Wallace S. Broecker is the Newberry Professor of Geochemistry at Columbia University. Columbia University is a private university in New York City. ...

Over the last 50 years he has conducted research on the geochemical cycles of the element carbon and on the record of climate contained in polar ice and ocean sediments.

He has authored over 400 journal articles and 7 books. He is perhaps best known for his discovery of the role played by the ocean in triggering the abrupt climate changes which punctuated glacial time.

Broecker is a member of the National Academy of Science and recipient of the National Medal of Science.