Biography
Megan is a PhD researcher in the Marine Geoscience spoke of iCRAG. Megan graduated with a BSc in Earth and Ocean Science from NUI Galway in 2017, after which, she studied an MSc in Physical Oceanography at Bangor University. Following the completion of this MSc in 2018, she joined iCRAG under the supervision of Dr. Audrey Morley at NUI Galway.
This research focuses on the network of currents in the Atlantic Ocean, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), and how it responds during periods of abrupt climate change. With the help of deep-sea sediment records, we can look back in time to these events, and determine the response of the AMOC. The AMOC directly affects the weather and climate of Ireland, and with Ireland feeling the effects of climate change today, it is vital that we understand precisely how the AMOC responds to climate change, to assess the associated risks for Ireland.
Technical description
The AMOC is a large-scale ocean circulation system comprised of a surface branch, which transports heat northwards (e.g. North Atlantic Current), and a deep-water branch; carrying cold water southwards (e.g. North Atlantic Deep Water). It plays a critical role in the climate system, especially for Ireland, which is particularly sensitive to AMOC changes as it is situated along the path of the North Atlantic Current. There is uncertainty however concerning the physical processes that control the strength of this circulation, and thus how it will respond to climate change. This project will use a multidisciplinary approach to determine the structure and response of both the surface and deep branch of the AMOC during different climatic boundary conditions. We will perform sedimentological and geochemical analysis of samples from high-resolution deep-sea sediment cores to assess the stability of the AMOC at different times in the past. This will allow us to identify triggers and thresholds that cause abrupt oceanographic changes that have hemispheric if not global climate repercussions. This will improve our understanding of the mechanisms linking the AMOC to abrupt climate events.
Role
- Postgraduate Researcher
Institution
- NUIG
Research Area
- Earth System Change
Expertise
- Environmental Geoscience
