Wireline Coring Drowned Reefs Offshore the Virgin Islands: Sea Level, Sea Surface Temperature and Radiocarbon Calibration

Columbia University, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

The PI plans to attempt wireline coring on drowned reef from a leased drilling platform offshore British Virgin Islands. The objective is to extend the sea-level record from 20 k.y. back to 60 k.y. and to extend the C-14 calibration back to 40 k.y. Stable isotopic analyses of the cores will allow extending the tropical sea-surface temperature record up to 60 k.y.B.P. Virgin Islands are situated on a stable platform and thus reconstruction of the 20-60 k.y. record here will be more reliable for this time slice than other places where tectonics (uplift/subsidence) were active at that time.