Russell is a Quaternary scientist who studies Earth's past climate using geochemical proxies from cave deposits (speleothems). He is part of the Speleothem Science Research Group (www.speleothemscience.org) that spans the Schools of Geography and Earth Sciences.
He is one of a group of Physical Geographers specialising in Quaternary climate and environmental change. His current research focuses on the nature and causes of major climate transitions during the Quaternary Period, especially glacial terminations and abrupt 'millennial-scale' climate events. He is particularly interested in how these events play out regionally and across the globe, and what forces these changes. Russell works closely with oceanographers, ice-core scientists and palaeoclimate modellers to resolve these problems.
Russell runs a fully equipped microsampling and stable-isotope laboratory dedicated to the study of speleothems and other carbonate-based palaeoclimate archives. His lab complements the excellent suite of analytical instruments housed in the School of Earth Sciences. The stable-isotope lab has two Analytical Precision AP2003 continuous-flow stable isotope ratio mass spectrometers for measuring carbon and oxygen isotope ratios on carbonates (one active, one on standby); a Picarro cavity-ring down isotope analyser for measuring oxygen and hydrogen isotope ratios in waters (soon to be modified to measure fluid inclusions in speleothems); and a Nu Instruments "Perspective" dual-inlet isotope-ratio mass spectrometer configured to measure small-sample (50 ug) conventional carbon and oxygen isotopes as well as clumped-isotopes (delta-47) on carbonates (sample size ~500 ug).
Russell welcomes enquiries from colleagues and their graduate students interested in running samples in his lab. Collaborative rates apply (send him an email for a schedule of prices). He is also open to commercial work. To get a feel for some of Russell's recent work on cutting-edge advances in palaeoclimatology and geochemistry, see the following from his publications list: Drysdale et al. (2019; Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta); Bajo et al. (2020; Science); Tzedakis et al. (2018; Nature Communications); and Daeron et al. (2019; Nature Communications).
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Russell Drysdale's highlights
FEATURED Journal article
Persistent influence of obliquity on ice age terminations since the Middle Pleistocene transition
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Projects
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Project Types
18
Research Grant
2
Internal Research Grant
2
Research Contracts
Scholarly Works
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Credentials
Positions
Associate Professor (Physical Geography)
Geography
Ordinary Member
Australasian Quaternary Association
Ordinary Member
American Geophysical Union
Ordinary Member
Geochemical Society
Education
Doctor of Philosophy
University of New South Wales
Bachelor of Arts (hon)
University of New England
Bachelor of Arts
University of New England