ODP Site Survey of Rockall Plateau and the East Flank of the Reykjanes Ridge: Drift Evolution and High Resolution Paleoceanography

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This proposal asks for support to conduct a high-resolution seismic reflection/refraction survey of high-sedimentation-rate drift areas in the North Atlantic south of Iceland. This work will elucidate the paleoceanography of this high-latitude, sub-polar region in times prior to the most recent Northern Hemisphere deglaciation, and assist in identifying drilling targets. Seismic characterization of drift deposits will allow the recovery of high deposition rate sediments (likely 3-10 cm/kiloyear) that hold the key to analysis and interpretation of sub-orbital global change events. Recent stratigraphic analyses from existing sediment and ice cores show that such events can have extremely abrupt onsets. Proposed work is relevant to the Ocean Drilling Program: drilling proposals (s) to sample North Atlantic sediment drifts have been high-ranked by scientists working within the "thematic panel" management review structure of that Program.