Uncovering Clues to Climate Change in Ancient Forests

Can plants of the past provide clues as to what Earth may look like in a not-too-distant 未来? To find out, 瑞秋 Morgen ‘26, under the mentorship of Joseph Milligan, assistant professor of environmental studies, spent the summer using plant fossils to reconstruct the canopy cover of our planet millions of years ago. Through the hands-on research they hope to offer crucial insights into how our planet might respond to 未来 climate 改变.

 

"Canopy cover is like the skin of the Earth," explained Milligan. "It influences everything from rainfall patterns to biodiversity. By studying ancient forests, we can understand how these ecosystems responded to past climate shifts and potentially predict 未来 变化."

Morgen and Milligan’s research focuses on the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a period of rapid global warming that occurred about 56 million years ago. 通过检查 the size and shape of leaf cells preserved in fossil plants of that period, they are able to piece together a picture of the forest canopy during this critical time. 他们的 findings suggest that the Earth's canopy cover during the PETM was significantly lower than it is today, indicating a more sensitive climate system. The discovery could have profound implications for understanding how the planet might react to rising temperatures in the 未来.

Morgen, whose interest for the project stems from her combined passions for environmental history, climate 改变 and earth science, likened the process to being a detective.

“We're using these tiny clues from the past to solve a much bigger puzzle about our planet’s 未来,” Morgen said excitedly.

部分 Toll Summer Research Program, Morgen and Milligan’s collaboration is an example of the kind of groundbreaking research that can emerge from undergraduate studies. 他们的 work is not only shedding light on the Earth's distant past but also providing crucial insights into our planet's uncertain 未来.

The research took Morgen to Bighorn Bend, a floodplain in northwest Wyoming near the Montana border which is rife with river deposited sediment. There she camped alongside other researchers and examined the fossils in the area, which offers “one of the best preserved and most detailed terrestrial record of the PETM,” according to Morgen. 

“I've loved every part of this experience, but especially having the opportunity to talk to and learn from so many experts in the field,” said the 弯曲,俄勒冈州 native. “I also loved camping in Wyoming and getting to see how our samples were collected 第一手.”

"瑞秋's work is a testament to the power of undergraduate research," said Milligan. "Her ability to dive into complex scientific questions and produce meaningful results is truly inspiring."

An environmental science and physics major with a minor in earth and planetary science, Morgen plans to continue exploring this field after studying abroad in Scotland in 秋天.

"I hope to present my findings at a conference in the spring and eventually publish my research," she said. "Ultimately, I want to use my knowledge to help mitigate the impacts of climate 改变."

- Dominique Ellis Falcon