VWG - Scientific Objectives
Monday, 16 May 2011 13:47
The purpose of the Varve Working Group (VWG) is to organize some or all of the themes outlined hereafter, and to bridge the gap between the diverse communities dealing with various aspects of annually resolving records. This includes non-sedimentary archives with annual structures, like tree rings, ice cores, corals and speleothems.
After all, varved sequences can be used to improve absolute dating techniques, to improve calibrations (e.g. for radiocarbon dating) and to serve as regional master curves. Finally, the issue of climatic and environmental signals contained in varved records and their respective interpretations will also be tackled. During and after the workshops we will be guided by giving answers to the following scientific questions:
1. How to improve (automate?) varve counting and measuring by applying new methodological developments for the analysis of varves (e.g., advanced image analyses)?
2. Can scientists working with lacustrine varves learn from methods and concepts applied by marine geoscientists and vice versa?
3. How can robust varve chronologies be developed using other additional chronological tools (tephrochronology, 14C, 210Pb, 137Cs)?
4. How can we improve deciphering climatic and environmental signals contained in varved sediments by applying process-related complementary studies?
5. Can data processing by applying state of the art statistical applications improve our understanding of varve records?
6. What can we learn from other communities investigating non-sedimentary annually resolved records (tree rings, ice cores, corals, mollusks, speleothems) about methodology, data processing, environmental signals, data handling?
7. How can we set up a meta-database of varved records?
Finally, this working group aims to promote good analytical and methodological practices within our own community in order to make varved records an integral part of syntheses of past climate change.
