Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Ship Time

Earth's climate is highly variable on both long and short term time scales. Changes caused by current anthropogenic green house gas emissions are occurring against the backdrop of the poorly understood natural variability of the Earth's climate system. The Pacific ocean-atmosphere processes which contribute to the Earth's climate system can be interpreted from studying modern ocean conditions combined with examining "laminated" sediment cores from coastal British Columbia. These sediments record variability in ocean, climate and marine ecosystem conditions for the past 12,000 years. This enhanced understanding of our climate system increases our ability to forecast abrupt and extreme changes such as we are now experiencing. Similarly, the nature and frequency of pre-historic major earthquakes along the B.C. coast, can be interpreted from these same laminated sediment records. This application is for funding for shiptime for a research cruise to mid-coast B.C., north of Vancouver Island, to retrieve ocean sediment cores. This research will help reveal the causes, dynamics and critical thresholds of abrupt climate and ocean changes, as well as advance knowledge of the paleo-seismic history of the mid-coast area. This information is better understood for the south coast of B.C. and the Queen Charlotte Islands area. By studying the mid-coast region, we will advance our regional understanding of ocean and climate changes as well as earthquake activity in B.C. This information is vital not only for scientists, but also for planners, policy-makers, businesses and the public in order to minimize their risk under future rapid climate changes and large earthquake events.