The Relationship of Inqua to the Global Change Program and Other International Groups

Abstract

The ICSU-IGBP: A study of global change, is in its incipient stage, but will probably last for over 10 years. The emphasis will be on the total earth system, concentrating on the various interacting factors and processes that can cause change. The development and testing of models will be an important component. INQUA and Quaternarists enter the picture by supplying information of past global changes in order to test cause an effect hypothesis and to help evaluate interactive earth system processes. Numerical data from time slices and time series of the relatively recent past on a worldwide scale will be particularly important for the core program. However, changes that have taken place during the last glacial cycle, not detectable in the short term, must be considered. Much of this information is available now or is being acquired in existing projects, but has to be organized and presented in a form easy to utilize by others. New programs should extend our present knowledge in traditional areas, particularly in geographic areas where little information is available. Key archives include ice cores, tree rings, lacustrine sediments, coral deposits, loess, paleosols, ocean cores, pollen, historical records and glacial deposits. To ensure input of past global changes is included in the core program, the IGBP Special Committee has established a Scientific Steering Committee on Global Change of the Past. The Committee has suggested the following programs consisting of two streams. One focuses on the last 2,000 years, and the other concentrates on coarser temporal resolution of climatic changes in earth history through the last two glacial cycles. However, the Special Committee emphasizes that the core program will not be all-encompassing or an “umbrella” program for all aspects of global change. On the contrary, organizers encourage other organizations and individuals to initiate and carry out their own programs. INQUA, besides participating in the core program, is participating in global change programs of the IUGS. Here, other dimensions of global change will be considered. Important projects recently identified at an IUGS workshop include: 1) past global reservoirs of carbon and their change with time; 2) global sea level change and impacts; 3) abrupt changes, extreme events and short-term fluctuations in continental records; 4) pilot projects on land-sea correlation; and 5) long continental records. In addition, INQUA, through its Intercongress Committee on Global Change will coordinate and identify projects of its own commissions, sub-commissions and working groups that are of particular interest and importance to the global change program. The Intercongress Committee may also initiate its own projects taking advantage of our worldwide network of Quaternary scientists. The past global reservoir of carbon has been suggested as a project we should undertake. It is apparent, therefore, that INQUA and Quaternary scientists in general have an important role to play in the global change program if it is to be a success. This could be our “finest hour”.