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Ancient seawater may yield climate change insights

By Jeffrey O. Bagg • Jan 9, 2019 • Students•   

Binghamton graduate student Mebrahtu Weldeghebriel is a man of many firsts: He is the University’s first student from Eritrea, and he is presenting the first interpretation of what changed the chemistry of ancient seawater by analyzing minor and trace elements.

Scientists initially thought the chemical composition of seawater was constant. In the late 20th century, however, indirect evidence revealed that seawater chemistry has changed systematically at particular time periods during the past 550 million years. Knowing how the oceans and climate changed previously gives scientists insights into how it might change in the future.

Weldeghebriel aims to understand what caused these changes. He believes they could be a result of variations in the rate of seafloor spreading and fluctuations in hydrothermal vents, which release ions that react with the existing seawater.

To substantiate this idea, Weldeghebriel and his advisor, Tim Lowenstein, analyze marine halite, a mineral that traps and preserves seawater during its formation. They have collected more than 150 halite samples from different locations and time periods dating back as far as 550 million years.

To study the contents of these samples, they use a state-of-the-art Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer. First, a laser beam drills through a halite sample and evaporates the seawater inside (that’s the “laser ablation” part). The contents are then transported to a mass spectrometer, which analyzes the masses of individual elements and isotopes.

This allows for analysis of minor and trace elements in seawater in addition to the major elements. Minor elements comprise between 0.1 percent and 1 percent of a solution; trace elements make up less than 0.1 percent. Major elements comprise the rest.

Weldeghebriel’s research, which he presented at the Northeastern Section meeting of the Geological Society of America in 2018, is important because previous interpretations were based on analysis of major elements only. His new data has allowed him to narrow down other interpretations and bring forth hard evidence toward his interpretation.

While growing up in northeastern Africa, Weldeghebriel became infatuated with geology. He was still in high school when a group of geologists came to display minerals in the annual Eritrea Festival.

“When I saw these beautiful crystals and different colored rocks, it was in my mind,” he says.

At the Eritrea Institute of Technology, he graduated at the top of his class, winning a college gold medal. When Weldeghebriel reached out to Lowenstein about graduate studies, Lowenstein was impressed.

“He knew a lot about the subject material before he came here,” says Lowenstein, a distinguished professor of geological sciences. “I took him very seriously from the moment we emailed one another.”

After graduate school, Weldeghebriel is considering going into industry to work on Potash, minerals useful for agriculture. Later, he hopes to go on to become a professor. In Eritrea, Weldeghebriel says, there are limited resources because it is a developing country with economic inefficiencies and shortages. This limited him in his undergraduate research, as he only had the resources to do basic analyses.

“In America, there is a lot of opportunity,” he says. “I get one of the biggest opportunities coming here, because I can do whatever I want to do.”

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6 Comments

  • Reply Tsehaye Jan 21, 2019 at 10:45 am

    Congratulations dear Mebrahtu, he was my instructor, in EIT. Congratulations again, keep it up

  • Reply Samsom Tadesse Jan 23, 2019 at 6:56 am

    I knew Mebrahtu was genius, when I first met him in collage though and there is no doubt that he is gonna go far. Congratulations on your achievement Mebrahtu.

  • Reply Michael Jan 25, 2019 at 3:41 pm

    Well done Mebrie. I hope this will be a groundbreaking research

  • Reply Tsegai Haileslassie Jan 27, 2019 at 5:55 am

    I’m really proud of Eritreans’ mind set. I believe that, he can do believe he can contribute farther more better helpful contributions to our world. Keep going Mebrahtu!!!

  • Reply Tesfahiwet Yemane Feb 14, 2019 at 11:24 am

    I am so happy that your years of hard work has finally paid off in the best way possible. You have made us proud everyday with everything you have achieved so far and it is a pleasure to have a person like you. You were always the most dedicated and disciplined person I have ever come across Mebrie, and the years of hard work and dedication has finally resulted in to the biggest fruit you have ever wanted. Many congratulations on your success.
    Well done, Mebrie. I wish you more success and prosperity in the days to come. I wish you all the best for your future endeavors and that you achieve all the more success after your PhD.

  • Reply Mussie Gide Jul 31, 2019 at 11:38 pm

    Proud of you dear Meb! keep your outstanding intelligence and shoot towards the dream of the nation.

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