© 2012 Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie
Paleoclimate Research
Research Group Dr. Klaus P. Jochum
The main interest of this working group is the study of earlier regional and global climatic events. We are for example investigating carbonate samples such as stalagmites from caves, corals from the sea and tiny ostracods from lake sediments.
We are also interested in silicate samples such as glass sponges from the deep sea. We use these samples as an archive of information on past environmental conditions, such as climate, vegetation, landscape and the development of human activity. We can perform precise and sensitive analyses of trace elements and isotopes of these samples in our laboratory, using both a multi-collector and a single-collector ICP sector field mass spectrometer. Both instruments can be combined with Nd:YAG laser ablation systems with a wavelength of 193 nm or 213 nm for in-situ microanalysis at high spatial resolution of a few micrometers.
In addition, we are look at the chemistry and the development of the Earth's crust/mantle/core system, reference materials of geological, biological and environmental interest, for example the internationally used MPI-DING glasses which we produced and certified. The group has spent several years developing and maintaining the geochemical GeoReM database which is accessible to all on the Internet.
