USGS Scientists Caitlin Reynolds and Rosalie Cruikshank are aboard the R/V Pelican in the northern Gulf of America. They are preparing two sediment traps for deployment. Sediments are caught in the large area at the top of the funnels, then collected in a bottle at the bottom.
Caitlin Reynolds
Caitlin Reynolds is a Geologist at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Paleoceanographic Proxy Calibration
Paleoceanographic Proxy Calibration
A sediment trap time series in the northern Gulf of Mexico is used to better assess the control of environmental variables (e.g., temperature and salinity) on the flux of both microfossils and molecular fossils to the sediments.
Featured Publication
Featured Publication
Environmental controls on the geochemistry of Globorotalia truncatulinoides in the Gulf of Mexico: Implications for paleoceanographic reconstructions
My research primarily focuses on a climate history calibration study in the Gulf of Mexico. The goal is to provide a better understanding of current paleoenvironmental proxies, such as planktic foraminifera. Using a sediment trap mooring to collect foraminifera, we also analyze corresponding temperature and salinity data that is used for our modern calibration. The modern calibration and geochemistry can then be applied to records from deep-sea sediments collected over longer time scales. My favorite foraminifera is Globorotalia truncatulinoides!
I have also been lucky enough to be a part of various interdisciplinary field work studies in Mobile Bay, Seahorse Key, The Florida Keys, Dry Tortugas National Park and cruises on multiple large research vessels across the Gulf of Mexico.
Science and Products
APPROACH (APplying Proxy-based Reconstruction Of Atlantic Climate CHange)
USGS scientists use marine geological archives to investigate how ocean temperature, salinity and circulation patterns changed over the past few centuries to millennia. This is done by analyzing the geochemical and physical clues about past environments that are preserved in fossil coral skeletons, clam shells, foraminifera and marine sediments.
Paleoceanographic Proxy Calibration
A sediment trap time series in the northern Gulf of America is used to better assess the control of environmental variables (e.g., temperature and salinity) on the flux of both microfossils and molecular fossils to the sediments. The information gained from sediment trap studies is used to develop better proxy-based estimates of past oceanographic conditions from analyses of microfossils and...
Climate and Environmental Change in the Gulf of America and Caribbean
This project documents paleoceanographic, climatic, and environmental changes in the Gulf of America and adjacent land areas over the last 10,000 years. The paleoenvironmental data is used to determine rates of change in the past, and to better understand both the natural and anthropogenic factors that contribute to climate variability on inter-annual to millennial timescales.
USGS Scientists preparing Sediment Traps for deployment
USGS Scientists Caitlin Reynolds and Rosalie Cruikshank are aboard the R/V Pelican in the northern Gulf of America. They are preparing two sediment traps for deployment. Sediments are caught in the large area at the top of the funnels, then collected in a bottle at the bottom.
Scientist with sediment traps
Photograph of Caitlin Reynolds and the sediment traps from the Gulf of America aboard the R/V Weatherbird. Scientists collect and redeploy the mooring every 6-9 months.
Photograph of Caitlin Reynolds and the sediment traps from the Gulf of America aboard the R/V Weatherbird. Scientists collect and redeploy the mooring every 6-9 months.
Retrieving a sediment trap on the R/V Weatherbird II
Caitlin Reynolds retrieving one of the sediment traps used by USGS to study sediment flux in the Gulf of America on board the Research Vessel (R/V) Weatherbird II (Florida Institute of Oceanography).
Caitlin Reynolds retrieving one of the sediment traps used by USGS to study sediment flux in the Gulf of America on board the Research Vessel (R/V) Weatherbird II (Florida Institute of Oceanography).
Taking water samples from a CTD-rosette
Eckerd College students taking water samples from a CTD-rosette on board the R/V Weatherbird
Eckerd College students taking water samples from a CTD-rosette on board the R/V Weatherbird
Caitlin Reynolds collects samples from sediment trap
Here, Caitlin Reynolds sits on the R/V Pelican next to a sediment trap that collects samples in the Gulf of America.
Here, Caitlin Reynolds sits on the R/V Pelican next to a sediment trap that collects samples in the Gulf of America.
Science and Products
APPROACH (APplying Proxy-based Reconstruction Of Atlantic Climate CHange)
USGS scientists use marine geological archives to investigate how ocean temperature, salinity and circulation patterns changed over the past few centuries to millennia. This is done by analyzing the geochemical and physical clues about past environments that are preserved in fossil coral skeletons, clam shells, foraminifera and marine sediments.
Paleoceanographic Proxy Calibration
A sediment trap time series in the northern Gulf of America is used to better assess the control of environmental variables (e.g., temperature and salinity) on the flux of both microfossils and molecular fossils to the sediments. The information gained from sediment trap studies is used to develop better proxy-based estimates of past oceanographic conditions from analyses of microfossils and...
Climate and Environmental Change in the Gulf of America and Caribbean
This project documents paleoceanographic, climatic, and environmental changes in the Gulf of America and adjacent land areas over the last 10,000 years. The paleoenvironmental data is used to determine rates of change in the past, and to better understand both the natural and anthropogenic factors that contribute to climate variability on inter-annual to millennial timescales.
USGS Scientists preparing Sediment Traps for deployment
USGS Scientists Caitlin Reynolds and Rosalie Cruikshank are aboard the R/V Pelican in the northern Gulf of America. They are preparing two sediment traps for deployment. Sediments are caught in the large area at the top of the funnels, then collected in a bottle at the bottom.
USGS Scientists Caitlin Reynolds and Rosalie Cruikshank are aboard the R/V Pelican in the northern Gulf of America. They are preparing two sediment traps for deployment. Sediments are caught in the large area at the top of the funnels, then collected in a bottle at the bottom.
Scientist with sediment traps
Photograph of Caitlin Reynolds and the sediment traps from the Gulf of America aboard the R/V Weatherbird. Scientists collect and redeploy the mooring every 6-9 months.
Photograph of Caitlin Reynolds and the sediment traps from the Gulf of America aboard the R/V Weatherbird. Scientists collect and redeploy the mooring every 6-9 months.
Retrieving a sediment trap on the R/V Weatherbird II
Caitlin Reynolds retrieving one of the sediment traps used by USGS to study sediment flux in the Gulf of America on board the Research Vessel (R/V) Weatherbird II (Florida Institute of Oceanography).
Caitlin Reynolds retrieving one of the sediment traps used by USGS to study sediment flux in the Gulf of America on board the Research Vessel (R/V) Weatherbird II (Florida Institute of Oceanography).
Taking water samples from a CTD-rosette
Eckerd College students taking water samples from a CTD-rosette on board the R/V Weatherbird
Eckerd College students taking water samples from a CTD-rosette on board the R/V Weatherbird
Caitlin Reynolds collects samples from sediment trap
Here, Caitlin Reynolds sits on the R/V Pelican next to a sediment trap that collects samples in the Gulf of America.
Here, Caitlin Reynolds sits on the R/V Pelican next to a sediment trap that collects samples in the Gulf of America.