Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Ocean Sciences awarded $164,940 to the University of Connecticut under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) on March 15, 2026, with completion targeted for February 29, 2028. This Project Grant supports fundamental oceanographic research examining the relationship between sea level variations and hydrothermal activity at mid-ocean ridges in the Southern Pacific. The primary deliverables include high-quality metal flux records derived from sedimentary core analysis, foraminiferal stable isotope records (δ18O), radiocarbon dating data, thorium-230-normalized sediment flux measurements, and metal concentration analyses conducted along a transect spanning 300 to 2,500 kilometers west of the Southern East Pacific Rise. These analytical products will advance understanding of how seafloor hydrothermal processes influence deep ocean chemistry and metal availability supporting marine ecosystems.

The research leverages existing sedimentary materials from NSF-funded repositories, thereby optimizing resource efficiency while generating peer-reviewed scientific findings on the linkages between fluid and solid Earth processes. The project will also deliver educational outcomes through student training in advanced analytical techniques and scientific research methodologies. By testing whether metal flux records are controlled by sea level pressure changes or alternative mechanisms involving ocean ventilation and circulation patterns, this award contributes to NSF's broader mission of strengthening the national scientific enterprise through expanded fundamental knowledge of Earth's integrated systems.