Abstract ATM-952664 Prentice, Michael L. University of New Hampshire Title: High-Resolution Coastal Record of Western Equatorial Pacific and Adjacent Highland Climate During the Last Glacial Cycle The goal of this study is to derive a high-resolution coupled record of surface and high-altitude climate change in the western Pacific warm-pool (WPWP) over the last glacial cycle. The record will come from Cenderawasih Bay on the northwest coast of New Guinea. Because of its position, proxy records in Cenderawasih Bay concurrently monitor the temperature and hydrology of the core WPWP as well as changes in temperature and precipitation on the directly adjacent Irian Jaya highland. The program involves a seismic survey and piston cores will be collected. WPWP temperature and precipitation changes will be distinguished using foraminiferal isotope records supplemented by SST estimates derived from transfer-function analysis of planktonic foraminiferal census data. High-altitude paleoclimate changes caused significant fluctuations in the extent of high-altitude glaciation as well as the composition and elevation of vegetation zones. Glacier, vegetation, and climate changes also will be reconstructed. By filling a large spatial and temporal gap in tropical paleoclimate reconstructions, this project will contribute to understanding the role of the global tropical climate system in large-magnitude global changes on sub-millennial timescales.***
