The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) is issuing a special call for experienced biostratigraphers with particular focus on radiolaria of the Antarctic region or Southern Ocean to apply for Expedition 379 aboard the JOIDES Resolution.

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is largely marine-based, highly sensitive to climatic and oceanographic changes, has had a dynamic history over the last several million years, and if completely melted, could result in a global sea-level rise of 3.3-4.3 m. Expedition 379 will obtain records from the continental shelf and rise of the Amundsen Sea to document WAIS dynamics in an area unaffected by other ice sheets as well and that currently experiences the largest ice loss in Antarctica.

The primary objectives include (a) reconstructing the Paleogene to Holocene glacial history of West Antarctica, (b) correlating the Amundsen Sea WAIS-proximal records with global records of ice volume changes and air/seawater temperature proxy records, (c) constraining the relationship between incursions of warm water masses onto the continental shelf and the stability of marine-based ice sheet margins, and (d) reconstructing major WAIS advances onto the middle and outer shelf, including the first ice sheet expansion onto the continental shelf of the Amundsen Sea Embayment and its possible control by the uplift of Marie Byrd Land.

U.S.-affiliated scientists interested in participating in these expeditions should apply to sail through the U.S. Science Support Program – click here. The deadline to apply for this special call is February 26, 2018.

Expedition 379: Amundsen Sea West Antarctic Ice Sheet History
18 January to 20 March 2019
Expedition 379 webpage

Questions? Email the U.S. Science Support Program Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..