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Paul A. Baker

Professor Emeritus of Earth and Climate Science
Earth and Climate Sciences
Box 90328, Durham, NC 27708
9 Circuit Drive, 5116 Grainger Hall, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


For the past several years, I have been pursuing the goal of understanding climate change on time-scales from decades to millions of years. I am particularly interested in what forces natural climate variability, how past climates have influenced the ecology and diversity of organisms in the tropics, as well as how climate change and other human activities will affect the eventual fate of these organisms.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor Emeritus of Earth and Climate Science · 2023 - Present Earth and Climate Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment

In the News


Published November 26, 2022
Classes That Go Deep
Published October 29, 2015
Paul Baker leads project: How the Amazon became a crucible of life
Published September 16, 2014
Duke leads $4.4M study in Amazon forest

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Recent Publications


AMOC-forced southward migration of the ITCZ under a warm climate background

Journal Article Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology · March 1, 2025 Northern northeastern Brazil (NEB) is a climate change hotspot due to its high biological and social vulnerability to ongoing and future hydroclimate changes. Precipitation in this region is influenced by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which is ... Full text Cite

Millennial- to centennial-scale Atlantic ITCZ swings during the penultimate deglaciation

Journal Article Quaternary Science Reviews · January 15, 2025 Growing concerns surround the future of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and its impacts on tropical regions, particularly due to changes in the dynamics of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Northeastern Brazil, a tropical re ... Full text Cite

The palaeoclimate potential of continental scientific drilling

Journal Article Nature Geoscience · December 1, 2024 Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Collaborative Research: Trans-Amazon Drilling Project

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2018 - 2024

A Proposal to Manage the U.S. Science Support Program Office associated with the International Ocean Discovery Program (USSSP-IODP) (On-campus)

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by The Trustees of Columbia University · 2020 - 2022

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of California, San Diego · 1981 Ph.D.
Pennsylvania State University · 1975 M.S.
University of Rochester · 1973 B.A.

External Links


Paul Baker Lab Group