Verónica Ramirez
PALAEOCLIMATE

Verónica Ramírez is a geologist and anthropologist, she is currently an active member of the Karst Systems Research Group led by Professor Francisco W. Cruz, at the Institute of Geosciences at the University of São Paulo (IGc USP). Verónica is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of São Paulo in association with the Last Journey project, where she works with samples from different regions of Colombia to understand the climatic dynamics during the end of the Pleistocene and beginning of the Holocene. Her research area focuses on the interaction between exogenous processes and carbonate rocks, using the isotope geochemistry of speleothems, mainly δ18O and δ 13C, with the aim of developing paleoclimatic reconstructions.

For eight years, Verónica has been working in the caves of Colombia, understanding the shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), its causes and the effect on northern South America in the last 100,000 years, analysing a high-resolution geochronology and geochemistry record. By comparing and correlating these results with other records, mainly carried out with palynology, she aims to propose a robust model for understanding the paleoclimate of the northern Andes during the last 20,000 years and its impact on the environment and ancient human populations.