USGS scientist BJ Reynolds holds half of a Mercenaria spp. clamshell found by wading in shallow waters of South Tampa Bay, Florida.
Madelyn J. Mette, Ph.D.
My research aims to understand the impacts and variability of North Atlantic surface currents and rapid climate changes of the recent past (Late Holocene). Trained in the methods of sclerochronology, I measure the physical and chemical properties within the shells of marine bivalves as proxies for past environmental variability.
I completed a B.A. in Geology at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, a Ph.D. in Geology (co-major in Environmental Science) at Iowa State University, and a postdoc at NORCE Norwegian Research Centre and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research in Bergen, Norway. I joined the Corals and Paleoclimate research group at USGS in 2020 to contribute to the study of climate variability and ocean circulation through reconstruction of past environments, specializing in sclerochronological tools applied to bivalve mollusk proxy archives.
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.
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 scientist holding clam
USGS scientist BJ Reynolds holds half of a Mercenaria spp. clamshell found by wading in shallow waters of South Tampa Bay, Florida.
Lineup of shells collected from along Florida coastline
Various species of bivalve shells with potential to serve as environmental proxy archives. The shells will be studied to understand their lifespan and geochemical properties.
Various species of bivalve shells with potential to serve as environmental proxy archives. The shells will be studied to understand their lifespan and geochemical properties.
Maddie Mette Showing a Coral Core at the 2023 St. Petersburg Science Festival
Maddie Mette holds up a slice from a coral core in front of a group of students at the 2023 St. Petersburg Science Festival. For more than 10 years, the St. Petersburg Science Festival has celebrated STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) activities with elementary school children and the public over a two-day event.
Maddie Mette holds up a slice from a coral core in front of a group of students at the 2023 St. Petersburg Science Festival. For more than 10 years, the St. Petersburg Science Festival has celebrated STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) activities with elementary school children and the public over a two-day event.
Corals and Climate Group at the 2023 St. Petersburg Science Festival
Sophie Chernoch, Sierra Bloomer, and Maddie Mette show how the layers of coral can be used to extract the age of a coral as well as the history of environmental conditions throughout its life at the 2023 St. Petersburg Science Festival. For more than 10 years, the St.
Sophie Chernoch, Sierra Bloomer, and Maddie Mette show how the layers of coral can be used to extract the age of a coral as well as the history of environmental conditions throughout its life at the 2023 St. Petersburg Science Festival. For more than 10 years, the St.
Arctica islandica shells
Three Arctica islandica shells that have been washed and set out to dry.
Three Arctica islandica shells that have been washed and set out to dry.
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.
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 scientist holding clam
USGS scientist BJ Reynolds holds half of a Mercenaria spp. clamshell found by wading in shallow waters of South Tampa Bay, Florida.
USGS scientist BJ Reynolds holds half of a Mercenaria spp. clamshell found by wading in shallow waters of South Tampa Bay, Florida.
Lineup of shells collected from along Florida coastline
Various species of bivalve shells with potential to serve as environmental proxy archives. The shells will be studied to understand their lifespan and geochemical properties.
Various species of bivalve shells with potential to serve as environmental proxy archives. The shells will be studied to understand their lifespan and geochemical properties.
Maddie Mette Showing a Coral Core at the 2023 St. Petersburg Science Festival
Maddie Mette holds up a slice from a coral core in front of a group of students at the 2023 St. Petersburg Science Festival. For more than 10 years, the St. Petersburg Science Festival has celebrated STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) activities with elementary school children and the public over a two-day event.
Maddie Mette holds up a slice from a coral core in front of a group of students at the 2023 St. Petersburg Science Festival. For more than 10 years, the St. Petersburg Science Festival has celebrated STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) activities with elementary school children and the public over a two-day event.
Corals and Climate Group at the 2023 St. Petersburg Science Festival
Sophie Chernoch, Sierra Bloomer, and Maddie Mette show how the layers of coral can be used to extract the age of a coral as well as the history of environmental conditions throughout its life at the 2023 St. Petersburg Science Festival. For more than 10 years, the St.
Sophie Chernoch, Sierra Bloomer, and Maddie Mette show how the layers of coral can be used to extract the age of a coral as well as the history of environmental conditions throughout its life at the 2023 St. Petersburg Science Festival. For more than 10 years, the St.
Arctica islandica shells
Three Arctica islandica shells that have been washed and set out to dry.
Three Arctica islandica shells that have been washed and set out to dry.