John Barron, Ph.D.
John is a Scientist Emeritus with the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science center in Menlo Park, CA.
John is a marine micropaleontologist (diatoms) with expertise in and biostratigraphy and paleoceanography. His biostratigraphic expertise extends from the Late Cretaceous to the Holocene, with an emphasis on the North Pacific, eastern equatorial Pacific, and Southern Ocean. John's paleoclimate expertise is mostly on the Holocene of the North Pacific, ranging from the Gulf of California to the Gulf of Alaska. As an Emeritus Research Geologist, his research is directed toward developing and comparing Holocene sea surface temperature records in these eastern North Pacific regions with hydroclimate records in western North America and suggesting links.
Professional Experience
2012- 2016 (June) - Project Chief, Pacific Ocean Climate Variability: Effects on North American Precipitation Patterns Project, Climate and Land Use Change, Research & Development Program
1995-1997 – Project Chief: Pliocene, Research, Interpretation, and Synoptic Mapping(PRISM), Global Change & Climate History Program, Volcano Hazards Team, Menlo Park
1984-1995 – Project Chief and micropaleontologist of various USGS biochronology projects providing support to USGS mapping projects, Paleontology & Stratigraphy Branch
1974-1983 –Micropaleontolgist (diatoms), Paleontology & Stratigraphy Branch
Scientific Cruise Experience
Deep Sea Drilling Project (Leg 57-Japan; 63 (California margin; 85 (eastern equatorial Pacific); micropaleontologist
Ocean Drilling Project 119 (Antarctic margin, Indian Ocean; Co-Chief Scientist), 145 (North Pacific transect, micropaleotologist).
Education and Certifications
1969 BS (Geology), University of California, Los Angeles
1974 PhD (Geology), University of California, Los Angeles
Honors and Awards
2011 - The Brady Medal of the Micropalaeological Society (UK)
1994 - U.S. Dept. of Interior Meritorious Service Award
1986 - Charles Schuchert Award - from the Paleontological Society for excellence and promise in paleontology for scientists under 40 years old
Science and Products
Pliocene paleoclimatic interpretation of DSDP Site 580 (NW Pacific) using diatoms
Eocene diatom chert from Adak Island, Alaska
Late cretaceous pelagic sediments, volcanic ASH and biotas from near the Louisville hotspot, Pacific Plate, paleolatitude ∼42°S
Diatom stratigraphy of the Monterey Formation and related rocks, San Jose 30' by 60' Quadrangle, California
Neogene stratigraphy, foraminifera, diatoms, and depositional history of Maria Madre Island, Mexico: Evidence of early Neogene marine conditions in the southern Gulf of California
Oligocene marine diatoms recovered in dredge samples from the Navarin Basin Province, Bering Sea
International society for diatom research founded 1985
Paleoceanographic and tectonic controls on deposition of the Monterey formation and related siliceous rocks in California
Paleontologic data on the age of the Orca Group, Alaska
Correlation of the middle eocene Kellogg Shale of northern California
Quantitative microfossil, sedimentologic, and geochemical data on core L13-81-G138 and surface samples from the continental shelf and slope off Northern California
Quantitative microfossil, sedimentologic, and geochemical data on cores V1-80-P3, V1-80-G1, and V1-80-P8 from the continental slope off Northern California
Science and Products
- Science
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 114
Pliocene paleoclimatic interpretation of DSDP Site 580 (NW Pacific) using diatoms
High-resolution quantitative diatom data are tabulated for the early part of the late Pliocene (3.25 to 2.08 Ma) at DSDP Site 580 in the northwestern Pacific. Sample spacing averages 11 k.y. between 3.1 and 2.8 Ma, but increases to 14 to 19 k.y. prior to 3.1 Ma and after 2.8 Ma. Q-mode factor analysis of the middle Pliocene assemblage reveals four factors which explain 92.4% of the total varianceAuthorsJ.A. BarronEocene diatom chert from Adak Island, Alaska
Bedded quartz cherts that contain recognizable diatoms are rare in the geologic record and are described here for the first time. The Eocene Andrew Lake Formation on Adak Island, Alaska consists of about 800 m of sedimentary and volcanogenic rocks. Quartz cherts containing diatoms occur in the upper part of the Andrew Lake Formation and crop out on the northern part of the island. The quartz chertAuthorsJames R. Hein, Hseuh-Wen Yeh, John A. BarronLate cretaceous pelagic sediments, volcanic ASH and biotas from near the Louisville hotspot, Pacific Plate, paleolatitude ∼42°S
Dredging on the deep inner slope of the Tonga Trench, immediately north of the intersection between the Louisville Ridge hotspot chain and the trench, recovered some Late Cretaceous (Maestrichtian) slightly tuffaceous pelagic sediments. They are inferred to have been scraped off a recently subducted Late Cretaceous guyot of the Louisville chain. In the vicinity of the Louisville hotspot (present lAuthorsPeter F. Ballance, John A. Barron, Charles D. Blome, David Bukry, Peter A. Cawood, George C.H. Chaproniere, Robyn Frisch, Richard H. Herzer, Campbell S. Nelson, Paula Quinterno, Holly F. Ryan, David W. Scholl, Andrew J. Stevenson, David G. Tappin, Tracy L. VallierDiatom stratigraphy of the Monterey Formation and related rocks, San Jose 30' by 60' Quadrangle, California
No abstract available.AuthorsJ.A. BarronNeogene stratigraphy, foraminifera, diatoms, and depositional history of Maria Madre Island, Mexico: Evidence of early Neogene marine conditions in the southern Gulf of California
Foraminifera and diatoms have been analyzed from an upper Miocene through Pleistocene(?) sequence of marine sediments exposed on Maria Madre Island, largest of the Tre??s Marias Islands off the Pacific coast of Mexico. The Neogene stratigraphic sequence exposed on Maria Madre Island includes a mid-Miocene(?) non-marine and/or shallow marine sandstone unconformably overlain by a lower upper MioceneAuthorsC. McCloy, J.C. Ingle, J.A. BarronOligocene marine diatoms recovered in dredge samples from the Navarin Basin Province, Bering Sea
No abstract available.AuthorsJack G. Baldauf, John A. BarronInternational society for diatom research founded 1985
No abstract available.AuthorsF. Gasse, G. R. Hasle, George W. Andrews, H. Simola, G. A. Fryxell, John A. BarronPaleoceanographic and tectonic controls on deposition of the Monterey formation and related siliceous rocks in California
The timing of paleoceanographic and tectonic events that shaped the deposition of the Monterey Formation of California and related siliceous rocks has been determined by application of a refined biochronology. The base of the Monterey at 17.5 Ma coincides with rising global sea level and a switch in biogenous silica deposition from the Caribbean and low-latitude North Atlantic to the North PacificAuthorsJ.A. BarronPaleontologic data on the age of the Orca Group, Alaska
No abstract available.AuthorsGeorge Plafker, Gerta Keller, J.A. Barron, J. R. BluefordCorrelation of the middle eocene Kellogg Shale of northern California
The Kellogg Shale of northern California has traditionally been considered to be late Eocene in age on the basis of benthic foraminifer, radiolarian, and diatom correlations. The 30-m-thick Kellogg section exposed west of Byron, California, however, contains middle Eocene planktonic foraminifers (Zone P12), coccoliths (Subzones CP13c and CP14a), silicoflagellates (Dictyocha hexacantha Zone), and dAuthorsJohn A. Barron, David Bukry, Richard Z. PooreQuantitative microfossil, sedimentologic, and geochemical data on core L13-81-G138 and surface samples from the continental shelf and slope off Northern California
No abstract available.AuthorsJ.V. Gardner, J.A. Barron, W.E. Dean, L.E. Heusser, R. Z. Poore, Paula Quinterno, S.M. Stone, C.R. WilsonQuantitative microfossil, sedimentologic, and geochemical data on cores V1-80-P3, V1-80-G1, and V1-80-P8 from the continental slope off Northern California
No abstract available.AuthorsJames V. Gardner, J.A. Barron, W.E. Dean, L.E. Heusser, D.H. Klise, R. Z. Poore, P. J. Quinterno, S.M. Stone - News