Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Testing Tectonic Controls on the Cenozoic Evolution of Climate: a Latitudinal TRANSect of the ATlantic Ocean  (TRANSAT)

Outline
The objective of TRANSAT is to test a hypothesis that the ‘passive’ continental margins bordering the Atlantic Ocean have experienced a succession of Cenozoic tectonic (differential vertical) movements, of an amplitude that had consequences for atmospheric and oceanographic circulation and so for the stepwise evolution of global climate during the last 65 Ma. This hypothesis derives from recent work on the NE Atlantic margins (in the context of the EC-FP5 project STRATAGEM), which indicates that km-scale tectonic movements, involving differential uplift and/or subsidence, drove dramatic changes in sediment supply and in oceanographic circulation during at least three episodes, the last only 4 Ma. The successive episodes coincided with global plate reorganisations, implying a wider extent, while their large amplitudes are consistent with a newly proposed model of dynamic topographic responses to evolving (upper) mantle circulation during ocean opening. TRANSAT seeks both to explore both the regional extent of such movements and test the proposed model of their causes, through a systematic cross-disciplinary review and synthesis of existing evidence along a latitudinal transect of the Atlantic continental margins, from the Arctic to the Antarctic oceans. A preliminary survey of the literature from the Atlantic continental margins suggests that evidence of mid- to late Cenozoic epeirogenic activity may be widespread, although the common presumption of ‘passive’ margin subsidence has helped to render it obscure. TRANSAT envisages a more detailed interrogation of existing datasets, to include the following activities: 1. a critical review of the spreading history of the Atlantic Ocean, to identify plate reorganisations (changes in spreading direction and/or rate) 2. syntheses of the evidence for Cenozoic vertical motions on the continental margins available from quantitative analyses of uplift and subsidence (to include backstripping of wells or sections in areas of interest) 3. analyses of the timing and form of successive tectonic episodes by correlation to sedimentary records of changes in sediment supply and oceanographic circulation in shelf-to-deep-sea successions 4. Atlantic-wide correlation to identify coeval episodes vs diachronous phases of movement (with particular interest in comparing the history of the North Atlantic margins with that of the western Antarctic margin in the vicinity of the Trans-Antarctic Mountains) 5. using the information on the amplitude and form of successive movements along the Atlantic transect to test a model of dynamic topographic responses to upper mantle circulation (developed in the course of STRATAGEM) Particular attention will be given to the possibility of an Atlantic-wide tectonic episode in the early Pliocene, only 4 Ma. This episode was coeval with an increase in sediment supply to the world ocean, which has been interpreted by some as a response to tectonic uplift, but argued by others to record a direct response to climate change. The project is therefore relevant to one of the main themes of the IPY: what triggered the onset of glacial/interglacial cyclicity?

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
TRANSAT addresses one of the major questions of Theme 2, what factors triggered the Cenozoic cooling of the polar regions? It is relevant to Theme 3, by testing a model in which global tectonic controls may be linked to changes in climate with major impact at the poles. The interests of Theme 4 in the frontiers ‘at the intersection of disciplines’ are reflected in the intention to use existing databases from continental margins to undertake a global-scale analysis, seeking connections between different types of records (e.g. of uplift/subsidence and stratigraphy) that have generally been treated separately.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The project was inspired by the results of the EC-FP5 project STRATAGEM (Stratigraphy of the Glaciated European Margin) and involves several scientists from that project as well as new participants with interests in post-rift tectonic movements of passive continental margins. The project currently involves researchers from six nations: Canada, Ireland, UK, Denmark, Norway, Italy.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The project comprises a large-scale interdisciplinary cross-analysis of existing data from the conjugate Atlantic margins, along a latitudinal transect from the Arctic to the Antarctic. It is not a field-based project, although there might be mutual benefit in interacting with other IPY field-based projects with interests in tectonic controls on climate change (e.g. GATEWAYS).

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
No field logistics (see above).

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No (rather a legacy of data).

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator
Another national polar operator
National agency

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Ireland has not established a National IPY Committee, but is a National Scientific Member of the ICSU via the Royal Irish Academy (www.ria.ie) and the RIA is aware of applications to the IPY through contacts with UCD. In addition, the GLAMAR has been endorsed by the Italian National Committee for IPY.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
New
The project represents an autonomous proposal (an Irish contribution to the IPY, idea 241), one inspired by results of the recently completed EC-FP5 project STRATAGEM..

How will the project be organised and managed?
As a small project involving an inter-disciplinary cross-analysis of existing data, rather than field activities, organisation and management will be relatively informal. Nonetheless, Project Co-ordinator will be responsible for organising the various activities of modelling, data compilation, acquisition and analysis into work packages, each under the responsibility of a national leader. Progress will be monitored via regular communications and meetings (following the general model of STRATAGEM).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The project activities are primarily at the level of young researchers (PhDs/postdocs), who will be encouraged to participate. Wider public interest will be sought through the establishment of a website and/or via the popular site www.mantle-plumes.org. In common with other IPY projects at OGS, outreach and education activies will be pursued in cooperation with the Italian National Museum of the Antarctic in Trieste.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
GIS-style database system to organise geophysical and geological information, to be made available via internet and to ICSU World Data Centres.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding will be sought through EU or ESF initiatives, as a consortium of national marine geoscience bodies (Ireland, UK, Denmark, Norway, Canada) and/or national polar programmes (Italy).

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Although not field based, the project is truly bipolar and relevant to several IPY themes. The interest of the project in tectonic controls on climate are complementary to those of the larger IPY initiative GATEWAYS, although not restricted to oceanographic circulation and with an interest in the causes of change.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Daniel PRAEG
Belfield Campus, Dublin 4, IRELAND
[now at: Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS), Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/C, Sgonico, 34010 Trieste, ITALY]

Italy

Tel: +39 040 214 0340
Mobile:
Fax: +39 040 327 307
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Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information