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Quaternary geology and Paleoclimate

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Masterprosjekt GEO - Jo Brendryen

Deglacial sedimentation, pore water chemistry and microbial communities on the upper edge of the Bear Island Fan

This master's project is available from the intake of August 2019

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Project description

The last deglaciation was characterized by large and abrupt transitions in the ocean circulation system, sediment fluxes and ice dynamic. This had profound impact on the sedimentary environment on the slope and potentially influenced the sedimentary microbial communities. Little is known however, about the interaction between processes related to sedimentation, ocean hydrography, and the sedimentary microbial communities. This master project will explore the linkages between these parameters by analyzing and interpreting sedimentary records retrieved from the upper edge of the Bear Island Fan, northern Norwegian Sea. An extensive multi parameter dataset from sediment physical properties (element-profiles from XRF-core scanning, MSCL measurements of density and magnetic susceptibility, grain size distribution from laser diffraction, sediment structures visualized by CT-scanning) is to be compared with measurements of pore water chemistry, δ18O and δ13C measurements on planktonic and benthic foraminifers, and DNA sequenced from sedimentary microbial communities. Chronological control from AMS 14C dating.

Proposed course plan during the master's degree (60 ECTS):

GEOV231 / Maringeologisk felt- og laboratoriekurs (10)
GEOV222 / Paleoklimatologi (10)
GEOV302 / Anvendt dataanalyse i geovitskap (10)
GEOV245 / Geomikrobiologi (10)
GEOV347 / Instrumentelle metodar i analytisk geokjemi (5)
GEOV243 / Akvatisk geokjemi (10)

Felt- lab- og analysearbeid

Extensive lab work at the Earthlab and other laboratory facilities at the University of Bergen:

-XRF-core scanning with the ITRAX XRF-core scanner.
-Multi sensor core logging (Geotek) measurements of density and magnetic susceptibility.
-Grain size measurements by laser diffraction (Mastersizer 3000).
-CT-scanning
-δ18O and δ13C measurements on planktonic and benthic foraminifers
-14C dating
-Pore water geochemical analyses
-microbial DNA sequencing
- possibility for participating on research cruise the summer of 2020.