معرفی
Stephen J. Burns is a Professor in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, within the College of Natural Sciences. His research centers on paleoclimatology using speleothems as high-resolution archives of continental climate change. He investigates stable isotopes and trace elements to reconstruct past precipitation and monsoon dynamics, with a focus on tropical and subtropical regions such as Mexico, Madagascar, South America, and Southeast Asia.
Education:
- Ph.D., Duke University, 1987 (Dolomite Geochemistry)
- M.S., University of North Carolina (Carbonate Sedimentology)
- B.A., Rice University
- Post-11 years at University of Bern, Switzerland
His research focuses on understanding climate variability on orbital to decadal timescales, especially in continental regions where data are sparse. He uses speleothems—cave deposits like stalagmites—as 'underground ice cores' to extract paleoclimate signals from oxygen and carbon isotopes. His work explores climate-culture interactions, including links between climate shifts and the decline of the Mayan civilization and Madagascar's megafauna. He has led major projects in the Yucatan, Peruvian Andes, Oman, Yemen, Brazil, and Vietnam, often in collaboration with anthropologists and international climate scientists.
The recent publications reflect a strong trend in tropical paleoclimatology, with emphasis on monsoon systems, interhemispheric climate dynamics, and human-environment interactions during the Holocene and Late Pleistocene. His work frequently appears in top-tier journals such as Science, PNAS, and Geophysical Research Letters, demonstrating both methodological rigor and broad scientific impact.
Scientific Awards:
- No awards explicitly mentioned in the text.
Stephen J. Burns actively mentors students and leads interdisciplinary research teams. He has secured sustained funding for field expeditions and laboratory analyses, though specific grants are not listed. His collaborations span departments (e.g., Anthropology at UMass) and institutions (e.g., MIT, Duke, international universities). He is currently engaged in three major speleothem-based projects: (1) climate variability in the Yucatan and its link to Mayan cultural evolution, (2) environmental history of Madagascar and megafaunal extinction, and (3) climate change in Vietnam with David McGee (MIT). These efforts are supported by advanced geochemical facilities and fieldwork logistics.
Labs and Research Teams:
- Geochemistry and Paleoclimate Laboratory at UMass Amherst (implied through research activity)
- Collaborative network with stable isotope labs (e.g., Cheng/Edwards lab for U-Th dating)
- Field teams in tropical cave systems across multiple continents
- Interdisciplinary group including anthropologists and climate modelers
