The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Polar Programs awarded a $899,985 Project Grant to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) with a period of performance from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2026. The purpose of this grant is to conduct collaborative research on the roles of seasonality, silicification, and alteration in nitrogen and silicon isotope paleo-proxy variability, specifically examining the chemistry of fossil diatoms to understand past changes in surface water nutrients and ocean biology. The research will address gaps in understanding how diatom proxies record surface nutrient conditions, including the effects of physiology on diatom shell formation and alteration during sinking and burial. The results are expected to improve reconstructions of nutrient drawdown in the past, highlight optimal geological conditions for robust reconstructions, and increase understanding of spatial and temporal variability in existing diatom nitrogen and silicon isotope records. This work is expected to improve understanding of global-scale climate change in the past and contextualize future change. No sub-awards are planned under this grant.
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