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ENCYCLOPEDIA ofPALEOCLIMATOLOGY ANDANCIENT ENVIRONMENTS
Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PALEOCLIMATOLOGY AND ANCIENT ENVIRONMENTS
Volume EditorVivien Gornitz is a Senior Research Scientist, Center for Climate Systems Research, Columbia University and NASA Goddard Institute forSpace Studies. She holds a B.A. from Barnard College and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Her research interests include global sea levelrise–past, present, and future, coastal hazards, climatic implications of land cover transformations, and planetary geology, including Mars.In addition to numerous scientific publications, she has edited Geology of the Planet Mars (Benchmark Papers in Geology, v. 48, Dowden,Hutchinson & Ross, Inc., 1979) and has contributed articles to several of the encyclopedias in the Earth Sciences Series. She was a ContributingAuthor for the IPCC in 1990, 1995, 2001, and 2007.
Advisory Board
Caspar AmmannClimate and Global Dynamics Division–PaleoclimatologyNational Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)Boulder, CO 80307USAMark A. Chandler5018 Woodburn DriveMadison, WI 53711USAandGoddard Institute for Space Studies2880 BroadwayNew York, NY 10025USA
Anthony HallamSchool of Earth SciencesUniversity of BirminghamEdgbastonBirmingham B15 2TTUK
Joseph OrtizDepartment of GeologyKent State UniversityKent, Ohio 44242-0001USA
Linda SohlGoddard Institute for Space Studies2880 BroadwayNew York, NY 10025USA
James D. WrightDepartment of Geological SciencesWright-Reiman LaboratoriesRutgers University610 Taylor Road, PiscatawayNJ 08854-8066USA
Aims of the SeriesThe Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series provides comprehensive and authoritative coverage of all the main areas in the Earth Sciences.Each volume comprises a focused and carefully chosen collection of contributions from leading names in the subject, with copious illustrationsand reference lists.
These books represent one of the world’s leading resources for the Earth Sciences community. Previous volumes are being updated and newworks published so that the volumes will continue to be essential reading for all professional earth scientists, geologists, geophysicists, climatol-ogists, and oceanographers as well as for teachers and students. See the back of this volume for a current list of titles in the Encyclopedia of EarthSciences Series. Go to http://www.springerlink.com/reference-works/ to visit the “Earth Sciences Series” on-line.
About the Series EditorProfessor Charles W. Finkl has edited and/or contributed to more than 8 volumes in the Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. For the past 25years he has been the Executive Director of the Coastal Education & Research Foundation and Editor-in-Chief of the international Journal ofCoastal Research. In addition to these duties, he is Principal Marine Geologist with Coastal Planning & Engineering, Inc. and Research Professorat Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, USA. He is a graduate of the University of Western Australia (Perth) and previouslyworked for a wholly owned Australian subsidiary of the International Nickel Company of Canada (INCO). During his career, he acquiredfield experience in Australia; the Caribbean; South America; SW Pacific islands; Southern Africa; Western Europe; and the Pacific Northwest,Midwest, and Southeast USA.
Founding Series EditorProfessor Rhodes W. Fairbridge (deceased) has edited more than 24 Encyclopedias in the Earth Sciences Series. During his career he has workedas a petroleum geologist in the Middle East, been a WW II intelligence officer in the SW Pacific and led expeditions to the Sahara, ArcticCanada, Arctic Scandinavia, Brazil and New Guinea. He was Emeritus Professor of Geology at Columbia University and was affiliated withthe Goddard Institute for Space Studies.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF EARTH SCIENCES SERIES
ENCYCLOPEDIAof PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
AND ANCIENTENVIRONMENTS
edited by
VIVIEN GORNITZGoddard Institute for Space Studies
andColumbia University
New YorkUSA
Library of Congress Control Number: 2008934597
ISBN: 978-1-4020-4551-6This publication is available also as:Electronic publication under ISBN 978-1-4020-4411-3 andPrint and electronic bundle under ISBN 978-1-4020-5197-5
Published by SpringerPO Box 17, 3300 AA Dordrecht, The Netherlands
Printed on acid-free paper
Cover photo: Landforms – Heart of the Colorado Plateau: The Story Behind the Scenery(KC Publications, 1995). Photo reproduced courtesy of G. Ladd
Every effort has been made to contact the copyright holders of the figures and tables which have been reproduced from othersources. Anyone who has not been properly credited is requested to contact the publishers, so that due acknowledgement may bemade in subsequent editions.
All Rights Reserved for Contributions on Coal Beds, Origin and Climate; Glendonite/Ikaite and Ostracodes© 2009 Springer ScienceþBusiness Media B.V.No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with theexception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusiveuse by the purchaser of the work.
Contents
List of Contributors xi
Preface xxv
Acknowledgements xxvii
Aerosol (Mineral) 1Ina Tegen
Albedo Feedbacks 2Andrew A. Lacis
Alkenones 4Mark Pagani
Ancient Cultures and Climate Change 6Vivien Gornitz
Animal Proxies, Invertebrates 10Robert R. Gaines and Mary L. Droser
Animal Proxies – Vertebrates 13Thomas H. Rich and Patricia Vickers-Rich
Antarctic Bottom Water and Climate Change 16Stan Jacobs
Antarctic Cold Reversal 22Vincent I. Morgan
Antarctic Glaciation History 24Kathy Licht
Antarctic Sea Ice History, Late Quaternary 31Xavier Crosta
Archean Environments 34William H. Peck and John W. Valley
Arctic Sea Ice 38Anne de Vernal
Arid Climates and Indicators 45Andrew Goudie
Astronomical Theory of Climate Change 51André Berger
Atmospheric Circulation During the Last GlacialMaximum 57
David Rind
Atmospheric Evolution, Earth 61James Farquhar
Atmospheric Evolution, Mars 66David C. Catling
Atmospheric Evolution, Venus 75Bruce Fegley, Jr.
Banded Iron Formations and the Early Atmosphere 85Bruce M. Simonson and Alan J. Kaufman
Basal Ice 89Peter G. Knight
Beachrock 89Ian D. Goodwin
Beetles as Quaternary and Late Tertiary ClimateIndicators 90
G. Russell Coope
Beryllium-10 92Jürg Beer
Binge-Purge Cycles of Ice Sheet Dynamics 94Martin J. Siegert
Bolide Impacts and Climate 96Michael R. Rampino
Bølling-Allerød Interstadial 100Wim Z. Hoek
vi CONTENTS
Borehole Climatology 103Hugo Beltrami and Daniela Nitoiu
Carbon Cycle 107Abraham Lerman
Carbon Dioxide and Methane, Quaternary Variations 118Bernhard Stauffer
Carbon Dioxide, Dissolved (Ocean) 123Richard E. Zeebe and Dieter A. Wolf-Gladrow
Carbon Isotope Variations Over Geologic Time 128Ján Veizer
Carbon Isotopes, Stable 133Steven W. Leavitt
Carbonate Compensation Depth 136Torsten Bickert
Carbonates, Cool Water 138Jonathan Clarke
Carbonates, Warm Water 143Dan Bosence
Cenozoic Climate Change 148James D. Wright
Cirques 155Peter G. Knight
CLAMP 156Robert A. Spicer
CLIMAP 158James D. Hays
Climate Change, Causes 164Thomas J. Crowley
Climate Forcing 174Andrew A. Lacis
Climate Variability and Change, Last 1,000 Years 178Michael E. Mann
Coal Beds, Origin and Climate 181C. Blaine Cecil and Sandra G. Neuzil
Coastal Environments 183Robert W. Dalrymple and Kyungsik Choi
Coccoliths 187Jeremy R. Young
COHMAP 188Thompson Webb III
Continental Sediments 192Marc S. Hendrix
Corals and Coral Reefs 198John E. N. Veron
Cordilleran Ice Sheet 206John J. Clague
Cosmogenic Radionuclides 211Jürg Beer
Cretaceous Warm Climates 213Erle G. Kauffman and Claudia C. Johnson
Cretaceous/Tertiary (K-T) Boundary Impact,Climate Effects 217
Elisabetta Pierazzo
Cryosphere 221Philippe Huybrechts
Cyclic Sedimentation (Cyclothem) 226Allen W. Archer
Dansgaard-Oeschger Cycles 229Irene A. Mogensen
Dating, Amino Acid Geochronology 233Gifford H. Miller
Dating, Biostratigraphic Methods 237Peter M. Sadler
Dating, Dendrochronology 239Brendan M. Buckley
Dating, Fission-Tracks 247John I. Garver
Dating, Luminescence Techniques 249Glenn W. Berger
Dating, Magnetostratigraphy 252Wout Krijgsman and C. G. Langereis
Dating, Radiometric Methods 255Chris M. Hall
Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) 260William W. Hay
Deltaic Sediments, Climate Records 265Steven L. Goodbred, Jr.
Dendroclimatology 269Brendan M. Buckley
Desert Varnish as a Paleoclimate Proxy 275Ronald I. Dorn
Deuterium, Deuterium Excess 278Gilles Delaygue
Diamicton 278John Menzies
Diatoms 279Amy Leventer
Dinoflagellates 280Anne de Vernal
CONTENTS vii
Dole Effect 282Georg Hoffmann
Drumlins 284Peter G. Knight
Duricrusts 284David J. Nash
Dust Transport, Quaternary 286Karen E. Kohfeld and Ina Tegen
Early Paleozoic Climates (Cambrian-Devonian) 291Arthur J. Boucot
Earth Laws and Paleoclimatology 294Rhodes W. Fairbridge (deceased)and Vivien Gornitz
Eccentricity 301Marie-France Loutre
Eemian (Sangamonian) Interglacial 302Ulrich C. Müller
Electrical Conductivity 308Kendrick Taylor
Eolian Dust, Marine Sediments 308David K. Rea
Eolian Sediments and Processes 312Daniel R. Muhs
Eolianite 319David B. Loope
Eskers 320Peter G. Knight
Evaporites 321Stefano Lugli
Evolution and Climate Change 325David A. T. Harper
Faint Young Sun Paradox 333James Farquhar
Flood Basalts: Climatic Implications 335Andrew D. Saunders
Foraminifera 338Harry J. Dowsett
Geochemical Proxies (Non-Isotopic) 341Matthew J. Higginson
Glacial Erratics 354Patrick M. Colgan
Glacial Eustasy 354Stephen F. Pekar
Glacial Geomorphology 361John Menzies
Glacial Isostasy 374Kurt Lambeck
Glacial Megalakes 380Victor R. Baker
Glacial Sediments 382Douglas I. Benn
Glaciations, Pre-Quaternary 384Emmanuelle Arnaud and I. Peter Martini
Glaciations, Quaternary 389Shawn J. Marshall
Glaciofluvial Sediments 394Douglas I. Benn
Glaciomarine Sediments 395Kathy Licht
Glendonite/Ikaite 396Ian P. Swainson
“Greenhouse” (Warm) Climates 397Darren R. Gröcke
Heat Transport, Oceanic and Atmospheric 407Dan Seidov
Heinrich Events 409Sidney Hemming
History of Paleoclimatology 414Rhodes W. Fairbridge(deceased)
History of Paleoclimatology – Biographies 428Rhodes W. Fairbridge (deceased)and Vivien Gornitz
Holocene Climates 438Neil Roberts
Holocene Treeline Fluctuations 442Mel A. Reasoner and Willy Tinner
Human Evolution and Climate Change 446Gail M. Ashley
Hypsithermal 451Rhodes W. Fairbridge (deceased)
Ice Cores, Antarctica and Greenland 453Dominique Raynaud and Frédéric Parrenin
Ice Cores, Mountain Glaciers 457Lonnie G. Thompson
“Icehouse” (Cold) Climates 463Paul K. Link
Ice-Rafted Debris (IRD) 471Julian A. Dowdeswell
viii CONTENTS
Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) 473Manik Talwani
Interstadials 477Wim Z. Hoek
Iron and Climate Change 478David Archer
Isotope Fractionation 479Dieter A. Wolf-Gladrow and Richard E. Zeebe
Kames 483Peter G. Knight
Kettles 483Peter G. Knight
Lacustrine Sediments 485Bernd Zolitschka and Dirk Enters
Lake-Level Fluctuations 489Mark B. Abbott and Lesleigh Anderson
Last Glacial Maximum 493David Q. Bowen
Last Glacial Termination 495Didier Paillard
Late Paleozoic Paleoclimates 498Anne Raymond and Christopher R. Scotese
Late Quaternary Megafloods 504Victor R. Baker
Late Quaternary-Holocene Vegetation Modeling 507Jed O. Kaplan
Laterite 514Michael Widdowson
Laurentide Ice Sheet 517Arthur S. Dyke
Little Ice Age 520Drew T. Shindell
Loess Deposits 522Konstantin G. Dlussky
Marine Biogenic Sediments 525Wolfgang H. Berger and Gerold Wefer
Marine Carbon Geochemistry 533David Archer
Marine Clay Minerals 539Alastair Ruffell
Mars: Water and Past Climates 540Phillip R. Christensen
Mass Extinctions: Role of Climate 547Garland R. Upchurch, Jr.
Maunder Minimum 550Drew T. Shindell
Medieval Warm Period 551Rhodes W. Fairbridge(deceased)
Mesozoic Climates 554Gregory D. Price
Messinian Salinity Crisis 559Stefano Lugli
Methane Hydrates, Carbon Cycling, andEnvironmental Change 560
Gerard R. Dickens and Clayton Forswall
Mid-Pliocene Warming 566Mark A. Chandler
Millennial Climate Variability 568Gerard Bond (deceased)
Mineral Indicators of Past Climates 573Vivien Gornitz
Monsoons: Pre-Quaternary 583Pinxian Wang and Qianyu Li
Monsoons, Quaternary 589Anil K. Gupta
Moraines 594Peter G. Knight
Mountain Glaciers 595Lonnie G. Thompson
Mountain Uplift and Climate Change 596Douglas W. Burbank
Nearest-Living-Relative Method 607Volker Mosbrugger
Neogene Climates 609Carin Andersson
Nitrogen Isotopes 612Julian P. Sachs
North Atlantic Deep Water and Climate Change 614Thomas M. Marchitto, Jr.
North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) Records 619Heidi M. Cullen
Obliquity 625Marie-France Loutre
Ocean Anoxic Events 626Bradley Sageman
Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) 630Joanne C. Reuss
CONTENTS ix
Ocean Paleocirculation 634Roger Francois
Ocean Paleoproductivity 644Adina Paytan
Ocean Paleotemperatures 651Mara Weinelt
Organic Geochemical Proxies 659Philip A. Meyers
Ostracodes 663Thomas M. Cronin
Outwash Plains 665Peter G. Knight
Oxygen Isotopes 666Gilles Delaygue
PAGES 675Keith Alverson and Christoph Kull
Paleobotany 679Elizabeth A. Kowalski and David L. Dilcher
Paleocean Modeling 683Matthew Huber
Paleoceanography 690Katrin J. Meissner, Alvaro Montenegro, and Chris Avis
Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum 696Gavin A. Schmidt
Paleoclimate Modeling, Pre-Quaternary 700Christopher J. Poulsen
Paleoclimate Modeling, Quaternary 709Robert J. Oglesby and Kirk A. Maasch
Paleoclimate Proxies, an Introduction 716Vivien Gornitz
Paleo-El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Records 721Michael K. Gagan
Paleogene Climates 728Donald R. Prothero
Paleohydrology 733Françoise Gasse
Paleolimnology 738Philip Barker
Paleo-Ocean pH 743Martin R. Palmer
Paleo-Precipitation Indicators 746Paul A. Baker
Paleosols, Pre-Quaternary 748Steven G. Driese
Paleosols, Quaternary 752Tatiana D. Morozova and Andrei A. Velichko
Paleotemperatures and Proxy Reconstructions 757Thomas M. Cronin
Paleotempestology, the Sedimentary Record of IntenseHurricanes 763
Jeffrey P. Donnelly
Palynology 766Margaret Kneller and Sarah Fowell
Patterned Ground 768Matthew R. Bennett
Periglacial Geomorphology 770Brigitte Van Vliet-Lanoë
Phosphorite 775Yehoshua Kolodny
Phosphorus Cycle 780Gabriel M. Filippelli
Pingos 783Matthew R. Bennett
Plate Tectonics and Climate Change 784Robert M. DeConto
Pleistocene Climates 798David Q. Bowen
Pliocene Climates 804Alan M. Haywood
PMIP 813Vivien Gornitz
Pollen Analysis 815Margaret Kneller
Potassium-Argon/Argon-Argon Dating 823Chris M. Hall
Precession, Climatic 825Marie-France Loutre
Pre-Quaternary Milankovitch Cycles and ClimateVariability 826
Paul E. Olsen and Jessica H. Whiteside
Proglacial Lacustrine Sediments 835Wibjörn Karlén
Proterozoic Climates 836Grant M. Young
Quaternary Climate Transitions and Cycles 841Mark Maslin
Quaternary Vegetation Distribution 856John Jack W. Williams
Radiocarbon Dating 863R. Ervin Taylor
x CONTENTS
Radiolaria 869Adolfo Molina-Cruz (deceased) and Kjell R. Bjørklund
Red Beds 871Nathan D. Sheldon
Roches Moutonnées 873Matthew R. Bennett
Sapropels 875Kay-Christian Emeis
Scandinavian Ice Sheet 877Jan Mangerud
Sea Level Change, Last 250 Million Years 879Kenneth G. Miller
Sea Level Change, Post-Glacial 887Vivien Gornitz
Sea Level Change, Quaternary 893John M. Chappell
Sea Level Indicators 899Michael S. Kearney
Sedimentary Indicators of Climate Change 902Joseph P. Smoot
Snowball Earth Hypothesis 907Grant M. Young
SPECMAP 911Franck C. Bassinot
Speleothems 916Yemane Asmerom
Stable Isotope Analysis 918Germán Mora
Strontium Isotopes 923Ján Veizer
Sulfur Isotopes 926Harald Strauss and Ján Veizer
Sun-Climate Connections 929Peter F. Almasi and Gerard Bond (deceased)
Tephrochronology 937Andrew J. Dugmore and Anthony Newton
The 8,200-Year BP Event 938Allegra N. LeGrande
Thermohaline Circulation 943Andrew J. Weaver and Oleg A. Saenko
Tills and Tillites 948Douglas I. Benn
Time–Series Analysis of Paleoclimate Data 949David J. Thomson
Transfer Functions 959Stephen Juggins
Triassic-Jurassic Climates 962Gregory J. Retallack
Uranium-Series Dating 969Yemane Asmerom
Varved Sediments 973Matti Saarnisto and Antti E. K. Ojala
Volcanic Eruptions and Climate Change 976Richard B. Stothers
Weathering and Climate 981Louis A. Derry
Wisconsinan (Weichselian, Würm) Glaciation 986John T. Andrews
Younger Dryas 993Dorothy M. Peteet
Author Index 997
Subject Index 999
Appendix 1049
Contributors
Mark B. AbbottDepartment of Geology and Planetary SciencesUniversity of Pittsburgh4107 O'Hara StreetPittsburgh PA 15260–[email protected]
Peter F. AlmasiLamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO)102 Core Lab61 Route 9WPalisades NY [email protected]
Keith AlversonGlobal Ocean Observing System (GOOS)IOC/UNESCO1 rue Miollis75732 Paris Cedex [email protected]
Lesleigh AndersonU.S. Geological SurveyDenver Federal CenterBox 25046Denver CO [email protected]
Carin AnderssonBjerknes Centre for Climate ResearchAllégaten 555007 [email protected]
John T. AndrewsInstitute for Arctic and Alpine ResearchUniversity of ColoradoBoulder CO 80309–[email protected]
Allen W. ArcherDepartment of GeologyKansas State University108 Thompson HallManhattan KS 66506–[email protected]
David ArcherDepartment of the Geophysical SciencesUniversity of Chicago5734 South Ellis AvenueHGS 419Chicago IL [email protected]
Emmanuelle ArnaudDepartment of Land Resource ScienceUniversity of GuelphGuelph ON N1G [email protected]
Gail M. AshleyDepartment of Geological SciencesRutgers University610 Taylor RoadPiscataway NJ [email protected]
xii CONTRIBUTORS
Yemane AsmeromDepartment of Earth and Planetary SciencesUniversity of New Mexico200 Yale Blvd. NEAlbuquerque NM [email protected]
Chris AvisSchool of Earth and Ocean SciencesUniversity of VictoriaPetch Building 168, 3800 Finnerty Road (Ring Road)Victoria BC V8W [email protected]
Victor R. BakerDepartment of Hydrology and Water ResourcesUniversity of Arizona1133 James E. Rogers WayTucson AZ 85721–[email protected]
Paul BakerDivision of Earth and Ocean SciencesDuke UniversityBox 90227Durham NC 27705–[email protected]
Philip A. BarkerLancaster Environment CentreLancaster UniversityBailriggLancaster LA1 [email protected]
Franck BassinotLSCECNRS/CEA/UVSQDomaine du CNRS (bat. 12)91198 [email protected]
Jürg BeerSurface WatersEawagPO Box 6118600 Dü[email protected]
Hugo BeltramiEnvironmental Sciences Research CentreSt. Francis Xavier University1 West StreetAntigonish NS B2G [email protected]
Douglas I. BennSchool of Geography and GeosciencesUniversity of St. Andrews, FifeScotland KY16 [email protected]
Matthew R. BennettSchool of Conservation SciencesBournemouth UniversityTalbot Campus, Fern BarrowPoole BH12 [email protected]
André BergerUniversité Catholique de LouvainInstitut d'Astronomie et de Geophysique G. Lemaitre2 Chemin du Cyclotron1348 [email protected]
Glenn W. BergerDivision of Earth and Ecosystem SciencesDesert Research Institute2215 Raggio ParkwayReno NV [email protected]
Wolfgang H. BergerScripps Institution of OceanographyUniversity of California, San DiegoLa Jolla, CA 92093–[email protected]
Torsten BickertMARUM (Centre for Marine Environmental Sciences)University of BremenLeobener Str. 228359 [email protected]
Kjell R. BjørklundNatural History Museum (Geology)University of OsloP.O. Box 1172 Blindern0318 [email protected]
Gerard Bond (deceased)
Dan BosenceDepartment of GeologyRoyal Holloway University of LondonEgham Surrey TW20 [email protected]
CONTRIBUTORS xiii
Arthur J. BoucotDepartment of ZoologyOregon State UniversityCorvallis OR 97331–[email protected]
David Q. BowenSchool of Earth and Ocean SciencesCardiff UniversityCardiff Wales CF10 [email protected]
Brendan BuckleyLamont-Doherty Earth Observatory61 Route 9W - PO Box 1000Palisades NY 10964–[email protected]
Douglas W. BurbankDepartment of Geological SciencesUniversity of California, Santa BarbaraWebb Hall 1031Santa Barbara CA 93106–[email protected]
David C. CatlingDepartment of Atmospheric SciencesUniversity of WashingtonBox 351640Seattle WA 98195–[email protected]
C. Blaine CecilU.S. Geological Survey12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Mail Stop 956Reston VA 20192–[email protected]
Mark A. ChandlerNASA Goddard Institute for Space StudiesColumbia University2880 BroadwayNew York NY [email protected]
John M. ChappellResearch School of Earth SciencesThe Australian National UniversityCanberra ACT [email protected]
Kyungsik ChoiFaculty of Earth Systems and Environmental SciencesChonnam National University300 Yongbong-dong, Buk-gu
Gwangju 500–[email protected]
Phillip R. ChristensenMars Space Flight Facility, School of Earth and SpaceExplorationArizona State UniversityBox 876305Tempe AZ 85287–[email protected]
John ClagueDepartment of Earth SciencesSimon Fraser University8888 University Dr.Burnaby BC V5A [email protected]
Jonathan ClarkeGeoscience AustraliaP.O. Box 378Canberra ACT [email protected]
Patrick M. ColganDepartment of GeologyGrand Valley State UniversityPadnos Hall of ScienceAllendale MI [email protected]
G. Russell CoopeDepartment of GeographyRoyal HollowayUniversity of LondonEgham Surrey TW20 [email protected]
Thomas M. CroninU.S. Geological Survey12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Mail Stop 926AReston VA 20192–[email protected]
Xavier CrostaUMR-CNRS 5805 EPOCUniversité Bordeaux 1Avenue des Facultés33405 Talence [email protected]
xiv CONTRIBUTORS
Thomas J. CrowleyGrant Institute, School of GeosciencesUniversity of EdinburghKing's BuildingsEdinburgh N/A EH9 [email protected]
Heidi M. CullenClimate ExpertThe Weather Channel300 Interstate North ParkwayAtlanta GA [email protected]
Robert W. DalrympleDepartment of Geological Sciences and Geological EngineeringQueen's UniversityKingston ON K7L [email protected]
Anne de VernalDépartement des Sciences de la Terre et de l'AtmosphèreUniversité du Québec à MontrealQuébec QC H3C [email protected]
Robert M. DeContoDepartment of GeosciencesUniversity of MassachusettsMorrill Science CenterAmherst MA [email protected]
Gilles DelaygueCEREGEAix-Marseille UniversitéEuropôle de l'Arbois BP8013545 [email protected]
Louis A. DerryDepartment of Earth and Atmospheric SciencesCornell University4142 Snee HallIthaca NY [email protected]
Gerard R. DickensDepartment of Earth SciencesRice University6100 Main StreetHouston TX [email protected]
David DilcherFlorida Museum of Natural HistoryUniversity of Florida254 Dickinson HallMuseum Road & Newell DriveGainesville FL [email protected]
Konstantin G. DlusskyAXYS Environmental Consulting Ltd.4208–97 St., Suite 203Edmonton AB T6E [email protected]
Jeffrey P. DonnellyGeology and Geophysics DepartmentWoods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionMS 22Woods Hole MA [email protected]
Ronald I. DornSchool of Geographical SciencesArizona State UniversityTempe AZ [email protected]
Julian A. DowdeswellScott Polar Research InstituteCambridge UniversityLensfield RoadCambridge CB2 [email protected]
Harry J. DowsettEastern Earth Surface ProcessesU.S. Geological Survey926A National CenterReston VA [email protected]
Steven G. DrieseDepartment of GeologyBaylor UniversityOne Bear Place # 97354Waco TX [email protected]
Mary L. DroserDepartment of Earth SciencesUniversity of California900 University AvenueRiverside CA [email protected]
CONTRIBUTORS xv
Andrew J. DugmoreInstitute of Geography, School of GeosciencesUniversity of EdinburghDrummond StreetEdinburgh Scotland EH8 [email protected]
Arthur S. DykeGeological Society of Canada601 Booth StreetOttawa ON K1A [email protected]
Kay Christian EmeisInstitut für Biogeochemie und MeereschemieUniversität HamburgBundesstr. 5520146 [email protected]
Dirk EntersEnvironnements Dynamiques et Territoires de Montagne(EDYTEM)Université de SavoieTechnolac77376 Le Bourget du [email protected]
Rhodes W. Fairbridge (deceased)
James FarquharESSIC and Dept. of GeologyUniversity of MarylandCollege Park MD [email protected]
Bruce Fegley, Jr.Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesWashington UniversityCampus Box 1169St. Louis MO [email protected]
Gabriel FilippelliEarth SciencesIndiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)723 W. Michigan St.Indianapolis IN 46202–[email protected]
Clayton Forswallaci consulting1001 Mopac Circle, Suite 100Austin TX [email protected]
Sarah FowellDepartment of Geology and GeophysicsUniversity of AlaskaBox 755780Fairbanks AK 99775–[email protected]
Roger FrancoisDepartment of Earth and Ocean SciencesUniversity of British Columbia6339 Stores RoadVancouver BC V6T [email protected]
Michael K. GaganResearch School of Earth SciencesThe Australian National UniversityBldg 61, Mills RoadCanberra, ACT [email protected]
Robert R. GainesGeology DepartmentPomona College185 East 6th StreetClaremont CA [email protected]
John I. GarverDepartment of GeologyUnion College807 Union AveSchenectady NY 12308–[email protected]
Françoise GasseCEREGEUniversité d'Aix-Marseille IIIBP 8013545 [email protected]
Steven L. Goodbred, Jr.Department of Earth and Environmental SciencesVanderbilt UniversityVU Station B 351805Nashville TN [email protected]
Ian D. GoodwinClimate Risk CoREDepartment of Physical GeographyBuilding E7AMacquarie University NSW [email protected]
xvi CONTRIBUTORS
Vivien GornitzNASA Goddard Institute for Space StudiesColumbia University2880 BroadwayNew York NY [email protected]
Andrew GoudieSt Cross CollegeOxford UniversitySt GilesOxford OX1 [email protected]
Darren GröckeDepartment of Earth SciencesDurham UniversityDurham DH1 [email protected]
Anil K. GuptaDepartment of Geology & GeophysicsIndian Institute of TechnologyIIT CampusKharagpur – 721302 [email protected]
Chris M. HallDepartment of Geological SciencesUniversity of Michigan1100 North University Av.Ann Arbor MI 48109–[email protected]
David A. T. HarperNatural History Museum (Geological Museum)University of CopenhagenØster Voldgade 5–71350 [email protected]
William W. HayDepartment of Geological SciencesUniversity of Colorado at Boulder2200 Colorado Ave.Boulder CO 80309–[email protected]
James D. HaysLamont-Doherty Earth Observatory61 Route 9W – PO Box 1000Palisades NY 10964–[email protected]
Alan M. HaywoodBritish Antarctic SurveyGeological Sciences Division, High CrossMadingley RoadCambridge CB3 [email protected]
Sidney HemmingLamont-Doherty Earth Observatory61 Route 9W - PO Box 1000Palisades NY 10964–[email protected]
Marc S. HendrixDepartment of GeosciencesThe University of Montana32 Campus DriveMissoula MT [email protected]
Matthew J. HigginsonLGC ForensicsF5 Culham Science CentreAbingdon OX14 [email protected]
Wim Z. HoekDepartment of Physical GeographyUniversity of UtrechtHeidelberglaan 23584 CS UtrechtThe [email protected]
Georg HoffmannLaboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnementl'Ormes des Merisiers, Commissariat a l'Energie AtomiqueSaclay91191 Gif sur Yvette [email protected]
Matthew HuberDepartment of Earth and Atmospheric SciencePurdue University550 Stadium Mall Dr.West Lafayette IN [email protected]
Philippe HuybrechtsDepartement GeografieVrije Universiteit BrusselPleinlaan 21050 [email protected]
CONTRIBUTORS xvii
Stan JacobsLamont-Doherty Earth ObservatoryColumbia UniversityRoute 9WPalisades NY [email protected]
Claudia C. JohnsonDepartment of Geological SciencesIndiana University1001 E. 10th St.Bloomington IN 47405–[email protected]
Stephen JugginsSchool of GeographyUniversity of Newcastle upon TyneRoom: 4.14b, Daysh BuildingNewcastle upon Tyne NE1 [email protected]
Jed KaplanEPFL-ENAC-ECOSStation 21015 [email protected]
Wibjörn KarlénDepartment of Social and Economic GeographyUppsala UniversityBox 51375 120 [email protected]
Erle G. KauffmanDepartment of Geological SciencesIndiana University1001 E. 10th St.Bloomington IN 47405–[email protected]
Alan J. KaufmanDepartment of GeologyUniversity of MarylandGEOL #237College Park MD 20742–[email protected]
Michael KearneyDepartment of GeographyUniversity of MarylandCollege Park MD [email protected]@glue.umd.edu
Margaret KnellerJohn Cabot UniversityVia della Lungara 233Rome [email protected]
Peter G. KnightSchool of Physical and Geographical SciencesKeele UniversityWilliam Smith BuildingKeele Staffordshire ST5 [email protected]
Karen E. KohfeldSchool of Earth and Environmental SciencesQueens College65–30 Kissena Blvd.Flushing NY [email protected]
Yehoshua KolodnyThe Institute of Earth SciencesEdmond Safra Campus, Givat RamThe Hebrew University91904 [email protected]
Elizabeth A. KowalskiDepartment of Geology and Geological EngineeringSouth Dakota School of Mines and Technology501 E Saint Joseph StreetRapid City, SD [email protected]@flmnh.ufl.edu
Wout KrijgsmanPaleomagnetic Laboratory, Faculty of Earth SciencesUtrecht UniversityBudapestlaan 173584 CD UtrechtThe [email protected]
Christoph KullOcCC (Swiss advisory body on climate change)Schwarztorstrasse 93007 [email protected]
Andrew A. LacisNASA Goddard Institute for Space StudiesColumbia University2880 BroadwayNew York NY [email protected]
xviii CONTRIBUTORS
Kurt LambeckResearch School of Earth SciencesThe Australian National UniversityCanberra ACT [email protected]
C. G. LangereisPaleomagnetic Laboratory ‘Fort Hoofddijk’Utrecht UniversityBudapestlaan 43584 CD UtrechtThe [email protected]
Steven W. LeavittLaboratory of Tree Ring ResearchUniversity of ArizonaTucson AZ [email protected]
Allegra LeGrandeNASA Goddard Institute for Space StudiesColumbia University2880 BroadwayNew York NY [email protected]
Abraham LermanDepartment of Earth and Planetary SciencesNorthwestern University1850 Campus Dr.Evanston IL [email protected]
Amy LeventerDepartment of GeologyColgate University13 Oak Dr.Hamilton NY [email protected]
Qianyu LiSchool of Ocean and Earth SciencesTongji UniversitySiping Rd. 1239Shanghai [email protected]@adelaide.edu.au
Kathy LichtDepartment of Earth SciencesIndiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis723 West Michigan StreetIndianapolis IN 46202–[email protected]
Paul K. LinkDepartment of GeosciencesIdaho State University921 S. 8th Avenue, Stop 8072Pocatello ID [email protected]
David B. LoopeDepartment of GeosciencesUniversity of Nebraska214 Bessey HallLincoln NE [email protected]
Marie-France LoutreInstitut d'Astronomie et de Geophysique G. LemaitreUniversité Catholique de Louvain2 chemin du Cyclotron1348 [email protected]
Stefano LugliDipartimento di Scienze della TerraUniversità degli Studi di Modena e Reggio EmiliaLargo S. Eufemia [email protected]
Kirk A. MaaschClimate Change InstituteUniversity of Maine5790 BGSCOrono ME 04469–[email protected]
Jan MangerudDepartment of Geoscience and Bjerknes Centre for ClimateResearchUniversity of BergenAllégt. 415007 [email protected]
Michael E. MannDepartment of MeteorologyPennsylvania State University523 Walker Bldg.University Park PA [email protected]
Thomas M. Marchitto, Jr.INSTAAR and Department of Geological SciencesUniversity of ColoradoCampus Box 450Boulder CO [email protected]
CONTRIBUTORS xix
Shawn J. MarshallDepartment of GeographyUniversity of Calgary2500 University Dr. N.W.Calgary AB T2N [email protected]
I. Peter MartiniDepartment of Land Resource ScienceUniversity of GuelphGuelph ON N1G [email protected]
Mark MaslinDepartment of GeographyUniversity College LondonPearson BuildingGower StreetLondon WC1E [email protected]
Katrin J. MeissnerSchool of Earth and Ocean SciencesUniversity of VictoriaP.O. Box 3055, Stn CSCVictoria BC V8W [email protected]
John MenziesDepartment of Earth Sciences and GeographyBrock University500 Glenridge AvenueSt. Catherines ON L2S [email protected]
Philip MeyersGeological SciencesThe University of Michigan1100 North University AvenueAnn Arbor MI 48109–[email protected]
Gifford H. MillerINSTAAR and Dept. of Geological SciencesUniversity of ColoradoBoulder CO 80309–[email protected]
Kenneth MillerDepartment of Geological SciencesWright Geological LaboratoryRutgers University610 Taylor RoadPiscataway NJ [email protected]
Irene A. MogensenSortemosevej 2072730 [email protected] Meteorological InstituteLyngbyvej 1002100 [email protected]@dmi.dk
A. Molina-Cruz (deceased)
Álvaro MontenegroSchool of Earth and Ocean SciencesUniversity of VictoriaPetch Building 168, 3800 Finnerty Road (Ring Road)Victoria BC V8W [email protected]
German MoraDepartment of Geological and Atmospheric SciencesIowa State University12 Science IAmes IA [email protected]
Vincent I. MorganAntarctic Cooperative Research Centre (CRC)University of TasmaniaPrivate Bag 80Hobart Tasmania [email protected]
Tatiana MorozovaLaboratory of Evolutionary GeographyRussian Academy of SciencesStaromonetny 29119017 [email protected]
Volker MosbruggerSenckenberg Research Institute and Natural History MuseumSenckenberganlage 2560325 [email protected]@senckenberg.de
Daniel R. MuhsU.S. Geological SurveyDenver Federal CenterMS 980, Box 25046Denver CO 80225–[email protected]
xx CONTRIBUTORS
Ulrich C. MüllerInstitute of Geology and PaleontologyJohann Wolfgang Goethe University-FrankfurtSenckenberganlage 32–3460054 [email protected]
David J. NashSchool of Environment and TechnologyUniversity of BrightonLewes RoadBrighton BN2 [email protected]
Sandra G. NeuzilU.S. Geological Survey12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., MS 956Reston VA [email protected]
Anthony NewtonInstitute of Geography, School of GeosciencesUniversity of EdinburghDrummond StreetEdinburgh Scotland EH8 [email protected]@ed.ac.uk
Daniela NitoiuInstitute of Geodynamics of the Romanian Academy19–21 Jean-Louis Calderon St.020032 Bucharest–[email protected]
Robert OglesbyDepartment of GeosciencesUniversity of Nebraska Lincoln214 Bessey HallPO Box 880340Lincoln NE 68588–[email protected]
Antti OjalaGeological Survey of FinlandP.O. Box 962150 [email protected]
Paul E. OlsenLamont-Doherty Earth Observatory61 Route 9WPalisades NY [email protected]
Mark PaganiDepartment of Geology and GeophysicsYale UniversityP.O. Box 208109New Haven CT 06520–[email protected]
Didier PaillardLaboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'EnvironnementCEA-CNRSCentre d'Etudes de SaclayOrme des Merisiers91191 [email protected]
Martin R. PalmerSouthampton Oceanography CentreUniversity of SouthamptonEuropean WaySouthampton SO14 [email protected]
Frédéric ParreninLaboratoire deGlaciologie et deGéophysique de l'EnvironnementCNRS BP 9638402 Grenoble, St. Martin d'Hères [email protected]
Adina PaytanInstitute of Marine SciencesEarth & Marine Sciences Build.University of California Santa Cruz1156 High St.Santa Cruz CA [email protected]
William H. PeckDepartment of GeologyColgate University13 Oak Dr.Hamilton NY [email protected]
Stephen F. PekarQueens CollegeSchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences65–30 Kissena Blvd.Flushing, NY [email protected]
Dorothy M. PeteetNASA Goddard Institute for Space StudiesColumbia University2880 BroadwayNew York NY [email protected]@ldeo.columbia.edu
CONTRIBUTORS xxi
Elisabetta PierazzoPlanetary Science Institute1700 E. Ft. Lowell, Suite 106Tucson AZ [email protected]
Christopher J. PoulsenDepartment of Geological SciencesUniversity of Michigan1100 North University Ave.Ann Arbor MI [email protected]
Gregory D. PriceDepartment of GeologyUniversity of PlymouthDrake CircusPlymouth PL4 [email protected]
Donald R. ProtheroDepartment of GeologyOccidental College1600 Campus RoadLos Angeles CA [email protected]
Michael RampinoEarth and Environmental Science ProgramNew York University1009 Silver Center100 Washington Square EastNew York NY 10003–[email protected]
Anne RaymondDepartment of Geology and GeophysicsTexas A and M UniversityCollege Station TX 77843–[email protected]
Dominique RaynaudLaboratoire de Glaciologie et de Géophysiquede l'Environnement CNRS BP 9638402 Grenoble, St. Martin d'Hères [email protected]
David K. Rea1232 Regency CourtLas Cruces NM [email protected]
Mel A. Reasoner(no address)
Gregory J. RetallackDepartment of Geological SciencesUniversity of Oregon1260 Franklin BoulevardEugene OR 97403–[email protected]
JoAnne ReussIODP Interim Planning Committee, Department of GeologicalSciencesUniversity of Michigan425 E. University Ave.Ann Arbor MI 48109–[email protected]
Thomas H. RichCurator of Vertebrate PaleontologyMuseum VictoriaP.O. Box 666Melbourne Victoria [email protected]
David H. RindNASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies2880 BroadwayNew York NY [email protected]
Neil RobertsSchool of GeographyUniversity of PlymouthDrake CircusPlymouth PL4 [email protected]
Alastair RuffellSchool of Geosciences, School of Geography, Archaeology andPalaeoecologyQueens UniversityBelfast Northern Ireland BT7 [email protected]
Matti SaarnistoSuomalainen TiedeakatemiaFinnish Academy of Science and LettersPääsihteeri, Secretary GeneralMariankatu 500170 [email protected]
xxii CONTRIBUTORS
Julian SachsSchool of Oceanography & The Program on Climate ChangeUniversity of WashingtonOcean Sciences Building, Room 521Box 355351Seattle WA 98195–[email protected]
Peter SadlerDepartment of Earth SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaRiverside CA [email protected]
Oleg A. SaenkoCanadian Centre for Climate Modelling and AnalysisUniversity of VictoriaP.O. Box 3055Victoria BC V8W [email protected]
Bradley SagemanEarth and Planetary SciencesNorthwestern University1850 Campus DriveEvanston IL [email protected]
Andrew D. SaundersDepartment of GeologyUniversity of LeicesterLeicester LE1 [email protected]
Gavin A. SchmidtNASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies2880 BroadwayNew York NY [email protected]
Christopher R. ScoteseDepartment of GeologyUniversity of TexasArlington TX [email protected]
Dan SeidovNOAA NODC/Ocean Climate LaboratorySSMC-III, E/OC5, Room 43261315 East-West HighwaySilver Spring, MD [email protected]
Nathan D. SheldonDepartment of GeologyRoyal Holloway University of LondonEgham, Surrey TW20 [email protected]
Drew T. ShindellNASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies2880 BroadwayNew York NY [email protected]
Martin J. SiegertSchool of Geosciences, Grant InstituteUniversity of EdinburghWest Mains RoadEdinburgh EH9 [email protected]
Bruce M. SimonsonGeology DepartmentOberlin College52 West Lorain StreetOberlin OH 44074–[email protected]
Joseph P. SmootU.S. Geological Survey12201 Sunrise Valley Drive MS 926AReston VA [email protected]
Robert A. SpicerDepartment of Earth SciencesThe Open UniversityWalton HallMilton Keynes MK7 [email protected]
Bernhard StaufferClimate and Environmental Physics Department,Physics InstituteUniversity of BernSidlerstrasse 53012 [email protected]
Richard StothersNASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies2880 BroadwayNew York NY [email protected]
CONTRIBUTORS xxiii
Harald StraussGeologisch-Paläontologisches Institut und MuseumWestfälischen Wilhelms-Universität MünsterCorrensstraße 2448149 Mü[email protected]
Ian P. SwainsonCanadian Neutron Beam CentreSteacie Institute for Molecular SciencesNational Research Council of CanadaChalk River LaboratoriesChalk River ON K0J [email protected]
Manik TalwaniIODP-MI, Inc.#210, 815 Connecticut Av., NWWashington DC [email protected]
Kendrick TaylorDesert Research Institute2215 Raggio ParkwayReno NV [email protected]
R. Ervin TaylorRadiocarbon Laboratory, Department of AnthropologyUniversity of California at RiversideWatkins Hall 1303 ARiverside CA 92521–[email protected]@ucr.edu
Ina TegenInstitute for Tropospheric ResearchPermoserstrasse 1504318 [email protected]
Lonnie G. ThompsonDepartment of Geological Sciences, School of Earth SciencesOhio State University275 Mendenhall Laboratory, 125 S. Oval MallColumbus OH 43210–[email protected]
David J. ThomsonMathematics and StatisticsQueen's University411 Jeffery HallKingston ON K7L [email protected]
Willy TinnerInstitute of Plant Sciences and Oeschger Centre for ClimateChange Research (OCCR)University of BernAltenbergrain 213013 [email protected]
Garland R. Upchurch, Jr.Department of BiologyTexas State University601 University DriveSan Marcos TX [email protected]
John W. ValleyDepartment of Geology and GeophysicsUniversity of Wisconsin1215 W Dayton St.Madison WI [email protected]
Brigitte Van Vliet-LanoëUMR 6538 CNRS, Domaines OcéaniquesIUEM29280 Plouzané[email protected]
Ján VeizerDepartment of Earth SciencesUniversity of OttawaOttawa ON K1N [email protected]
Andrei A. VelichkoLaboratory of Evolutionary GeographyRussian Academy of SciencesStaromonetny 29119017 [email protected]
John E. N. VeronAustralian Institute of Marine SciencePMB 3Townsville Queensland [email protected] Reef Research10 Benalla RoadOak ValleyTownsville Queensland [email protected]
xxiv CONTRIBUTORS
Patricia Vickers-RichSchool of GeosciencesMonash UniversityClayton Victoria [email protected]
Pinxian WangSchool of Ocean and Earth SciencesTongji UniversitySiping Rd. 1239Shanghai [email protected]
Andrew J. WeaverSchool of Earth and Ocean SciencesUniversity of VictoriaP.O. Box 3055Victoria BC V8W [email protected]
Thompson Webb IIIDepartment of Geological SciencesBrown University324 Brook Street, Box 1846Providence RI [email protected]
Gerold WeferGeneral Geology – Marine GeologyUniversity of BremenMarum, Leobener Straße28359 [email protected]
Mara WeineltInstitut für GeowissenschaftenUniversity of KielLudwig Meyn Strasse 1424118 [email protected]
Jessica H. WhitesideGeological SciencesBrown University324 Brook StreetBox 1846Providence RI [email protected]
Michael WiddowsonDepartment of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe Open UniversityWalton Hall
Milton Keynes MK7 [email protected]
John W. WilliamsDepartment of GeographyUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonRooms 421 or 213 Science Hall550 North Park St.Madison WI 53706–[email protected]
Dieter A. Wolf-GladrowAlfred Wegener Institut für Polar und Meeresforschung (AWI)Am Handelshafen 1227570 [email protected]
James D. WrightDepartment of Geological SciencesRutgers University, Wright-Reiman Labs610 Taylor Rd.Piscataway NJ 08854–[email protected]
Grant M. YoungDepartment of Earth SciencesUniversity of Western OntarioLondon ON N6A [email protected]
Jeremy R. YoungPalaeontology DepartmentThe Natural History MuseumCromwell RoadLondon SW7 [email protected]
Richard E. ZeebeSchool of Ocean and Earth Science and TechnologyDepartment of OceanographyUniversity of Hawaii, Manoa1000 Pope Road MSB 504Honolulu HI [email protected]
Bernd ZolitschkaGEOPOLAR, Institute of GeographyUniversity of BremenCelciusstrasse FVG-M28359 [email protected]
Preface
The growing levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases generatedby anthropogenic activities are already beginning to affect theEarth's climate, according to the latest report by the Intergovern-mental Panel on Climate Change, and concern is mounting overpotential adverse consequences to society. However, Earth's cli-mate has shifted dramatically and frequently during the last fewmillion years, alternating between ice ages, when vast glacierscovered Northern Europe and much of North America, andinterglacials—warm periods much like today. Farther back ingeologic time, climates have differed even more from the pre-sent. Could human actions push the Earth's climate system intoan unstable mode, beyond the relatively mild oscillations of thelast few millennia? To fully understand the unusual changes ofthe 20th century and possible future trends, these need to beplaced in a longer-term context extending well beyond the periodof instrumental records. Paleoclimatology—the study of climatesof the past–may provide us with insights into the workings of themodern climate system. By reconstructing ancient climates usingnatural “archives” of environmental change recorded in trees, cor-als, cavedeposits, ice cores, lake andocean sediments, and runningcomputer models, paleoclimatologists can place bounds on pastclimate variability and help us anticipate possible future changes.
The Encyclopedia of Paleoclimatology and Ancient Envi-ronments, a companion volume to the recently-published
Encyclopedia of World Climatology, provides the reader withan entry point to the rapidly expanding field of paleoclimatol-ogy. Highly interdisciplinary, paleoclimatology integrates infor-mation from a broad array of disciplines in the geosciences,spanning across stratigraphy, geomorphology, glaciology, paleoe-cology, paleobotany, isotope geochemistry, geochronology, andgeophysics, among others. The encyclopedia covers the entirespan of the Earth's climate history from the early Precambrianto the Little Ice Age, and also offers an interplanetary compari-son with the contrasting climates of Mars and Venus in 230 infor-mative articles written by over 200 well known internationalexperts. The climates of the past were the product of closelyinter-connected processes that shaped the Earth's atmosphere,lithosphere, and biosphere. Therefore, the separation betweentopics is somewhat arbitrary and a certain degree of overlapis inevitable. However, since authors often approach similartopics from differing perspectives, these differences can providea fuller picture overall. The volume is abundantly illustrated withline-drawings, black-white and color photographs. Articles arearranged alphabetically, with extensive bibliographies and cross-references.
March 2008Vivien Gornitz
Acknowledgements
This volume is offered in tribute to the memory of Rhodes W.Fairbridge, Senior Editor of the Encyclopedia of Earth SciencesSeries, who sadly passed away before this encyclopedia couldbe completed. It was upon his recommendation and inspirationthat this project was undertaken. Rhodes Fairbridge took a keeninterest in paleoclimatology, which ties together many aspectsof the geosciences. He wrote several articles especially for thisencyclopedia, including a detailed history of paleoclimatologyand “Earth Laws and Paleoclimatology”, which summarizesmany of the ideas he had covered in his long and distinguishedcareer. He was way ahead of his time in his early acceptance ofWegener's theory of continental drift, the role of orbital cyclesin climate change (i.e., theMilankovitch theory), solar influenceson climate, and recognition of general aridity during glacial per-iods. Hewas among the first to report the twentieth century rise inglobal sea level in the 1960s. One of the recurrent themes inRhodes’ many publications is the role of cyclical phenomenaon all timescales. A 1961 symposium that he organized atColumbia University was among the earliest to explore theconnections between Earth cycles and paleoclimates. With his
colleagues, he investigated planetary alignments, their possibleeffects on solar activity, and ultimately on Earth's paleoclimates.While still controversial, a growing body of literature points tosome solar influence on climate and one of the articles in thisvolume addresses this particular issue. His ability to see beyondthe minutiae of narrow specialties combined with an amazingmemory served him well as senior series editor. He will be sorelymissed and fondly remembered.
I thank the contributing authors for their efforts in bringingthis Encyclopedia to fruition. Thanks are also extended to themembers of the Editorial Advisory Board for their helpful sug-gestions and recommendations. Appreciation is also expressedto Ms. Eden Licardo, for her secretarial assistance, to Mr. JoséMendoza for graphics support, and to Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig,Head, Center for Climate Systems Research, Columbia Univer-sity and NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York,for her encouragement and understanding during this lengthyundertaking.
Vivien Gornitz