Dr. Aisha Al Suwaidi started her academic journey with a BSc in Environmental Science at the University of Arizona, with an emphasis on Soil and Water science, followed by a MSc of Geology at the University of Kansas, USA. She completed her PhD in Earth Science at the University of Oxford, Oxford UK in 2012 before starting an Academic Position in Abu Dhabi, UAE where she is today.
Her main research interest is in exploring how the Earth adapted, recovered, and recorded major perturbations to the global carbon cycle and the time scales on which this happened.
Her research has emphasized the importance of understanding Southern Hemisphere records of climatic and environmental change in the Mesozoic and her PhD and MsC students continue to address this knowledge gap.
The Carnian Puvial Episode (CPE) - here we are exploring the latitudinal variability in the intensity and timing of this event (or series of events) using continental records from the Northern Hemisphere. We hope to shed light on how the intensity and the potential episodes within the event may have varied between latitudes, and examine the impact on global biogeochemical cycles.
Mid-Norian Manicouagan impact: Environmental responses and records of the impact. - Here we are exploring if the Manicouagan impact in North America triggered any major environmental or climatic responses, using continental records from Tasmania and the UK. The Manicouagan impact occurred around 214 Mya in the Norian, Late Triassic (1, 2). While the impact site itself has been relatively well studied, geochemical and sedimentological research that explores the potential global environmental and climatic repercussions of this impact are relatively limited (3).
Ramezani, J., S. A. Bowring, M. S. Pringle, F. D. Winslow, III, and E. T. Rasbury (2005). "The Manicouagan impact melt rock: a proposed standard for intercalibration of U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar isotopic systems". 15th V.M. Goldsmidt Conference Abstract Volume, p. A321.
Spray, John G.; Kelley, Simon P.; Rowley, David B. (1998). "Evidence for a late Triassic multiple impact event on Earth". Nature. 392 (6672): 171–173. Bibcode:1998Natur.392..171S. doi:10.1038/32397. S2CID 4413688
Rampino, M.R. and Caldeira, K., 2017. Correlation of the largest craters, stratigraphic impact signatures, and extinction events over the past 250 Myr. Geoscience Frontiers, 8(6), pp.1241-1245.
Carnian Pluvial Episode - a Paleo-Antarctic view of a changing world. Strong evidence of fire and fire related stress exists for the CPE in the Southern Hemisphere, evidence of the first amber and first coal seams since the Permo-Triassic mass extinction combined with evidence of coal within sections in Tasmania, suggest a complex relationship between intensified rain fall and wild fire activity. Combining biomarker geochemistry and sedimentology, this project explores the changes in the Paleo-Antarctic during this interval.
In addition to the above projects I am also actively involved in the following projects :
Recent Presentations at the European Geoscience Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria 2024
PhD opportunities in my group include the following projects:
Please do not hesitate to e-mail me to discuss PhD opportunities
