IMAGES II cruise (NAUSICAA) explores Quaternary climatic variability and linkage of Benguela and Agulhas Current Systems in the southern Indian-Atlantic Ocean: participation by consortium of Taiwan institutions (coordinated by National Taiwan University)

The IMAGES (International Marine Past Global Changes Study) program has been initiated internationally since the first of January, 1996, and offered a major chance for a large and rapid increase in our understanding of Quaternary paleoceography and global climate change by using the information from studying marine sediment core records. As a formal full IMAGES member starting from August, 1996, the Consortium of Taiwan Institutions (CIT)(coordinated by National Taiwan University) has participated shipboard and shore-based research in IMAGES II cruise to southern Indian-Atlantic Ocean. This correspondence paper presents the scientific objectives designed for the cruise, with brief introduction to the recent research status and progress in Taiwan related to the cruise activities.