Paleoclimatology

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Interview with Lonnie Thompson, Distinguished University Professor at Ohio State University and Senior Scholar at the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center. Thompson describes the administrative history of the Byrd Center and he surveys his current field work in ice core drilling and the role of theory in his research. He provides his perspective on how humanity should respond to climate change and why natural climate fluctuations do not explain the current climate situation. Thompson recounts his childhood in West Virginia and the opportunities that allowed him to pursue a degree in physics at Marshall University. He discusses his graduate research at Ohio State in geophysics and geology while serving in the Army Reserves, and he describes how he developed the Byrd Center. Thompson describes his field work in China and Russia and the value of drilling across the planet. He discusses his work with Al Gore on An Inconvenient Truth and he conveys his feelings about winning the National Medal of Science. Thompson describes working with his wife Ellen Mosley-Thompson as his closest collaborator and what he has learned about conveying his scientific findings to the public. He reflects on the meaning of environmental heroism and the remaining field work that needs to be done after nearly 50 years of drilling. At the end of the interview, Thompson describes his current interest in finding and preserving biodiversity and why the next frontier for ice core drilling will be on Mars and beyond.

Born in Johnstown, NY on Dec. 26, 1933; discusses family life and childhood. Discusses his early interests in chemistry, physics, and astronomy; pursued scientific interests at Deerfield Academy. Describes his decision to go to Harvard during the McCarthy era; comments on his undergraduate education at Harvard, 1952-1956. Discusses his decision to major in geology; describes his geology coursework and summer field work in Colorado. Discusses his Navy service from 1956-58 and his travels during the International Geophysical Year; describes his decision to go to Ohio State for graduate school in geology. Comments on meeting other scientists through the Polar Institute; describes his growing interests in the Antarctic and how he came to his undergraduate thesis research. Discusses his post-graduate research at Columbia, Lamont, 196 1-1964; describes his coursework at Columbia and the teaching of Heezen, Wust, and Newell. Discusses how he became involved with the CLIMAP project; describes the collaborative nature of the CLIMAP research. Comments on the Emiliani/Ericson debate; compares the involvement of Lamont with Scripps and Woods Hole in the CLIMAP project.

Topics include his thesis work in radiocarbon dating; his relationship with Maurice Ewing and Lamont Geological Observatory; his work on in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s; CO2 research; Milankovitch cycles; GEOSECS; paleoclimatology; global warming; funding for research in climatology and oceanography; International Decade of Ocean Exploration; science and the U. S. government; the North Atlantic conveyor. Also includes discussion of politics and science; family background. Some prominently mentioned persons include: C. Emilian, Albert Gore, Jr., Frank Press, Willard Libby, Hans Suess.

Topics include his thesis work in radiocarbon dating; his relationship with Maurice Ewing and Lamont Geological Observatory; his work on in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s; CO2 research; Milankovitch cycles; GEOSECS; paleoclimatology; global warming; funding for research in climatology and oceanography; International Decade of Ocean Exploration; science and the U. S. government; the North Atlantic conveyor. Also includes discussion of politics and science; family background. Some prominently mentioned persons include: C. Emilian, Albert Gore, Jr., Frank Press, Willard Libby, Hans Suess.