NSF Org:	AGS Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
Recipient:	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Initial Amendment Date:	May 2, 2005
Latest Amendment Date:	May 2, 2005
Award Number:	0502227
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	David Verardo AGS  Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences GEO  Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	May 1, 2005
End Date:	April 30, 2009 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$353,787.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$353,787.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2005 = $353,787.00
History of Investigator:	Mark Abbott (Principal Investigator) mabbott1@pitt.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	University of Pittsburgh 4200 FIFTH AVENUE PITTSBURGH PA  US  15260-0001 (412)624-7400
Sponsor Congressional District:	12
Primary Place of Performance:	University of Pittsburgh 4200 FIFTH AVENUE PITTSBURGH PA  US  15260-0001
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	12
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	MKAGLD59JRL1
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	GLOBAL CHANGE
Primary Program Source:	app-0105
Program Reference Code(s):	1304, 1530, 4444, EGCH
Program Element Code(s):	157700
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.050

ABSTRACT

This project is designed to obtain high-resolution paleoclimate records from a series of lakes in the central Andes spanning latitudes 11 degrees south to 20 degrees south, and will document climatic variability at the highest possible temporal-resolution (5 to 20 years based on previous work) from lakes in this region. The resulting spatial-temporal dataset will provide information regarding drought frequency, intensity and spatial variability across a region where millions of people live at a subsistence level, limited water-resources, and rapidly retreating glaciers that currently supply an important source of water during the winter dry season.

Sediment cores recovered from the center of deposition in of each lake will be used to document changes in the hydrologic status through time by measuring oxygen and carbon isotopic ratios on either ostracod shells or authigenic carbonate (where available), or sediment cellulose where the bedrock geology does not allow for the preservation of authigenic calcium carbonate in the sediments. These analyses will be augmented with core transect studies from shallow to deep water to identify and date large-scale variations in lake level. Results will be quantified using modeling studies of stable isotope mass balance and hydrologic status.

The results arising from this work will be studied alongside other paleorecords from the Pacific Rim to identify the likely climatic mechanism(s) responsible for the observed changes. In particular, results will be compared with long records of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). This information is expected to be helpful for forecasting, preparing and planning for future droughts.

Graduate and undergraduate students will be supported by this project including several at Union College, a Research Undergraduate Institution (RUI). This will allow students to engage in professional level research activities early in their careers at this predominantly undergraduate institution.

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