Abstract
Deoxygenation is the expression of atmosphere-ocean interactions that under changing climate conditions results from a wide stratification and eutrophication of the ocean. Past events of strong deoxygenation have been recorded in the Mediterranean Sea as dark, organic-rich deposits called sapropels. While sapropels in the marine environment and the effect of water stagnation have received much attention in earlier studies, the key climatic forcing that drove the Mediterranean Sea deoxygenation remains poorly understood. CLOSER tackles regional - but fundamental - aspects of the Mediterranean system by leveraging the large-scale expression of the youngest sapropel event (Sapropel S1, 10-6 ka) to unravel the link between the regional Adriatic climate and Mediterranean processes. CLOSER investigates the climate-ocean coupling with a multi-proxy, and multi-archive approach at an unprecedented level of resolution, by combining the analysis of continental deposits, speleothems, ice cores, and marine records. An integrated approach aimed at investigating one of the most remarkable climate changes of the Mediterranean has extraordinary potential to generate novel insights into the climate-ocean connections, to be integrated in the next generation of Earth System models. It will help evaluate the likelihood of sapropel-like oxygen crises due to increased stratification and weakening/shutdown of the thermohaline circulation in the coming decades. The project is led by CNR-ISMAR Bologna and has Roma-La Sapienza and Bologna universities as collaborative Research Units. A major focus of the Bologna University Research Unit is the three-dimensional stratigraphic analysis of Holocene, peat-rich, estuarine successions recently identified in the Pescara valley fill and that are likely to represent the most promising onshore counterparts for the development of anoxic conditions during deposition of Sapropel S1. The research group will also explore the marine to terrestrial influence on natural bromine distribution and the use of this geochemical element as an indicator of past depositional environments and organic matter accumulation.
Dettagli del progetto
Responsabile scientifico: Alessandro Amorosi
Strutture Unibo coinvolte:
Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali
Coordinatore:
CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche(Italy)
Contributo totale Unibo: Euro (EUR) 37.875,00
Durata del progetto in mesi: 24
Data di inizio
30/11/2023
Data di fine:
28/02/2026
