Planktic foraminifers in the North Atlantic region: a revised approach to paleoclimatic reconstructions

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Jörn Thiede (†)
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2002 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5392703

The proposed work will focus on reconstructing glacial-interglacial and centennial to milleannial-scale climate variability in the North Atlantic ocean and Nordic seas during the late Quaternary. Investigations will be based on planktic foraminiferal diversity with emphasis on alternative methods that were not broadly employed before. These include consideration of rare species for paleoenvironmental interpretations; a study of climate variability in the Nordic seas taking into account the relative abundance of small-sized T. quinqueloba (size-fraction 100µm) in order to unveil fluctuations in the advection of Atlantic water masses during intervals other than pronounced interglaciations; an investigation of the surface water structure in the North Atlantic using the stable isotope signature of planktic foraminiferal species having different calcification depth to interpret intra-interglacial climate variability.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Dr. Henning A. Bauch