Shahrokh Mehmood
Geologist & Geoscientist
Examining the most recent geological period and how it has shaped the modern world we live in today.
The Dynamics of the Quaternary
The Quaternary Period, covering the last 2.6 million years, is the most recent chapter in Earth history. It is characterized by cyclic oscillations between glacial and interglacial periods, driven by subtle changes in Earth's orbit known as Milankovitch cycles. These cycles have profoundly shaped the world's landscapes, sea levels, and the evolution of our own species.
Glacial Legacies in Scandinavia
In Northern Europe, the Quaternary record is dominated by the effects of massive ice sheets. The Fennoscandian ice sheet, at its peak, was several kilometers thick, depressing the literal crust of the Earth. As the ice retreated, it left behind a complex tapestry of deposits: tills, eskers, moraines, and vast glaciolacustrine plains. For civil engineers and hydrogeologists, understanding these deposits is critical—they determine the bearing capacity of foundations and the behavior of groundwater aquifers.
Climate Archives: Ice Cores and Sediments
The Quaternary is unique because we have access to high-resolution climate archives. Ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica contain air bubbles that are literally "frozen time," allowing us to measure ancient CO2 levels and temperatures with remarkable accuracy. Marine and lake sediments provide complementary records of oxygen isotopes and pollen assemblages, helping geologists reconstruct paleo-environments.
As we face modern anthropogenic climate change, the Quaternary record provides the essential baseline for what constitutes "normal" variability versus unprecedented shifts. My background in sedimentary geology focuses on using these records to build predictive models for environmental change and resource stability.
