Refining molecular stratigraphy through mass spectrometry imaging of sediments at sub-millimeter resolution

Abstract

This dissertation focused on the implementation of a new, extraction-free approach to molecular stratigraphy by mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) that allows to increase the spatial and temporal resolution to the micrometer and subannual scale. With this novel technique, detailed insights into the drivers of lipid biomarker-derived proxies were gained by addressing the small-scale differences of the signal archived in the sedimentary record. Together with the improved understanding of the proxy signal, application of MSI to varved sediments from the Santa Barbara Basin, off Southern California revealed insights into the dynamics and interdependencies of ocean surface temperatures, upwelling strength, and bottom water oxygen content during the 20th century.