CZECH IGCP NATIONAL COMMITTEE *
COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL REPORT * 2003
1. Chairpersons of the Czech IGCP National
Committee
Chairman: Jan PASAVA, Czech Geological Survey, Klarov 131, 118 00 Praha
1, Czech Rep., Phone (420) 251 817 390, Fax (420) 251 818 748, E-mail pasava@cgu.cz
Secretary: Jindrich HLADIL, Institute of Geology, Academy of Sciences
CR, Rozvojova 135, 165 02 Praha 6 Czech Rep., Phone (420) 233 087 238, E-mail hladil@gli.cas.cz
Date of submission of Report: December 16th,
2003
2. Members of the Czech IGCP National
Committee:
Dr. V. Cermak, Dr. O. Fatka, Dr. P. Jakes, Dr.
P. Sulovsky, Dr. V. Sibrava, Dr. M. Stemprok and Ing. M. Eis.
On December 18, 2003 the following Czech IGCP
NC was elected for the period from 2004 through 2006:
Dr. Jan Pasava (Czech Geological Survey, Prague) - Chair; Dr. Oldrich
Fatka (Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague) - Vice-Chair
Dr. Anna Vymazalova (Czech Geological Survey, Prague) - Secretary
Members (in alphabetic order): Ing. J. Blazek
(Czech Commission for UNESCO) Dr. V. Cermak (Geophysical Institute, *Czech Acad.
Sci.), Ing. M. Eis (Severoceske doly, a.s., Chomutov), Dr. O. Fatka (Faculty of
Science, Charles University), Dr. J. Hladil (Geological Institute, Czech Acad. Sci.),
Mgr. J. Mrnkova (Czech Geological Survey, Prague), Dr. R. Mikulas (Geological
Institute, Czech Acad. Sci.), Dr. D. Nyvlt (Czech Geological Survey, Prague),
Dr. S. Oplustil (Faculty of Science, Charles University), Dr. V. Sibrava
(emeritus - UNESCO), Dr. L. Svabenicka (Czech Geological Survey, Prague), Dr.
J. Zajic (Geological Institute, Czech Acad. Sci.) [* = Academy of Sciences of
the Czech Republic]
3. Number and title of projects in which the
Czech Republic has participated:
A/ Projects with project leaders from the Czech
Republic:
Project #428 - Climate and Boreholes
Project Leaders: V. Cermak, H.N. Pollack and C. Clauser
Czech Representatives: V. Cermak (cermak@ig.cas.cz
) and J. Safanda
Activities in 2003:
The project officially finished last year and year 2003 was the formal
project extension year (OET). No special project workshops could have been
organized, but two large international conferences were used to arrange topical
symposia addressing selected problem close to the IGCP428 and the project formally
cosponsored them, namely
(a) the CL11.06 session Climate and climatic change from underground
temperatures: Continental energy balance, land-surface processes, integration
with meteorological and proxy data held during the EGS - AGU - EUG Joint Assembly
at Nice, France, April 2003, and
(b) the JWS04 session Subsurface thermal signatures of tectonics,
hydrogeology and paleoclimate held during the XXIII. General Assembly of the
International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics at Sapporo, Japan, July 2003 (see
attachments 1 and 2).
Both meetings were well attended and gave time for a lot of discussions.
Material of the Sapporo session will be published as a special issue of the
journal Physics and Chemistry of the Earth.
Generally, year 2003 was used for further discussion and preparation of
the Monograph which will summarized the principles of the geothermal method to
reconstruct the paleoclimate changes by inversion of the borehole temperatures
obtained in the last about ten years. As this task well relates most of the
activities done under the IGCP428 project, the Monograph will suitably cover
the basic results obtained during five years of the IGCP cooperation. The
Monograph will be published by Kluwer and will appear in the "Developments
in Paleoenvironmental Research" ("DPER") book series.
Project # 469 - Variscan terrestrial
Biotas and Palaeoenvironments
Project leaders: C.J. Cleal (United Kingdom), S. Oplustil (Czech
Republic), Y. Tenchov (Bulgaria), E. Zodrow (Canada)
Czech Representative: S. Oplustil (oplustil@natur.cuni.cz )
Activities in 2003:
The project was approved in 2003 with the aim to investigate late
Westphalian (Pennsylvanian) paleoecological changes that took place across the
Variscan Foreland and Mountains, during a critical time in the Paleozoic
evolution of Europe and Eastern North America. The Variscan Orogeny affected
large parts of this region, as Gondwana and Laurasia collided during the Late
Carboniferous. The resulting tectonic activity disrupted the lowland swamp
habitats that had occupied much of the Variscan foreland, as well as causing
the development of intramontane basins within the adjoining Variscan Mountains.
However, our understanding of the environments in these basins is still
limited. What were the relative elevations of the different basins? What was
the rate of down-draw of carbon in each basin and what was the effect, if any,
on global climatic change? Since the project started in 2003, the main aim of
the first year was to meet all the research team at inaugural meeting that was
held during the XVth International Congress on Carboniferous and Permian
Stratigraphy in Utrecht (10-16 August 2003). At this meeting, a half-day
session was devoted to the project. It included a series of presentation
related to the project. Czech representatives presented three of them, and
these contributions are as follows (possible nuclei of future publications):
Oplustil S.: Climatic and tectonic history of the Variscan foreland and
adjacent areas during the Late Westphalian - Early Stephanian and their effect
on changes of vegetation pattern.
Bek J.: Paleozoic in situ spores studies: history and developments.
Psenicka J., Zodrow E., Bek J. and Cleal C.: Progress report on Late
Pennsylvanian pecopterid paleobiology: Czech Republic - Canada.
During the inaugural meeting, details of project were also discussed and
future work was planned. It was decided to hold one or two workshops every year
to introduce the research team into problems of particular areas/basins and to
discuss the obtained results and co-ordinate future investigation.
Coming meetings:
- Eastern European Meeting - Sofia, March 2004, and
- Eastern Canadian Meeting - Sydney, August/September 2004.
B/ Projects with active working groups in the
Czech Republic:
Project #449 - Global Correlation of
Late Cenozoic Fluvial Deposits
Project Leader: D. Bridgland (UK)
Czech Representatives: J. Tyracek, P. Havlicek (havlicek@cgu.cz )
Activities in 2003:
1. Regional correlations:
Activities of the Czech WG were focused on the compilation of the
correlation study of the Moravian main terrace and the Alpine Hochterrasse. The
results are briefly summarized in the following text:
Two main Quaternary climatostratigraphic systems are used in Europe. One
of them is derived from the notorious stages of the mountain glaciations in
Alps; the other one is based on the continental glaciations with their centre
in Scandinavia. The former quadriglacialistic (fourfold) subdivision (later
enriched by additional stages) saw worldwide application (being used in such
exotic regions like Far East in totally diverse environment) and was also
adopted in the North American continent. The latter is practically confined to
the continental Europe only, including the British Isles and partly the Asian
Siberia.
The correlation of both systems is, since the beginning theoretical, the
Alpine Mindel being correlated with Elsterian, Riss with Saalian and Wurm with
Weichselian. Any fixed proved link connecting directly both systems was never
established, though two favourable regions exist in Europe. First one is
represented by the Rhine River which originates in the ”Rheingletscher region”
with well expressed sediments of four Alpine glaciations and flows due N into
the realm of the Scandinavian ice sheets. The second region occupies Northern
Moravia with the Odra River basin and the Moravian Gate where the glacial
sediments are in direct contact with the fluvial terraces of both the Odra
River and due south, beyond the main European water divide, the left Danube
tributaries. Whereas in the Rhine valley the correlation by means of fluvial
terraces proved to be, due neotectonic movements, unfeasible, the other route
through Moravia appears more promising. The main terrace there, inserted
between the sediments of the Elsterian and Saalian glaciations, is developed
practically along all larger valleys in the Ostrava Basin or more precisely
along all larger tributaries to the local master stream Odra River. The terrace
sandy gravel rests unconformably upon the pre-Quaternary bedrock or more
frequently upon the glaciofluvials and tills of the Elsterian glaciation, which
can reach up to 100 m in thickness. In turn, the main terrace body is mostly
overlain by Saalian till, varved clay or glaciofluvial sand and gravel, except
for sectors, in which the covering sediments were subsequently denuded leaving
thus the terrace exposed. In the overdeepend, nowadays abandoned N/S trending
valley of the Poruba Gate the main terrace gravel reaches over the main
European water divide (between the Baltic and Black Sea) and enters the Beèva
River valley, already in the Danube drainage area (Tyraèek 1963). The overlying
Saalian glaciofluvial sediments attain more than 25 m in thickness at the
watershed. Toward the southern mouth of the Poruba Gate the Saalian sediments
die out and the terrace gravel occurs to the surface or is covered by younger
loess. From the Poruba Gate downstream the main terrace can be traced along
Beèva, Morava and Dyje rivers as far as the Danube valley. Thus this gravel
body represents a virtual connecting link between the two mentioned glaciated
areas as well as a key chronohorizont for intended correlation of both
stratigraphic systems.
However, a better understanding of the geological structure and more
precise dating of the main terrace are essential for correlation. In the
Ostrava Basin the main terrace is usually double, being built up by two
separate aggradations (Macoun, Sibrava 1961, Sibrava 1964). The lower gravel
represents the retreat phase (kataglacial, warming arm of the climacycle) of
the Elsterian glacial or of the inter-Holsteinian cold phase. Its formation
concluded by the end of the glacial and the subsequent break in deposition is
evidenced by a paleosol of an interglacial type developed on top of it. The
younger upper aggradation corresponds to the successive advance phase
(anaglacial, cooling arm) of the older Saalian (Drenthe) glacial. Its dating is
evidenced by its relation to the glacial sediments. In the Ostrava Basin the
upper terrace contact is transitional, the gravel passsing upward into the
Saalian glaciofluvial sand. An expressive horizontal facies change is also
documented. The upper gravel passes laterally, basinward into the glaciofluvial
sand of the basal beds of the Saalian advance phase and interfingers with it.
Because the Saalian glaciation in N.Moravia is correlated with the
older, Drenthe glacial, two interglacials Treene and Eem should be
theoretically present in the overburden. This postulate was confirmed by
occurrences of two interglacial paleosols within the loess covering the
sediments of the Saalian glaciation (Macoun et al 1965). Both interglacial
overlie the Drenthe glaciofluvial, which is always stratigraphically inserted
between the upper aggradation of the main terrace and the sediments of the
Warthe age. The Warthe (Warta) glacier stopped in Central Poland (Mojski 1995)
and did not enter our territory. Therefore, the sediments of the Warthe stadium
are represented by other genetic types like fluvial, or slope deposits and
primarily by loess. The interglacials are represented by paleosols, usually
developed within loess blankets. Analogous geological structure exists at the
opposite, southern end of the track. The ”Hochterrasse” in the Alp foreland,
particularly in the Riss valley and in the ”Rheingletscher area” (Ellwanger et
al. 1995,1996, Miara 1995] is also overlain by two interglacial paleosols.
However, in detail the situation differs from the northern part. The older
paleosol, for many investigative years unrecognized, is developed directly on
the top of the gravels while the younger one occurs within the cover deposits.
This means that the equivalents of the peak of Saalian glaciation are missing
or did not develop at all. The ”Hochterrasse“ gravel was accumulated by glacial
meltwaters what indicates rather a retreat phase. This fact together with
missing cold sediments, which should theoretically intervene between the
underlying gravel and overlying interglacial paleosol, may be taken as an
evidence of kataglacial (warming arm) origin.
Therefore, it can be preliminary confirmed that the Saalian glaciation
in the north correlates with the Alpine Riss, as many times stated in previous
literature. Both terraces belong to the same climatostratigraphic cycle i.e.
either to Riss or Saale which are comparable, however, in detail they differ.
The Moravian "main terrace gravel" was aggraded during the anaglacial
phase (cooling arm) of Saalian while the alpine "Hochterrasse" gravel
corresponds to the kataglacial phase (warming arm) of the same glaciation.
List of references:
Ellwanger D.,Bibus E.,Bludau W.,Kosel M.,Merkt J.(1995): XI.
Baden-Wurttemberg. - In: Das Quartar Deutschlands (L.Benda ed.),
255-295.Gebruder Borntraeger, Berlin, Stuttgart.
Ellwanger D.,Bibus E., Fiebig M.(1996): Guidebook to the IGCP 378-
Circumalpine Quaternary Correlations June 3.-8. 1996.- Deckenschotter litho-and
morphostratigraphic development and Riss-Wurm-Komplex.- Geologisches Landesamt
Baden-Wurttemberg, Freiburg.
Macoun J., Sibrava V.(1961): Terraces of the Opava River in relation to
the sediments of the continental glaciation (in Czech).-Anthropozoikum IX/1959,
115-128. Praha
Macoun J.,Sibrava Vl., Tyracek J., Kneblova-Vodickova Vl.(1965): Kvarter
Ostravska a Moravske brany (Quartar im Gebiet von Ostrava un in der Mahrischen
Pforte).- UUG, 1-419.Praha
Macoun J.,Kralik F.(1995): Glacial history of the Czech Republic.- In:
Glacial deposits in North-East Europe (J.Ehlers, S.Kozarski,P.Gibbard
eds.),389-405. Balkema.Rotterdam,Brookfield
Miara S.(1996): Deckschichtenuntersuchungen zur Gliederung der
Risseiszeit beiderseids der Iller im Gebiet des Rhein-und Illergletschers (westliches
Alpenvorland/ Deutschland).- Jb.Mitt. oberrh.geol.Ver.,N.F.78, 359-374.
Stuttgart.
Mojski J.E.(1995): Pleistocene glacial events in Poland.-In: Glacial
deposits in North-East Europe (J.Ehlers, S.Kozarski, P.Gibbard eds.), 287-292.
Balkema/Rotterdam/ Brookfield.
Sibrava Vl.(1964): Double Fluvial Accumulations in the Area of the
Bohemian Massif and the Carpathian Foredeep.- Sbor.geol.Ved,
Antropozoikum,2,57-71. Praha.
Tyracek J.(1963): On the problem of the parallelization of the
continental and the alpine glaciations on the teritory of Czechoslovakia.-
Rep.of the VIth INQUA Congress, Vol.III., 375-384. Lodz.
List of new publications:
Brizova E. (2003): Changes of vegetation and climate in sediments of the
Morava River in the Protectes Landscape Area Litovelske Pomoravi.- Geoscience
Research Reports for 2002, 52- 54, CGS Praha
Brizova E.,Havlicek P.,Vachek M.(2003): The protected locality Cejcske
jezero - palynological, palaeopedological and geological research .- Geoscience
Research Reports for 2002, 61-65, CGS Praha
Havlicek P.(2003): Quaternary-geological investigations in the Podyji
National Park in 2001-2002. - Geoscience Research Reports for 2002, 71-73, CGC
Praha
Havlicek P., Smolikova L.(2003): Quaternary sediments in Vranov nad Dyji
- Podyji National Park. - Gce Research Reports for 2002, 74-75, CGS Praha
Havlicek P., Smolikova L.(2003): Neolithic rondel in Masovice, southern
Moravia: Quaternary geological and paleopedogical investigations.- Thayensia
(Znojmo),5: 3-9, Znojmo
Hlavac J., Havlicek P. (2003): Molluscan thanatocoenoses in the overbank
deposits of the Radejovka River between Radejov and Petrov Villages.-
Geoscience Research Reports for 2002, 78 - 82, CGS Praha
Lectures and Posters:
Brizova E.(2003): The protected Landscape area Litovelske Pomoravi -
Palynological Research of sediments in the Morava River. - Poster in Poland,
Rudy X.konferencja stratygrafia plejstocenu Polski, Sosnowiec and In:
Bialowieza, Poland: I.Polska konferencja paleobotaniki czwartorzedu.
Brizova E. (2003): "The Protected Landscape Area Litovelske
Pomoravi- record of changesn of vegetation and climate in sediments of the
Morava River". - I.Session "Ricni krajina", Olomouc and Session
IALE Praha.
Project #454 - Medical Geology
Project Leaders: O. Selinus and P. Bobrowsky
Czech Representative: J. Mrnkova (mrnkova@cgu.cz
)
Activities in 2003:
After retirement of Dr. M. Duris, Dr. J. Mrnkova from the Czech Geological
Survey (Prague) was approved by the Czech IGCP NC as a Czech representative in
this project. Although the subject of studies is very attractive and
interesting for many disciplines, the practical organization steps of teamwork
have numerous complications (such as separate strategies of medical and earth
science disciplines, or different opinions of municipal representatives to
these research activities). The continuous investigations are focused to
contamination with arsenic minerals, where especially the mineral precipitation
of contaminants are studied in detail (M. Filippi et al.). A lot of Czech
studies originated form a monitored forested catchment SE of Prague (Voderadske
Buciny), where cooperating scientists are particularly concentrated on the data
on biogeodynamics of Be and general evaluation of anthropogenic impacts on
natural cycling of elements under supergene conditions of the environment. The
beryllium is from granites in the basement and is periodically released from
species at the sediment/water boundary in forest brooks. The be uptake by
vegetation has, in extereme conditions, letal effects on vegetation and can
represent also a risk for human health (P. Skrivan, T. Navratil, J. Vesely, et
al.). Many of this themes are still not effectively linked to the
Medical-Geology stream.
Among projects in stage of preparation are also new projects on arsenic
(J. Mrnkova). There are several directions listed among the project goals,
e.g., connection between occurrences of trace elements and certain types of
human and animal diseases, or comparison of very contrast "healthy"
and "strongly polluted" places. The old mining districts of Kutna
Hora, Pribram and Benesov serve as prominent areas of this research (both for
the past and newly prepared complex studies).
List of Publications:
Minarik L., Skrivan P., Novak J.K., Fottova D. and Navratil T. (2003):
Distribution, cycling and impact of selected inorganic contaminants in
ecosystem of the Lesni potok catchment, Czech republic. Ekologia (Bratislava)
22, 3, 82-99.
Navratil T., Vach M., Skrivan P., Mihaljevic M. and Dobesova I. (2003)
Deposition and fate of lead in a forested landscape Lesni potok, central Czech
Republic, Water Air Soil Pollution (in press).
Project #463 - Upper Cretaceous
Marine Red Beds
Project Leaders: C. Wang, M. Sarti, R.W. Scott and L.F. Jansa
Czech Representative: L. Svabenicka (svab@cgu.cz
)
Activities in 2003:
Objective of the project is to establish the causes of major change in
the world ocean basins from deposition of organic carbon-enriched sediments to
oxic, red beds.
The Czech WG includes the following institutions and individuals: Czech
Geological Survey (Miroslav Bubik and Lilian Svabenicka), Institute of Geology,
Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (Marcela Svobodova) and Institute of
Geological Engineering, VSB - Technical University Ostrava (Petr Skupien and
Zdenek Vasicek).
Research activities during the second year of the project were focused
on the change from dysoxic sediment deposition to an oxic depositional regime
within the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary both in the Outer West Carpathians and
Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. The first results were presented at a workshop in
Bartin, Turkey (August 18-23, 2003):
- Cenomanian sediments of the most external nappe of the Carpathian
Orogen, Silesian Unit were compared with the platform sediments of the same age
in the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin, Peruc-Korycany Formation from the micro- and
nannofossil content point of view.
- Black, organic carbon-enriched sediments were mostly deposited above
or within the fluctuating CCD. Well preserved acritarchs, dinocysts, pollen and
spores provided data for the next biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental
interpretations. Calcareous tests (foraminifers and nannofossils) are
secondarily modified by strong dissolution caused by the release of carbon
dioxide during oxidation of organic matter.
- Black pelites and shales are lithologically changed to oxic “red beds”
in the Tethyan foreland basins (Silesian and Magura units) in the Upper
Cenomanian and to grey claystones and limestones of the NW European Plate
within the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary.
- According to preliminary data, marine transgression of the Bohemian
Cretaceous Basin probably coincides with the lithological change to „red beds“
in the depositional areas of NW margin of Tethys. This event can be correlated
with the lower part of Upper Cenomanian, nannoplankton zone UC3c-UC4.
- Black pelites and shales of the Silesian Unit were studied and sampled
for the multidisciplinary study (geochemistry, sedimentology,
micropaleontology) at the localities of Bystra and Stramberk. Samples for
geochemical and isotope analyses were sent to Chinese Academy of Geological
Sciences, Beijing.
- Database (coordinator Robert W. Scott, USA) of the Upper Cretaceous
“red bed” sections in the territory of the Czech Republic is prepared.
List of Publications:
Svobodova M., Hradecka L., Skupien P. and Svabenicka L. (in print):
Albian-Cenomanian microfossils in black pelites of the Silesian Unit, Outer
West Carpathians. - Geologica Carpathica.
Skupien P., Vasicek Z and Jansa L.: The Upper Cretaceous marine red beds
in the Silesian unit of the Outer Western Carpathians (Czech Republic). In:
Abstracts and Guide Book of the IGCP 463 workshop, Bartin 2003 (Tuyuz O. and
Yikilmaz B. eds), Istanbul Technical University, 28-30. Istanbul.
Svobodova M. and Skupien P.: Comparison of the Upper Cretaceous deposits
of the Peruc-Korycany and Bila Hora Formations (Bohemian Cretaceous Basin) and
the Silesian Unit (Outer Western Carpathians), Czech Republic. In: Abstracts
and Guide Book of the IGCP 463 workshop, Bartin 2003 (Tuyuz O. and Yikilmaz B.
eds), Istanbul Technical University, 22-24. Istanbul.
Svabenicka L.: Upper Cretaceous oceanic red beds in the Outer West
Carpathians, Magura group of nappes, Czech Republic. In: Abstracts and Guide
Book of the IGCP 463 workshop, Bartin 2003 (Tuyuz O. and Yikilmaz B. eds), Istanbul
Technical University, 25-27. Istanbul.
In 2004, the project workshop will be held during the Geological
Congress in Italy, August 2004 and an excursion to the Romanian Carpathians is
planned before the Congress (5-6 days).
Project # 471 - Evolution of Western
Gondwana during the Late Palaeozoic
Project leaders: C.O. Limarino and L.A. Buaotois
Czech Representative: R. Mikulas (mikulas@gli.cas.cz
)
Activities in 2003:
2003 was the sec ond year of the project. Czech group participated in
preparation of the aims and proposals of the project a developed several
research activities, which provided the first results even during these very
early stages of the project. These introductory studies were concentrated on
the eastern outskirts of the target area. Together with T. Lehotsky, O. Babek
and J. Zapletal, the authors concentrated their research effort on the trace
fossil records in basin fills of closing Gondwana-Laurussia oceans. The
relevant Culm facies, named after the English attribution Culm Measures,
represents a specific variety of flysch sediments, characteristic of
sedimentary basins bordering active margins of the Variscan orogeny. The facies
is characterized by rapid influx of clastic material. The Culm facies as a
whole resembles in many aspects the Mesozoic and Cenozoic flysches but both
density and diversity of traces are much lower. The reasons for such a low
degree of bioturbation may be the following: 1, distance of the compared facies
in geologic time; invertebrates had not colonized all deep-water, dysoxic
and/or current-exposed settings yet. 2, extreme dynamics of the Culm facies,
resulting in shorter and unequally distributed (both spatially and temporally)
colonization windows. 3, low level of nutrients both in the turbidites and in
the background sediment.
List of Publications:
Mikulas R., Lehotsky T., Babek O. (2002): Lower Carboniferous
Ichnofabrics of the Culm facies: a case study of the Moravice Formation
(Moravia and Silesia, Czech Republic). Geologica Carpathica, 53, 3, 141-148.
Lehotsky T., Babek O., Mikulas R., Zapletal J. (2002): Trace fossils as
indicators of depositional sequence boundaries in Lower Carboniferous Deep-Sea
Fan Environment, Moravice Formation, Czech Republic. Geolines, 14, pp. 59-60.
Mikulas R., Lehotsky T., Babek O. (in press, 2003): Trace fossils of the
Moravice Formation in the southern part of the Nizky Jesenik Mts. (Lower
Carboniferous, Culm facies; Moravia, Czech Republic). Bulletin of Geosciences.
MS 25 pp., 10 Pl.
Project # 486 -
Au-Ag-Telluride-Selenide Deposits
Project leaders: N.J. Cook (Norway), K.Kojonen (Finland)
Czech Representative: A. Vymazalova (anvym@cgu.cz
)
Activities in 2003:
2003 was the first year of the project characterized by the organization
of Czech participation. Project representative was in active link with Dr. Cook
regarding both research activities planned from Czech part (mostly experimental
work on Pd-Sn-Te system) and also possible organization of working seminar.
Project 491 - Middle Palaeozoic
Vertebrate Biogeography, Palaeogeography and Climate
Project leaders: M. Zhu (P.R. China), G. Young (Australia)
Czech Representative: J. Zajic (zajic@gli.cas.cz
)
The project is in very early stage (approved only in 2003). The Czech
group participated in preparation of web-based forum, and structure of
taxonomical database. The closest activity is the construction and maintenance
of a new database on the theme "Acanthodians of the World", which
will be based on freeware programme PaleoTax (http://www.paleotax.de). It is
only several months after main forum - The second Gross Symposium in Riga
(September 7-14, 2003) - and increased exchange of data between the Lithuanian
and Czech specialist provides the first scientific results, which are promising
for the taxonomic work and definition of palaeobiologically based definition of
areas of the past. The planned participation in the coming 2004 meeting in
Gramado, Brazil, can be a promising point for the correlation of the NW
Gondwana with the Old World Realm areas.
4. IGCP meetings held in the Czech Republic in
2002
Not announced.
5. IGCP meetings planned for 2003
Not announced.
6. Other relevant information
The Czech IGCP National Committee was one of
organizers of the GEOCHIM 2003 - a postgraduate training course on Geochemical
Exploration Methods and their Environmental Applications. This certificated
course took part in Prague and Dolni Rozinka between September 1-15, 2003 and
15 scientists representing 12 - mostly developing countries participated in
this event.
In order to promote IGCP activities in the Czech Republic the Committee
has also continued in seeking funds for the IGCP National Committee special
foundation established in 1996. Generous donations, which enabled to offer 5
grants in the total amount of about 50 000.- CZK was kindly provided by a major
sponsor of the Czech IGCP National Committee:
Severoceske doly (SD a.s., Chomutov); and also by Stavebni geologie -
Geotechnika a.s. (Praha).
Czech IGCP NC also expressed its full support
to planned IYPE activities (= "International Year" of the Planet
Earth).
The website address of the Czech IGCP National
Committee (maintained by J. Hladil et al.) countinues http://www.gli.cas.cz/igcp/ .
