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doi:10.2204/iodp.sp.323.2009

Scientific objectives

Study of sedimentary records from the Bering Sea will provide an understanding of

1. The evolution of Pliocene–Pleistocene surface water conditions, paleoproductivity, and sea ice coverage, including millennial- to Milankovitch-scale oscillations;
2. The history of past production of Pacific intermediate and/or deep water masses within the marginal sea and its link to surface water processes;
3. Interactions between marginal sea conditions and continental climate.;
4. Linkages between processes in the marginal sea (e.g., variations in deep water formation or water mass exchange through gateways) and changes in the pelagic Pacific; and
5. Possible effects of the history of ocean/climate of the Bering Strait Gateway region on the North Pacific and global conditions.
   

These scientific objectives will focus on both long-term ocean and climate trends and the evolution of higher frequency glacial–interglacial to millennial-scale oscillations through the Pliocene–Pleistocene.

Expedition 323 will also target the scientific objectives of IODP Ancillary Program Letter #739, "Microbial respiration, biomass, and community composition in subseafloor sediment of the very high-productivity Bering Sea." APL #739 aims at constraining global models of organic-fueled subseafloor respiration, subseafloor biomass, and the impact of subseafloor microbes on global biogeochemical fluxes in an extremely high productivity region. APL #739 is available in the "Precruise Information" section at iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/bering_sea.html.

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