Area of Expertise:
Dr. Roger Francois’ research focuses on the biogeochemistry of selected elements in the ocean water that track key oceanic processes of importance to climate. The distribution of these and other chemical elements provides valuable information on the chemistry, biology, and circulation of the modern ocean. In addition, the incorporation of these elements in marine sediments and other natural archives leaves a record of variability that provides context for distinguishing between human-induced climate trends and recurring natural cycles.
The goal of this research is to lead to a better understanding of the ocean’s role in climate change, which will in turn inform responses to current and future challenges in global climate change.
His current research interests center primarily on:
- Application of geochemistry to problems of paleoceanography with particular emphasis on late Quaternary paleoceanography, radiochemical approaches, carbon and nitrogen isotope geochemistry, and trace element proxies (redox-sensitive elements; paleoproductivity tracers)
- Water column radiochemistry to constrain abyssal circulation and scavenging
Select Presentation(s) / Publication(s):
Flores Ruiz, Bertha Iselle; Anthony, Jack; Waugh, Lori-Jon C.; Kuang, Cheng; Francois, Roger; and Maldonado, Maria T., “Dissolved Cu concentrations in the Strait of Georgia: trends, speciation, and accumulation by local calanoid copepods” (2018). Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference. 234.
https://cedar.wwu.edu/ssec/2018ssec/allsessions/234
Kuang, Cheng; Flores Ruiz, Bertha Iselle; Stevens, Samuel; Maldonado, Maria; and Francois, Roger, “Dispersion and removal of two toxic trace metals (Ag and Cd) in the Strait of Georgia” (2018). Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference. 233. https://cedar.wwu.edu/ssec/2018ssec/allsessions/233
Grasse, Patricia & A. Brzezinski, Mark & Cardinal, Damien & F. de Souza, Gregory & Andersson, Per & Closset, Ivia & Cao, Zhimian & Dai, Minhan & Ehlert, Claudia & Estrade, Nicolas & Francois, Roger & Frank, Martin & Jiang, Guibin & Jones, Janice & Kooijman, Ellen & Liu, Qian & lu, Dawei & Pahnke, Katharina & Ponzevera, Emmanuel & Zhang, Zhouling. (2017). GEOTRACES Intercalibration of the Stable Silicon Isotope Composition of Dissolved Silicic Acid in Seawater. J. Anal. At. Spectrom.. 32. 10.1039/C6JA00302H.
Francois, Roger, “Initial observations on spatial and temporal variations in the concentration of dissolved and particulate PBDE congeners in the Strait of Georgia” (2016). Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference. 63. https://cedar.wwu.edu/ssec/2016ssec/fate_and_effects_of_pollutants/63/
Scheiderich, Kathleen & Amini, Marghaleray & Holmden, Chris & Francois, Roger. (2015). Global variability of chromium isotopes in seawater demonstrated by Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Ocean samples. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 423. 10.1016/j.epsl.2015.04.030.
