A GCM Comparison of Plio-Pleistocene Interglacial-Glacial Periods in Relation to Lake Elâ•Žgygytgyn, NE Arctic Russia

iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to sincerely thank Robert M. DeConto for guiding me through my research project and having the patience while I learn and enhance my knowledge of MATLAB and using climate models. I would also like to thank Julie Brigham-Grette for having the patience as I learned the specific tools to carry out my research. She has instilled an immense amount of interest in the Arctic for me and I hope to continue research within that region. Finally, I'd like to thank Alan Condron for taking a chance by joining my committee about a research project that he did not know a lot about and giving me MATLAB advice during my first semester in graduate school. I strongly thank all my committee members for the invaluable help they have given me throughout my years doing my Master's Degree. I thank all my family and friends especially my mother, Eileen. I thank her for raising two boys on her own for 26 years, and giving me the drive and strength to continue my education by getting my Master's Degree. All her hard work and dedication to my brother and I has taught me an invaluable lesson from day one and I hope to be as strong as she with my family and career.