The Neogene and Quaternary : chronostratigraphic compromise or non-overlapping magisteria?

Author Posting. © Micropaleontology Press, 2009. This article is posted here by permission of Micropaleontology Press for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Stratigraphy 6 (2009): 1-16.The International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) together with its subcommissions on Neogene Stratigraphy (SNS) and Quaternary Stratigraphy (SQS) are facing a persistent conundrum regarding the status of the Quaternary, and the implications for the Neogene System/Period and the Pleistocene Series/Epoch. The SQS, in seeking a formal role for the Quaternary in the standard time scale, has put forward reasons not only to truncate and redefine the Neogene in order to accommodate this unit as a third System/Period in the Cenozoic, but furthermore to shift the base of the Pleistocene to c. 2.6 Ma to conform to a new appreciation of when “Quaternary climates” began. The present authors, as members of SNS, support the well-established concept of a Neogene extending to the Recent, as well as the integrity of the Pleistocene according to its classical meaning, and have published arguments for workable options that avoid this conflict. In this paper, we return to the basic principles involved in the conversion of the essentially marine biostratigraphic/ biochronologic units of Lyell and other 19th-century stratigraphers into the modern hierarchical arrangement of chronostratigraphic units, embodied in the Global Standard Stratotype-section and Point (GSSP) formulation for boundary definitions. Seen in this light, an immediate problem arises from the fact that the Quaternary, either in its original sense as a state of consolidation or in the more common sense as a paleoclimatic entity, is conceptually different from a Lyellian unit, and that a Neogene/Quaternary boundary may therefore be a non sequitur. Secondly, as to retaining the base of the Pleistocene at 1.8 Ma, the basic hierarchical principles dictate that changing the boundary of any non-fundamental or “higher” chronostratigraphic unit is not possible without moving the boundary of its constituent fundamental unit. Therefore, to move the base of the Pleistocene, which is presently defined by the Calabrian GSSP at 1.8 Ma, to be identified with the Gelasian GSSP at 2.6 Ma, requires action to formally redefine the Gelasian as part of the Pleistocene. Finally, it is important to keep in mind that the subject under discussion is chronostratigraphy, not biostratigraphy. Both systems are based on the fossil record, but biostratigraphic units are created to subdivide and correlate stratigraphic sequences. The higher-level units of chronostratigraphy, however, were initially selected to reflect the history of life through geological time. The persistence of a characteristic biota in the face of environmental pressures during the last 23 my argues strongly for the concept of an undivided Neogene that extends to the present. Several ways to accommodate the Quaternary in the standard time scale can be envisaged that preserve the original concepts of the Neogene and Pleistocene. The option presently recommended by SNS, and most compatible with the SQS position, is to denominate the Quaternary as a subperiod/subsystem of the Neogene, decoupled from the Pleistocene so that its base can be identified with the Gelasian GSSP at c. 2.6 Ma. A second option is to retain strict hierarchy by restricting a Quaternary subperiod to the limits of the Pleistocene at 1.8 Ma. As a third option, the Quaternary could be a subera/suberathem or a supersystem/ superperiod, decoupled from the Neogene and thus with its base free to coincide with a convenient marker such as the base of the Pleistocene at 1.8 Ma, or to the Gelasian at 2.6 Ma, as opinions about paleoclimatology dictate. If no compromise can be reached within hierarchical chronostratigraphy, however, an alternative might be to consider Quaternary and Neogene as mutually exclusive categories (climatostratigraphic vs. chronostratigraphic) in historical geology. In this case, we would recommend the application of the principle of NOMA, or Non-Overlapping Magisteria, in the sense of the elegant essay by the late Stephen J. Gould (1999) on the mutually exclusive categories of Religion and Science. In this case the Quaternary would have its own independent status as a climatostratigraphic unit with its own subdivisions based on climatic criteria

DEAR project: Lunar dust surface interactions, risk and removal investigations

The DEAR project (Dusty Environment Application Research) investigates the interaction between lunar regolith and surfaces and components relevant for lunar exploration. Based on the TUBS regolith simulant which is representative in chemistry, size and shape properties to Moon soils to study the regolith transport, adhesion and strategies for cleaning. The regolith simulant will be applied to thermal, structural, optical sensor, sealing and other astronautic systems, providing input for requirements, justification and verification. The key applications are split in human space flight regolith investigations, wrinkled surface with random movement and hardware surfaces, flat material defined movement. The paper provides an overview of the DEAR project including a discussion of the first results, in particular vibration, shock and micro-vibration on regolith bearing surfaces. The investigation shall enable better understand the regolith layers interaction and the release mechanism, as well as potential cross contamination and cleaning strategies. The research is complemented by simulation of the regolith motion as parameter surface plasma interactions. The project is funded and supported by the European Space Agency (ESA). DEAR specifically addresses the development and testing of lunar dust removal strategies on optics, mechanisms and human space flight hardware (e.g., space suits). As the Moons regolith is known to be highly abrasive, electrically chargeable, and potentially chemically reactive, lunar dust might reduce the performance of hardware, such as cameras, thermal control surfaces and solar cells. The dust can cause malfunction on seals for on/off mechanisms or space suits. Of particular interest are risk assessment, avoidance, and cleaning techniques such as the use of electric fields to remove lunar dust from surfaces. Representative dust (e.g., regolith analogues of interesting landing sites) will be used in a dedicated test setup to evaluate risks and effects of lunar dust. We describe designs and methods developed by the DEAR consortium to deal with the regolith-related issues, in particular an electrode design to deflect regolith particles, cleaning of astronautical systems with CO2, design of a robotic arm for the testing within the DEAR chamber, regolith removal via shock, and regolith interaction with cleanroom textile

Reducing the greenhouse effect in Austria. A general equilibrium evaluation of CO2-policy-options.

The model presented in this paper allows realistic simulations for CO2 policy options for Austria. It is based on a static perfect competition CGE model, calibrated for 1990 Austrian data. Special attention has been given to the implementation of the link of economic and energy data. As a new feature the negative consequences of the CO2 taxation as far as competitiveness in a small open economy is concerned are tried to be mitigated by compensation via wage tax rebates. This is achieved by a sectorally differentiated compensation scheme. As a result competitiveness in the energy intensive sectors can be established by a differentiation in the reduction of wage taxes ranging from 1 percent to 30 percent. Differentiation, as compared to uniform compensation and inspite of maintaining full re-funding of emission revenues, also triggers a positive government revenue effect. Aggregated output losses due to CO2 policy can be mitigated or also overcompensated by stimulating investment in new capital vintages. Such effects have been demonstrated in this paper. As we used a single country model we were not able to simulate effects of coordinated CO2 policy actions, e.g. in line with suggestions of the European Union. (excerpt)Series: EI Working Papers / Europainstitu

The Cenozoic - Erathem Historical aspects and proposed chronostratigraphic revision

Steininger Fritz F. The Cenozoic - Erathem Historical aspects and proposed chronostratigraphic revision. In: Documents des Laboratoires de Géologie, Lyon, n°156, 2002. STRATI 2002. 3ème congrès français de stratigraphie. Lyon, 8-10 juillet 2002. p. 219

Biostratigraphische Gliederungsmöglichkeiten im Oligozän und Miozän der Molasse-Zone Vorarlbergs

General presentation of the Molasse of Vorarlberg and comparison with those of Bavaria and Switzerland. Synthesis of old and new biostratigraphic results for all visited localities.Présentation sommaire de la Molasse du Vorarlberg et comparaisons avec celles de Bavière et de Suisse. Synthèse des résultats biostratigraphiques anciens et nouveaux pour toutes les localités visitées.Steininger Fritz F., Resch Werner, Stojaspal Franz, Hermann Paul. Biostratigraphische Gliederungsmöglichkeiten im Oligozän und Miozän der Molasse-Zone Vorarlbergs. In: Documents des Laboratoires de Géologie, Lyon. Hors-série n°7, 1982. Nouveaux résultats biostratigraphiques dans le bassin molassique, depuis le Vorarlberg jusqu’en Haute-Savoie. Projet P.I.C.G. 73/I/25, section 5. pp. 77-85

Biostratigraphische Gliederung und Korrelation : Zentrale und westliche Paratethys, Rhône-Tal und mediterraner Raum

Discussion of biostratigraphic results obtained so far. Possibilities of correlations by means of various groups of fossils. Evidence for possible markers.Discussion des résultats biostratigraphiques obtenus jusqu'ici. Possibilités de corrélations au moyen de divers groupes de fossiles. Mise en évidence d'éventuels marqueurs.Steininger Fritz F., Rögl Fred, Carbonnel Gilles, Jĭrĭcek Rudolf, Hugueney Marguerite. Biostratigraphische Gliederung und Korrelation : Zentrale und westliche Paratethys, Rhône-Tal und mediterraner Raum. In: Documents des Laboratoires de Géologie, Lyon. Hors-série n°7, 1982. Nouveaux résultats biostratigraphiques dans le bassin molassique, depuis le Vorarlberg jusqu’en Haute-Savoie. Projet P.I.C.G. 73/I/25, section 5. pp. 87-91