Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/E018432/1
Ikaite: A palaeoenvironmental proxy
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor R Rickaby, University of Oxford, Earth Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor RD Pancost, University of Bristol, Chemistry
- Grant held at:
- University of Oxford, Earth Sciences
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Land - Ocean Interactions
- Quaternary Science
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- In order to predict the consequences of global warming, it is essential to understand the climate response in terms of temperature and ice volume (hence sea level) to atmospheric carbon dioxide. The geological record of past climatic fluctuations has the power to reveal the natural interplay between these three Earth system parameters. One of the great challenges in paleoceanography since its inception, has been to reconstruct an independent record of oceanic temperature, or sea level throughout the Pleistocene ice ages in order to obtain an idea of the sensitivity and phasing of two crucial climate components: ice volume and temperature, during the glacial cycles. Foraminiferal d18O, the traditional proxy, is influenced by a combination of both ice volume and temperature so lack of constraint on seawater d18O prevents complete and quantitative interpretation of any marine carbonate d18O record. We have hypothesised that ikaite (CaCO3.6H2O), a metastable hydrated form of calcium carbonate which precipitates in organic rich sediments, captures the isotopic composition of ambient waters as hydration waters within the crystal (Rickaby et al., 20061), and offers a promising method of probing directly the d18Osw for periods other than the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). We propose a multi-disciplinary approach to integrate mineralogical and biogeochemical laboratory experiments with field observations to characterise and understand the presence and climatic significance of ikaite and its isotopes within the natural environment. Our primary aims are to lay the foundations for, and apply this novel ikaite proxy to the reconstruction of d18Osw, hence ice volume, and extend application of the proxy to different timeslices and water masses.
- Period of Award:
- 1 Apr 2008 - 31 Dec 2011
- Value:
- £360,036 Lead Split Award
Authorised funds only
- NERC Reference:
- NE/E018432/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grant (FEC)
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £360,036
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| DI - Other Costs | Indirect - Indirect Costs | DA - Investigators | DA - Estate Costs | DI - Equipment | DI - Staff | DI - T&S | DA - Other Directly Allocated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £31,276 | £139,874 | £27,460 | £47,523 | £4,700 | £85,950 | £11,519 | £11,735 |
If you need further help, please read the user guide.