of maar lake sediment cores that preserves continuous, high-resolution records of environmental change over hundreds of thousands of years.
The group’s research is structured into three main areas: (1) reconstruction of short-term climate variability and extreme events during the Quaternary, (2) investigation of climate dynamics during warmer-than-present periods of the geological past, and (3) development of integrative imaging and data-analytical approaches that combine elemental and molecular information from the same sediment samples. Through this approach, the group helps deepen understanding of processes within the Earth system and the interactions between climate and environment, and improves predictions of future climate change based on the geological past.
- Decoding the hidden information in sediments: Studying palaeoclimate in subannual to interannual resolution applying congruent imaging techniques (Volkswagen Foundation; PI Igor Obreht) – 2025-2030.
- Decoding the Indian monsoon evolution during the last glacial abrupt climate transitions in interannual resolution: Applying congruent imaging techniques on Northeastern Arabian Sea sediment (DFG) – 2025-2028
- Join our PAGES WG PaleoIMAGING: https://pastglobalchanges.org/science/current-wg/paleoimaging
The Laboratory for Imaging of Sedimentary Archives (LISA) investigates sedimentary and other geological archives at micrometre scale in order to comprehensively reconstruct past climate and environmental development within the Earth system sciences. The laboratory is equipped with a µXRF elemental analysis system (Bruker Tornado M4) as well as hyperspectral imaging in the VNIR and SWIR ranges (Specim). In addition, there is limited access to measurement time for mass spectrometry imaging at MARUM (Bremen).
Equipment
The Bruker M4 TORNADO is a powerful micro X-ray fluorescence (μXRF) system for non-destructive analysis of sediments, rocks and other materials. With a minimum spatial resolution of 20 µm, it enables the creation of high-resolution 2D maps of elemental distribution and spot analyses directly on the sample.
The system impresses with its fast measurement speed, ease of use and flexible customisation options for different sample formats and analysis types.
The Specim Hyperspectral Imaging systems provide high-resolution, non-destructive analysis of sediments, rocks and other materials across a broad spectrum. With VNIR (Visible to Near-Infrared, 400–1000 nm) and SWIR (Short-Wave Infrared, 1000–2500 nm) cameras, both visible and infrared properties of the samples can be captured.
This technology enables rapid acquisition of 2D spectral data, allowing conclusions to be drawn about minerals, organic matter, pigments, particle size and sedimentary structures. By combining VNIR and SWIR data, researchers can precisely identify and spatially visualise different sediment components, making it an important tool for high-resolution geoscientific analyses.
Please refer to the University of Bremen link: https://www.marum.de/en/HinrichsLab-Geobiomolecular-Imaging-Laboratory.html
Interested in BSc/MSc theses in palaeoclimate and Sedimentology? Please contact us.
