This research explores the use of faunal and geochemical proxies to investigate the interactions of sea level fluctuations and tectonic processes on the Indonesian Seaway and associated effects on the early development of the western Pacific warm pool. The study will use statistical analyses of planktic foraminifer populations and isotope measurements on multi-species of planktic foraminifers to reconstruct upper water column structure, productivity and seasonality for key intervals during the middle to late Miocene (ca 13.5 - 6.0 Ma). Mg/Ca measurements on benthic and planktic foraminifers will be used to estimate the influences of ice volume and surface water salinity on the oxygen isotope record.
