Project Details
Projekt
Quantitative Reconstruction of the Neogene East and West Antarctic Ice Sheet History from Drift Sediments (ODP Leg 178 and Leg 188): A Synthesis
Applicant
Professor Dr. Tobias Mörz
Subject Area
Palaeontology
Term
from 2003 to 2007
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5411445
The proposed synthesis project aims to quantify the Antarctic ice sheet history of the last 10 Ma. With new statistical tools we will isolate and quantify the "ice factor" in fine-fraction grain-size distribution data from Antarctic deep-sea drift deposits. In our preparatory work we showed that the sedimentary Antarctic drift bodies are continuous ice archives with a direct link in their built-up history at the continental rise to ice advances to the shelf break. Quantification of the ice volume is therefore possible, since the relative ice-cover to - volume ratio is known from models. In a four step approach we will complete the existing sample collection of Site 1095, increase its time resolution and analyse the recovered data sets with the end-member modeling method. Second step is the validation of the local data set to a regional scale by incorporating samples of a control Site (Site 1101) on a nearby drift. Thirdly we will prepare and analyse samples from a E-Antarctic drift (Site 1165) for a in-depth E-W ice sheet history comparision. During the synthesis phase of the project the new proximal data set will be correlated to a new global isotope -Ca/Mg based ice volume record contributed by our cooperation partners. These are three important reasons to start with the proposed research now: High social relevance of the expected data..., free access to the samples since the one year ODP moratorium for both ODP legs has passed, and the availability of abundant ancillary data from other working groups...
DFG Programme
Infrastructure Priority Programmes
Participating Persons
Professor Dr. Wolf-Christian Dullo; Professor Dr. Jörn Thiede (†)
