Effects of the slowdown of the thermohaline circulation during Heinrich Event 1 and the Younder Dryas Period on the climate of tropical south-western Africa and tropical eastern South America

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Gerold Wefer
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2003 to 2007
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5411100

Slow-down of the thermohaline circulation during the Younger Dryas period and Heinrich Event 1 increased the sea surface temperatures of the tropical Atlantic Ocean. This tropical warming would have strong implications for terrestrial climates. It is proposed to investigate the terrestrial climatic change in tropical southwestern Africa and tropical eastern South America during these periods. The effects of slow-down of the thermohaline circulation will be studied in decadal resolution by means of palynology of sediments of ODP Site 1078 and lake sediments from South America. Of special interest are (1) variations in the African south east trade wind system, (2) timing and response of the vegetation to sea surface temperatures fluctuations of the tropical Atlantic, (3) constrains to the migration and average position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone.

• DFG Programme: Infrastructure Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 527: Bereich Infrastruktur - "International Ocean Discovery Program" (IODP)
• Participating Person: Dr. Lydie Madeleine Dupont