Uncategorized – Page 8 – Marcus James Thomson, Ph.D.

Eocene extreme

About 50 Ma ago [CO2]_atmos was about 1000 ppm. The climate was radically different than it is today. This article in the Atlantic summarises the results of a study on a terrestrial proxy of temperature, which suggest that land surface temperature was greater than previously believed. This is interesting from a climate change perspective becauseContinue reading “Eocene extreme”

Presentation to Climates and Cultures: Perspectives for the Future conference put on by the Royal Academy of Overseas Sciences

Source: http://kaowarsom.be/en/album_climates_cultures

A one-person, packable lake coring rig

Abstract We designed and built a floating rig for coring top-level sediments on a small lake or pond. This rig was designed for ease of packing, assembly, and use by a 2-person team. It is light enough to be backed in by 2 people, assembled in 25 minutes, and used by one researcher to coreContinue reading “A one-person, packable lake coring rig”

A critical physical geography (CPG) analysis of climate modeling

My colleague (UCLA PhD Candidate Emma Colven) and I just collaborated on an examination of climate modelling from the perspective of a human and physical geographer. The manuscript, “Bridging the Divide between Human and Physical Geography: Potential Avenues for Collaborative Research on Climate Change”, is up for review now. From the introduction: “…we examine theContinue reading “A critical physical geography (CPG) analysis of climate modeling”

Map of Indian Corn production in the United States, from the 1880 Census

Source: Walker, F. A. and C. W. Seaton. 1883. Report of the Productions of Agriculture as Reported in the Tenth Census (June 1, 1880). Washington. p. 90-110.

Afternoon twilight sky over the winter market in Karlsplatz, Vienna

Looking up at the low-slung clouds as the sun sets over Vienna, Christmas Eve (or thereabouts) just last week. Viennese find ways to enjoy their winter days in spite of the darkness.

Wildfire in West Los Angeles

Images of the Skirball Fire as seen from the Expo Line and UCLA.

Egypt Again

We lived in Cairo for the first third of 2010. I went back to do fieldwork in the Fayoum in fall 2012, well after the revolution, but nearing the height of the Morsi government’s power (and unpopularity). I hadn’t been back since. I went for several days at the end of November to the startContinue reading “Egypt Again”