The PIs will generate a high-resolution multi-proxy low-latitude sedimentary type section of climatic variability over the last glacial-interglacial cycle, using a composite of two new piston cores collected in Cariaco Basin. The objective is to create a tropical marine counterpart to high latitude ice cores such as GISPS and Vostok. The approach follows the recommendations of NRC that the marine community should produce high-quality records at key locations. Cariaco Basin is a key location, where the past changes in ITCZ are well represented. PIs from four institutions will work together to create the type-section of paleoclimate variability in the tropics and produce a suite of common paleoceanographic analyses, particularly in terms of inorganic indicators.
Broader impacts: The high resolution record of this area will serve as the marine type locality for a broad community of paleoceanographers and paleoclimatologists and thus serve an important need, a capability that is currently lacking.
