Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/B503225/1
Paleoclimatic study of cored intervals of major environmental change, Tanzania.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor P Pearson, Cardiff University, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences
- Grant held at:
- Cardiff University, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences
- Science Area:
- Earth
- Overall Classification:
- Earth
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Palaeobiology
- Sediment/Sedimentary Processes
- Palaeoenvironments
- Systematics & Taxonomy
- Abstract:
- Onshore Tanzania contains a wealth of undescribed Cretaceous to Oligocene sedimentary formations (mainly mudstones) that provide unique insights into climate change in the tropical Indian Ocean over much of the past 100 million years. The sediments are thermally immature, indicating very shallow maximum burial depths, and they contain extremely well-preserved microfossils that are suitable for a wide range of geochemical analyses. In previous NERC-sponsored drilling in 2002, a complete drill-core across the Paleocene - Eocene Thermal Maximum Event was recovered. This event was one of the most profound episodes of rapid climate warming in Earth history. Because of the near-perfect state of preservation of the foraminifera through the event, and the expanded stratigraphic sequence, we aim to establish the degree of tropical warming that occurred, the true magnitude of the carbon isotopic perturbation and the history of seawater pH changes. Detailed palaeontological work will allow us to assess the evolutionary response of the nannoplankton, benthic and planktonic foraminifera and palynomorphs, and study the biotic calcification crisis in detail. We also plan to drill along a newly discovered and very promising road section in the Pande area of Tanzania where much of the stratigraphy is more accessible than in areas we have previously investigated. These drill sites will be aimed at recovering the Cretaceous-Tertiary and Eocene-Oligocene boundaries, together with another possible Paleocene-Eocene boundary core and other intervals that have not so far been drilled in Tanzania. These cores will all be described in detail and the maximum palaeoclimate information will be extracted, contributing to our understanding of warm climates in Earth history and especially the causes and effects of rapid climate change.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/B503225/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £208,063
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £62,717 | £7,438 | £109,058 | £28,849 |
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