Towards Establishing Density Structure of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current during the Last Glacial Maximum

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Intellectual Merit: The PIs propose a pilot study to investigate the feasibility of establishing the structure of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) using oxygen isotopes in benthic foraminifera. While such measurements are plentiful north of the ACC, there is only one published LGM benthic oxygen isotope measurement south of the ACC. The PIs will analyze a series of sediment cores south of the ACC to determine if they can identify cores with the appropriate stratigraphy and sufficient benthic foraminifera to establish a profile of LGM benthic oxygen isotopes. They will also investigate the possibility of reconstructing the LGM density contrast across the ACC based on existing data and dynamical constraints. The outcomes of this work could provide strong constraints on both the dynamical and biogeochemical behavior of the ACC, an important component of the ocean-atmosphere system.Broader impacts: This work could help fill a gap in current dynamical understanding of the interactions between atmospheric winds, ocean eddies and the density structure, which is an area of active research in the climate dynamics community. The PIs will provide research experience for an undergraduate student from an under-represented group.