Ask A Scientist: Plate Tectonics and the Natural Disasters They Cause

Volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides, and tsunami are some of the most explosive and destructive natural disasters we hear about in the news. Do you have questions about plate tectonics or the many natural disasters they cause? Jeremy Gabriel is a PhD candidate in the School of Geography and Earth Sciences. Jeremy studies sedimentary rocks because they record the environmental history of the planet. By studying how the environment has changed in the past we can better understand and predict how it will change in the future. Prior to his doctoral work, Jeremy obtained his Bachelor of Science (2007) and Master of Science (2009) from McMaster in the School of Geography and Earth Sciences. Currently, his research is focused on investigating the elemental variation in Upper Cretaceous (~90 million year old) sedimentary rocks in order to understand the environmental conditions during true hothouse conditions. This is important research as it will help to better model the impact of modern climate change on future environmental conditions.