Validating contrasting terrestrial climate-sensitive Pliocene deposits through high resolution modeling of paleo-environments in the Transantarctic Mountains

学术价值：ANDRILL恢复的新近纪沉积物记录表明，在麦克默多干谷的陆地数据显示极度干旱、寒冷和沙漠条件时，开放水域条件和海面温度升高的多个事件。对ANDRILL数据的解释表明，南极西部冰盖对上新世海面温度的变化高度敏感，这一结论得到了最近上新世早期至中期全球环流模式结果的支持。pi建议模拟与WAIS崩溃相关的古冰结构和暖轨道，以评估东南极洲潜在的气候变化。在这种极地变暖时期，他们打算回答：南极东部冰盖消融的极限是什么？夏季最高气温的升高是否会影响干谷的遗迹地貌？冬季最低气温是否有足够的上升来维持干谷的苔原环境？将沉积记录和模式产出结合起来有可能检验目前作为ANDRILL一部分正在开发的数值模式的性能；调和南纬高纬度地区海相和陆相古气候记录的不一致性；提高对南极气候和冰量对南极东部和南极西部冰盖强迫敏感性的认识。更广泛的影响：本研究的结果有可能被研究界广泛使用。其他资助项目将继续向当地小学提供服务，并将服务范围扩大到在家上学的学生。博士后将作为该奖项的一部分得到支持。

Intellectual Merit: Neogene sediment records recovered by ANDRILL suggest multiple events of open water conditions and elevated sea surface temperatures at times when terrestrial data from the McMurdo Dry Valleys indicate hyper arid, cold, desert conditions. Interpretation of the ANDRILL data suggests the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is highly sensitive to changes in Pliocene sea surface temperatures and this conclusion has been supported by recent Global Circulation Model results for the early to mid Pliocene. The PIs propose to model paleo-ice configurations and warm orbits associated with a WAIS collapse to assess potential climate change in East Antarctica. During such episodes of polar warmth they propose to answer: What is the limit of ablation along the East Antarctic Ice Sheet?; Are relict landforms in the Dry Valleys susceptible to modification from increase in maximum summertime temperatures?; and Is there sufficient increase in minimum wintertime temperatures to sustain a tundra environment in the Dry Valleys? Integration of depositional records and model outputs have the potential to test the performance of numerical models currently under development as part of ANDRILL; reconcile inconsistencies between marine and terrestrial paleoclimate records in high Southern Latitudes; and improve understanding of Antarctic climate and ice volume sensitivity to forcing for both the East Antarctic and West Antarctic Ice Sheets. Broader impacts: Results from this study have the potential to be used widely by the research community. Outreach to local elementary schools from other funded efforts will continue and be extended to homeschooled students. A Post Doc will be supported as part of this award.