Henry Elderfield
Encyclopedia
Professor Henry "Harry" Elderfield, FRS, (born 1943), is Professor of Ocean Geochemistry and Palaeoclimate Research at the Godwin Laboratory
, Department of Earth Sciences
, Cambridge University. He made his name in ocean chemistry and palaeochemistry, using trace metals and isotopes in biogenic carbonate as palaeochemical tracers, and studying the chemistry of modern and ancient oceans - especially those of the glacial epoch and the Cenozoic.
obtaining a BSc
in Chemistry
(Oceanography
) in 1965. He worked as a Research Fellow in the Geology Department, Imperial College, London between 1968-1969 whilst completing his PhD
at the University of Liverpool in 1970.
He was appointed a Lecturer in the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Leeds
in 1969, a position he held until 1982. From 1982 until 1989 he held the post of Assistant Director in Research in the Department of Earth Sciences
, University of Cambridge
. During this time he obtained an MA from the University of Cambridge
in 1985, followed by his ScD
in 1989. The same year, he was made a Reader
in Geochemistry
at Cambridge, before being appointed to the chair
of Professor of Ocean Geochemistry and Paleochemistry (Cambridge) in 1999.
s in oceans and their sediments, and in fluid flow through the ocean crust
and sediments under the influence of off-axis hydrothermal circulation
. He became one of the first low-temperature geochemists to appreciate how radiogenic isotopes
might be used to solve the problems of marine geochemistry, developing the seawater strontium
isotope
curve for the Cenozoic
– now the most reliable isotopic record available for the Phanerozoic
.
He has also worked on iodine
speciation in seawater and porewaters, the separation of cerium
from other rare earth elements in a classic example of redox
behaviour; he has developed a precise mass spectrometric analysis
method – and made the first ever measurements of oceanic profiles for – 10 rare earth elements. The rare earths are now widely used as tracers in sedimentary geochemistry and palaeoceanography.
cycles of elements including iodine and strontium.
His current interests include defining chemical proxies
from biogenic carbonates and using them to understand the ancient ocean. He has pioneered the development of foraminifera
l magnesium
thermometry, which has become accepted for the estimation of past ocean temperatures.
University of Cambridge Godwin Laboratory
The Godwin Laboratory is a research facility at the University of Cambridge. It was originally set up to investigate radiocarbon dating and its applications, and was one of the first laboratories to determine a radiocarbon calibration curve...
, Department of Earth Sciences
University of Cambridge Department of Earth Sciences
The Department of Earth Sciences at Cambridge is the University of Cambridge's Earth Sciences department. The main location of the department is at the Downing Site, Downing St. The Bullard Laboratories, located in West Cambridge on Madingley Rd, and the Godwin Laboratory, in the New Museums Site...
, Cambridge University. He made his name in ocean chemistry and palaeochemistry, using trace metals and isotopes in biogenic carbonate as palaeochemical tracers, and studying the chemistry of modern and ancient oceans - especially those of the glacial epoch and the Cenozoic.
Education and career
Harry Elderfield attended the University of LiverpoolUniversity of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
obtaining a BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
(Oceanography
Oceanography
Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean...
) in 1965. He worked as a Research Fellow in the Geology Department, Imperial College, London between 1968-1969 whilst completing his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
at the University of Liverpool in 1970.
He was appointed a Lecturer in the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
in 1969, a position he held until 1982. From 1982 until 1989 he held the post of Assistant Director in Research in the Department of Earth Sciences
University of Cambridge Department of Earth Sciences
The Department of Earth Sciences at Cambridge is the University of Cambridge's Earth Sciences department. The main location of the department is at the Downing Site, Downing St. The Bullard Laboratories, located in West Cambridge on Madingley Rd, and the Godwin Laboratory, in the New Museums Site...
, University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. During this time he obtained an MA from the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1985, followed by his ScD
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
in 1989. The same year, he was made a Reader
Reader (academic rank)
The title of Reader in the United Kingdom and some universities in the Commonwealth nations like Australia and New Zealand denotes an appointment for a senior academic with a distinguished international reputation in research or scholarship...
in Geochemistry
Geochemistry
The field of geochemistry involves study of the chemical composition of the Earth and other planets, chemical processes and reactions that govern the composition of rocks, water, and soils, and the cycles of matter and energy that transport the Earth's chemical components in time and space, and...
at Cambridge, before being appointed to the chair
Chair (academic department)
Chair is an equivalent of an academic department in Poland, a division of a university or school faculty devoted to a particular academic discipline...
of Professor of Ocean Geochemistry and Paleochemistry (Cambridge) in 1999.
Early career
His early career saw him working on the behaviour of trace metalTrace metal
Trace metals are metals in extremely small quantities that reside in or are present in animal and plant cells and tissue. They are a necessary part of good nutrition, although they can be toxic if ingested in excess quantities....
s in oceans and their sediments, and in fluid flow through the ocean crust
Oceanic crust
Oceanic crust is the part of Earth's lithosphere that surfaces in the ocean basins. Oceanic crust is primarily composed of mafic rocks, or sima, which is rich in iron and magnesium...
and sediments under the influence of off-axis hydrothermal circulation
Hydrothermal circulation
Hydrothermal circulation in its most general sense is the circulation of hot water; 'hydros' in the Greek meaning water and 'thermos' meaning heat. Hydrothermal circulation occurs most often in the vicinity of sources of heat within the Earth's crust...
. He became one of the first low-temperature geochemists to appreciate how radiogenic isotopes
Radionuclide
A radionuclide is an atom with an unstable nucleus, which is a nucleus characterized by excess energy available to be imparted either to a newly created radiation particle within the nucleus or to an atomic electron. The radionuclide, in this process, undergoes radioactive decay, and emits gamma...
might be used to solve the problems of marine geochemistry, developing the seawater strontium
Strontium
Strontium is a chemical element with the symbol Sr and the atomic number 38. An alkaline earth metal, strontium is a soft silver-white or yellowish metallic element that is highly reactive chemically. The metal turns yellow when exposed to air. It occurs naturally in the minerals celestine and...
isotope
Isotope
Isotopes are variants of atoms of a particular chemical element, which have differing numbers of neutrons. Atoms of a particular element by definition must contain the same number of protons but may have a distinct number of neutrons which differs from atom to atom, without changing the designation...
curve for the Cenozoic
Cenozoic
The Cenozoic era is the current and most recent of the three Phanerozoic geological eras and covers the period from 65.5 mya to the present. The era began in the wake of the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous that saw the demise of the last non-avian dinosaurs and...
– now the most reliable isotopic record available for the Phanerozoic
Phanerozoic
The Phanerozoic Eon is the current eon in the geologic timescale, and the one during which abundant animal life has existed. It covers roughly 542 million years and goes back to the time when diverse hard-shelled animals first appeared...
.
He has also worked on iodine
Iodine
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The name is pronounced , , or . The name is from the , meaning violet or purple, due to the color of elemental iodine vapor....
speciation in seawater and porewaters, the separation of cerium
Cerium
Cerium is a chemical element with the symbol Ce and atomic number 58. It is a soft, silvery, ductile metal which easily oxidizes in air. Cerium was named after the dwarf planet . Cerium is the most abundant of the rare earth elements, making up about 0.0046% of the Earth's crust by weight...
from other rare earth elements in a classic example of redox
Redox
Redox reactions describe all chemical reactions in which atoms have their oxidation state changed....
behaviour; he has developed a precise mass spectrometric analysis
Mass spectrometry
Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of charged particles.It is used for determining masses of particles, for determining the elemental composition of a sample or molecule, and for elucidating the chemical structures of molecules, such as peptides and...
method – and made the first ever measurements of oceanic profiles for – 10 rare earth elements. The rare earths are now widely used as tracers in sedimentary geochemistry and palaeoceanography.
Current Research
Harry Elderfield's research focuses on ocean chemistry and paleochemistry, and his results have had a far-reaching impact on geochemistry. He has contributed significantly to marine chemistry, most notably the fate of metals in hydrothermal processes, the formation of manganese nodules, and the biogeochemicalBiogeochemistry
Biogeochemistry is the scientific discipline that involves the study of the chemical, physical, geological, and biological processes and reactions that govern the composition of the natural environment...
cycles of elements including iodine and strontium.
His current interests include defining chemical proxies
Proxy (climate)
In the study of past climates is known as paleoclimatology, climate proxies are preserved physical characteristics of the past that stand in for direct measurements , to enable scientists to reconstruct the climatic conditions that prevailed during much of the Earth's history...
from biogenic carbonates and using them to understand the ancient ocean. He has pioneered the development of foraminifera
Foraminifera
The Foraminifera , or forams for short, are a large group of amoeboid protists which are among the commonest plankton species. They have reticulating pseudopods, fine strands of cytoplasm that branch and merge to form a dynamic net...
l magnesium
Magnesium
Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and common oxidation number +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and ninth in the known universe as a whole...
thermometry, which has become accepted for the estimation of past ocean temperatures.
Selected publications
- Elderfield, H., Holland, D. & Turekian, K.K. (2003) Treatise on geochemistry. Elsevier Science, 646p
- Elderfield H. (2002) Carbonate Mysteries, Science, 296, 1618–1620
- Elderfield H, Upstillgoddard R, Sholkovitz ER (1990) The rare-earth elements in rivers, estuaries, and coastal seas and their significance to the composition of ocean waters. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta: 54, 971-991
- German, C. R. & Elderfield, H. (1990) Application of the Ce-anomaly as a palaeoredox indicator: the ground rules. Paleoceanography 5, 823-833
- Palmer, M.R. & Elderfield, H. (1985) Sr isotope composition of sea water over the past 75 Myr. Nature 314, 526-528
- Wakefield, S.J. & Elderfield, H. (1985) Interstitial water iodine enrichments in sediments from the eastern Pacific. Journal of Marine Research 43, 951-961
- Elderfield H, Greaves MJ (1982) The rare-earth elements in sea-water. Nature 296 (5854): 214-219
- Elderfield H, Hawkesworth CJ, Greaves MJ, et al. (1981) Rare-earth element geochemistry of oceanic ferromanganese nodules and associated sediments. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 45: 513-528
Awards
- Fulbright Scholar, 1988
- Prestwich MedalPrestwich MedalThe Prestwich Medal is a medal of the Geological Society of London established in the will of Joseph Prestwich "to apply the accumulated annual proceeds…at the end of every three years, in providing a Gold Medal to the value of Twenty Pounds which, with the remainder of the proceeds is to be...
, The Geological Society 1993 - Plymouth Marine Medal, Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 1998
- Fellow of the European Association of Geochemistry, 2000
- Fellow of the Geochemical Society, 2000
- Fellow of the Royal Society] (FRS) 2001
- Honorary Fellow, European Union of Geosciences, 2001
- Fellow of American Geophysical UnionAmerican Geophysical UnionThe American Geophysical Union is a nonprofit organization of geophysicists, consisting of over 50,000 members from over 135 countries. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics...
, 2001 - Clair C. PattersonClair Cameron PattersonClair Cameron Patterson was a geochemist born in Mitchellville, Iowa, United States. He graduated from Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, received his Ph.D...
Award, 2002 - Lyell MedalLyell MedalThe Lyell Medal is a prestigious annual scientific medal given by the Geological Society of London, equal in status to the Murchison Medal, awarded on the basis of research to an Earth Scientist of exceptional quality...
, The Geological Society, 2003 - Urey Medal, European Association of Geochemistry, 2007