The PIs will generate downcore records of planktonic foraminiferal Boron isotopic data from ODP Site from the Sierra Leone Rise, and estimate surface ocean pH for the period extending from about 450 ka to the mid-Pleistocene transition where a major climate reorganization occurred at about 1.8 Ma. They will use other proxy records from the same core to estimate sea surface temperature and salinity enabling them to calculate paleo-surface ocean pCO2 from the paleo-pH record. By assuming quasi-equilibrium between the atmosphere and the surface ocean in this region, will allow an estimate of atmospheric pCO2 that will extend beyond the time interval for which pCO2 records can be obtained from ice cores.
In addition to being an extremely useful record of atmospheric CO2 beyond 450 ka, which will be useful to many paleoclimatologists and paleoceanographers, the proposed study will support a young female scientist who is committed to education and student participation in research.
