Description: For the reconstruction of paleoenvironment, 14C ages, magnetic susceptibility, number of gravel, granulometry, biogenic opal, total organic carbon, d13C, total nitrogen, d15N, total organic carbon-total nitrogen ratio, CaCO3 were measured. Druing the PNRA-Rosslope II Expedition 2014, gravity cores(RS14-GC1, GC2, and GC3) on the continental slope and rise at the eastern side of Hillary Canyon in the Ross Sea since Last Glacial Maximum.

Description: In order to correctly understand the rates and mechanisms of biogeochemical cycling along the water column, special attention must be paid to data analysis techniques. We propose a revised procedure combining precision and practicality to minimize sample handling errors that would affect the determination of both mass fluxes and the composition of material collected by sediment traps in the Antarctic region. The key points to take in account are: (i) the mesh size used for removing “large” particles or aggregates (from 150 micron to 1 mm); (ii) the absence of filters; and (iii) the use of a microscope to pick out “swimmers”. We also recommend: removal of all swimmers using a 650-micron mesh; analysis using a stereomicroscope; and quantitative subdividing using a peristaltic pump.

Description: In order to understand the growth and retreat of glaciers in response to the glacial-interglacial changes, subglacial marine sedimentary sequences have been studied extensively in the continental shelf areas of the Ross Sea. The purpose is to comprehend the glaciomarine sedimentation change on the continental slope of eastern Pennell-Iselin Bank in the Ross Sea, using three gravity cores (C1, C2, C3) and three box cores (BC1, BC2, BC3) collected from sites (RS14-1, 2, 3), respectively, across the continental slope to the eastern side of the Pennell-Iselin Bank during XXIX° (2014) PNRA expedition (Rosslope Ⅱ project). Several sedimentological (grain size, magnetic susceptibility), elemental (XRF), geochemical (biogenic opal, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, C/N ratios, CaCO3), and isotopic (δ13C and δ15N of organic matter) parameters were measured along sediment cores with AMS 14C dating of bulk sediments. Core-sediments consist mostly of hemipelagic sandy clay or silty clay with scattered IRDs (Ice-Rafted Debris). A comparison of sediment properties between box cores and the top of gravity cores reveals that the loss of sediment during sampling is trivial. Sediment colors of gravity cores alternate between brown and gray downward. Based on the variation patterns of sediment properties, sediment lithology was divided into different units (A and B), and subunits (B1 and B2). AMS 14C dates and sediment properties assign Unit A, Unit B1, and Unit B2 to interglacial, deglacial, and glacial conditions, respectively. Unit A represents the Holocene and interglacial sediments deposited mainly by the suspension settling of biogenic particles with IRDs in the open marine condition. Unit B1 reflects the deglacial sediments with an increase in IRDs showing the transition of sediment properties from Unit B2 to Unit A by the retreat of subglacial ices. Unit B2 is characterized by different sediment properties, mainly supplied by the continuously lateral melt-water plume or distal part of debris flow originating from the front of grounding floes in the subglacial continental shelf under the ice shelf during the glacial period. Thus, Unit B contains mostly reworked and eroded sediments from the continental shelf with scattered IRDs. The influence of subglacial continental shelf sedimentation in terms of melt-water transport and/or distal stage of debris flow was limited as far as to the middle slope areas (Site 2) during the deglacial and glacial periods. The deeper Site 1 remains in seasonally open marine conditions during the glacial period, due to the peaks of biogenic opal and TOC contents. Keywords: sediment property, subglacial activity, continental slope, Ross Sea

Description: The study of LGM and Holocene marine sediments is an important goal in Antarctic research and needs high-resolution sequences to reconstruct paleoclimatic events in detail. Literature reports a large number of data coming from inner-shelf bays and fjords, especially around Antarctic peninsula, but also from western Ross Sea. In this note we discuss compositional data from a gravity core (BAY05-45c; 74° 09.7’ S, 165° 57.7’ E; water depth: 1058 m; core length: 445.5 cm) collected in 2005 during the Italian PNRA cruise into the inner part ofWood Bay, in front of the Aviator Ice tongue.Wood Bay sea floor morphology is charcterised by a narrow basin, deeper than 1,000 m, oriented WNW-ESE, and transversally connected, by a 800-m deep sill, to the Drygalski basin, streching NE-SW. Core sediment is composed by laminated biosiliecous mud, with a strong hydrogen sulphide odour and black in colour. Within a few days from core sampling, sediment became oxidized: laminae colour ranges from dark (from dark olive grey to black) to light (from olive grey to olive). Some lighter laminae have cotton-like texture. Data set include X-ray images, magnetic susceptibility, AMS 14C dating, organic carbon, biogenic silica, XRF-scan of major and minor elements. Discussion of the data will point out inferences about sedimentary processes, paleoproductivity and oceanographic conditions during the Holocene. The most apparent feature is the occurrence, down-core, of at least two intervals of increased productivity, characterised by higher organic carbon and biogenic silica. Within such intervals, a few cm-thick levels show peaks of biogenic silica, as well as of barium, which correspond to relatively lows in organic carbon contents. Organic carbon content is higher in darker laminae, whereas lighter and fluffy laminae display an increased percentage of biogenic silica. Such levels probably mark a rapid and not persistent change in phytoplankton assemblage compositions.