AI-5

Brown sediment with clasts ranging from small to large in size. Grain shape ranges from angular to rounded. Edge-to-edge grain crushing and crushed grains are abundant throughout the sample. There are also many lineations and rotation structures present in this sample. It also contains many small patches of dark organic rich material.

J.R WB-6c

Brown sediment with clasts ranging from small to large in size. Grain shape ranges from angular to rounded. Lineations are abundant within this sample. Rotation structures can also be seen. Necking structures, comet structures, and grain crushing can also be seen in minor amounts.

J.R. AB-6

Brown sediment with clasts ranging from small to medium in size. Grain shape ranges from angular to sub-rounded. Water escape structures and lineations are abundant throughout the sample. Some comet structures can also be seen. There were minor amounts of grain crushing also present.

WB-6b

Dark brown sediment with clasts ranging from small to large in size. Grain shape ranges from sub-angular to rounded. Rotation structures are common throughout the sample. Some necking structures are also present between large and medium sized aggregates. Lineations and grain stacks are also present in minor amounts.

11 PTA007

Dark brown sediment with clasts ranging from small to large in size. Grain shape ranges from angular to rounded. Lineations can commonly be seen throughout the sample. Many clasts are fractured and/or weathered. Necking structures, some rotation structures, and minor amounts of grain crushing can also be seen.

11 PTA008

Greyish-brown sediment with clasts ranging from small to large in size. Grain shape ranges from angular to rounded in shape. Many grains appear to be fractured or weathered. Lineations and rotation structures are abundant within this sample. Grain crushing and stacking can also be seen in this sample. Comet structures are also present in minor amounts.

11 PTA0011

Dark grey sediment with clasts ranging from small to large size. Grain shape ranges from angular to rounded. Many grains are fractured and weathered. Necking structures, along with rotation structures, are very common in this sample. They can be seen between many of the larger aggregates. Lineations and grain crushing are also present throughout.

11 PTA0012

Dark grey sediment with clasts ranging from small to large in size. Grain shape ranges from angular to rounded. Many grains are fractured and/or weathered. Edge-to-edge grain crushing is abundant in this sample, and some crushed grains can also be seen. It also contains lineations and rotation structures throughout. Minor amounts of comet structures can also be seen.

Pollen and grain size records in abyssal sediments of the northwest Pacific Ocean as proxies of Plio-Pleistocene climate change /

A distinctive period of global change occurred during the PUocene between the warm Miocene and subsequent Quaternary cooling. Samples from Ocean Drilling Project Site 11 79 (-5586 mbsl, 41°4'N, 159°57'E), Site 881 (-5765 mbsl, 47°6.133'N, 161°29.490'E) and Site 882 (-3255 mbsl, 50°22'N, 167°36'E) were studied to determine the magnitude and composition ofterrigenous flux to the western mid-latitude North Pacific and its relation to climate change in East Asia since the mid-Pliocene. Dust-sized particles (including pollen), sourced from the arid regions and loess plateaus in East Asia are entrained by prevailing westerly winds and transported to the midlatitude northwest North Pacific Ocean. This is recorded by peaks in the total concentration of pollen and spores, as well as the mean grain size of allochthonous and autochthonous silicate material in abyssal marine sediments. Aridification of the Asian interior due to the phased uplift of the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau created the modem East Asian Monsoon system dominated by a strengthening of the winter monsoon. The winter monsoon is further enhanced during glacials due to the expansion of desert and steppe environments at the expense ofwoodlands and forests recorded by the composition of palynological assemblages. The late Pliocene-Pleistocene glacials at ODP Sites 1 179, 881, and 882 are characterized by increases in grain size, magnetic susceptibility, pollen and spore concentrations around 3.5-3.3, 2.6-2.4, 1.7-1.6, and 0.9-0.7 Ma (ages based on magnetostratigraphic and biostratigraphic datums). The peaks during these times are relatively rich in pollen taxa derived primarily from steppe and boreal vegetation zones, recording cool, dry climates. The overall size increase of sediment and abundance of terrestrial palynomorphs record enhanced wind strength. The increase in magnitude of pollen and spore concentrations as well as grain size record global cooling and Northern Hemisphere glaciation. The peaks in grain size as well as pollen and spore abundance in marine sediments correlate with the mean grain size of loess in East Asia, consistent with the deflation of unarmoured surfaces during glacials. The transport of limiting nutrients to marine environments enhanced sea surface productivity and increased the rate of sediment accumulation.