CENOZOIC PALEOCEANOGRAPHY

Introduces the physical, chemical and biological processes that govern how and where ocean sediments accumulate. Major topics addressed are: modes of biogenic, terrigenous and authigenic sedimentation, depositional environments, pore fluids and sediment geochemistry, diagenesis, as well as biostratigraphy and sediment stratigraphy and methods. Second half of the semester focuses on major events in Cenozoic Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology, including orbital control of climate, long-term carbon cycle, extreme climate regimes, causes of ice ages in Earth history, and long-term El Niño evolution.

Prerequisites: EESC UN2100 Earth's Environmental Systems: Climate System or EESC UN1030 Oceanography.