Collaborative Research: History of Pleistocene Circulation Modes in the North Atlantic Ocean

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole MA

Investigators

Abstract

Under this award the PIs will examine the constancy of d13C in the Norwegian Greenland Sea overflow waters that make up North Atlantic Deep Water. The proponents will focus on intervals that represent typical and extreme G-I stages, in order to develop a better understanding of the processes that gave rise to the anomalous d13C profiles of the last 400 kyr. In this way the study hopes to seek to answer fundamental questions about the long-term circulation history of the North Atlantic and its susceptibility to change. The research should perform a critical step in the evaluation of climate models used to predict future circulation changes is judging the ability of those models to hindcast past ocean circulation changes. Paleoceanographers are responsible for providing accurate depictions of such changes. The award will involve public education outreach and undergraduates in our research.