Deciphering Ross Sea West Antarctic Ice Sheet History: IODP Expedition 374

Abstract

International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 374 (4 January8 March 2018) drilled five sites in the Ross Sea continental shelf to slope. The primary objective of Expedition 374 is to resolve the relationship between climatic/oceanic change and West Antarctic Ice Sheet evolution through the Neogene and Quaternary. There are five objectives; 1) to reconstruct ice proximal atmospheric and oceanic temperatures, 2) to assess the role of oceanic forcing on marine ice sheet stability, 3) to evaluate the contribution of West Antarctica to sea level changes, 4) to identify the sensitivity of West Antarctic Ice Sheet to climate changes, and 5) to reconstruct paleo Eastern Ross Sea bathymetry. Drilling outcomes during this expedition will be introduced and summarized, emphasizing the current progress of Korean shipboard scientist’s researches.