Dr. Peter Barry
Associate Scientist w/Tenure
Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department
Contact Information:
Work: 508-289-2327
pbarry@whoi.edu
Building: Clark 419
Mailing Address:
266 Woods Hole Road, MS #25
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole, MA 02543
Research Interests
The goal of our research is to understand the volatile history and chemical evolution of Earth. Specifically, we use stable and noble gas isotope systematics to understand the dynamic processes of subduction, mantle convection and surface volcanism, which control the redistribution of chemical constituents between the crust and mantle reservoirs. We are also interested in addressing a diverse array of geochemical questions, pertaining to both igneous and crustal systems as well as groundwater systems. The main research focus has been on high-temperature geochemistry, crust-mantle interactions and the behavior of volatile fluids in the lithosphere. However, more recent research focuses on using noble gas geochemistry to better understand crustal systems, including hydrocarbon formation and transport mechanisms.
Selected Publications
Recent Field Work
- New Zealand 2025: Sampling geothermal wells and springs
- Mariana Cruise 2024 (R/V Thompson, Chief Scientist): Sampling boreholes
- Argentina 2023: Sampling geothermal springs
- New Zealand 2023: Sampling geothermal wells and springs
- Italy 2022: Sampling geothermal springs
- Idaho/Oregon/Nevada 2022: Sampling geothermal springs
- Greenland 2022: Sampling geothermal springs
- Chile 2022: Sampling fumaroles and seeps
- Montana/Idaho/Wyoming 2021: Sampling geothermal springs
- Iceland 2021: Sampling volcanic gases and lavas
- Chile 2020: Sampling volcanic gases
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Education
Ph.D.: Earth Sciences. 2012. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, USA
M.S.: Oceanography. 2011. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, USA
Visiting Researcher (NSF EAPSI Fellow).: 2008. Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute (AORI), The University of Tokyo, Japan
B.A.: Geological Sciences. 2004. The State University of New York at Geneseo, USA
Appointments
2024-present Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, USA – Associate Scientist w/Tenure
2022-2024 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, USA – Associate Scientist
2019-2022 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, USA – Assistant Scientist
2014-2018 University of Oxford, UK – Postdoctoral Research Associate
2012-2014 The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA (NSF EAR-Postdoctoral Fellow)
News/Announcements
- WHOI news release: "New geochemical tool reveals origin of Earth's nitrogen."
- Labidi, J., Barry, P.H., Bekaert, D.V. et al. Hydrothermal 15N15N abundances constrain the origins of mantle nitrogen. Nature 580, 367–371 (2020).
- Press Release: Microbes May Act as Gatekeepers of Earth’s Deep Carbon