Kyger Lohmann

Kyger Lohmann is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Michigan, part of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. He holds a Ph.D. in Geology from SUNY Stony Brook (1977). His research focuses on sedimentology, geochemistry, and paleoclimate, with emphasis on reconstructing ancient climates through isotopic and geochemical analyses of geological materials.

His work spans topics such as the role of tectonic events (e.g., Drake Passage opening) in Miocene climate, noble gas tracers in groundwater systems, and the climatic impacts of Deccan Traps volcanism and meteorite impacts. Lohmann has contributed to studies on Last Interglacial meltwater pulses using clumped isotope analysis of Bermudan mollusk shells, as well as Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) events and Late Cretaceous oceanography.

Key research themes include:

• Paleoclimate reconstruction using clumped isotopes and stable isotopes
• Geochemical tracing of groundwater and natural gas migration
• Interactions between volcanism, climate, and mass extinctions
• Diagenetic and burial effects on carbonate mineral signatures

Lohmann’s publications frequently address methodological advancements in isotope geochemistry and their applications to understanding Earth’s climate history. Collaborative projects include work with ANDRILL cores in Antarctica and studies of Michigan Basin hydrology.