![Morten Andersen](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/1697?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Morten Andersen
Teams and roles for Morten Andersen
Overview
Research Interests
- Biogeochemical cycling
- Earth’s chemical evolution
- Paleoclimate
- Isotope Geochemistry
Publication
2025
- Béguelin, P. et al. 2025. Comparing geochemical and geodynamical models of plume and ridge mantle source composition. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 26 (8) e2025GC012357. (10.1029/2025GC012357)
- Cook, N. D. et al. 2025. Vertebral elemental composition reveals ontogenetic changes in habitat use in a Northeast Atlantic mesopredator shark. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 319 109255. (10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109255)
- Costa, K. M. et al., 2025. Calculating sedimentation rates of oxic pelagic clays using core top thorium isotopes. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 26 (1) e2024GC011717. (10.1029/2024gc011717)
- Esposito, C. et al., 2025. Diverse feasting networks at the end of the Bronze Age in Britain (c. 900-500 BCE) evidenced by multi-isotope analysis. iScience 28 (9) 113271. (10.1016/j.isci.2025.113271)
- Guilbaud, R. et al., 2025. Mackinawite partial oxidation to green rust produces a large, abiotic uranium isotope fractionation. Communications Earth & Environment 6 (1) 96. (10.1038/s43247-025-02088-5)
- Holt, E. et al. 2025. Comparing machine learning isoscapes of 87Sr/86Sr ratios of plants on the island of Sardinia: Implications for the use of isoscapes for assessing the provenance of biological specimens. Science of the Total Environment 989 179880. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179880)
- Pryor, E. J. et al. 2025. Geochemical-mineralogical constraints on the provenance of sediment supplied from South African river catchments draining into the Southwestern Indian Ocean. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 26 (4) e2024GC011869. (10.1029/2024GC011869)
- Rodney, J. B. et al., 2025. Constraints from uranium and molybdenum isotope ratios on the origin of enriched mid-ocean ridge basalts. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 666 119491. (10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119491)
- Rodney, J. B. et al., 2025. Assessing the timing of deep ocean oxygenation from uranium elemental and isotopic compositions of ophiolites. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 666 119489. (10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119489)
- Song, Y. et al., 2025. Tracking the spatial extent of redox variability in the mid-Proterozoic ocean. Geology 53 (9), pp.785-789. (10.1130/G53447.1)
2024
- Al Bahri, J. et al. 2024. Clay mineral geochemistry and paleoenvironmental reconstruction across the Cryogenian Sturtian Snowball glaciation. Precambrian Research 410 107498. (10.1016/j.precamres.2024.107498)
- Andersen, M. et al. 2024. Time scales and mechanisms of uranium uptake in altered ocean crust; observations from the ∼15 million year-old site 1256 in the eastern equatorial Pacific. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 382 , pp.142-159. (10.1016/j.gca.2024.07.028)
- French, K. M. et al., 2024. Biomolecular evidence reveals mares and long-distance imported horses sacrificed by the last pagans in temperate Europe. Science Advances 10 eado3529. (10.1126/sciadv.ado3529)
- Guillamon-Davila, A. et al. 2024. Tracing the path: First attempt of a multi-isotope approach to animal management in the Late Roman city of Torreparedones (Baena, Spain). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 60 104851. (10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104851)
- Rodney, J. B. et al., 2024. Potassium isotope compositions of Mariana arc lavas and their sedimentary input. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 383 , pp.1-17. (10.1016/j.gca.2024.07.035)
2023
- Chen, X. et al., 2023. Oceanic redox conditions during the terminal Cambrian extinction event. Chemical Geology 626 121456. (10.1016/j.chemgeo.2023.121456)
- Nuber, S. et al. 2023. Indian Ocean salinity build-up primes deglacial ocean circulation recovery. Nature 617 , pp.306-311. (10.1038/s41586-023-05866-3)
- Ossa Ossa, F. et al. 2023. Zinc enrichment and isotopic fractionation in a marine habitat of the c. 2.1 Ga Francevillian Group: A signature of zinc utilization by eukaryotes?. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 611 118147. (10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118147)
2022
- Chen, B. et al., 2022. A short-lived oxidation event during the early Ediacaran and delayed oxygenation of the Proterozoic ocean. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 577 117274. (10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117274)
- Dang, D. H. et al., 2022. Authigenic uranium isotopes of late Proterozoic black shale. Chemical Geology 588 120644. (10.1016/j.chemgeo.2021.120644)
- Hin, R. C. et al., 2022. The influence of crustal recycling on the molybdenum isotope composition of the Earth’s mantle. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 595 117760. (10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117760)
- Ossa Ossa, F. et al., 2022. Moderate levels of oxygenation during the late stage of Earth's Great Oxidation Event. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 594 117716. (10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117716)
- Panton, J. et al. 2022. Investigating influences on the Pb Pseudo‐Isochron using three‐dimensional mantle convection models with a continental reservoir. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 23 (8) e2021GC010309. (10.1029/2021gc010309)
2021
- Clarkson, M. O. et al., 2021. Carbonate associated uranium isotopes as a novel local redox indicator in oxidatively disturbed reducing sediments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 311 , pp.12-28. (10.1016/j.gca.2021.07.025)
- Clarkson, M. O. et al., 2021. Upper limits on the extent of seafloor anoxia during the PETM from uranium isotopes. Nature Communications 12 399. (10.1038/s41467-020-20486-5)
- dos Santos, F. H. et al., 2021. Unraveling sedimentary precursors and metal enrichment of high-grade metamorphosed manganese-rich rocks from the Borborema Province, northeastern Brazil. Ore Geology Reviews 137 104283. (10.1016/j.oregeorev.2021.104283)
- He, Z. et al., 2021. Temporally and spatially dynamic redox conditions on an upwelling margin: the impact on coupled sedimentary Mo and U isotope systematics, and implications for the Mo-U paleoredox proxy. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 309 , pp.251-271. (10.1016/j.gca.2021.06.024)
- Keatley, A. C. et al., 2021. Uranium isotope variation within vein type uranium ore deposits. Applied Geochemistry 131 104977. (10.1016/j.apgeochem.2021.104977)
- Scorrer, J. et al. 2021. Diversity aboard a Tudor warship: investigating the origins of the Mary Rose crew using multi-isotope analysis. Royal Society Open Science 8 (5) 202106. (10.1098/rsos.202106)
2020
- Andersen, M. B. et al. 2020. Rapid onset of ocean anoxia shown by high U and low Mo isotope compositions of sapropel S1. Geochemical Perspectives Letters 15 , pp.10-14. (10.7185/geochemlet.2027)
- Bura-Naki, E. et al., 2020. Investigating the molybdenum and uranium redox proxies in a modern shallow anoxic carbonate rich marine sediment setting of the Malo Jezero (Mljet Lakes, Adriatic Sea). Chemical Geology 533 119441. (10.1016/j.chemgeo.2019.119441)
- Clarkson, M. O. et al., 2020. Examining pelagic carbonate-rich sediments as an archive for authigenic uranium and molybdenum isotopes using reductive cleaning and leaching experiments. Chemical Geology 539 119412. (10.1016/j.chemgeo.2019.119412)
2019
- Freymuth, H. , Andersen, M. and Elliott, T. 2019. Uranium isotope fractionation during slab dehydration beneath the Izu arc. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 522 , pp.244-254. (10.1016/j.epsl.2019.07.006)
2018
- Andersen, M. et al. 2018. A 10-fold decline in the Eastern Mediterranean thermocline overturning circulation during the last interglacial period. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 503 , pp.58-67. (10.1016/j.epsl.2018.09.013)
- Bura-Nakic, E. B. et al., 2018. Coupled Mo-U abundances and isotopes in a small marine euxinic basin: constraints on processes in euxinic basins. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 222 , pp.212-229. (10.1016/j.gca.2017.10.023)
2017
- Andersen, M. , Stirling, C. and Weyer, S. 2017. Uranium isotope fractionation. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 82 (1), pp.799-850.
- Archer, C. et al., 2017. Inter-calibration of a proposed new primary reference standard AA-ETH Zn for zinc isotopic analysis. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 32 , pp.415-419. (10.1039/C6JA00282J)
2016
- Andersen, M. et al. 2016. Closing in on the marine 238U/235U budget. Chemical Geology 420 , pp.11-22. (10.1016/j.chemgeo.2015.10.041)
- Chen, T. et al., 2016. Ocean mixing and ice-sheet control of seawater 234U/238U during the last deglaciation. Science 354 (6312), pp.626-629. (10.1126/science.aag1015)
- Tomiak, P. J. et al., 2016. The role of skeletal micro-architecture in diagenesis and dating of Acropora palmata. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 183 , pp.153-175. (10.1016/j.gca.2016.03.030)
- Vance, D. et al., 2016. The oceanic budgets of nickel and zinc isotopes: the importance of sulphidic environments as illustrated by the Black Sea. Philosophical Transactions A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 374 (2081) 20150294. (10.1098/rsta.2015.0294)
2015
- Andersen, M. B. et al. 2015. The terrestrial uranium isotope cycle. Nature 517 (7534), pp.356-359. (10.1038/nature14062)
- Böhm, E. et al., 2015. Strong and deep Atlantic meridional overturning circulation during the last glacial cycle. Nature 517 (7532), pp.73-76. (10.1038/nature14059)
- Crane, R. A. et al., 2015. Field application of iron and iron–nickel nanoparticles for the ex situ remediation of a uranium-bearing mine water effluent. Journal of Environmental Engineering 141 (8) 04015011. (10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000936)
- Stirling, C. H. et al., 2015. Isotope fractionation of 238U and 235U during biologically-mediated uranium reduction. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 163 , pp.200-218. (10.1016/j.gca.2015.03.017)
2014
- Andersen, M. B. et al. 2014. A modern framework for the interpretation of 238U/235U in studies of ancient ocean redox. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 400 , pp.184-194. (10.1016/j.epsl.2014.05.051)
Articles
- Al Bahri, J. et al. 2024. Clay mineral geochemistry and paleoenvironmental reconstruction across the Cryogenian Sturtian Snowball glaciation. Precambrian Research 410 107498. (10.1016/j.precamres.2024.107498)
- Andersen, M. B. et al. 2020. Rapid onset of ocean anoxia shown by high U and low Mo isotope compositions of sapropel S1. Geochemical Perspectives Letters 15 , pp.10-14. (10.7185/geochemlet.2027)
- Andersen, M. B. et al. 2014. A modern framework for the interpretation of 238U/235U in studies of ancient ocean redox. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 400 , pp.184-194. (10.1016/j.epsl.2014.05.051)
- Andersen, M. et al. 2018. A 10-fold decline in the Eastern Mediterranean thermocline overturning circulation during the last interglacial period. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 503 , pp.58-67. (10.1016/j.epsl.2018.09.013)
- Andersen, M. et al. 2024. Time scales and mechanisms of uranium uptake in altered ocean crust; observations from the ∼15 million year-old site 1256 in the eastern equatorial Pacific. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 382 , pp.142-159. (10.1016/j.gca.2024.07.028)
- Andersen, M. , Stirling, C. and Weyer, S. 2017. Uranium isotope fractionation. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 82 (1), pp.799-850.
- Andersen, M. et al. 2016. Closing in on the marine 238U/235U budget. Chemical Geology 420 , pp.11-22. (10.1016/j.chemgeo.2015.10.041)
- Andersen, M. B. et al. 2015. The terrestrial uranium isotope cycle. Nature 517 (7534), pp.356-359. (10.1038/nature14062)
- Archer, C. et al., 2017. Inter-calibration of a proposed new primary reference standard AA-ETH Zn for zinc isotopic analysis. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 32 , pp.415-419. (10.1039/C6JA00282J)
- Béguelin, P. et al. 2025. Comparing geochemical and geodynamical models of plume and ridge mantle source composition. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 26 (8) e2025GC012357. (10.1029/2025GC012357)
- Böhm, E. et al., 2015. Strong and deep Atlantic meridional overturning circulation during the last glacial cycle. Nature 517 (7532), pp.73-76. (10.1038/nature14059)
- Bura-Naki, E. et al., 2020. Investigating the molybdenum and uranium redox proxies in a modern shallow anoxic carbonate rich marine sediment setting of the Malo Jezero (Mljet Lakes, Adriatic Sea). Chemical Geology 533 119441. (10.1016/j.chemgeo.2019.119441)
- Bura-Nakic, E. B. et al., 2018. Coupled Mo-U abundances and isotopes in a small marine euxinic basin: constraints on processes in euxinic basins. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 222 , pp.212-229. (10.1016/j.gca.2017.10.023)
- Chen, B. et al., 2022. A short-lived oxidation event during the early Ediacaran and delayed oxygenation of the Proterozoic ocean. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 577 117274. (10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117274)
- Chen, T. et al., 2016. Ocean mixing and ice-sheet control of seawater 234U/238U during the last deglaciation. Science 354 (6312), pp.626-629. (10.1126/science.aag1015)
- Chen, X. et al., 2023. Oceanic redox conditions during the terminal Cambrian extinction event. Chemical Geology 626 121456. (10.1016/j.chemgeo.2023.121456)
- Clarkson, M. O. et al., 2021. Carbonate associated uranium isotopes as a novel local redox indicator in oxidatively disturbed reducing sediments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 311 , pp.12-28. (10.1016/j.gca.2021.07.025)
- Clarkson, M. O. et al., 2021. Upper limits on the extent of seafloor anoxia during the PETM from uranium isotopes. Nature Communications 12 399. (10.1038/s41467-020-20486-5)
- Clarkson, M. O. et al., 2020. Examining pelagic carbonate-rich sediments as an archive for authigenic uranium and molybdenum isotopes using reductive cleaning and leaching experiments. Chemical Geology 539 119412. (10.1016/j.chemgeo.2019.119412)
- Cook, N. D. et al. 2025. Vertebral elemental composition reveals ontogenetic changes in habitat use in a Northeast Atlantic mesopredator shark. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 319 109255. (10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109255)
- Costa, K. M. et al., 2025. Calculating sedimentation rates of oxic pelagic clays using core top thorium isotopes. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 26 (1) e2024GC011717. (10.1029/2024gc011717)
- Crane, R. A. et al., 2015. Field application of iron and iron–nickel nanoparticles for the ex situ remediation of a uranium-bearing mine water effluent. Journal of Environmental Engineering 141 (8) 04015011. (10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000936)
- Dang, D. H. et al., 2022. Authigenic uranium isotopes of late Proterozoic black shale. Chemical Geology 588 120644. (10.1016/j.chemgeo.2021.120644)
- dos Santos, F. H. et al., 2021. Unraveling sedimentary precursors and metal enrichment of high-grade metamorphosed manganese-rich rocks from the Borborema Province, northeastern Brazil. Ore Geology Reviews 137 104283. (10.1016/j.oregeorev.2021.104283)
- Esposito, C. et al., 2025. Diverse feasting networks at the end of the Bronze Age in Britain (c. 900-500 BCE) evidenced by multi-isotope analysis. iScience 28 (9) 113271. (10.1016/j.isci.2025.113271)
- French, K. M. et al., 2024. Biomolecular evidence reveals mares and long-distance imported horses sacrificed by the last pagans in temperate Europe. Science Advances 10 eado3529. (10.1126/sciadv.ado3529)
- Freymuth, H. , Andersen, M. and Elliott, T. 2019. Uranium isotope fractionation during slab dehydration beneath the Izu arc. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 522 , pp.244-254. (10.1016/j.epsl.2019.07.006)
- Guilbaud, R. et al., 2025. Mackinawite partial oxidation to green rust produces a large, abiotic uranium isotope fractionation. Communications Earth & Environment 6 (1) 96. (10.1038/s43247-025-02088-5)
- Guillamon-Davila, A. et al. 2024. Tracing the path: First attempt of a multi-isotope approach to animal management in the Late Roman city of Torreparedones (Baena, Spain). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 60 104851. (10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104851)
- He, Z. et al., 2021. Temporally and spatially dynamic redox conditions on an upwelling margin: the impact on coupled sedimentary Mo and U isotope systematics, and implications for the Mo-U paleoredox proxy. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 309 , pp.251-271. (10.1016/j.gca.2021.06.024)
- Hin, R. C. et al., 2022. The influence of crustal recycling on the molybdenum isotope composition of the Earth’s mantle. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 595 117760. (10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117760)
- Holt, E. et al. 2025. Comparing machine learning isoscapes of 87Sr/86Sr ratios of plants on the island of Sardinia: Implications for the use of isoscapes for assessing the provenance of biological specimens. Science of the Total Environment 989 179880. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179880)
- Keatley, A. C. et al., 2021. Uranium isotope variation within vein type uranium ore deposits. Applied Geochemistry 131 104977. (10.1016/j.apgeochem.2021.104977)
- Nuber, S. et al. 2023. Indian Ocean salinity build-up primes deglacial ocean circulation recovery. Nature 617 , pp.306-311. (10.1038/s41586-023-05866-3)
- Ossa Ossa, F. et al. 2023. Zinc enrichment and isotopic fractionation in a marine habitat of the c. 2.1 Ga Francevillian Group: A signature of zinc utilization by eukaryotes?. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 611 118147. (10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118147)
- Ossa Ossa, F. et al., 2022. Moderate levels of oxygenation during the late stage of Earth's Great Oxidation Event. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 594 117716. (10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117716)
- Panton, J. et al. 2022. Investigating influences on the Pb Pseudo‐Isochron using three‐dimensional mantle convection models with a continental reservoir. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 23 (8) e2021GC010309. (10.1029/2021gc010309)
- Pryor, E. J. et al. 2025. Geochemical-mineralogical constraints on the provenance of sediment supplied from South African river catchments draining into the Southwestern Indian Ocean. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 26 (4) e2024GC011869. (10.1029/2024GC011869)
- Rodney, J. B. et al., 2025. Constraints from uranium and molybdenum isotope ratios on the origin of enriched mid-ocean ridge basalts. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 666 119491. (10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119491)
- Rodney, J. B. et al., 2025. Assessing the timing of deep ocean oxygenation from uranium elemental and isotopic compositions of ophiolites. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 666 119489. (10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119489)
- Rodney, J. B. et al., 2024. Potassium isotope compositions of Mariana arc lavas and their sedimentary input. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 383 , pp.1-17. (10.1016/j.gca.2024.07.035)
- Scorrer, J. et al. 2021. Diversity aboard a Tudor warship: investigating the origins of the Mary Rose crew using multi-isotope analysis. Royal Society Open Science 8 (5) 202106. (10.1098/rsos.202106)
- Song, Y. et al., 2025. Tracking the spatial extent of redox variability in the mid-Proterozoic ocean. Geology 53 (9), pp.785-789. (10.1130/G53447.1)
- Stirling, C. H. et al., 2015. Isotope fractionation of 238U and 235U during biologically-mediated uranium reduction. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 163 , pp.200-218. (10.1016/j.gca.2015.03.017)
- Tomiak, P. J. et al., 2016. The role of skeletal micro-architecture in diagenesis and dating of Acropora palmata. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 183 , pp.153-175. (10.1016/j.gca.2016.03.030)
- Vance, D. et al., 2016. The oceanic budgets of nickel and zinc isotopes: the importance of sulphidic environments as illustrated by the Black Sea. Philosophical Transactions A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 374 (2081) 20150294. (10.1098/rsta.2015.0294)
Research
Research
I am a geologist with broad research interests in understanding the evolution of Earth and the solar system. My main research tool is isotope geochemistry using novel isotopic proxies for addressing major scientific questions such as the geochemical evolution Earth and Pleistocene climate changes.
Much of my work focus on using uranium isotopes as a tracer of geochemical surface processes characterizing the global geochemical redistribution of uranium on Earth to quantify long-term global biogeochemical cycling and understand links with terrestrial weathering processes and oxygenation of the surface Earth. I am also using the decay products of the uranium isotopes to study a range of processes important for paleoclimate reconstruction, including uranium-series dating of fossil corals for sealevel reconstruction, continental weathering rates and its impact on ocean biogeochemistry.
