CLIMATE-TECTONIC INTERACTIONS RECORDED IN THE ARABIAN SEA: RESULTS FROM IODP EXPEDITION 355

The Asian monsoon is one of the most intense climatic phenomena on Earth. As part of the Asian monsoon, the long-term development of Indian (southwest) summer monsoon has been linked to the growth of high topography in South and Central Asia. We analyzed sediment samples from International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 355 sites U1456 and U1457 in the eastern Arabian Sea which offers a unique opportunity to investigate tectonic–climatic interactions and the net impact of these processes on weathering and erosion of the western Himalaya. Although there are some hiatuses or condensed section (~1.8-2.2 and 3.6-5.6 Ma), both sites are penetrated ~10 Ma (late Miocene) and younger section. According to U-Pb single grain zircon dating, Sr and Nd isotope data, we could identify the sediment provenance. Furthermore, with the analysis of the major element compositions and clay mineralogy, we could reconstruct the record of chemical weathering, physical erosion intensity and evolving provenance since 10 Ma. With the good age control and decent core recovery, We could reconstruct the changing patterns and rates of erosion in the mountains have changed since around 11 million years ago and model high-resolution variations in erosion, weathering, environment and climate.