Dr. Lawrence Percival

Biography

Lawrence Percival is an Assistant Professor specialized in geology and geochemistry at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. His research focuses on investigating sedimentary records of rapid climate and environmental change throughout Earth's history, seeking to understand the implications for our future in a world increasingly threatened by rising CO2 levels and global temperature increases. Utilizing geochemical analyses of rocks, he aims to establish links to past global crises such as temperature fluctuations, extreme weather events, and ocean stagnation, driven by volcanic emissions from deep within the Earth. His work particularly emphasizes the geochemical fingerprinting of massive volcanic eruptions associated with Large Igneous Provinces, employing geochemical markers like mercury concentrations and osmium isotopes. These volcanic events produced CO2 emissions leading to significant global warming, akin to the conditions that contributed to severe mass extinction events. Percival’s methodologies include stable-isotope geochemistry and elemental enrichments, targeting insights into climate and environmental change, thus fostering societal awareness of historical extreme warming events and their relevance in mitigating modern-day anthropogenic climate change. Specific research interests include sedimentary geochemistry, palaeoclimatology, oceanic anoxic events, and the environmental impact of mercury.

Research Interests

Courses