Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/G015791/1
Accurate reconstruction of SSTs from coral skeletal Sr/Ca: understanding Sr and Ca transport across coral tissues
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor A Finch, University of St Andrews, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Grant held at:
- University of St Andrews, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Earth
- Overall Classification:
- Earth
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Palaeoenvironments
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- The chemistry of coral skeletons records climatic information at the time the coral lived i.e. skeletal Sr/Ca is affected by seawater temperature. The analysis of fossil coral skeletons offers an excellent opportunity to reconstruct past ocean temperatures and therefore to predict past climates. However skeletal Sr/Ca is also affected by biological processes and corals of different growth rates deposit different skeletal Sr/Ca equating to errors in reconstructed seawater temperature of up to ~3 degrees C. In this research we will identify the cause of the Sr/Ca variations between fast and slow growing corals. We have devised a research programme to study how Sr and Ca are transported across the coral tissue to the calcification site. We will culture corals and use biochemical inhibitors to switch off various ion transport mechanisms to determine how skeletal chemistry is affected. We will identify how each mechanism varies between fast and slow growing corals and will develop a methodology to correct for variations in ion transport processes between corals, allowing the accurate reconstruction of SSTs from skeletal Sr/Ca.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/G015791/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grant (FEC)
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £212,907
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| DI - Other Costs | Indirect - Indirect Costs | DA - Investigators | DA - Estate Costs | DI - Staff | DA - Other Directly Allocated | DI - T&S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £19,169 | £63,576 | £13,099 | £12,483 | £88,989 | £947 | £14,644 |
If you need further help, please read the user guide.