Dr. Richard E. Zeebe_ zeebe@soest.hawaii.edu
Professor
Department of Oceanography
University of Hawaii at Manoa



Research. The research conducted in my group focuses on element cycling in the ocean, atmosphere and biosphere. This includes greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and its impact on Earth's climate in the past present and future. One of our currently funded projects investigates the effects of invasion of man-made carbon dioxide in the world's ocean, termed ocean acidification. Many of these issues require a good understanding of the carbon cycle and of the chemistry of dissolved carbon dioxide in the ocean, see our book on CO2 in seawater.
We also study the climate of the past in order to improve understanding and forecasting of future climate, following the premise: "The past as the key to the future". This includes reconstruction and modeling of past climate episodes such as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) as well as validation of so-called paleo-proxies. These are climate indicators recovered from deep-sea sediments or polar ice cores which need to be interpreted properly, just like an ancient language. The tools we use to address these questions range from molecular theory and laboratory experiments to global carbon cycle models. More details on these themes can be found under Projects:


Education. Our department offers a graduate degree program in Oceanography which ranks among the top 10 in the nation (see SOEST, Star Bulletin). More information for students is available here: UH Oceanography, Na Kama Kai (graduate student organization). Graduate and undergraduate students work on projects in my group. I am also teaching at both levels: graduate and undergraduate classes.

.


Research Grants.

National Science Foundation. Collaborative Research: Establishing the magnitude and duration of sea-surface acidification during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, NSF: OCE12-2060. (Multiple Institutions), PI at University of Hawaii: Zeebe, R. E. Funding Period: 09/2012-08/2015. Amount: $207000.

National Science Foundation. "Understanding paleo-climate tools: Effects of carbonic anhydrase and Mg on oxygen isotopes in dissolved and solid carbonate." NSF: OCE09-27089. PI: Zeebe, R. E., Funding Period: 08/2009-07/2013. Amount: $249000.

National Science Foundation. "Early Detection of Ocean Acidification Effects on Marine Calcification and Deep-Sea Carbonate Dissolution." NSF: OCE07-51959, PI: Zeebe, R. E., Funding Period: 03/2008-08/2013. Amount: $369000.

National Science Foundation. "Collaborative Research: Reconstructing deep sea acidification during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum." NSF: OCE09-02869. (Multiple Institutions), PI at University of Hawaii: Zeebe, R. E., Funding Period: 07/2009-06/2012. Amount: $165000.

National Science Foundation. "Collaborative Research: Dynamics of carbon release and sequestration; Case studies of two early Eocene hyperthermals." NSF: EAR06-28394 (Multiple Institutions), PI at University of Hawaii: Zeebe, R. E., Funding Period: 09/2006-08/2010. Amount: $214000.

Department of Energy. "The future of marine calcification: Forecasting global carbon fluxes and atmospheric CO2 concentrations." DOE: DE-FG02-06ER64077, PI: Zeebe, R. E. Funding Period: 11/2005-10/2008. Amount: $313000.

National Science Foundation. "Deciphering climate archives: Establishing the inorganic basis of an isotope fractionation phenomenon in biogenic CaCO3." NSF: OCE05-25647, PI: Zeebe, R. E. Funding Period: 08/2005-07/2009. Amount: $243000.

Dr. Richard E. Zeebe
Department of Oceanography
University of Hawaii at Manoa
1000 Pope Road
Marine Sciences Building 504
Honolulu, HI 96822
fon (808) 956-6473
fax (808) 956-7112
zeebe@soest.hawaii.edu