U.S.-Chile Cooperative Research on the late Cenozoic Paleoceanographic and Paleoclimatic Evolution of Northern and Central Chile

Southern Illinois University At Carbondale, Carbondale IL

Investigators

Abstract

0203555 Ishman This Americas award will support collaborative research between Drs. Scott E. Ishman and Nicholas Pinter of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and Dr. Jacobus Le Roux, University of Chile, Dr. Guillermo Chong, Catholic University of Antofagasta, and Dr. Ruben Martinez-Pardo, National Museum of Natural History for their work on the Cenozoic Paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic evolution of Northern and Central Chile. The project will be done in the Mejillones Peninsula (MP) region in the north near Antofagasta and the Navidad region in central Chile to the southwest of Santiago. The northern region of Chile provides a unique geographic setting to investigate the oceanographic and climatic sensitivity of the eastern South Pacific to significant changes in Antarctic ice volume change as interpreted from sea-level records. The Mejillones Basin is ideal for this research. It represents a shallow marine setting developed on an active margin with nearby volcanism and other significant tectonic features. Results from this proposed project will provide a better understanding of the interconnection between Antarctic ice volume change, oceanographic and atmospheric circulation, and the impacts these have on recurring oceanographic and meteorological events such as El Nino, which have global and economic significance.