9. planet and the beauty that it presented. However, I also knew it
was important to understand it in order to be able to preserve it.
As I have gotten older, the climate issue and the state of the
planet has started to become more and more prominent. My
interests were sprouted from my youth and heightened from
present day issues. This led me to pursue my undergraduate
studies in Earth Science in order to obtain a better
understanding about our planet’s various processes and the
connections between them. My time at the University of
California, has inspired me to look further into and study the
climate in order to be able to predict the future of our planet.
The first class of my junior year was Paleoclimatology
which allowed me to become both inspired and impressed. This
class gave me a different perspective on the climate issue. I
understood that in order to understand the future of the planet,
it was more important to know its past. As a class, we visited
the Sea Floor Drilling Laboratory on the scripps campus. When
we were taken into the refrigerated archive rooms, I was amazed
by the hundreds of samples lying from the floor to the ceiling.
It was a collaboration brought about from different parts of the
world, working together to understand how the climate has
changed and fluctuated in the past. Even as the quarter went by,
it was incredible to see how much detail scientists were able to
find through chemical proxies and how far back in time they
were able to date. Seeing the data both preserved physically and
explained on paper encouraged me to continue studying
Paleoclimatology.
My undergraduate academics and the knowledge I have
obtained has further encouraged me to pursue a Master’s degree
through the BS/MS continuous program here at the Scripps
Institution of Oceanography. By further enhancing my
knowledge of paleoclimatology I hope to find more moments in
history such as the Paleocene Eocene Boundary through data
collected from sedimentary cores. Specifically, I would like to
compare sedimentary cores of modern day foraminifera to those
of the PETM. The PETM itself has become an important
10. analogy for the overall warming we have experienced today.
The rapid increase in carbon dioxide caused major changes on
our planet. The fossil fuels emitted into the atmosphere have the
same effects that they had 55 Mya during that time. By
analyzing these two layers in the sedimentary cores, we would
be able to understand both the temperature and overall
environmental conditions in both scenarios. Through this
research, I hope to be able to find their similarities and
differences in order to be able to make better predictions for the
planet’s future. (be specific here)
From the creation of the Keeling curve to research on ice
cores, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography has become one
of the primary centers for climate research (put yourself here).
Most importantly, because of the Deep Sea Drilling Laboratory
in addition to the plentiful data available, Scripps would be the
best place to advance knowledge on the PETM and modern day
climate change. With the guidance of professors such as Dr.
Teranes and Dr. Severinghaus both of whom are making
incredible advancements in the subject of paleoclimatology, it
would be encouraging and inspiring to complete my own
research. By being in the right place with like minded people,
advancements in paleoclimatology can be made to better
understand our planet’s most impactful processes.
(By researching about today’s climate and comparing it to
the PETM, people will be able to better understand what the
planet’s conditions will look like in the next five, ten, or even
hundreds of years. Climate change has become an issue that
requires action and knowledge. I hope to be able to provide
insight for other scientists and others in making sure our planet
is able to be preserved for the future. )