Earth Institute Contact: Dr. Robert Anderson
Additional External Researchers:
Julian Sachs (MIT), Anitra Ingalls (U Washington)
Locations: Southern Ocean
Description:
This project has two broadly defined objectives: 1. To calibrate (improve) and later apply transfer functions (algorithms) designed to reconstruct sea ice distributions in the Southern Ocean based on the assemblage of diatom species preserved and buried in sediments. This objective has been modified during the latter half of this project to explore and develop a new proxy, based on the abundance of Interplanetary Dust Particles in sediments, for freshwater supply by melting icebergs. 2. To develop high-resolution records of changes in the ventilation (the degree to which the gases in water are equilibrated with the atmosphere) of Southern-Source Deep Water through periods of Abrupt Climate Change. Ultimately these two objectives will be integrated in that sea ice cover and meltwater supplied by melting icebergs influences the ventilation of newly-formed deep water, as well as having a major impact on air-sea fluxes of heat, moisture, and momentum.
EI Unit:
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO)
Cross Cutting Themes:
Climate and Society
Core Disciplines:
Earth Sciences
Collaborating Institutions:
MIT, University of Washington
Funding Agency:
NOAA
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