In these environments, we work to understand the long-term natural baseline, environmental forcing, response and recovery, and human impacts, which in turn helps to inform effective decision making in the context of future environmental change. We have a wealth of expertise in palaeoecology (e.g. diatoms, pollen, dinoflagellate cysts), palaeolimnology, geomorphology, geochemistry and geochronology (luminescence dating) and physical and documentary archives.
Research highlights
Publications
Smedley, R.K., Fenn, K., Stanistreet, I.G., Stollhofen, H., Njau, J.K., Schick, K., Toth, N. (2024). Age-depth model for uppermost Ndutu Beds constrains Middle Stone Age technology and climate-induced paleoenvironmental changes at Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania). Journal of Human Evolution, DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2023.103465.
Spater, M.R., Montufar, R., Luzuriaga, C.X., Cañellas-Boltá, N., del Carmen Trapote, M., Smedley, R.K., Marchant, R., Montoya, E. (2024). Vegetation response to Holocene hydroclimatic variability in the aseasonal forests of the north-western Amazon. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 649, 112303.
Grants
NERC Highlight Topic 2024-2028 £2.7 million (£277,301.15 to UoL). Gravel barrier resilience in a changing climate (#gravelbeach). NE/Y50323X/1. UoL PI R. Smedley, Co-Is C. Lyddon (Work Package lead), A. Plater.
NERC Standard Grant 2022-2025 £792,646 (£62,556.00 to UoL). When and Why does it Rain in the Desert? Utilising unique stalagmite and dust records on the northern edge of the Sahara. NE/W00075X/1 (UoL PI R. Smedley, Collaborator K. Fenn).
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