James Rae
@mudwaterclimate.bsky.social
Climate scientist and geochemist
@UnivofStAndrews
| CO2 & ocean circulation past & present | Social & Environmental justice
@UnivofStAndrews
| CO2 & ocean circulation past & present | Social & Environmental justice
This likely acted in concert with other processes (changes in winds, circulation, sea ice, iron) to draw down CO2 during the ice ages.
It can also explain why biogeochemical records from the North Pacific and Southern Ocean share similar structure (Haug & Sigman‘s “polar twins” 👯)
It can also explain why biogeochemical records from the North Pacific and Southern Ocean share similar structure (Haug & Sigman‘s “polar twins” 👯)
September 17, 2025 at 5:50 PM
This likely acted in concert with other processes (changes in winds, circulation, sea ice, iron) to draw down CO2 during the ice ages.
It can also explain why biogeochemical records from the North Pacific and Southern Ocean share similar structure (Haug & Sigman‘s “polar twins” 👯)
It can also explain why biogeochemical records from the North Pacific and Southern Ocean share similar structure (Haug & Sigman‘s “polar twins” 👯)
Notably, this is achieved without any change in Southern Ocean upwelling, sea ice or iron supply - it’s simply the result of having less carbon in the upwelled water.
September 17, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Notably, this is achieved without any change in Southern Ocean upwelling, sea ice or iron supply - it’s simply the result of having less carbon in the upwelled water.
The consequence - shown here - is that less CO2 would be delivered to the Southern Ocean. This by itself reduces Southern Ocean CO2 outgassing by as much as 50%.
September 17, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The consequence - shown here - is that less CO2 would be delivered to the Southern Ocean. This by itself reduces Southern Ocean CO2 outgassing by as much as 50%.
In previous papers we and others have shown that these intermediate depth N Pacific waters were better ventilated during glacial periods (e.g. figure here from Rae 2020 and see also Rafter 2022 and Keigwin 1998 among others!) www.science.org/doi/full/10....
September 17, 2025 at 5:50 PM
In previous papers we and others have shown that these intermediate depth N Pacific waters were better ventilated during glacial periods (e.g. figure here from Rae 2020 and see also Rafter 2022 and Keigwin 1998 among others!) www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Part of the inspiration for this study was an interesting paper by Haidi Chen showing that much of the CO2 outgassed in the Southern Ocean today is sourced from the intermediate depth North Pacific. As these waters are old and CO2 rich they have huge outgassing potential (red colours below).
September 17, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Part of the inspiration for this study was an interesting paper by Haidi Chen showing that much of the CO2 outgassed in the Southern Ocean today is sourced from the intermediate depth North Pacific. As these waters are old and CO2 rich they have huge outgassing potential (red colours below).
More relevant for fossil fuel CO2 are rapid external carbon additions from large igneous provinces and the organic material they often burn up - consistently linked to mass extinction in the geological record www.nature.com/articles/s41...
August 4, 2025 at 10:05 AM
More relevant for fossil fuel CO2 are rapid external carbon additions from large igneous provinces and the organic material they often burn up - consistently linked to mass extinction in the geological record www.nature.com/articles/s41...
These data demonstrate that ocean acidification is associated with all of the major mass extinctions where we currently have pH reconstructions. The TJ pH drop is similar to possible scenarios in 2100 unless fossil fuel emissions are rapidly reduced. 🐚🌊📉.
July 15, 2025 at 3:57 AM
These data demonstrate that ocean acidification is associated with all of the major mass extinctions where we currently have pH reconstructions. The TJ pH drop is similar to possible scenarios in 2100 unless fossil fuel emissions are rapidly reduced. 🐚🌊📉.
Faster carbon input at the extinction (indicated by its more rapid carbon isotope excursion) would have led to more pronounced acidification impacts, in particular due to the lack of a deep sea carbonate buffer (read oceanic anti-acid) - indeed this may partly explain this era's major extinctions
July 15, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Faster carbon input at the extinction (indicated by its more rapid carbon isotope excursion) would have led to more pronounced acidification impacts, in particular due to the lack of a deep sea carbonate buffer (read oceanic anti-acid) - indeed this may partly explain this era's major extinctions
Our new boron data cover the "Main" carbon isotope excursion, just after the end-Triassic extinction event. Comparing the carbon and boron isotopes allows us to fingerprint a volcanic carbon source from the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province as the Atlantic opened up.
July 15, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Our new boron data cover the "Main" carbon isotope excursion, just after the end-Triassic extinction event. Comparing the carbon and boron isotopes allows us to fingerprint a volcanic carbon source from the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province as the Atlantic opened up.
🚨New paper just out on environmental upset at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary🚨
Using boron isotopes in fossil oysters, we find a major pulse of ocean acidification and CO2 rise, driving global warming and delaying ecosystem recovery following the end-Triassic mass extinction
rdcu.be/ev6XV
🧪🌊⚒️🐚🧵
Using boron isotopes in fossil oysters, we find a major pulse of ocean acidification and CO2 rise, driving global warming and delaying ecosystem recovery following the end-Triassic mass extinction
rdcu.be/ev6XV
🧪🌊⚒️🐚🧵
July 15, 2025 at 3:57 AM
🚨New paper just out on environmental upset at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary🚨
Using boron isotopes in fossil oysters, we find a major pulse of ocean acidification and CO2 rise, driving global warming and delaying ecosystem recovery following the end-Triassic mass extinction
rdcu.be/ev6XV
🧪🌊⚒️🐚🧵
Using boron isotopes in fossil oysters, we find a major pulse of ocean acidification and CO2 rise, driving global warming and delaying ecosystem recovery following the end-Triassic mass extinction
rdcu.be/ev6XV
🧪🌊⚒️🐚🧵
This work helps better constrain a good chunk of the geological history of CO2 - but plenty more time intervals to come!
January 6, 2025 at 5:44 PM
This work helps better constrain a good chunk of the geological history of CO2 - but plenty more time intervals to come!
Kudos to @uniofstandrews.bsky.social research fellow Hana Jurikova for leading this massive collaborative project, Ross Whiteford for developing novel calculation methods, and brilliant collaborators who contributed all sorts of samples and expertise - plus amazing geological artwork
January 6, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Kudos to @uniofstandrews.bsky.social research fellow Hana Jurikova for leading this massive collaborative project, Ross Whiteford for developing novel calculation methods, and brilliant collaborators who contributed all sorts of samples and expertise - plus amazing geological artwork
Nice thing about an 0830 sunrise is it’s easier to enjoy! Absolute beauty in St Andrews this morning.
December 12, 2024 at 11:02 AM
Nice thing about an 0830 sunrise is it’s easier to enjoy! Absolute beauty in St Andrews this morning.
Today my amazing colleague, lab mate, and partner @oceanicandrea.bsky.social officially became the first female Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences @uniofstandrews.bsky.social.
Let’s make sure it doesn’t take another 611 years to get the next
⚒️🧪🌊👩🏻🔬
Let’s make sure it doesn’t take another 611 years to get the next
⚒️🧪🌊👩🏻🔬
December 3, 2024 at 3:13 PM
Today my amazing colleague, lab mate, and partner @oceanicandrea.bsky.social officially became the first female Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences @uniofstandrews.bsky.social.
Let’s make sure it doesn’t take another 611 years to get the next
⚒️🧪🌊👩🏻🔬
Let’s make sure it doesn’t take another 611 years to get the next
⚒️🧪🌊👩🏻🔬
Yeah great point! Didn’t quite get there but great to see a solid 20 GW for the last couple days (e.g. green line below).
Also amazing how even at this time of year and latitude solar (yellow) can take a decent bite out of gas (orange) during the day.
☀️💨⚡️
grid.iamkate.com
Also amazing how even at this time of year and latitude solar (yellow) can take a decent bite out of gas (orange) during the day.
☀️💨⚡️
grid.iamkate.com
November 25, 2024 at 9:46 PM
Yeah great point! Didn’t quite get there but great to see a solid 20 GW for the last couple days (e.g. green line below).
Also amazing how even at this time of year and latitude solar (yellow) can take a decent bite out of gas (orange) during the day.
☀️💨⚡️
grid.iamkate.com
Also amazing how even at this time of year and latitude solar (yellow) can take a decent bite out of gas (orange) during the day.
☀️💨⚡️
grid.iamkate.com
Wind generation now at 21.78 GW
Record is 21.81 GW sustained over 30 mins last December, so getting close!
Can check individual wind farms at excellent GB Renewables map below
💨⚡️🔌🧪⚒️
renewables-map.robinhawkes.com#4.25/54.2/-1...
Record is 21.81 GW sustained over 30 mins last December, so getting close!
Can check individual wind farms at excellent GB Renewables map below
💨⚡️🔌🧪⚒️
renewables-map.robinhawkes.com#4.25/54.2/-1...
November 23, 2024 at 10:36 AM
Wind generation now at 21.78 GW
Record is 21.81 GW sustained over 30 mins last December, so getting close!
Can check individual wind farms at excellent GB Renewables map below
💨⚡️🔌🧪⚒️
renewables-map.robinhawkes.com#4.25/54.2/-1...
Record is 21.81 GW sustained over 30 mins last December, so getting close!
Can check individual wind farms at excellent GB Renewables map below
💨⚡️🔌🧪⚒️
renewables-map.robinhawkes.com#4.25/54.2/-1...
With today’s high winds there’s potential to break the UK wind power generation record which stands at 21 GW.
Generation currently at 20.2 GW (65% of total UK generation) and building!
grid.iamkate.com
Generation currently at 20.2 GW (65% of total UK generation) and building!
grid.iamkate.com
November 23, 2024 at 8:08 AM
With today’s high winds there’s potential to break the UK wind power generation record which stands at 21 GW.
Generation currently at 20.2 GW (65% of total UK generation) and building!
grid.iamkate.com
Generation currently at 20.2 GW (65% of total UK generation) and building!
grid.iamkate.com
November 23, 2024 at 8:08 AM
Major fanboy moment last night meeting Octopus founder and CEO and all round energy transition champion Greg Jackson! Super fun chat on CO2 and climate.
NB - thanks to Octopus flexible tariff I can fill up the 280 miles range on my Kia for £4.50!!!
(And I obvs told him to get onto Bluesky) 🐙 ⚡️🔌🚗
NB - thanks to Octopus flexible tariff I can fill up the 280 miles range on my Kia for £4.50!!!
(And I obvs told him to get onto Bluesky) 🐙 ⚡️🔌🚗
November 16, 2024 at 1:02 PM
Major fanboy moment last night meeting Octopus founder and CEO and all round energy transition champion Greg Jackson! Super fun chat on CO2 and climate.
NB - thanks to Octopus flexible tariff I can fill up the 280 miles range on my Kia for £4.50!!!
(And I obvs told him to get onto Bluesky) 🐙 ⚡️🔌🚗
NB - thanks to Octopus flexible tariff I can fill up the 280 miles range on my Kia for £4.50!!!
(And I obvs told him to get onto Bluesky) 🐙 ⚡️🔌🚗
Nice nerdy contribution for geochemistry peeps - we use a new sequential leaching method to get accurate carbonate d11B from mixed matrix samples, demonstrated by getting true d11B from a coral, even when we filled the sample with clay! 🧪🌊⚒️ agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
October 25, 2024 at 11:23 AM
Nice nerdy contribution for geochemistry peeps - we use a new sequential leaching method to get accurate carbonate d11B from mixed matrix samples, demonstrated by getting true d11B from a coral, even when we filled the sample with clay! 🧪🌊⚒️ agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Absolute scenes in Cellardyke!
October 10, 2024 at 11:29 PM
Absolute scenes in Cellardyke!
Northern lights over Scotland tonight - this is from outside our house in Cellardyke
October 10, 2024 at 9:46 PM
Northern lights over Scotland tonight - this is from outside our house in Cellardyke
Leading a field trip on my birthday and students told me they’d found a really interesting deep sea worm they wanted me to check out. Opened the crate and found… a cake!
(Only slightly gutted it wasn’t a worm)
⚒️🌊🧪
(Only slightly gutted it wasn’t a worm)
⚒️🌊🧪
September 11, 2024 at 8:31 PM
Leading a field trip on my birthday and students told me they’d found a really interesting deep sea worm they wanted me to check out. Opened the crate and found… a cake!
(Only slightly gutted it wasn’t a worm)
⚒️🌊🧪
(Only slightly gutted it wasn’t a worm)
⚒️🌊🧪
Speaking today at #Challenger2024 on major changes in ocean circulation and biogeochemistry - if you can’t make it to the Changing Ocean session key points are in the pic below!
September 3, 2024 at 8:18 AM
Speaking today at #Challenger2024 on major changes in ocean circulation and biogeochemistry - if you can’t make it to the Changing Ocean session key points are in the pic below!
🚨St Andrews Earth & Environmental Sciences is hiring!🚨
Lecturer (Assist. Prof) in
Earth Surface Processes. Areas could include sedimentary environments, processes, geology, geomorphology, stratigraphy, CCS, natural haz, or many more!
Closes 17 July
www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Lecturer (Assist. Prof) in
Earth Surface Processes. Areas could include sedimentary environments, processes, geology, geomorphology, stratigraphy, CCS, natural haz, or many more!
Closes 17 July
www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
June 13, 2024 at 10:08 PM
🚨St Andrews Earth & Environmental Sciences is hiring!🚨
Lecturer (Assist. Prof) in
Earth Surface Processes. Areas could include sedimentary environments, processes, geology, geomorphology, stratigraphy, CCS, natural haz, or many more!
Closes 17 July
www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Lecturer (Assist. Prof) in
Earth Surface Processes. Areas could include sedimentary environments, processes, geology, geomorphology, stratigraphy, CCS, natural haz, or many more!
Closes 17 July
www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...