A Synthesis of Analytical Methods Applied to Sediment Cores from the ANDRILL Southern McMurdo Sound Project.

Abstract

Geologic records of past environmental variability are necessary to reliably project climatic conditions in the future. Climate changes in Antarctica and its role in global systems, remains poorly understood. ANDRILL’s objective is to develop more detailed records of past climatic changes in the Ross Sea Region, including responses to glacial advance and retreat. The analysis of ANDRILL core in the Southern Ross Sea adopts a multidisciplinary approach. Investigations include sedimentology and stratigraphy, palaenology, geochemistry and petrology, paleomagnitism, and chronostratigraphy and geochronology. Methods used under each of these disciplines are explored in terms of the significance of investigation and how data acquisition is carried out.