Area of Interest:

- Global climate change: investigating the effects of CO2-induced ocean acidification and warming on marine calcification

- Paleoceanography: using a broad array of geochemical proxies to reconstruct past changes in the chemistry and temperature of seawater

- Paleobiology: investigating the effects of long-term fluctuations in the Mg/Ca ratio and CaCO3 saturation state of seawater on the evolution of calcifying marine organisms

- Carbonate sedimentology: using patterns in the geologic record of marine carbonates (“limestones”) to improve our understanding of the evolution of the oceans

- Carbon/Sulfur isotope geochemistry: using carbonate δ13C and paired δ34S measurements of pyrite and carbonate-associated-sulfate (CAS) to investigate the evolution of the oceanic carbon and sulfur cycles

- Biomineralization: developing innovative techniques to investigate the mechanisms marine organisms use to build their shells and skeletons

- Carbon sequestration: working with industry partners to develop novel, sustainable technologies for reducing CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere

Education:

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Postdoctoral fellowship. Carbonate geochemistry and biomineralization, 2007-2008

California Institute of Technology. Postdoctoral fellowship. Sulfur isotope geochemistry, 2006

Johns Hopkins University. Ph.D. Biogeochemistry, 2005

Franklin and Marshall College. B.S. Geosciences, 1998

Professional Background:

Prof. Ries is a marine geologist in the Department of Marine Sciences at UNC – Chapel Hill.  His research program investigates a wide range of subjects in the Marine Sciences, including global climate change, paleoceanography, paleobiology, carbonate sedimentology, sulfur isotope geochemistry, biomineralization, and carbon sequestration.  The common thread throughout Prof. Ries’ work is oceanic change, which he investigates over broad temporal scales.  By combining field studies with complementary laboratory experiments, Prof. Ries is able to directly explore the biogeochemical processes that have changed the state of our oceans throughout the geologic past, as well as those that will drive critical changes in the immediate future.

Ries Lab Website: http://www.unc.edu/~jries/

Research & Activities:

Field and Laboratory Sites:

Prof. Ries’ field sites include Namibia, Honduras, Belize, Canada, Western US, Valley and Ridge Province of Eastern US, and Florida Keys.  His laboratory resources include an analytical chemistry laboratory and an experimental biomineralization culturing facility at UNC-CH

Analytical Resources:

Element and isotope mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, energy/wave dispersive spectroscopy, cathodoluminescence, ion microprobe, high-resolution seawater alkalinity and DIC.

Research Opportunities in the Ries Lab:

Please contact Prof. Ries at jries@unc.edu if you are interested in pursuing undergraduate, graduate or postdoctoral research at UNC – Chapel Hill.  Creative, motivated individuals with strong analytical skills are encouraged to apply.

Selected Publications:

Ries, J.B., 2010, Shell-shocked: How different creatures deal with an acidifying ocean. Earth Magazine, 55 (3): 46-53.  PDF

Ries, J.B., Cohen, A.L., McCorkle, D.C., 2010, A nonlinear calcification response to CO2-induced ocean acidification by the coral Oculina arbuscula, Coral Reefs, 29: 661-674.  PDF

Ries, J.B., 2010, Geological and experimental evidence for secular variation in seawater Mg/Ca (calcite-aragonite seas) and its effects on marine biological calcification. Biogeosciences, 7: 2795–2849.  PDF

Stanley, S.M., Ries, J.B., Hardie, L.A., 2010, Increased production of calcite and slower growth for the major sediment-producing alga Halimeda as the Mg/Ca ratio of seawater is lowered to a “calcite sea” level, Journal of Sedimentary Research, 80: 6-16. 

Ries, J.B., Cohen, A.L., McCorkle, D.C. 2009. Marine calcifiers exhibit mixed responses to CO2-induced ocean acidification. Geology, 37 (12):1131-1134.  PDF

Ries, J.B., 2009, Effects of secular variation in seawater Mg/Ca ratio (calcite-aragonite seas) on CaCO3 sediment production by the calcareous algae Halimeda, Penicillus and Udotea -- evidence from recent experiments and the geological record.  Terra Nova, 21: 323-339.  PDF

Ries, J.B., Fike, D.A., Pratt, L.M, Lyons, T.W., and Grotzinger, J.P., 2009. Super-heavy pyrite (δ34Spyr > δ34SCAS) in the terminal Proterozoic Nama Group, Southern Namibia: A consequence of low seawater sulfate at the dawn of animal life. Geology, 37 (8):743-746.  PDF

Ries, J.B., 2008. Seeing changes in a changing sea. Nature Geosciences, 1: 497-498.  PDF

Ries, J.B., Anderson, M.A., Hill, R.T. 2008. Seawater Mg/Ca controls polymorph mineralogy of microbial CaCO3: A potential proxy for calcite-aragonite seas in Precambrian time. Geobiology, 6: 106-119.  PDF

Ries, J.B., S.M. Stanley, and L.A. Hardie. 2006. Scleractinian corals produce calcite, and grow more slowly, in artificial Cretaceous seawater. Geology, 34 (7): 525-528.  PDF

Ries, J.B. 2006. Mg fractionation in crustose coralline algae: Geochemical, biological, and sedimentological implications of secular variation in the Mg/Ca ratio of seawater. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 70: 891-900.  PDF

Ries, J.B. 2006. Aragonitic algae in calcite seas: effect of seawater Mg/Ca on codiacean biomineralization. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 76: 515-523.  PDF

Ries, J.B. 2005. Experiments on the effect of secular variation in seawater Mg/Ca (calcite and aragonite seas) on calcareous biomineralization.  Johns Hopkins University Ph.D. dissertation thesis, 235 p.  PDF

Ries, J.B. 2005.  Aragonite production in calcite seas: effect of seawater Mg/Ca ratio on the calcification and growth of the calcareous alga Penicillus capitatus. Paleobiology, 31 (3):449-462.  PDF

Stanley, S.M., Ries, J.B. and Hardie, L.A..  2005. Seawater chemistry, coccolithophore population growth, and the origin of Cretaceous chalk. Geology, 33 (7): 593-596.  PDF

Ries, J.B. 2004. The effect of ambient Mg/Ca on Mg fractionation in calcareous marine invertebrates: A record of Phanerozoic Mg/Ca in seawater. Geology, 32 (11): 981-984.  PDF

Stanley, S.M., Ries, J.B., and Hardie, L.A. 2002. Low-magnesium calcite produced by coralline algae in seawater of Late Cretaceous composition. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 99 (24): 15323-15326.  PDF

*denotes student or post-doc