Throughout the Late Cretaceous, massive volcanic eruptions, called Deccan volcanism, occurred on India, spewing carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. The massive amounts of greenhouse gases associated with Deccan volcanism can be used as an analogue for current and future anthropogenic warming scenarios. In the austral summer of 2026, a team of 12 sailed to Seymour Island, Antarctica, an island that contains phenomenal marine rocks and sediments that were deposited during the time of Deccan volcanism. The team will analyze these microfossils and sediments to determine how marine plankton responded to warming caused by Deccan volcanism to understand how such communities may change under future warming scenarios. This talk will provide insight into the Late Cretaceous world, the motivation behind the research, and our journey to and from Seymour Island, Antarctica.

This special seminar is co-hosted by UMMP and EEB and will be in-person.