Most paleoceanographic studies of the geochemistry of benthic foraminifera have concentrated on the North Atlantic because of the abundance of fossil remains in sediments of this region and because of the importance of the region as a source for deep water in the oceans. Micropaleontologic and geochemical studies in this area indicate major deep circulation changes during glacial/interglacial cycles. In contrast, little is known about circulation in the northern Pacific since the microfossil record of these changes is poorly preserved in the deep water sediments of the region. Recent results from shallow sediments, however, suggest that the North Pacific may have been a source of intermediate or deep water during glacial conditions. The present award will support a field and laboratory program to collect and analyze sediments from the northernmost Emperor seamount chain. The objective of the field program is to collect a depth transect of cores from the region of Detroit Seamount and use geochemical and paleontologic techniques to establish the paleohydrography of the north Pacific. Laboratory analyses will include carbon-14 and Cd/Ca ratios. Cores will be collected on a separately funded cruise of the R.V. Washington. The results of this project will be important in formulating plans for deep ocean drilling in the North Pacific.
