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National Science Foundation Award #9001471

Late Quaternary Glaciations of Franz Josef Land, USSR: Ice Extent, Timing and Paleoenvironmental Reconstructions

 
Investigator(s): Gifford Miller (PI)
Sponsor: University of Colorado at Boulder, CO 80309 3034926221
Start Date/Expiration Date 1990-07-15 to 1993-12-31 (amended 1992-04-20)
Awarded Amount to Date: $185,740
Abstract: In collaboration with the Murmansk Institute of Marine Biology and Geology, USSR, this project will initiate basic glacial geologic, stratigraphic and geochronologic studies to provide new field data to independently evaluate the extent and timing of Late Weischselian and older glaciations. Field research will focus on the western part of the Franz Josef Land Archipelago, where ice-free forelands contain abundant raised marine and glacial features. High resolution SPOT satellite imagery will be used as a mapping base to determine the distribution of raised beaches, moraines and other glacial features. Geomorphic and pedologic studies will provide relative ages for a previously isostatic response will be documented by radiocarbon dating of fossils included in raised beaches of known elevation. Particular attention will be given to the recognition of glacial-diamicts and uncomformitites, the collection of micro and macro-fauna for paleenvironmental assessment, and radiocarbon dating and amino acid racemization analyses. These studies will provide new insight into the history and extent of Late Weichselian glaciations on Franz Josef Land and will provide needed data to evaluate conflicting hypotheses regarding Late Weichselian ice volumes in northern Eurasia.
NSF Org: OPP - Office of Polar Programs
Award Number: 9001471
Award Instrument: Continuing grant
Program Manager: Julie Palais
OPP Office of Polar Programs
O/D OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
NSF Program(s): ARCTIC NATURAL SCIENCES, US/USSR ACTIVITIES, ARCTIC NATURAL SCIENCES
Field Application(s): Geological Sciences, Polar Programs-Related
Program Element Code(s): 5280
US/USSR ACTIVITIES, 5939
, 5280