1. Paleoclimatic Changes recorded in Deep-Sea Sediments Antje Voelker Laboratorio Nacional de Energia e Geologia (LNEG) & CIMAR L.A. Delegate to ECORD Science Support and Advisory Committee (ESSAC) of IODP antje.voelker@lneg.pt

2. Major Research Topics Changes in the thermohaline or meridional overturning circulation (MOC) and their impact on productivity => positions of hydrographic fronts; depth/ strength of MOC Proxy Calibration + Sea Surface Temperature: microfossils, biomarkers, Mg/ Ca (e.g. posters by Rodrigues et al.; Salgueiro et al.) + Productivity: microfossils, Sr/ Ca in coccoliths + Nutrient levels: trace element ratios (poster by Salgueiro et al.) + Land – ocean linkages: pollen, terrestrial biomarker (e.g. posters by Naughton et al.; Santos et al.) + Salinity: freshwater diatoms (e.g. poster by Lopes et al.) + Overturning strength: Pa/ Th -> not yet done in Portugal + Proxies for subsurface and intermediate depth water masses -> in progress Abrupt/ rapid climate change => high resolution climate series; multi-proxy reconstructions

3. Interhemispheric Linkages Core MD95-2042 off Sines (Shackleton et al., 2000) Under glacial climate conditions: the surface ocean off Iberia reflects northern hemisphere variations and the deep ocean (>2500 m) southern hemisphere variations

4. Sea Surface Temperature Changes Antarctica MD01-2444 & MD01-2443 MD03-2699 MD95-2037 south of the Azores (37°N 32°W) (Martrat et al., 2007) (Jouzel et al., 2007) (Calvo et al., 2001) (Rodrigues et al., 2010) (Rodrigues et al., submitted) SST recorded millennial- and orbital-scale changes The Portuguese margin experienced more variability than the waters near the Azores due to stronger impact of subpolar waters.

5. Thermocline Temperature Changes FCT project INTER-TRACE IODP Site U1313 Open North Atlantic MD03-2699 Upwelling off Portugal More nutrients During warm climate periods thermocline temperatures were similar at both sites. But open ocean IODP site U1313 experienced higher variability in temperature and nutrient levels.

6. Deep Water Circulation Changes AABW MD01-2446 3570 m Eastern Basin IODP Site U1313 3412 m Western Basin MIS 12 FCT project PORTO During warm climate phases NADW with similar properties filled both basins Under cold climate conditions overturning was reduced and AABW bathed both sites; BUT during glacial MIS 12 the eastern basin was better ventilated. NADW AABW NADW (Curry & Oppo, 2005) At Present NADW/ AABW boundary at 4000 – 4500m 21.000 years ago NADW/ AABW boundary at 2500 – 3000m MOC reduced by 30% (McManus et al., 2004)

7. Mediterranean Outflow (MOW) Variability Flow velocity of Lower MOW core strengthened during ice-rafting and cold climate events (Voelker et al., 2006; EPSL) FCT project MOWFADRI Millennial-scale changes in the Gulf of Cadiz MD99-2339 MD03-2699 During cold climate periods MOW settled >400 m deeper in the water column Orbital- and millennial-scale changes on the Estremadura Spur (1895 m) FCT projects PORTO and INTER-TRACE MOW NADW

8. Impacts on Productivity: The Upwelling System 43.2°N 40.6°N 37.8°N (Salgueiro et al., 2010; QSR) FCT project INGMAR Breakdown of productivity during ice-rafting events Breakdown of productivity during ice-rafting events and higher glacial productivity Greenland Higher glacial productivity and sometimes also during ice-rafting events

9. Impacts on Productivity: The Open Ocean (Nave et al., in prep.) ESF (FCT) EuroMARC project AMOCINT NADW AABW Higher productivity during cold climate periods when overturning circulation was reduced

10. Potential Future Research IODP Exp. GUCADRILL (proposal #644 & 763 APL) with RV Joides Resolution planned to be drilled in Nov. 2011 to Jan. 2012 IODP Exp. GUCADRILL (proposal #644 & 763 APL) with RV Joides Resolution planned to be drilled in Nov. 2011 to Jan. 2012 D. Hodell (UK) & F. Abrantes (PT) proposal submitted since April 2010

11. Potential Future Research: Variability in the Azores Front position and impacts on Iberian margin hydrography Problem: Shiptime!!! and access to equipment for long (> 10m) core recovery! Proposal submitted to Eurofleets call

12. Future Needs Proxy calibration, e.g. for subsurface water masses and MOW More information on the role of subsurface and intermediate (MOW) water masses in abrupt climate change (start and recovery) Impacts of climate variability on human societies For better international competitiveness: + Laboratory facilities + Shiptime! Shiptime! Shiptime! + Education in integrated oceanography The role and position of the Azores Front in abrupt climate change