Luke Skinner

Professor Luke Skinner is a Professor of Earth System Science at the University of Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences. His research focuses on the role of ocean circulation in past climate change, including its impact on hydrological and biogeochemical cycles. He uses geochemical, sedimentological, and micropaleontological methods to study past hydrographic changes. Key research areas include glacial-interglacial climate dynamics, abrupt climate events like the Younger Dryas and 8.2 kyr event, and the Last Glacial Maximum ocean-atmosphere interactions. His work integrates radiocarbon analysis, deep-sea sediment records, and climate modeling to understand carbon cycle feedbacks and oceanographic responses to climate shifts.

Current projects explore the Southern Ocean's role in CO₂ fluctuations, the hydraulic mechanisms of Lake Agassiz floods, and the application of laser-ablation techniques for rare earth element cycling. He supervises PhD students and contributes to the department's research infrastructure, including analytical instrumentation at Bullard Laboratories. His findings provide critical insights into climate system feedbacks relevant to future environmental changes.