The MOWCADYN project will generate decadal-to-centennial scale proxy records for surface and Mediterranean Outflow Water changes as a contribution to the scientific outcome of IODP Expedition 339 (http://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/mediterranean_outflow.html). The studies focus on two critical time intervals of the Pleistocene period that experienced different climate forcing (e.g., orbital parameters, atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, sea level). Comparing the results obtained from both periods will improve definitions of baselines for climatic variations caused by orbital forcing versus more rapid changes potentially related to ocean-internal processes or ice sheet/ ocean dynamics.

The first period, to be studied in IODP Site U1390, is the interval from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 4-6 (60-180 ka) including the interglacial interval of MIS 5e when sea level and greenhouse gas concentrations were not much different from levels prior to the pre-industrial period.

The second climate period encompasses the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (600-1800 ka) when the dominant orbital cycle changed from 41 kyr to 100 kyr. This period will be studied in a multi-proxy approach for hydrographic and productivity changes in IODP Site U1387 from the Faro Drift.