CALYPSO sediment cores from the southernmost Chilean Continental Margin (52-54°S) for the reconstruction of the Pleistocene climate and glacial history at the southern margin of the Southern Westerlies

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Rolf Kilian (†)
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2005 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5444330

The south Pacific and Southern Chilean continental margin within the southern hemispheric wind belt represent one of the key areas for understanding of interhemispheric climate change during the Late Quaternary. For this area, long-term and high resolution records are scarce and the climate and glaciation history is still discussed controversially. Therefore, we propose two sites for long Calypso sediment cores... with the French RV MARION DUFRESNE at the southernmost Chilean continental margin... to investigate the Late Quaternary climate change and glaciation history by using micropaleontological, geochemical, and mineralogical proxies. Optimum core sites will be selected based on high resolution sediment echography data and sedimentological records from various short sediment cores... obtained within the framework of an ongoing DFG-project... One site is proposed for the intra-Andean fjord-system and should display a high resolution record of glacier fluctuations, inerplay of lacustrine and marine environments, terrestrial plant colonisation and bioproductivty. A second site at the continental slope is planned to provide the link to paleoceanographic changes within the Cape Horn current system. Here, we will focus on the reconstruction of surface water changes and their relation to continental environmental changes recorded at the same site and at the more proximal fjord site.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Dr. Frank Lamy