Neogene environmental and geological evolution of the Central American bridge between two continents and two oceans
ACRONYM
NICA-BRIDGE
Title
Neogene environmental and geological evolution of the Central American bridge between two continents and two oceans
General information
Lakes Nicaragua and Managua, Nicaragua are uniquely suited for multidisciplinary, globally important scientific investigation of long, continuous sediment profiles within a scientific drilling project. The region is ideal because of its: 1) long history (>3 Myr) of basin development, 2) past interactions with marine environments, 3) proximity to the volcanic arc, 4) significance as an endemic hot spot, 5) strategic location to study the great American biotic interchange, 6) the recently initiated Caribbean to Pacific canal construction via Lake Nicaragua, and 7) the interactive combination of seismological, volcanological, paleoclimatological, paleoecological, and paleoenvironmental studies.
Long, continuous sediment cores from multiple sites in Lakes Managua and Nicaragua will therefore provide a unique archive of past tropical climate and environmental changes extending back > 3Ma, representing the oldest lacustrine record in continental Neotropics. Data from the cores will also shed light on physical limnological changes, earthquake, volcanic eruption, and flank collapse magnitudes and frequencies as well as the processes leading up to these natural hazards and their consequent socio-economic impacts. The seismic imaging surveys to be performed in preparation of the project will yield data on both, long-term basin development, and the deeper structure of western Nicaragua, which is next to the documentation of biological, physical, and chemical conditions of the lakes relevant to the canal construction.
The resulting record of long-term paleoclimate variability will help to:
- Predict future climate scenarios and guide future agricultural strategies in Nicaragua and other tropical regions
- Link past climate shifts to terrestrial paleoenvironmental and paleoecological changes
- Track moisture availability/origin in the region for selected time periods (e.g. LGM), which is still unclear, as well as generate information on climate modulations/forcings (Atlantic vs. Pacific) and ITCZ dynamics and migrations
- Determine the frequency and magnitude of past natural hazards (volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, large landslides, hurricanes)
- Evaluate environmental changes that resulted from natural drivers (e.g. climate change and tectonic movements) and from human influences (deforestation, agriculture, urbanization, pollution). Evaluating past freshwater/saltwater phases initiated by tectonics, and respective influence on micro- and macrobiota will be essential to predict consequences of future changes (e.g. from canal construction).
The proposed drilling project has the potential for future expansion to a land-to-sea IODP/ICDP project targeting the structurally related offshore Sandino Basin. The project contributes to the three major societal challenges addressed by ICDP: Climate & Ecosystems, Deep biosphere, and Natural Hazards. It has resulted in already two site survey projects and is part of the SO316 cruise in December 2025.
Start
March, 2020
End
December, 2025
Funding (total)
300000
Funding (91探花)
100000
Funding body / Programme
-
DFG
/ SPP ICDP
Coordination
Helmholtz-Zentrum f眉r Ozeanforschung Kiel (91探花), Germany
Contact
