Quaternary Geologist & Geomorphologist Newsletter of the Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division http://rock.geosociety.org/qgg
Fall 2004 Vol. 45, No. 2
Mount St. Helens, Washington, crater eruption. USGS photograph taken at 12:13:01 PDT on October 1, 2004, by John Pallister. MSH04_crater_eruption_image_1213PDT_10-01-04.jpg http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/Images/MSH04/
1 Message from the Outgoing Chair geomorphologists who have demonstrated excellence in their contributions to science. The Greetings to all Division Members: 2004 award will be presented jointly to Derek C. Ford (McMaster University) and William B. White As you will see in this Fall 2004 newsletter, the (Penn State), Russell Harmon (Citationist). upcoming Annual Meeting in Denver has an exciting series of oral and poster sessions on various Donald J. Easterbrook aspects of Quaternary geology and geomorphology. Distinguished Scientist Award The QG&G Division is sponsoring 14 topical sessions, 8 regular sessions, and 1 Pardee session. The Easterbrook Distinguished Scientist Award, Among the highlights of these sessions are special established in 1999, is presented to an individual talks being given by Derek Ford, William White, who has shown unusual excellence in published Edward Keller, and A.K. Singhvi, some of this year’s research, as demonstrated by a single paper of recipients for Division awards. Of course, the exceptional merit or a series of papers that have Division Awards Ceremony and Reception on substantially increased knowledge in Quaternary Tuesday evening is always a highlight of the Annual geology or geomorphology. The Easterbrook Meeting. Please participate in as many Division- Award for 2004 will be presented to Edward Keller, related activities as you can, and enjoy the meeting. (University of California at Santa Barbara), Joan Florsheim (Citationist). We hope to see you in Denver!
Ellen Wohl Farouk El-Baz Award Chair, QG&G Division for Desert Research
The Farouk El-Baz Research Award, established in 1999, is given annually for outstanding work in the QG&G Division Awards – 2004 field of warm desert research by earth scientists; it is intended to encourage and reward arid-land The following awards will be given by the QG&G studies. The 2004 award will be presented to Division of GSA at the Annual Meeting in Denver. Ashok K. Singhvi, (Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India), Nick Lancaster (Citationist). Kirk Bryan Award Gladys W. Cole Memorial The Kirk Bryan Award for Research Excellence was Research Award established in 1951. The award is given for a publication (within the past 5 years) of distinction The Gladys W. Cole Memorial Research Award is advancing the science of geomorphology or restricted to investigation of the geomorphology of Quaternary geology, or a related field. The 2004 semiarid and arid terrains in the United States and award will be presented to Stephen C. Porter, Mexico. It is given each year to a GSA Member or University of Washington, for his 2001 paper: Fellow between 30 and 65 years of age who has Snowline depression in the tropics during the Last published one or more significant papers in Glaciation, Quaternary Science Reviews, v. 20, p. geomorphology. The Fund was established in 1980 1067-1091. Darrell Kaufman (Citationist—Alan by Dr. W. Storrs Cole in memory of his wife. The Gillespie will give the citation during the Annual first award was presented in 1982. The 2004 award Meeting because Darrell is unable to attend). is awarded to J. Elmo Rawling, III, University of Wisconsin at Platteville, for his research proposal Distinguished Career Award entitled, Quaternary Development of the South Dakota White River Badlands. The Distinguished Career Award, established in 1985, is presented to Quaternary geologists and
2 STUDENT RESEARCH AWARDS Testbeds for new concepts in karst geomorphology (Quaternary I, Sunday, 2:00pm) — Arthur D. Howard Research Award — • A.K. Singhvi (Farouk El-Baz Award) - Luminescence dating and the paleoclimates of The Arthur D. Howard Research Award, established deserts (Quaternary II, Monday, 1:30pm) in 1992, provides support for Master’s student research in Quaternary geology or geomorphology. Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division-sponsored sessions: The 2004 Howard Award for M.S. research ($2500, plaque) goes to Nira L. Salant, Dartmouth College, Sunday 8am-12pm (Frank Magilligan, Advisor), Sediment storage and Geomorphology I sedimentation in flow-regulated streams and the T44. Lacustrine records of landscape evolution impact on aquatic ecosystems (VT). Quaternary I (posters) ______
Sunday 1:30pm-5:30pm — J. Hoover Mackin Award — Quaternary I The J. Hoover Mackin Research Award, established T77. Pre-EarthScope synthesis of the Rocky in 1974, provides support for Ph.D. student Mountains I and II: Surface processes, research in Quaternary geology or geomorphology. geodynamics, and the role of neotectonics and climate in development of modern topography The 2004 Mackin Award for Ph.D research ($2500, T102. Quaternary paleoenvironments of the Middle plaque) goes to Anders Carlson, Oregon State East University, (Peter Clark, Advisor), A Holocene Chronology of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, North Monday 8am-12pm America. Geomorphology II T29. From subterranean crawlways to scientific hallways: Research on our public caves and karst QG&G Highlights of Upcoming lands T41. The Gulf of Mexico – past, present and future GSA Annual Meeting in Denver Monday 1:30pm-5:30pm • GSA Welcoming party – Sunday 5:30-7:30pm Quaternary II Geomorphology (posters) • QG&G Management Business Meeting, Hyatt – T41. The Gulf of Mexico (posters) Far East Room, Sunday, 7-9pm T95. Differentiating climatic from tectonic controls on landscape evolution (posters) • QG&G Division Awards Ceremony and Reception, Hyatt – Grand Ballroom, Tuesday, 7- Tuesday 8am-12pm 10:30pm T96. Records of late Quaternary climate change from the Americas: Interhemispheric synchroneity Award Lectures: or not • Edward Keller (Easterbrook Award) - Pool formation in steep-mountain streams: The role of Tuesday 1:30pm-5:30pm large boulder roughness elements. P8. Weathering, slopes, climate and late- (Geomorphology I, Sunday, 9:30am) Quaternary geomorphic change in arid and semi- • Derek Ford (Distinguished Career Award) - arid landscapes Perspectives from the Canadian underground T98. Evolution of the Great Plains landscape (Quaternary I, Sunday, 1:30pm) T122. Inspiring first-rate research through • William White (Distinguished Career Award) - undergraduate teaching The Appalachians and south-central Kentucky:
3 Wednesday 8am-12pm Quaternary II (posters) Second Vice-Chair: T96. Records of late Quaternary climate change John E. Costa from the Americas: Interhemispheric Synchroneity U.S. Geological Survey or not (posters) 10615 SE Cherry Blossom Dr. T97. Geologic history and processes of the Portland, OR 97216
Colorado River (posters)
Wednesday 1:30pm-5:30pm [email protected] Quaternary III T97. Geologic history and processes of the Colorado River Second Vice-Chair Elect: T32. Geologic mapping: Providing for successful John (Jack) F. Shroder, Jr. Photo water and land-resource planning (posters) Dept of Geography & Geology Not University of Nebraska at Available Omaha Omaha, NE 68182 Quaternary Geology & [email protected] Geomorphology Division Officers
and Panel Members Secretary: 2004 Janet L. Slate U.S. Geological Survey Officers – 6 Members, three of whom serve one-year Box 25046, MS 980 terms: Chair, First Vice-Chair, and Second Vice-Chair; Denver, CO 80225 and three of whom serve two-year terms: Secretary, Treasurer, and Newsletter Editor/Webmaster.
Management Board – 8 Members: Division officers and the Chair of the preceding year; also includes the [email protected] Historian as an ex officio member.
Chair (outgoing): Treasurer: Ellen E. Wohl Scott F. Burns Dept of Earth Resources Department of Geology Colorado State University Portland State University Ft. Collins, CO PO Box 751 80523-1482 Portland, OR 97207-0751
First Vice-Chair: Newsletter Editor Alan R. Gillespie and Webmaster: University of Washington Dennis E. Dahms Dept Earth & Space Sciences Dept of Geography PO Box 351310 Sabin Hall, Rm 1 Seattle, WA 98195-1310 University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0406
[email protected] [email protected]
4 Past Chair: GSA Councilor/Division Liaison Representative: J. Steven Kite (Appointed by the GSA President) Dept of Geology and Geography Carolyn G. Olson West Virginia Univ. USGS-NRCS 425 White Hall Federal Bldg, Room 152, MS 34 Morgantown, WV 100 Centennial Mall N 26506-6300 Lincoln, NE 68508 [email protected] [email protected]
Panel Members
2004-2006 Panel Elect Announcements
Missy Eppes, [email protected] th Wendy Gerstel, [email protected] Papers from the 6 International Symposium on John Gosse, [email protected] Paleopedology held in Mexico in 2001 are now 2003-2005 Panel available. Peter Jacobs (Univ. of Wisconsin at Whitney Autin, [email protected] Whitewater) was co-editor of the proceedings. Mark Gonzalez, [email protected] The first link is to an issue that contains a special Glenn Thackray, [email protected] section with papers related to paleopedology and 2002-2004 Panel (outgoing) archaeology. The second link is to an entire issue Doug Clark, [email protected] containing the remaining papers. Jon Major, [email protected] http://satori.geociencias.unam.mx/20-3.htm Dorothy Sack, [email protected] http://satori.geociencias.unam.mx/21-1.htm
Historian: Dendrochronology Database Online (Appointed by the Chair in consultation with the The Bibliography of Dendrochronology is an archive Management Board) of printed documents relevant to tree-ring research Richard F. Madole worldwide, that you can search for free. It was Scientist Emeritus, USGS compiled and is constantly updated by Henri D. 3075 Fremont Street Grissino-Mayer. It currently contains over 8200 Boulder, CO 80304-2848 references dating back to 1737. http://www01.wsl.ch/dendrobiblio
You are welcome to contribute by sending reprints [email protected] of relevant publications to: Dr. Henri D. Grissino-Mayer Department of Geography 2004 JTPC Representatives: University of Tennessee
Ellen E. Wohl Knoxville, TN 37996 Department of Earth Resources 865.974.6029 Colorado State University http://web.utk.edu/~grissino
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1482 Database of species used in dendrochronology: [email protected] http://www01.wsl.ch/species and
Alan R. Gillespie Elsevier Journals University of Washington Dept Earth & Space Sciences Femke Wallien, the Earth and Environmental PO Box 351310 Sciences publisher at Elsevier announces that the Seattle, WA 98195-1310 titles, authors and abstracts of articles published in [email protected] the following journals are available online at no cost: 5 Geomorphology: WDC-A stands for World Data Center for http://www.elsevier.com/locate/geomorph Paleoclimatology, which is a part of the NOAA Quaternary International: National Climate Data Center (NCDC). http://www.elsevier.com/locate/quaint http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/paleo.html Quaternary Research: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/yqres — Julie Brigham-Grette Quaternary Science Reviews: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/quascirev New Software Available
Also, you can also receive Tables of Contents via Those interested in software for developing email as each new issue publishes. Register your palaeoecological transfer functions or plotting email address with ContentsDirect, Elsevier's free stratigraphic diagrams may like to take a look at my email alerting service, at
Dust Deposition Report Available Have you logged on to the Virtual Journal Dust Deposition in Nevada, California, and Utah, of Geobiology? 1984-2002: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/ofr-03-138 This free, online journal now includes over 200 The purpose of this report is to make available an articles from 21 source journals, including up-to-date set of physical and chemical laboratory Geomorphology. The Virtual Journal of Geobiology data and dust-deposition rates. is edited by Professor Lee R. Kump of The Pennsylvania State University. Visit today at Contact: Marith Reheis
PAst Global changES (PAGES). The core mission CGRG Bibliography of Canadian of PAGES is to facilitate international collaborations Geomorphology
and interdisciplinary science, especially between http://cgrg.geog.uvic.ca/cgi-bin/search.cgi individuals involved in national programs with overlapping interests. The PAGES scope of 1. The Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology is interest includes the physical climate system, a searchable database dedicated to identifying biogeochemical cycles, ecosystem processes, publications and presentations describing the biodiversity, and human dimensions. The emphasis practice and application of geomorphology in is on high-resolution studies of global change – Canada. Included are over 18,000 records related such as those stored in ice cores, tree rings, to the fields of aeolian, applied, coastal, fluvial, speleothems, corals, lakes, marine records, etc. – glacial, hillslope, karst, periglacial, permafrost and and the use of these data for making sound offshore geomorphology. The database also estimates of future global change. includes records describing Canadian What Is PAGES and how can a GSA/Quaternary Quaternary/Holocene environments and a Member get involved? http://www.pages.unibe.ch substantial body of records related to Canadian PAGES even played a key role with NOAA in hydrology. establishing the WDC-A for Paleoclimatology as the central depository for global paleoclimate data. 2. Recent Publications in Canadian Geomorphology http://cgrg.geog.uvic.ca/list.htm
6 The CGRG regularly posts a bulletin on the Potential authors should contact Stephen Wolfe at CANGEORG listserver entitled Recent Publications their earliest convenience, and provide a tentative in Canadian Geomorphology. The citations title, list of potential authors, and a brief description recorded in these postings are archived in the of the paper to be prepared. Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology, where they form part of searchable database that To be eligible for publication in this special issue, presently contains over 18,100 records. The four single-sided paper copies of the manuscript intention of this page is to provide access to the must be submitted to Stephen Wolfe for external CANGEORG postings and any related abstracts review by June, 2005. Submitted manuscripts must contained in the bibliography. — Dan Smith, follow instructions to authors as outlined in the 2002 University of Victoria Tree-Ring Laboratory. volumes of GpQ. Additional guidelines for internal consistency of papers will be sent to potential authors subsequent to their submission of a Glacial history and paleoenvironmental tentative title. change in glaciated North America In addition to this issue of GpQ, a session in honour Special Issue in Honour of Vic Prest of Vic Prest will be held at the CANQUA Annual Meeting in at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, With the passing of Vic Prest on September 26, June 5-9, 2005. Presenters in this session need not 2003, Canada lost one of its foremost Quaternary submit a paper to GpQ. geologists. Vic is perhaps best known for his depictions of the Late Wisconsin and Holocene Stephen Wolfe retreat of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. Much of the Geological Survey of Canada ongoing research into the timing and events 601 Booth St., Ottawa, ON K1A 0E8 associated with the deglaciation of North America Ph: 613-992-7670; Email: [email protected] are placed in the context of this work. In addition, no research on the paleoecology of Canada is IGCP-500: Dryland Change: Past, complete without a reference to the influence of Present, Future retreating ice sheets on climate and vegetation change during the late Quaternary and Holocene. The International Geological Correlation Program (IGCP) has approved nine new 5-year projects. The In honour of Vic Prest, a special issue of full title of one is: Westerlies and Monsoons: Géographie physique et Quaternaire is being Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on prepared that will highlight ongoing research into Dryland Environments, Hydrogeology and People. glacial history and paleoenvironmental change in glaciated North America. Three main themes to be The objectives of IGCP-500 are: addressed in this issue, include glacial history, 1. To enhance the welfare of dryland societies by paleogeography and paleoenvironments: contributing to a better understanding of what drives climate change and variability, environmental 1. Glacial history: Papers may include new change and key resource availability over research or re-interpretations of regional-scale ice timescales ranging from millennia to subdecadal. movement, deglacial history and associated 2. To investigate the dynamics of key dryland landforms, and glacial dispersal with interpretation landscape and resource elements, especially of ice flow, among other topics. hydrological dynamics and aeolian system 2. Paleogeography: Papers may include research dynamics, and their impacts on and interactions associated with ice-marginal drainage, shoreline with the human use of drylands. configurations, sea-levels and isostatic adjustments 3. Through the above scientific goals, enhance associated with deglaciation, among other topics. capacity in cutting edge dryland science and to 3. Paleoenvironments: Papers may include new provide a significant dryland input to the co-IGCP topical research or significant regional summaries, CHANGES initiative. placed within a spatial or temporal context of the deglaciation of Canada, among other topics. If you are interested in participating in the Canadian component of IGCP-500, please contact: 7 Afternoon – 2 mile hike (round trip) to Popo Agie Dave Sauchyn, Canadian Rep, IGCP-500 Mgmt Team Falls to view cross-sections used to define patterns Research Professor of glacial erosion in the Middle Popo Agie valley. Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative 150 - 10 Research Drive • Sunday: University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 7J7 Morning – Table Mountain (possible strenuous hike) 306-337-2299, 306-337-2301 (fax) [email protected] Deposits mapped as pre-Sacajawea Ridge moraine/outwash. Boulders that yield 10Be ages of ~800 ka. Buried soil exposure. Friends of the Pleistocene - 2004 Pinedale-age landslide scar. Southeast Cell Afternoon – Drive to lateral moraine-dammed The Incision History of a Passive Margin River: lakes to talk about preliminary results from The Potomac near Great Falls sediment cores. Lakes occupy unglaciated October 22-23 Great Falls Park, Va. tributaries of the Little Popo Agie River & initially may have been dammed by Bull Lake moraines. Trip Leaders: Evening meal in Atlantic City, Wyoming. Paul Bierman, UVM E-an Zen, UMD Monday-Wednesday: Unofficial part of the Milan Pavich, USGS fieldtrip. Luke Reusser, UVM Backpack into Stough Creek Basin (~4 hrs) to This one-day field trip will focus on the ages of see post-Pinedale glacial succession described in bedrock strath terraces bordering the Potomac the southern WRR. We’ll see soils, lichens, River above and below Great Falls. Recent weathered boulders and lots of lakes for fly- cosmogenic exposure dating shows that the fishing. (Please note that will be an unofficial part Potomac incised rapidly into Piedmont crystalline of the fieldtrip. USFS Popo Agie Wilderness bedrock during the Last Glacial Maximum. Incision regulations limit the size of organized groups to of more than 20 m occurred after 35 ka to form <10. Anyone wishing to go into Stough Basin Mather Gorge, a spectacular geomorphic feature in should consider themselves as separate groups, an unglaciated basin in a passive margin setting. as we may not be able to camp together. The geomorphology of the Potomac and factors that contributed to this rapid channel adjustment will be Please indicate your interest in attending by discussed. See details online at: sending an email to: [email protected] by http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eespteam/SEOFOP/ Dec. 30, 2004. A second announcement will be sent to respondents via email in January, 2005.
Friends of the Pleistocene - 2005 Rocky Mountain Cell Upcoming Conferences Glacial Stratigraphy, Valley Erosion Rates, and Paleoenvironments of the Joint British Geomorphological Research Southern Wind River Range Group and British Sedimentological Sinks Canyon, Lander, Wyo. Research Group Conference: Tentative date: late August, 2005 DRYLANDS: LINKING LANDSCAPE PROCESSES TO SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENTS Trip leader (preliminary): Dennis Dahms, University of Northern Iowa February 2-4, 2005 Geological Society, Burlington House, London Tentative schedule: OVERALL AIM • Saturday: The aim of this international conference is to bring Morning – Overview of deposits in Sinks Canyon together researchers working in modern and that may represent as many as 6 first-order glacial ancient dryland environments, in order to improve events. our understanding of arid-zone processes and 8 landforms and the preservation potential of dryland of no more than 300 words should be submitted by sediment successions in the geological record. We 17 September 2004. See the website for details. anticipate that the meeting will not only promote interaction between geomorphologists and FURTHER INFORMATION sedimentologists, but will also enhance our For further information, visit: knowledge of contemporary dryland environments http://www.bton.ac.uk/environment/drylands/ and the factors influencing subsurface sedimentary To register your interest in the meeting and to architecture. This conference will also be of receive regular updates, email your contact details considerable interest to practitioners working in the to:
water and hydrocarbon industries. CONVENORS
CONFERENCE THEMES Dr David Nash (University of Brighton, UK) We specifically wish to attract oral and poster Dr Joanna Bullard (Loughborough University, UK) presentations on the following themes: Dr Colin North (University of Aberdeen, UK) 1) Factors influencing sediment mobilisation, transport and deposition in the range of earth Association of American Geographers surface process domains operating within (AAG) Annual Meeting dryland environments; April 5-9, 2005 2) Impacts of external tectonic, climatic and Denver, Colorado base-level controls upon sedimentation patterns in drylands; The following sessions which may be of interest to 3) Interactions between process domains (e.g., members of the QG&G Division are currently being weathering, fluvial, hillslope, playa lake and organized. Abstract deadlines are: aeolian processes) and their impacts upon Paper: October 21 dryland sedimentary systems; Illustrated paper: October 21 4) Preservation potential and sedimentary Poster: October 28 records produced by the various components MOUNTAIN RIVERS of dryland landscapes; Sponsored by the Geomorphology Specialty Group 5) Impacts of near-surface geochemical and Mountain Geography Specialty Group sedimentation upon preservation potential Organizers: Anne Chin, Texas A&M University; within dryland systems; Ellen Wohl, Colorado State University 6) Modern analogues for dryland sediments in the geological record; Mountain rivers are major sources for the water and 7) Predictive models for spatial and temporal sediment of large downstream basins. Yet, most lithofacies distribution in dryland settings; theories developed from knowledge of lowland 8) Behaviour and sedimentary records of rivers do not adequately explain the operation of drylands that existed before the evolution of mountain rivers. Recent research on the hydrology, plant life on land. hydraulics, sediment dynamics, channel morphology, and disturbance regimes is gradually KEYNOTE SPEAKERS elucidating the unique characteristics of these Keynote speakers so far confirmed include: systems. This session seeks to bring together Prof. Kevin Bohacs (Exxonmobil, Houston, USA - those working on diverse aspects of mountain rivers provisional); Prof. Gary Kocurek (University of in order to foster awareness of recent research and Texas, Austin, USA); Prof. Jonathon Laronne (Ben discussion among investigators. We invite papers Gurion University, Israel). on any aspect of mountain rivers, including REGISTRATION & SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS watershed and hillslope processes that influence All delegates planning to attend the conference river channels, in addition to channel dynamics. should register before December 1, 2004. Details of Papers reporting technological advances applicable how to register are available on the conference to the study of mountain rivers are also welcomed, website (see below). Registrations received after as well as contributions on the management and this date are subject to a 20% surcharge. Abstracts restoration of mountain channels.
9 Participants interested in this special session must modern systems we exploit for proxy information first register for the conference at the AAG website which would enhance our understanding of the http://www.aag.org, submit their abstracts online, mechanisms driving proxy-climate relationships. and obtain a Presenter Identification Number (PIN), which is provided during the abstract submission The session will highlight (1) improved calibration, process. Then, the following information should be chronology, and/or quantitative approaches for forwarded to Anne Chin at [email protected]: (1) existing proxies; (2) the investigation and presenter name(s); (2) paper title; (3) abstract; and development of new archives; and (3) the (4) the PIN. We must receive this information no combination of multiple proxies. We hope to bring later than October 20, 2004, in order to meet the together a diverse group of faculty and students to AAG submission deadline of October 21, 2004, for share and discuss recent progress toward improved organized sessions. assessments of past climates and future applications for these proxy-based reconstructions ADVANCES IN PALEOCLIMATOLOGY: in modeling, prediction, and analysis of future QUANTITATIVE, MULTIPROXY, AND NOVEL climatic change. APPROACHES TO CLIMATE RECONSTRUCTION We are currently planning to convene two paper Organizers: sessions (10 papers total). Those interested in Kevin Anchukaitis [email protected] participating in these sessions should contact one Kurt Kipfmueller [email protected] of the organizers to check space availability and Bryan Shuman [email protected] discuss potential paper topics prior to submission of an abstract to the AAG. We will provide more Our understanding of climate-system dynamics at details on submission guidelines to interested interannual to millennial timescales continues to participants. advance as new techniques and improved technologies expand and refine the process of CLIMATE AND CRYOSPHERE proxy data collection, assimilation, and analysis. Co-Sponsored by the AAG Cryosphere, Climate, Robust paleoclimatic reconstructions are necessary Geomorphology, and Mountain Geography for the analysis of past climate dynamics as well as Specialty Groups assessment of observed trends and behavior over Organizers: Jerry Brown [email protected], the last century. This in turn requires an improved, R.G. Barry, and Fritz E. Nelson [email protected]
quantitative and mechanistic understanding of the Earth's cold environments have received nature of the physical, chemical, and biological unprecedented attention in recent decades as processes controlling proxy formation. At the same development pressures have intensified and the time, new proxies—including expanded archives challenges of climate change become increasingly and novel methods for using existing ones—are apparent. The World Climate Research likely necessary to overcome the disadvantages of Programme's new "Climate and Cryosphere" (CliC) existing proxies related to geographic distribution, project is a global program aimed at improving sensitivity, and bias. Integrating multiple proxies understanding of the cryosphere, its interactions has also been shown to improve the skill of climate with the climate system, and use of cryospheric reconstructions and overcome weaknesses in phenomena to detect and monitor climate change. single-archive approaches. CliC's principal goals are to assess the impacts of
Accomplishing this requires methods, techniques, climatic variability and change on the cryosphere and knowledge drawn from a number of diverse and climate system and to determine the stability of disciplines. This organized session will bring the cryosphere.
together scientists involved in using a diverse array This will be the most general of the cryosphere- of archives for paleoclimatology, including (but not oriented sessions at the Denver AAG meeting, and limited to) tree rings, lake sediments, speleothems, is intended to correspond broadly with CliC 's four corals, ice cores, cryostratigraphy, and periglacial main project areas: (1) interactions between the evidence. We also encourage the participation of atmosphere and snow and ice on the land surface; modelers, as well as those involved in research on (2) interactions between glaciers, ice sheets and 10 sea level; (3) interactions between sea ice, oceans, in one of the three field trips. The deadline for and the atmosphere; and (4) cryosphere-climate abstracts and payment of the early bird registration interactions over a range of temporal and spatial fee is December 15, 2004. Registration has been scales. Contributions are welcome on any aspect reduced considerably for students and retired of cold-regions research, including snow, glaciers, persons. ice sheets, permafrost and seasonally frozen ground, geomorphic processes, sea-, lake- and Dr. Sílvio C. Rodrigues, Organizing Committee river-ice, human impacts, and interactions between these phenomena and climate. The session will The Canadian Quaternary Association feature a lecture by Professor Roger Barry, (CANQUA) University of Colorado, about CliC's status and June 5-9, 2005 plans. Winnipeg (June 5-6) & Regina (June 8-9), with a 1-day mid-meeting fieldtrip linking these two To contribute to this session, you will first register cities for the meeting and submit your abstract online at the Association of American Geographers' web site There also will be: http://www.aag.org. When this process is complete • A pre-meeting fieldtrip in the Lake Agassiz you will receive a Presenter Identification Number basin (PIN). Please email your abstract and PIN to Jerry • A post-meeting fieldtrip across the western Brown or Fritz Nelson no later than October 14. For Canadian Prairies general information about registration fees, abstract instructions, and other items please consult the Three special sessions are planned: AAG web site. 1) Paleoenvironmental change in glaciated North America: a special session in honor of COMLAND Vic Prest (see below) May 16-22, 2005 2) Lakes in transition 3) Climate at the edge Uberlandia, Brazil
The website: For more details see the CANQUA web site http://www.ig.ufu.br/comland/enindex2.htm has the www.mun.ca/canqua/index.html or contact Co-Chair registration form, information on the program Jim Teller [email protected] or Dave themes, costs, accommodation, field trips and how Sauchyn [email protected] to get to Uberlandia. nd 2 Earth Systems Processes Meeting The conference themes are: (ESP2) S1 Soil erosion and possibilities of recovery; August 8-11, 2005 S2 Rivers, Fluvial systems and Land Degradation; Calgary, Alberta, Canada S3 Deforestation and its consequences on the soil and landscape; Co-convened by the Geological Society of America S4 Sustainable development and politics of (GSA) and the Geological Association of Canada management; (GAC), and co-sponsored by the European S5 Remote Sensing, GIS and their applications to Geosciences Union (EGU). the study of land degradation; S6 Eco-tourism and Rural Tourism and their This meeting will promote global scientific implications; cooperation and exchange, and stimulate S7 Urbanization and Land Degradation; and interactions between the geosciences and allied S8 Desertification and Land Degradation in Dry sciences by focusing on integrative discovery in lands. earth systems science.
All geomorphologists are warmly invited to travel to Uberlandia, to discuss their research, renew friendships (and make new ones), and to participate
11 10th International Conference on July 2005 - Registration deadline Accelerator Mass Spectrometry: AMS-10 August 2005 - Conference program distributed to September 5-10, 2005 participants
Berkeley, California Contact
The 10th International Conference on Accelerator For questions about the conference and the Mass Spectrometry (AMS-10) is being hosted by submission of proposed technical sessions and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s workshops, please contact: Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (CAMS) John Knezovich Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, L-397 on the campus of the University of California at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Berkeley. The conference will provide a forum for Livermore, California 94550 USA scientists to present and discuss recent Phone: 925-422-0925 developments in AMS technology and applications. E-mail: [email protected] URL: http://cams.llnl.gov/ Schedule The technical agenda will start on Monday, Sept 5th and will conclude on Friday, Sept 9th. A welcoming International Association of reception will be held Sunday evening, and a Geomorphologists (IAG) — Sixth banquet will be held Thursday evening. Wednes- International Conference on day will be a free day for local excursions, including Geomorphology a day trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and a tour September 7-11, 2005 of the Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. Zaragoza, Spain th Saturday, Sept. 10 will be available for workshops. Chairman: Eric Fouache (France) Proposals for technical sessions & workshops Vice Chairmen: Morgan de Dapper (Belgium) and A special session in honor of Roy Middleton is Zhongyuan Chen (China) currently being organized. In addition, a one-day workshop entitled “Accelerator Mass Spectrometry During the Sixth International Conference on in Low-Dose Bioscience” is currently being planned Geomorphology, the Working Group on in conjunction with the 9th International Congress on Geoarchaeology (WG3) will organise a special half- Environmental Mutagenesis. This workshop will day session dedicated to two sub-workshops: explore the applications of AMS to micro-dosing in WG3/ A Geoarchaeology: Global perspectives nutrition and pharmaceutical research, (lectures and poster session) environmentally relevant genetic damage, and WG3/ B Geoarchaeology of the Hispanic and Pre- elemental tracing. Hispanic American World (lectures and poster session) Individuals or groups interested in developing specific platform sessions and/or post-conference To register to one of these sessions, please visit the workshops should submit a brief proposal including web site of the conference title and content of the session or workshop, http://wzar.unizar.es/actos/SEG and use the online suggested speakers, and a session chair. registration form. Please state which sub-workshop you choose between WG3/A and WG3/B and send Registration and accommodations a copy of this form with the abstract of your Registration fees will be similar to the previous AMS proposal to: Jean-Michel Carozza at: conference (approx. US$450). Berkeley is served by [email protected] international airports in Oakland & San Francisco, and several local hotels are available at reasonable Eric Fouache, Chairman rates. Jean-Michel CAROZZA Schedule Maître de Conférence January 2005 - 2nd annc’t and call for abstracts Université L.Pasteur May 2005 - Deadline for submission of abstracts Faculté de Géographie 3, rue de l'Argonne and early registration 12 F-67083 Strasbourg Cedex the apparent discrepancy between the short-term (33) 03 90 24 09 22 distribution of strain as determined from geodesy and the longer term distribution of deformation as Working group on: Hydrology and determined from late Quaternary faulting. This Geomorphology of Bedrock Rivers (WG6) research opportunity focuses on developing a better Paul Carling (University of Southampton, UK) is the understanding of the long-term behavior of convenor for this session and can be contacted at potentially seismogenic faults in the province [email protected] through an improved knowledge of the regional To register for this session, please visit the web site Quaternary stratigraphic framework. We seek a of the conference http://wzar.unizar.es/actos/SEG postdoctoral scientist who can apply cosmogenic- and use the online registration form. nuclide surface-exposure dating to determine the age of major geomorphic elements of B&R Send your abstract to the secretariat as per the web landscapes. Information about the age of these site instructions and also e-mail copy to landscape elements will allow us to learn more [email protected]. Further details will be about landscape evolution and will substantially posted on the bedrock forum website in due course: expand the temporal record of B&R paleoearth- http://www.geog.soton.ac.uk/research/bedrock/ quakes, earthquake recurrence intervals, and fault slip rates. Such paleoseismic data are crucial to understanding the characteristics of fault behavior Career Opportunities on geologically significant time scales and to accurately assessing the region’s seismic hazards. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Most of the Quaternary age control in the Basin and Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Range province is based on correlating deposits to Fellowship Program late Pleistocene lakes (Lahontan and Bonneville), on tectonic geomorphology, and on comparing the Opportunity for Quaternary geochronology and topographic position of deposits in the landscape. seismic hazards in the Basin and Range Material for radiocarbon dating is generally sparse The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) invites in this arid region, and although locally very useful, applications for the Mendenhall Postdoctoral luminescence dating is mostly applicable for dating Research Fellowship Program for Fiscal Year 2006. eolian deposits. A crucial gap exists in establishing The Mendenhall Program provides opportunities to a Quaternary stratigraphic and geomorphic conduct research in association with selected framework in the B&R because of limitations in members of the USGS professional staff. Through dating deposits in the age range of 30 ka to 140 ka. this Program the USGS will acquire current Much of this time span is beyond the practical limits expertise in science to assist in implementation of of radiocarbon dating, but covers a time span that the science strategy of its programs. Fiscal Year encompasses several earthquake (seismic) cycles 2006 begins in October 2005. for typical B&R faults. Fortunately, newly evolving techniques of cosmogenic-nuclide dating of in-situ The Basin and Range (B&R) province is the most 26 10 36 active region of extension in the U.S. and is produced Al, Be, and/or Cl allows for the expanding in a northwestward direction at a rate of accurate dating of alluvial and colluvial deposits of 10-11 mm/yr. GPS data acquired during the past middle and late Quaternary age, which is the time decade document the present-day spatial frame most relevant to the region’s seismic distribution and characteristics of B&R deformation. hazards. Application of these techniques to fault In some cases, these geodetic signals reveal activity studies will allow the incumbent to establish perplexing and unexplained deformation patterns a well-founded stratigraphic framework that can be that are inconsistent with geologic expectations, used to compare short-term (GPS) and long-term such as surprisingly high extension rates along (geologic) slip histories and to judge if the parts of the Wasatch fault zone and continued contemporary or the late Quaternary deformation extension in the Central Nevada seismic belt. For rates realistically define the fault's modern behavior. seismic hazard analysis, it is important to reconcile Opportunities for research through the Mendenhall
13 Postdoctoral Program are available in a wide range “A proposed revision of great consequence to the of topics. The postdoctoral fellowships are 2-year Quaternary community is an extension of the Neogene appointments. The closing date for applications System to the present. The Pleistocene and Holocene is December 1, 2004. Appointments will start would be retained as Series, but the Quaternary would October 2005 or later, depending on availability of be eliminated as a System. An argument made by ICS is that the "Quaternary" and "Tertiary" are archaic terms. funds. A description of the program and the Elimination of Quaternary as a System is clearly a highly application process are available at charged issue, but ICS seems determined to make the http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc. Descriptions of the change, whether or not Quaternarists agree. FY 2006 research opportunities will be posted on this web site on or about September 1, 2004. The “INQUA does not accept the elimination of the word U.S. Geological Survey is an equal opportunity "Quaternary" from the Geological Time Scale. employer. Accordingly, its Commission on Stratigraphy and Geochronology has suggested a compromise to the Individuals interested in this specific opportunity INQUA Executive Committee that may or may not be should contact one of the research advisors listed acceptable to both the larger Quaternary community and below for additional details and information. ICS… The gist of the proposal is to define a Quaternary Proposed Duty Station: Golden, CO Subsystem that encompasses the present Pleistocene and Holocene Series, as well as the Gelasian Stage Areas of Ph.D: Geochronology with emphasis in (2.6-1.8 Ma). Under this proposal, the boundaries of the cosmogenic-nuclide dating, Quaternary geology Pleistocene and Holocene would remain unchanged.” and geomorphology, paleoseismology, earthquake geology In September, it was announced that a Task Force has been struck to decide on the Research Advisors: stratigraphic meaning of the Quaternary. Please Anthony Crone, 303-273-8591, [email protected] look at the announcement below and send any Michael Machette, 303-273-8612, comments you might have directly to John [email protected] Clague. Stephen Personius, 303-273-8611, [email protected] From Felix Gradstein and John Clague:
Qualifications: Applicants must meet the Rationale qualifications for a Research Geologist position. For over a century, the status and stratigraphic (This type of research is typically performed by position of the Quaternary have been debated. those who have backgrounds for the occupation Authoritative papers on the history of Quaternary, stated above. However, other job titles may be and its recommended stratigraphic definition and applicable depending on the applicant’s status include Berggren (1998), Lourens et al. background, education, and research proposal. (2004), Ogg (2004), and Pillans (2004). The The final classification of the position will be made INQUA Executive, through consultation with the by the Personnel specialist.) Quaternary community in 2004, has found Personnel Office contact: Kathleen Scheich, (303) widespread support for defining the Quaternary as a 236-9581, [email protected] chronostratigraphic unit with a base at 2.6 Ma. As a consequence, ICS and INQUA consider it timely to decide on the stratigraphic meaning of the Quaternary, so that it can be unequivocally placed Stratigraphic Revision: Extension of in the standard global time scale. John Clague, the Neogene System to the Present President of INQUA, Felix Gradstein, Chair of ICS, assisted by outgoing IUGS President Ed de Mulder, Discussion continued … have agreed that a task force be struck that will make a recommendation to ICS on the definition of The Spring 2004 Newsletter included a summary of a the Quaternary in 2005. discussion concerning the status and stratigraphic position of the Quaternary. John Clague summarized the issue as follows:
14 Task force The task force on the Quaternary will comprise members of INQUA and ICS, and will be charged 2004 Division Newsletter Editors with the single task of defining the Quaternary in a stratigraphic sense. It will formulate a single Many Divisions “publish” their newsletters mainly by proposal that will be discussed at the Second ICS posting them on their Division websites. All Division Workshop on the Future of Stratigraphy, September websites can be accessed from: 2005 in Leuven, Belgium. The workshop will be http://www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/divisions.htm attended by chairs of all Subcommissions of ICS, Typical issue dates are approximations only. So if and the President of the INQUA Commission on you wish to get the word out on some person, event Stratigraphy and Geochronology. If the task force or whatever… recommends definition in a formal chronostratigraphic sense, its proposal will go Archaeological Geology – Mar, Sept Andrea K. Freeman
• Vice-Chair: Brad Pillans, Australia Geobiology & Geomicrobiology – no schedule • Secretary: James Ogg, USA Linda Kah
Stratigraphy & Geochronology, appointed by Geology & Society – no set schedule the executive of INQUA Three members of Secty: Thomas Evans
References Geoscience Education – Winter, Summer Berggen, 1989. The Cenozoic Era: Lyellian (chrono) Mark Hafen
Lourens, L., F. Hilgen, N.J. Shackleton, J. Laskar International – irregular; no named editor and D. Wilson, 2004. The Neogene Period. In: Contact: Secty Michael Foose
Pillans, B., 2004. Proposal to redefine the QG&G – March, September Quaternary. Episodes 27(2), 127. Dennis Dahms
John J. Clague Sedimentary Geology – Feb/Mar, Sept/Oct Gordon M. Shrum Professor of Science Mariana L. Rhoades 16