The University of Tokyo · Earth and Planetary Sciences
Professor Yūsuke Yokoyama's research lab specializes in paleoclimatology and Earth system science, focusing on reconstructing past climate changes using high-resolution geological and geochemical records. Key research directions include the dynamics of ice sheet and ice shelf retreat during glacial-interglacial transitions, sea-level variations inferred from uplifted coral terraces, and the development of advanced radiocarbon dating techniques for ultra-small samples. The lab integrates field observations from regions such as the Ross Sea and Papua New Guinea with cutting-edge accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) to improve the calibration of the radiocarbon time scale and understand abrupt climate events linked to iceberg discharge and rapid sea-level rise.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
The stability of modern ice shelves is threatened by atmospheric and oceanic warming. The geologic record of formerly glaciated continental shelves provides a window into the past of how ice shelves responded to a warming climate. Fields of deep (-560 m), linear iceberg furrows on the outer, western Ross Sea continental shelf record an early post-Last Glacial Maximum episode of ice-shelf collapse that was followed by continuous retreat of the grounding line for ∼200 km. Runaway grounding line co
closely packed "steps" of massive coral reef structures near Bobongara Village, papua New Guinea. each terrace is over 10-m high and 10-m deep and extends for over a kilometer. They were constructed in direct response to 10 m to 30 m rapid sea level rises following large-scale iceberg discharges into the North atlantic from the laurentide ice Sheet during the last glacial period. The large, 3.3 m ky -1 , uplift of the area is responsible for revealing their structure above present sea level. The
Uranium series and radiocarbon ages were measured in corals from the uplifted coral terraces of Huon Peninsula (HP), Papua New Guinea, to provide a calibration for the 14 C time scale beyond 30 ka (kilo annum). Improved analytical procedures, and quantitative criteria for sample selection, helped discriminate diagenetically altered samples. The base-line of the calibration curve follows the trend of increasing divergence from calendar ages, as established by previous studies. Superimposed on thi
We have developed accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) measurement techniques for ultra small-size samples ranging from 0.01 to 0.10 mg C with a new type of MC-SNICS ion source system. We can generate 4 times higher ion beam current intensity for ultra-small samples by optimization of graphite position in the target holder with the new ionizer geometry. CO 2 gas graphitized in the newly developed vacuum line is pressed to a depth of 1.5 mm from the front of the target holder. This is much deeper
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