I am writing to provide a short summary of recent developments in the debate about the status of the “Quaternary”in the Geological Time Scale (GTS). At times, this saga comes dangerously close to becoming a soap opera, but it has serious implications for Quaternary scientists and involves complex discussions and negotiations among INQUA, IUGS (International Union for Geological Sciences), and ICS (International Commission on Stratigraphy). Last summer, after four years of lively discussions between INQUA and ICS, and after INQUA had polled the Quaternary community about the status of the Quaternary, a compromise solution was reached. INQUA endorsed a proposal by ICS to retain the Quaternary as a system and a period with its base at 2.6 Ma, corresponding to the base of the Gelasian Stage. Under this compromise, the Gelasian, which is currently the uppermost stage of the Pliocene Epoch, would be transferred to the Quaternary. The Quaternary Period would follow the Neogene Period, which along with the Paleogene, would replace the Tertiary as periods and systems. The proposal thus would establish three periods in the Cenozoic – Paleogene, Neogene, and Quaternary. The Tertiary would continue to be used, but as an informal unit.
Last summer, ICS, with INQUA’s blessing, submitted the proposal to IUGS, its parent body. IUGS responded by formally accepting the Quaternary as a period/system. To both INQUA’s and ICS’s surprise, however, it did not agree to moving the base of the Quaternary from its current position (1.8 Ma) to 2.6 Ma, which is favored by most Quaternary scientists. IUGS argued that the change would violate stratigraphic rules (i.e., no change could be made before 2008). It called on INQUA and ICS to reconsider the status of the Tertiary, which would lose its formal status under the compromise proposal, and to further discuss their recommended changes to the Geological Time Scale with interested parties. A proposal to change the Time Scale will not be considered until the International Geological Congress in Oslo in 2008.
So, we are currently living with the “status quo”– a Quaternary
Period with a base at 1.8 Ma. INQUA will not rest until the base of the Quaternary
is set at 2.6 Ma, a much more logical pinning point to what we all know is
the most important, albeit shortest, period of geologic time. Brad Pillans,
President of the INQUA Commission on Stratigraphy and Chronology, and Phil
Gibbard, President of the ICS Subcommission on the Quaternary, are preparing
a collection of short papers on the Quaternary for publication as an issue
of Episodes. This issue will be published in time for the International Geological
Congress in Oslo. John J. Clague
Past-President, INQUA
The minutes can be read here.
At the October 29, 2007 meeting of the AMQUA Council in Denver, the Council recommended a series of amendments to the bylaws to accommodate actual practices for reinstating members, conducting online elections, and conversion of the newsletter to electronic format. In accord with the AMQUA Constitution, recommended amendments to the bylaws must be circulated to the membership at least 90 days before the biennial meeting and approved by 2/3 of the voting members at the biennial meeting. Click for details …
Please review these recommended amendments and send any comments to Bonnie Styles, AMQUA Secretary, Illinois State Museum, 1011 East Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703-3500, styles@museum.state.il.us. Members will vote on the proposed amendments at the 2008 Biennial Meeting at Penn State.
Steve Porter is engaged in a study of the paleomonsoon history of the southern Qinghai Lake Basin on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, a project funded by NSF and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Click for details and photos …