Sedimentary and Climatic evolution of the Arctic (Canada and Svalbard) during the Late Paleozoic (SCALP 8)

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Christian Scheibner
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2013 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 239647704

The scientific focus of this field-based project is on Late Paleozoic sedimentary bedrocks, exposed at the Broggerhalvoya in western Spitsbergen. These strata record a change from terrestrial depositional environments to a shallow-marine, warm-water carbonate platform. The development reflects a major sea-level rise and transgression during a period of global icehouse conditions marked by high-frequency and high-amplitude sea-level fluctuations. Each of these rhythmically alternating sedimentary cycles shows a typical shallowing upward, highlighted by facies and organism changes. Together with biostratigraphic tie-points, marked by larger foraminifera (fusulinids) we will establish a cyclostratigraphic chart of western Spitsbergen. In combination with the results of previous international research projects focused on contemporaneous strata in central and eastern Spitsbergen, this project will improve the local, regional and general understanding of the environmental and depositional development of Svalbards Late Paleozoic sedimentary basins.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants