| NSF Org: |
OCE Division Of Ocean Sciences |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | June 6, 2006 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | August 8, 2008 |
| Award Number: | 0601814 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Brian Midson
bmidson@nsf.gov (703)292-8145 OCE Division Of Ocean Sciences GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
| Start Date: | August 1, 2006 |
| End Date: | July 31, 2010 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $0.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $287,261.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2008 = $7,717.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
6823 SAINT CHARLES AVE NEW ORLEANS LA US 70118-5665 (504)865-4000 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
6823 SAINT CHARLES AVE NEW ORLEANS LA US 70118-5665 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | Marine Geology and Geophysics |
| Primary Program Source: |
01000809DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT |
| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
Developing a High-Resolution Sea-Level Record to Measure the Magnitude and Timing of the Catastrophic 8.2 ka Freshwater Release - Implications for North Atlantic Climate Dynamics
An abrupt, century-scale cooling ~8200 years ago, known as the "8.2 ka event," is believed to have been caused by the catastrophic release of freshwater from a giant ice-dammed lake (Lake Agassiz) into the North Atlantic Ocean. However, a comprehensive understanding of this prominent climate change is hampered by uncertainty about the magnitude, nature, and timing of this meltwater pulse. Current estimates of the freshwater volume associated with the 8.2 ka event correspond to an equivalent sea-level rise of ~0.3 to ~1.4 m. In the Mississippi Delta region, basal peat (brackish water derived) encroaches on a consolidated Pleistocene basement and the microtidal regime in the Gulf of Mexico enables the reconstruction of sea-level change with exceptionally high resolution. In this project, the PI's will 14C date basal-peat samples that track sea-level change during this critical time interval. Sampling resolution will be on the order of 10 cm. Stable carbon isotope data will provide data to estimate the salinity of the peat-forming ecosystem so as to establish the relationship with sea level. The combined data will be used to estimate the total amount of sea-level rise as well as determining the timing of this event. These data will also permit the PI's to provide an estimate of the amount of freshwater delivered directly by the Laurentide Ice Sheet, as well as providing input data to explore the climatic effects of different mechanisms and locations of freshwater release using a coupled ocean-atmosphere model. These results will provide new insights about the sensitivity of ocean circulation to various scenarios of freshwater forcing, which could help to better understand the consequences of continued freshening of the North Atlantic Ocean in the greenhouse world. The project will provide training for one PhD student, as well as four undergraduate field assistants.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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