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Details of Award

NERC Reference : NE/F001428/1

Miocene sea-level change and carbon cycling: New Jersey shallow shelf Expedition 313

Grant Award

Principal Investigator:
Professor SP Hesselbo, University of Oxford, Earth Sciences
Science Area:
Terrestrial
Marine
Freshwater
Earth
Atmospheric
Overall Classification:
Earth
ENRIs:
Global Change
Science Topics:
Earth Surface Processes
Biogeochemical Cycles
Sediment/Sedimentary Processes
Climate & Climate Change
Abstract:
The Early/Middle Miocene, 24-14 million years ago, represents an important phase in the development of the present 'ice house' world. Specifically the Earth's climate system oscillated between relatively cool and relatively warm states until Antarctic glaciation was firmly established in the later half of the Middle Miocene. On the basis of geochemical data obtained from deep ocean sediments, these climatic oscillations were characterized by sea-level changes and changes in patterns of carbon burial that acted in concert, with inferred increases in carbon burial during sea-level lowstands. Drilling to take place in Miocene shallow marine sediments (IODP Expedition 313) gives an opportunity to assess whether the evidence from the oceanic record is borne out by analysis of these nearshore sedimentary successions, which would be expected (on this old stable continental margin) to respond very sensitively to changes in global sea-level. Recent work on older geological intervals has demonstrated the potential of terrestrial organic matter as an archive of the carbon-isotope composition of atmospheric carbon-dioxide, which acts as a monitor of burial and release of carbon from sedimentary reservoirs. The proposed work is aimed at providing quantitative information from Miocene woody organic matter showing how the Earth's carbon cycle responded to glacially driven changes in global sea level and attendant changes in continental climate. In addition to testing the synchrony between carbon cycle and sea-level changes inferred from deep oceanic sediments, the proposed work will test the limits of application of this new method, and provide data that will allow further investigation of the linkages between environmental changes on land and those occurring in the oceans.
Period of Award:
1 Oct 2008 - 31 Dec 2011
Value:
£49,557
Authorised funds only
NERC Reference:
NE/F001428/1
Grant Stage:
Completed
Scheme:
Directed (Research Programmes)
Grant Status:
Closed
Programme:
IODP

This grant award has a total value of £49,557  

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FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)

DI - Other CostsIndirect - Indirect CostsDA - InvestigatorsDA - Estate CostsDA - Other Directly AllocatedDI - T&S
£20,146£7,048£11,747£2,915£6,684£1,017

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