NSF Org:	OPP Office of Polar Programs (OPP)
Recipient:	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO
Initial Amendment Date:	September 20, 2006
Latest Amendment Date:	September 20, 2006
Award Number:	0537609
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Alexandra Isern OPP  Office of Polar Programs (OPP) GEO  Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	October 1, 2006
End Date:	September 30, 2011 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$398,728.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$398,728.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2006 = $398,728.00
History of Investigator:	Jeffrey Gee (Principal Investigator) jsgee@ucsd.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	University of California-San Diego Scripps Inst of Oceanography 8622 DISCOVERY WAY # 116 LA JOLLA CA  US  92093-1500 (858)534-1293
Sponsor Congressional District:	50
Primary Place of Performance:	University of California-San Diego Scripps Inst of Oceanography 8622 DISCOVERY WAY # 116 LA JOLLA CA  US  92093-1500
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	50
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	QJ8HMDK7MRM3
Parent UEI:	QJ8HMDK7MRM3
NSF Program(s):	ANT Earth Sciences
Primary Program Source:	0100CYXXDB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):	0000, OTHR
Program Element Code(s):	511200
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.078

ABSTRACT


This project studies remnant magnetization in igneous rocks from the Dufek igneous complex, Antarctica. Its primary goal is to understand variations in the Earth's magnetic field during the Mesozoic Dipole Low (MDL), a period when the Earth's magnetic field underwent dramatic weakening and rapid reversals. This work will resolve the MDL's timing and nature, and assess connections between reversal rate, geomagnetic intensity and directional variability, and large-scale geodynamic processes. The project also includes petrologic studies to determine cooling rate effects on magnetic signatures, and understand assembly of the Dufek as an igneous body. Poorly studied, the Dufek is amongst the world's largest intrusions and its formation is connected to the break-up of Gondwana.

The broader impacts of this project include graduate and undergraduate education and international collaboration with a German and Chilean IPY project.

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