Site 1021 is located 100 km south of the Mendocino Fracture Zone and 360 km from the California coast at 39°5.246´N and 127°46.982´ W, in 4213 m of water (Fig. 1). The core site lies at the seaward margin of the California Current and thus is ideally located to monitor changes in that system. Sea-surface temperatures average 11.64°C during winter and 16.99°C during summer (Reynolds and Smith, 1995). Geomagnetic reversal data from Hole 1021C have been interpreted to show the termination of the Gauss Chron (C2An.1n; 2.581 Ma; Cande and Kent, 1995) between 76.85 and 76.15 meters below seafloor (mbsf) and the termination of the Kaena (C2An.1r; 3.040 Ma; Cande and Kent, 1995) between 92.65 and 92.45 mbsf (Shipboard Scientific Party, 1997). Assuming a linear rate of accumulation (3.496 cm/k.y.), Core 167-1021C-10H spans the interval from ~2.92 to 2.65 Ma. Section 167-1021C-10H-2 covers a 40-k.y. interval between 2.725 and 2.685 Ma.