This National Science Foundation project grant of $213,571 will support research to constrain variability in North Pacific marine heatwaves during the late Pliocene epoch from 2.6 to 3.6 million years ago. Funded under the Geosciences program, which aims to expand understanding of the integrated Earth system through basic research, key products include reconstructed distributions of sea surface temperature and characterization of marine heatwave behavior in the North Pacific during the preindustrial Holocene and Pliocene periods. Results will provide a target for improving climate models' ability to forecast future heatwaves. The award also supports a graduate student and postdoc, development of teaching modules on climate, and public outreach on causes and consequences of marine heatwaves. Research will be conducted at Western Washington University and the University of Washington through June 2025.
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