Collaborative Research: Tracing Paleoceanographic Sources of Fe to the Central Pacific Ocean

Trustees Of Boston University, Boston

Investigators

Abstract

Summary: This proposal request support for a comprehensive chemical and isotopic survey (major, trace, and rare earth elements along with Sr, Nd and Pb isotopes) to test the hypothesis that the source of particulate Fe to central equatorial Pacific surface waters is the Papua New Guinea region via the eastward flowing Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC). In addition the study will assess whether wind blown material is more important as a source of particulate Fe at 4oN and 5-2oS than is PNG-derived Fe. The study will examine downcore variations in the EUC-sourced Fe through glacial-interglacial cycles, and examine whether changes can be correlated with changes of export production recorded in the sediments.