The award supports research to examine the robustness of the archeal membrane lipid biomarker, TEX86, as a new paleoclimate proxy. Specifically, the researchers will examine: 1) what environmental factors could potentially mask the apparent temperature signal in the proxy; 2) at what depth do the Crenarchaeota bacteria live within the water column. If they live deep in the water column, how can they possibly reflect a surface water temperature; and 3) how these compounds get buried in marine and lacustrine sediments. If successful, this highly risky research will help create a new proxy measurement that could have broad impact when applied to the analysis of climate over time and varying natural environments.
