Palaeoclimatic analyses of southern Atlantic islands as part of an inter-hemisheric ocean transect

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Ingmar Unkel
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2006 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 30081120

One key question of palaeoclimatic research is the dynamics behind the Atlantic heat transport from South to North, i.e. from equatorial regions to higher latitudes. What are the driving mechanisms of this complex climate system, and how do the northern and southern hemispheres respond during phases of climate change? One key to answer these questions is a network of well-dated, spatially widely distributed ¿palaeoclimatic stations¿. A widely unexplored source of information on Quaternary climate data are the Atlantic islands. The basic idea is to obtain terrestrial proxy data which record atmospheric condition but within a complete ocean setting. Since 2000 the Swedish lead ATLANTIS project gathered and analysed data of various islands through the Atlantic. Now, this work aims at geochemical and radiometric analyses of lake sediments, peat bogs and tree rings of the Isla de los Estados (Argentina, 55.8°S, 64.25°W) to extend this data base. The island is absolutely the best palaeoclimatic ¿anchoring point¿ between Antarctic, South American and Atlantic records. Thus, it may play a key role for a better understanding of the Atlantic data within the context of changes of global circulation patterns, both atmospheric and marine.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Sweden
• Host: Professor Dr. Svante Björck