^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ AWG E-MAIL NEWS 2002-9 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ CONTENTS 1) ANDRILL US Science Workshop 2) CONTACT INFORMATION ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of E-mail News ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1) ANDRILL US Science Workshop 19th to 21st April 2002, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE A workshop to develop the US science plan for the ANDRILL Initiative is open to all interested individuals. The aim of the workshop is to bring together scientists (1) to discuss and refine the scientific goals and objectives of the McMurdo Sound Portfolio, (2) to inform the US science community of past and planned ANDRILL activities, (3) to provide a vehicle for the distribution of information to scientists new to Cenozoic geoscience in Antarctica, and (4) to prepare a report that will summarize the interest and potential contributions of US scientists to this program. Funds are anticipated to support travel for participants to the workshop, pending approval of a proposal to NSF-OPP. ANDRILL is a multinational initiative to investigate Antarctica’s role in Cenozoic-Recent global environmental change through stratigraphic drilling for climatic and tectonic history of Antarctica. The project will employ Cape Roberts Project technology to obtain high-resolution (0.1-100 k.y.) stratigraphic records from key locations in a series of portfolios around the Antarctic continental margin with the following aims: · To determine the fundamental behaviour of the Antarctic cryosphere (ice sheet, ice shelf and sea ice), including the magnitude and frequency of its changes on centennial to million year time-scales. · To obtain geological records from critical intervals in the development of the Antarctic cryosphere to guide and constrain glaciological and climatic models. · To document the evolution and timing of major Antarctic rift and tectonic systems, and the stratigraphic development of associated sedimentary basins. · To determine, by correlating near-ice margin and Southern Ocean stratigraphic records, the role of Antarctic These aims will be achieved by a number of geographically and logistically defined ‘Portfolios’ distributed around the Antarctic continent. The focus for the first of these, the McMurdo Sound Portfolio was refined at the ANDRILL International planning meeting held at the University of Oxford in April 2001 and a number of subsequent national and international steering committee meetings. The McMurdo Sound Portfolio comprises four season of drilling preceded by 2-3 seasons of geophysical and site surveys. McMurdo Sound is located on the margin of the Victoria Land Basin and is influenced by ice and sediment input from both the East and West Antarctic ice sheets. Through persistent sediment supply and subsidence, the McMurdo Sound region has acted like a sedimentary tape recorder for most of the last 45 m.y. It has the best-understood marginal sedimentary record in Antarctica due to the past 30 years of integrated seismic and drill-hole data, which will provide confidence in target location to answer specific scientific questions. Location on the rift margin of the Transantarctic Mountains and within a major Cenozoic volcanic province will allow assessment of the role of tectonics in climate and ice sheet development, as well as provide an excellent chronological framework through input of datable volcanic tephra. The sea-ice has been used successfully as a drilling platform for seven drill-holes in this area. The ANDRILL (ANtarctic DRILLing) Project considers future drilling from sea-ice, ice shelf and land platforms. Five scientific themes and key questions will be the focus of an integrated three-phase approach involving geophysical surveys, stratigraphic drilling, and climate and glacial modeling. Theme I - - Thresholds and stages in the development of the cryosphere Pre-glacial, “greenhouse” Antarctica Oligocene transition to the “icehouse” Shift of the dynamic ice sheet into the deep-freeze Theme II - - Climatic optima and ice sheet stability response to times of past warmth Inter-hemispheric linkages Testing the proxy records of Quaternary variation Mid-Pliocene, marine isotope stage 11 (recent periods of extreme warmth) Theme III - - Ice sheet modulation of global climate and sea-level Influence of ice shelves, sea-ice and cratonic basin circulation of global systems Effect of abrupt changes in the Ross Ice Shelf on oceanic circulation High-resolution Neogene Milankovitch cyclicity in ice sheet and sea-level Theme IV - - Origins and adaptations of polar biota Mode and timing of the evolution of the polar and sea-ice biota Biotic response to warm, cold and extreme environments and events Theme V - - West Antarctic Rift and uplift of the Transantarctic Mountains Mechanism, timing, flexural response to volcanic loading Influence of glacial, tectonic, and volcanic processes in sediment accumulation Phase I Includes three seasons of geophysical surveys (2001-2004) to document basin extent, architecture and to correlate target drilling areas to known drillcores. A 2-year geophysical survey program including gravity and magnetic surveys, and seismic acquisition from the sea-ice and ice shelf is already underway through collaborative efforts of all ANDRILL member nations. Phase II Includes four seasons of drilling (2003-2007) in different locations in McMurdo Sound to obtain high-resolution, seismically-linked, chronologically well-constrained stratigraphic records from the Antarctic margin to address the above scientific themes and key questions. Target areas include: · Mackay Sea Valley / Granite Harbour · New Harbour · Windless Bight / NW Ross Ice Shelf · Southern McMurdo Ice Shelf / Black Island The exact timing and order of drilling is yet to be decided, however this will be determined, primarily, by logistical constraints such as technology development and transport requirements between target areas. We are currently working towards the first season of drilling beginning October 2003. Phase III Includes four years of data analysis and integration into glacialogical, climate and oceanographic models (2005 to 2008) determine global links and the role of the Antarctic cryosphere in global environmental change. A strength of ANDRILL will be the follow-up integration of glaciological and climate modeling with acquisition of drillcore data. Computer modelers will begin to establish models at the start of the project and continue to input geological data as it is acquired. A new initiative to be proposed for approval by SCAR is the ACE Working Group, whose charge will be to address “Antarctic Climate Evolution” through the integration of geological data with model data. ANDRILL will provide vital new information to this objective of model testing. If you are interested in participating in this workshop please do the following, without delay: 1) Fill out the last page and return it to the address indicated below. 2) Indicate your interest by return e-mail to llacy2@unlnotes.unl.edu and copy to dharwood1@unl.edu. 3) Please circulate this announcement to interested colleagues The Workshop Program will follow in a Second Circular to those who respond to this document. Workshop Convenors and ANDRILL Steering Committee US Representatives: David Harwood and Ross Powell dharwood1@unl.edu ross@geol.niu.edu PH: 403-472-6745 PH: 815-753-7952 Local Organizer: Laura Lacy Llacy2@unlnotes.unl.edu Send completed form to: ANDRILL Science Management Office University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2255 ‘W’ Street, Suite 1101 Lincoln, NE 68588-0851 PH: 402-472-6723 FX: 402-472-6724 ANDRILL US Science Workshop 19th to 21st April 2002, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE Name: _________________________________________ Title/Occupation: ________________________________________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________ e-mail: ____________________________ Fax: _________________________ Please check below: ____ I am interested in attending the ANDRILL-US workshop, please send more details. ____ I cannot attend, but am interested in receiving future mailings regarding ANDRILL. Statement of research interests and/or experience: We plan to circulate a ‘pre-workshop brief’ to all workshop participants before the workshop. This will include additional information about ANDRILL and will include a collection of brief statements from interested US scientists. Please prepare a one-page statement with the information below to help us organize the workshop and plan with than within the ANDRILL Steering Committee. Research Interests: Principal Investigator(s): Other Personnel and Collaborating Scientists: Scientific Objectives: Expected Results: Core Materials to be requested: Special FacilitiesEquipment required: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 2) CONTACT INFORMATION To submit an item to E-MAIL NEWS contact: editor@awg.org To submit advertising contact: ads@awg.org To change your address or be removed from the list contact: office@awg.org