Skip navigation

Dr Monika Markowska

Senior Research Fellow

Department: Geography and Environmental Sciences

Monika Markowska

I use geological archives, such as cave deposits, to provide insights into past climate variability by utilising a variety of geochemical tools. My research takes me to places such as Arabia, Australia and Ethiopia to name a few. 

I am leading a Royal Society University Research Fellowship project investigating precipitation changes in dryland areas across the world. A particular focus is broadening our understanding of dryland hydroclimate by comparing and evaluating climate proxy and instrumental data, proxy-system modelling, developing novel techniques in quantitative temperature and rainfall reconstructions, and generating chronological methodologies across timescales from the modern to the Miocene. In this project we are investigating previous 'warmer worlds', like the Pliocene, to gain insights on the controlling mechanisms responsible for precipitation changes. I am particularly passionate about improving our understanding on how fragile and vulnerable dryland landscapes will respond to future climate change.

  • Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
  • SISALv3: A global speleothem stable isotope and trace element database, Kaushal, N., Lechleitner, F., Wilhelm, M., Azennoud, K., Bühler, J., Braun, K., Ait Brahim, Y., Baker, A., Burstyn, Y., Comas-Bru, L., Fohlmeister, J., Goldsmith, Y., Harrison, S., Hatvani, I., Rehfeld, K., Ritzau, M., Skiba, V., Stoll, H., Szűcs, J., Tanos, P., Treble, P., Azevedo, V., Baker, J., Borsato, A., Chawchai, S., Columbu, A., Endres, L., Hu, J., Kern, Z., Kimbrough, A., Koç, K., Markowska, M., Martrat, B., Masood Ahmad, S., Nehme, C., Novello, V., Pérez-Mejías, C., Ruan, J., Sekhon, N., Sinha, N., Tadros, C., Tiger, B., Warken, S., Wolf, A., Zhang, H. 26 Apr 2024, In: Earth System Science Data
  • Spatiotemporal variation in cave percolation waters: A functional approach, Chapman, R., Laffan, S., McDonough, L., Markowska, M., Baker, A. 1 Mar 2024, In: Journal of Hydrology
  • Accurate chronological construction for two young stalagmites from the tropical South Pacific, Faraji, M., Frisia, S., Hua, Q., Borsato, A., Markowska, M. 1 Feb 2023, In: Quaternary Geochronology
  • Assessing the reliability of modern marine stromatolites as archives for the uranium isotope paleoredox proxy, Martin, A., Markowska, M., Chivas, A., Weyer, S. 15 Mar 2023, In: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
  • Climate Evolution Through the Onset and Intensification of Northern Hemisphere Glaciation, McClymont, E., Ho, S., Ford, H., Bailey, I., Berke, M., Bolton, C., De Schepper, S., Grant, G., Groeneveld, J., Inglis, G., Karas, C., Patterson, M., Swann, G., Thirumalai, K., White, S., Alonso-Garcia, M., Anand, P., Hoogakker, B., Littler, K., Petrick, B., Risebrobakken, B., Abell, J., Crocker, A., de Graaf, F., Feakins, S., Hargreaves, J., Jones, C., Markowska, M., Ratnayake, A., Stepanek, C., Tangunan, D. 1 Sep 2023, In: Reviews of Geophysics
  • A multi-isotope and modelling approach for constraining hydro-connectivity in the East African Rift System, southern Ethiopia, Markowska, M., Martin, A., Vonhof, H., Guinoiseau, D., Fischer, M., Zinaye, B., Galer, S., Asrat, A., Junginger, A. 1 Mar 2022, In: Quaternary Science Reviews
  • Recharge variability in Australia's southeast alpine region derived from cave monitoring and modern stalagmite δ18O records, Tadros, C., Markowska, M., Treble, P., Baker, A., Frisia, S., Adler, L., Drysdale, R. 1 Nov 2022, In: Quaternary Science Reviews
  • Ubiquitous karst hydrological control on speleothem oxygen isotope variability in a global study, Treble, P., Baker, A., Abram, N., Hellstrom, J., Crawford, J., Gagan, M., Borsato, A., Griffiths, A., Bajo, P., Markowska, M., Priestley, S., Hankin, S., Paterson, D. 15 Feb 2022, In: Communications Earth and Environment
  • Historical droughts in Southeast Australia recorded in a New South Wales stalagmite, Scroxton, N., Walczak, M., Markowska, M., Zhao, J., Fallon, S. 1 Apr 2021, In: Holocene
  • Isotope ratio infrared spectroscopy analysis of water samples without memory effects, de Graaf, S., Vonhof, H., Levy, E., Markowska, M., Haug, G. 30 Apr 2021, In: Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry

  • Geology PhD August 22 2017
  • Geography BSc (Hons)
  • Environmental Science and other Physical Science BSc

Our Staff


a sign in front of a crowd
+

Northumbria Open Days

Open Days are a great way for you to get a feel of the University, the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the course(s) you are interested in.

Research at Northumbria
+

Research at Northumbria

Research is the life blood of a University and at Northumbria University we pride ourselves on research that makes a difference; research that has application and affects people's lives.

NU World
+

Explore NU World

Find out what life here is all about. From studying to socialising, term time to downtime, we’ve got it covered.


Latest News and Features

plastic bottles
Pictured in the NU-OMICS DNA sequencing research facility at Northumbria University are (left to right) Andrew Nelson, Kim Nguyen-Phuoc, Dr Matthew Bashton, Clare McCann and Professor Darren Smith.
Feeding Families volunteer holding a box in the warehouse
an image of the Earth from space
New study demonstrates an inclusive approach to leading research
a illustration showing a Victorian courtroom scene
More news
More events

Upcoming events

Interior Educators Conference 2024
-

Northumbria University Business and Law School

-

Back to top