Jan Veizer
Encyclopedia
Ján Veizer is the Distinguished University Professor (emeritus
) of Earth Science
s at the University of Ottawa
and Institute for Geology, Mineralogy und Geophysis, of Bochum
Ruhr University
, he held the NSERC/Noranda/CIFAR Industrial Chair in Earth System Isotope and Environmental Geochemistry until 2004. He is an award-winning isotope
geochemist; his research interests have included the use of chemical and isotopic techniques in determining Earth's climatic
and environmental
history.
Born in Pobedim
, Slovakia
, Veizer has received the Killam Award (Canada Council, 1986), the 1987 W.W. Hutchison Medal for young individuals making exceptional advances in Canadian earth science research; the 1991 Willet G. Miller Medal
for outstanding contributions in geology; the 1992 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize
,which carried a 1.55 million euro
value, awarded for understanding of the geochemistry of sediments; the 1995 Logan Medal
which is the Geological Association of Canada's highest honour http://www.esd.mun.ca/~gac/MEDALS/medal.html; the 2000 Bancroft Award
for contributions furthering the public understanding of the Earth sciences.
During his career, Veizer oversaw the collection of a series of more than 4,500 measurement data of oxygen isotopes in calcite and aragonite shells used to build up climate and sedimentary data of the whole Phanerozoic
based on tropical sea surface temperatures.
According to a - cautiously worded - paper in Nature
2000 written together with Yves Godderis und Louis M. François, the results can be reconciled if atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations were not the principal driver of climate variability on geological timescales for at least one-third of the Phanerozoic eon, or if the reconstructed carbon dioxide concentrations are not reliable.
In 2003, together with Nir J. Shaviv, an Israeli astrophycisist, Veizer published a paper in Geological Society of America
confirming, a reduced (capped) influence of carbon dioxide
to Climate Change and attributing a more significant influence to cosmic rays. While the mechanism seems not yet to be fully understood, the empirical data showed a suitable fit.
Several German (Veizer has been working in Bochum as well) reacted toward the first summary of the paper with a sharp press release published by Potsdam Institute für Klimafolgenforschung (PIK) denouncing the paper as "useless", "outdated" and questioning the reputability of the researchers and the used methods.
Veizer and Nir J. Shaviv disputed personal attacks and claims against their scientific integrity, they wondered as well why the attackers did not take the time to read the complete article before going to the press nor contacted them before. They highlighted that both scientists first had collected and found fitting data from totally different fields and later decided to write the paper together.
Veizer and Shaviv underlined the applicability of their research to today's climate data and expressed as well their respect for scientists working in line with the IPCC. Using the model on a doubled carbon dioxide content in the last century would result in a warming of 1,5°C, according Veizer and Shaviv very much in line with the minimum level of the IPCC interval between 1.5 to 4.5°C.
The dispute is ongoing.
J Veizer, SL Jansen: Basement and sedimentary recycling and continental evolution. Journal of Geology 87:341–370, 1979
Uwe Brand and Jan Veizer: Chemical diagenesis of a multicomponent carbonate system; 1, Trace elements, Journal of Sedimentary Research; December 1980; v. 50; no. 4; p. 1219-1236.
Jan Veizer, Trace elements and isotopes in sedimentary carbonates, Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry; January 1983; v. 11;1; p. 265-299
Ján Veizer, Davin Alab, Karem Azmy, Peter Bruckschen, Dieter Buhl, Frank Bruhn, Giles A. F. Cardena, Andreas Diener, Stefan Ebneth, Yves Godderis, Torsten Jasper, Christoph Korte, Frank Pawellek, Olaf G. Podlaha, and Harald Strauss, 87Sr/86Sr, 13C and 18O evolution of Phanerozoic seawater. Chem. Geol. 161, 59-88 (1999).
Veizer, J., Godderis, Y. & Francois. L.M., Evidence for decoupling of atmospheric and global climate during the Phanerozoic eon. Nature 408, 698-701 (2000)
Veizer, J. (2005). Celestial climate driver: a perspective from four billion years of the carbon cycle. Geoscience Canada, 32, 13-28.
Ferguson, P.R. and Veizer, J. (2007). The coupling of water and carbon fluxes via the terrestrial biosphere and its significance to the Earth’s climate system. Journal Geophysical Research – Atmospheres, 112, D24S06, doi:10.1029/2007JD008431.
Korte, C., Jones, P.J., Brand, U., Mertmann, D. and Veizer, J. (2008). Oxygen isotope values from high latitudes: clues for Permian sea-surface temperature gradients and Late Paleozoic deglaciation. Palaeogeography, Paleoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 269, 1-16.
Scherer K., Fichtner H., Borrmann T., Beer J., Desorgher L., Flükiger E., Fahr H., Ferreira S.E., Langner U.W.,Potgieter M.S. (2006) Interstellar-Terrestrial Relations: Variable Cosmic Environments, The Dynamic Heliosphere, and Their Imprints on Terrestrial Archives and Climate. Space Science Reviews 127(1-4): 327. 2006
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
) of Earth Science
Earth science
Earth science is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. It is arguably a special case in planetary science, the Earth being the only known life-bearing planet. There are both reductionist and holistic approaches to Earth sciences...
s at the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
and Institute for Geology, Mineralogy und Geophysis, of Bochum
Bochum
Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:...
Ruhr University
Ruhr University
Ruhr University Bochum , located on the southern hills of central Ruhr area Bochum, was founded in 1962 as the first new public university in Germany since World War II...
, he held the NSERC/Noranda/CIFAR Industrial Chair in Earth System Isotope and Environmental Geochemistry until 2004. He is an award-winning 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...
geochemist; his research interests have included the use of chemical and isotopic techniques in determining Earth's climatic
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
and environmental
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
history.
Born in Pobedim
Pobedim
Pobedim is a village and municipality in Nové Mesto nad Váhom District in the Trenčín Region of western Slovakia.-Geography:The municipality lies at an altitude of 169 metres and covers an area of 8.609km². It has a population of about 1,218 people....
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, Veizer has received the Killam Award (Canada Council, 1986), the 1987 W.W. Hutchison Medal for young individuals making exceptional advances in Canadian earth science research; the 1991 Willet G. Miller Medal
Willet G. Miller Medal
The Miller Medal is an award of the Royal Society of Canada given for outstanding research in any branch of the earth sciences.In 1941, twelve friends of Willet Green Miller, FRSC , a distinguished geologist, and a guiding force in the development of the Ontario mining industry, subscribed funds to...
for outstanding contributions in geology; the 1992 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize
The Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize is a research prize awarded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft every year since 1985 to scientists working in Germany. This highest German research prize consists of a research grant of 2.5 million euro, to be used within seven years...
,which carried a 1.55 million euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
value, awarded for understanding of the geochemistry of sediments; the 1995 Logan Medal
Logan Medal
The Logan Medal is the highest award of the Geological Association of Canada. Named after Sir William Edmond Logan, noted 19th century Canadian geologist. It is presented annually to an individual for sustained distinguished achievement in Canadian earth science.-References:*...
which is the Geological Association of Canada's highest honour http://www.esd.mun.ca/~gac/MEDALS/medal.html; the 2000 Bancroft Award
Bancroft Award
The Bancroft Award is an award of the Royal Society of Canada "given for publication, instruction, and research in the earth sciences that have conspicuously contributed to public understanding and appreciation of the subject". It is named in honour of Joseph Austin Bancroft . It is awarded...
for contributions furthering the public understanding of the Earth sciences.
During his career, Veizer oversaw the collection of a series of more than 4,500 measurement data of oxygen isotopes in calcite and aragonite shells used to build up climate and sedimentary data of the whole 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...
based on tropical sea surface temperatures.
Dispute about Influence of cosmic rays on Climate Change
In cooperation with other scientists, Veizer compared the reconstructed seawater paleotemperature records for the past 545 million years with the variable galactic cosmic ray flux (CRF) reaching Earth and reconstructed partial pressure of atmospheric (p).According to a - cautiously worded - paper in Nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
2000 written together with Yves Godderis und Louis M. François, the results can be reconciled if atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations were not the principal driver of climate variability on geological timescales for at least one-third of the Phanerozoic eon, or if the reconstructed carbon dioxide concentrations are not reliable.
In 2003, together with Nir J. Shaviv, an Israeli astrophycisist, Veizer published a paper in Geological Society of America
Geological Society of America
The Geological Society of America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the geosciences. The society was founded in New York in 1888 by Alexander Winchell, John J. Stevenson, Charles H. Hitchcock, John R. Proctor and Edward Orton and has been headquartered at 3300 Penrose...
confirming, a reduced (capped) influence of carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
to Climate Change and attributing a more significant influence to cosmic rays. While the mechanism seems not yet to be fully understood, the empirical data showed a suitable fit.
Several German (Veizer has been working in Bochum as well) reacted toward the first summary of the paper with a sharp press release published by Potsdam Institute für Klimafolgenforschung (PIK) denouncing the paper as "useless", "outdated" and questioning the reputability of the researchers and the used methods.
Veizer and Nir J. Shaviv disputed personal attacks and claims against their scientific integrity, they wondered as well why the attackers did not take the time to read the complete article before going to the press nor contacted them before. They highlighted that both scientists first had collected and found fitting data from totally different fields and later decided to write the paper together.
Veizer and Shaviv underlined the applicability of their research to today's climate data and expressed as well their respect for scientists working in line with the IPCC. Using the model on a doubled carbon dioxide content in the last century would result in a warming of 1,5°C, according Veizer and Shaviv very much in line with the minimum level of the IPCC interval between 1.5 to 4.5°C.
The dispute is ongoing.
Selected publications
Veizer, Ján; Hoefs, Jochen, The nature of O-18 /O-16 and C-13 /C-12 secular trends in sedimentary carbonate rocks, 1976, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, vol. 40, Issue 11, pp. 1387–1395. AbstractJ Veizer, SL Jansen: Basement and sedimentary recycling and continental evolution. Journal of Geology 87:341–370, 1979
Uwe Brand and Jan Veizer: Chemical diagenesis of a multicomponent carbonate system; 1, Trace elements, Journal of Sedimentary Research; December 1980; v. 50; no. 4; p. 1219-1236.
Jan Veizer, Trace elements and isotopes in sedimentary carbonates, Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry; January 1983; v. 11;1; p. 265-299
Ján Veizer, Davin Alab, Karem Azmy, Peter Bruckschen, Dieter Buhl, Frank Bruhn, Giles A. F. Cardena, Andreas Diener, Stefan Ebneth, Yves Godderis, Torsten Jasper, Christoph Korte, Frank Pawellek, Olaf G. Podlaha, and Harald Strauss, 87Sr/86Sr, 13C and 18O evolution of Phanerozoic seawater. Chem. Geol. 161, 59-88 (1999).
Veizer, J., Godderis, Y. & Francois. L.M., Evidence for decoupling of atmospheric and global climate during the Phanerozoic eon. Nature 408, 698-701 (2000)
Veizer, J. (2005). Celestial climate driver: a perspective from four billion years of the carbon cycle. Geoscience Canada, 32, 13-28.
Ferguson, P.R. and Veizer, J. (2007). The coupling of water and carbon fluxes via the terrestrial biosphere and its significance to the Earth’s climate system. Journal Geophysical Research – Atmospheres, 112, D24S06, doi:10.1029/2007JD008431.
Korte, C., Jones, P.J., Brand, U., Mertmann, D. and Veizer, J. (2008). Oxygen isotope values from high latitudes: clues for Permian sea-surface temperature gradients and Late Paleozoic deglaciation. Palaeogeography, Paleoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 269, 1-16.
Scherer K., Fichtner H., Borrmann T., Beer J., Desorgher L., Flükiger E., Fahr H., Ferreira S.E., Langner U.W.,Potgieter M.S. (2006) Interstellar-Terrestrial Relations: Variable Cosmic Environments, The Dynamic Heliosphere, and Their Imprints on Terrestrial Archives and Climate. Space Science Reviews 127(1-4): 327. 2006
External links
- Jan Veizer, University of Ottawa
- Jan Veizer, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Jan Veizer award citation, 2000, Royal Society of CanadaRoyal Society of CanadaThe Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
- "Canadian scientist rocks climate change boat", CBC News article, 12-7-2000. Accessed 2/24/08
- http://www.scotese.com/climate.htm Christopher ScoteseChristopher ScoteseChristopher R. Scotese is geologist at the University of Texas at Arlington. He received his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1985. He is creator of the Paleomap Project, which aims to map Earth over the last billion years, and is credited with predicting Pangaea Ultima, a possible future...
Display of ancient climates on PaleomapPaleomapPaleomaps are maps of continents and mountain ranges in the distant past or future. Until the 1960s, paleomaps were not very satisfactory as it was difficult to understand many quite distinctive features. For example huge river deltas seemed to be associated with what must have been quite small...
Project]