STRATIGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM

SUBCOMMISSION ON STRATIGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM

ANNUAL REPORT 2002

TITLE OF CONSTITUENT BODY

International Subcommission on Stratigraphic Information System (SIS), a focused working group under ICS

2. OVERALL OBJECTIVES, AND FIT WITHIN IUGS SCIENCE POLICY

Mission Statement

SIS aims to promote and coordinate the gathering of selected stratigraphic information worldwide and to organize logically its presentation through the SIS/ICS website. The Subcommission first priority is to enable the world geoscience community to have quick and free access to a vast amount of stratigraphic information, thus helping to spread the knowledge and foster the advancement of the science globally.

Goals

SIS goal is to gather selected stratigraphic information (such as databases, compilation of regional time scales and biozonal schemes, stratigraphic standards, and geohistory teaching modules) and develop a method of classification to organize, logically, the databases and related links, and make easy search and use of the contents through its website to the world scientific community. This way, the Subcommission primarily aims to promote scientific cooperation and the advancement of the science worldwide, and to maintain the leading role of ICS in the stratigraphic information network. Therefore, to accomplish this objective we plan to carry out over the next 5 years the following tasks, which basically will comprise a 4-fold basic structure of the main website, as follows:

(1) Stratigraphic Database Center and Links.

· Geological and biological events in Earth history. Integrated graphic correlation database of important geological (e.g., geochemical and paleomagnetic cycles, event beds) and biological components (e.g., biostratigraphic and evolutionary databases), with radiometric ages.

· Facies stratigraphy. Database of outcrop and core sections. Iconographic atlases showing types of siliciclastic and carbonate macro- and microfacies, diagnostic sedimentary structures, ichnofossils/ ichnofabrics and ichnofacies, etc., including, wherever possible, interpretations, paleogeographic/ facies models, and references (link with item 4).

· Paleogeographic and Paleoclimatic Maps. Database sourced from the published literature, ongoing research, and from still unpublished M.Sc./ Doctorate research results; temporal-spatial GIS-type displays.

· Continental ecosystems. Stratigraphic correlations, distribution of paleoclimatic indicators, and the relationship (depositional and time-equivalence of events) of continental ecosystems with adjacent marginal marine basins.

· Marine ecosystems. Paleoclimatic belts, approximate paleobathymetric contour curves, areas of paleo-upwelling, phosphate deposits, black shales, carbonate platforms, turbidites, major trends of surface and bottom currents.

· Iconographic Atlases.

· Index fossil species: systematics, biostratigraphy and paleoecology. Iconographic atlases of stratigraphically significant fossil groups (ammonites, inoceramids, foraminifers, ostracodes, radiolarians, calcareous nannofossils, palynomorphs), to be accompanied by biostratigraphic frameworks for the various basins worldwide.

· Biostratigraphy in thin-sections. Atlas of index fossil species (e.g., foraminifers, radiolarians, pithonellid calcispheres, calpionellids, roveacrinids) examined in thin sections, illustrating the diagnostic features.

(2) Geologic Time Scale Information.

· Standard Geological Time Scale. Subdivisions and GSSPs; age dates; orbital cycles; and absolute time scale; translation of the standard time scale in other languages (e.g., Chinese, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, etc.).

· Stable isotope and geochemical curves. Isotope stratigraphy (Sr, C, O) for the Mesozoic and Cenozoic.

· Paleomagnetic and sequence chronology. The Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale (GPTS).

(3) Stratigraphic Standards & Lexicons.

· Stratigraphic Code (on-line): with short-term working groups for revisions, as required.

· Standards of applied techniques on Stratigraphy : Geochronology, Isotope Stratigraphy (C, O and Sr), Chemostratigraphy, Molecular Organic Geochemistry, Facies Stratigraphy, Magnetostratigraphy, Event Stratigraphy, Cyclostratigraphy, Sequence Stratigraphy.

· Regional lithostratigraphic frameworks and time scales: with definitions of regional lithostratigraphic units, photos of type-sections, chronostratigraphic correlations, and references.

· Regional biozonal schemes: with definitions of zones and type-sections (link to the iconographic atlases of index fossil species). This would have the enormous advantage of making easily accessible the regional lithostratigraphy and time scales of basins worldwide, with links to related data-bases.

· Links: to all stratigraphic lexicons in the world.

(4) Geohistory Education Site & Links (Teaching & Research).

· Virtual Field-Trips to Key Type-Sections: stratotypes, GSSP's, stage boundaries, with location maps; digital gallery of key stratigraphic photos with zoom showing details of beds down to thin sections (e.g., set of pictures of all ratified GSSP sections); drawings of stratigraphic charts with litho-, magneto-, isotope-, chemo-, and biochronostratigraphy; distribution charts of fossils, composite graphic correlation of key markers, etc.; published references and non-published theses on the area.

· Quantitative Biostratigraphy Programs: Interest in quantitative biostratigraphy is flourishing, and there is demand for teaching modules of key techniques and its computer programs. Hence, compact demonstration modules are being prepared of the three methods Unitary Association (UA), Ranking and Scaling (RASC) and Constrained Optimization (CONOP) that can be downloaded via the SIS/ICS master website.

· Easy-to-follow Teaching Guides: quantitative techniques of stratigraphic interpretation, chemostratigraphy, cyclostratigraphy, and Sr-stratigraphy, applied techniques to sequence stratigraphy: state-of-the-art, among others.

Fit within IUGS Science Policy.

The objectives of the Subcommission relate to the following main aspects of IUGS policy on Stratigraphy:

· Publish a standard and global geologic time scale, and prepare and publish global correlation charts, with explanatory notes.

· Compile and maintain a stratigraphic data base center for the global earth sciences.

· Unify regional chronostratigraphic nomenclature by organizing and documenting stratigraphic units in a global data base.

· Promote education in stratigraphic methods and disseminate stratigraphic knowledge.

· Define the principles of stratigraphic classification, terminology, and procedure, and publish them in guides and glossaries.

3. ORGANIZATION

The Subcommission is organized by a Bureau consisting of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary, who are all Voting Members of the Subcommission. The objectives of the Subcommission will be pursued by thematic Task/Working Groups, which will be arranged according to the primary and subordinate goals of the Subcommission, and coordinated by Conveners who will be responsible for stimulating and coordinating contributions to SIS in their fields of expertise. In addition, Voting Members and Corresponding Members, who will have the responsibility for liaison between the Subcommission and researchers, and for disseminating information about the Subcommission work, will be designated.

4. EXTENT OF NATIONAL/REGIONAL/GLOBAL SUPPORT FROM SOURCES OTHER THAN IUGS

The SIS Subcommission does not receive financial support from outside IUGS-ICS, except for administrative office support (computer, access to internet services, telephone, fax, etc.) from the host institutions of the Bureau.

5. INTERFACES WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

The Subcomission will have a close interaction with Chronos, a U.S.A. national initiative sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Geoscience Directorate to develop a network of interactive chronostratigraphy and stratigraphic databases. In addition, SIS will interface and collaborate with the Neptune database Project, a stratigraphic information system about Cenozoic marine microfossils biogeochronology of the DSDP and ODP, currently curated by Michael Knappertsbusch (Natural History Museum, Basel). It is also important to note that several active participants of the late IGCP Project 381 (South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations), which was concluded on February 2000 and coordinated by project leaders E. Koutsoukos (current SIS Chairman) and Peter Bengtson (University of Heidelberg), have demonstrated their support and willingness to actively collaborate with SIS, and shall play an important role in fomenting specific Task Group activities.

6. CHIEF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PRODUCTS IN 2002

The year 2002 was essentially a year of organizing the Subcommission structure, discussing its website design, defining the main tasks to be carried out and establishing priorities.

Liaison between SIS and Chronos has also been established, with an acquaintance meeting between SIS (represented by Eduardo Koutsoukos and James Crampton) and participants of the Chronos Steering Committee (Jim Ogg and Richard Lane), held on October 29 at the GSA Annual Meeting in Denver.

SIS has now the task to build up its website following the 4-fold basic structure (databases, compiled regional time scales and biozonal schemes, stratigraphic standards, and geohistory teaching modules) outlined in the proposal. The SIS website is to be launched within the next few months. It will be located at the ICS server in www.stratigraphy.org, and placed as a push-button along with the ICS opening page. All stratigraphic information and links presently located in the ICS site will be eventually moved to SIS.

7. CHIEF PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN 2002

None

8. SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES IN 2002 (ANCIPATED THROUGH MARCH 2003)

Delays in formulating the structure of the Subcommission and its website, and in establishing a bank account for the Subcommission have delayed receipt and allocation of the Subcommission's budget this year. The figures below include deliberate carry-over to 2003 to enable the setting up of the website and increased support to the general activities of the Bureau, Task/Working Groups and SIS meetings.

INCOME

Allowances for 2002 US$3,000

TOTAL US$3,000

EXPENDITURE (through Nov. 2002)

General office expenses US$ ----

Provision towards setting up website US$ ----

TOTAL US$ ----

Carried forward to 2003 US$3,000

9. WORK PLAN, CRITICAL MILESTONES AND ANTICIPATED RESULTS TO BE ACHIEVED FOR NEXT YEAR:

(a) Launch the website for the Subcommission at the ICS server in www.stratigraphy.org, and enhance network communications with links to related/sister database websites. All stratigraphic information and links presently located in the ICS site will be moved to SIS.

(b) Nominate the Voting and Corresponding Members to the Subcommission. Establish Working Groups to deal with key SIS objectives, as outlined above, and appoint coordinators.

(c) Add three relational stratigraphic data sets derived from Geochemistry (Sr and O stable isotope variations), Paleomagnetism, Biostratigraphy and Geomathematics, to the Geochemical, Paleomagnetic and Time Scale components of SIS/ICS. These are fundamental to build a modern, updated and detailed version of the standard Phanerozoic geological time scale. Making available such international database at the SIS/ICS website will be highly valuable to the global geoscience community.

(d) In addition to the website we plan to issue regularly an electronic newsletter, to be called SIS News, through the SIS/ICS website, to disseminate information on progress reports and research results by individuals and Working Groups, and announcements and reports of meetings.

(e) Furthermore, a link to a thematic discussion group (electronic mailing list, called SIS-Net) could be set up within the SIS/ICS website, or alternatively spread over individual Working Group sites and linked to SIS. Its purpose would be to make it possible to exchange useful information quickly and efficiently. Scientific comments, debates, and discussions of problems within the areas of interest of Working Group members and collaborators, and specifically addressed questions, would be all encouraged, as long as they are of relevance to SIS. Maps and stratigraphic charts are of obvious interest and photographs of significantly and/or problematic fossils could be launched for discussion among specialists.

(f) Hold an “ad hoc” inaugural SIS meeting, later in 2003, either in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, or Urbino, Italy. The meeting will focus on discussing specific issues related to SIS, such as objectives and organization of Task/Working Groups, ways of improving the SIS/ICS website (structure, quality of displays, accessibility, web nodes, etc.) and contributions, and of SIS interactions and linkages with related/sister www-database projects.

10. BUDGET AND ICS COMPONENT FOR 2003

Limited support will be needed to facilitate participation in SIS Symposia and thematic workshops by members of the Task/Working Groups. An “ad hoc” inaugural SIS meeting is planned for later in 2003 to be held either in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, or Urbino, Italy.

It is estimated that the following totals would be needed for 2003 to defray part of the heavy costs of office expenses and setting the website, as well as to support the general activities of the Task/Working Groups and SIS meetings.

(a) General office expenses 500US$

(b) Contribution towards cost of website 1,500US$

Task/Working Groups 1,000US$

(e) Support for meetings 3,000US$

______________

TOTAL 2003 BUDGET 6,000US$

(through March 2004)

Carried forward from Nov. 2002 3,000US$

TOTAL BUDGET REQUEST 3,000US$

______________

Potential Funding Sources

The Subcommission does not envisage being able, as an organization, to obtain significant funding from outside IUGS/ICS sources. On the other hand, most of the heavy administrative office costs shall be defrayed by members and their host institutions.

Financial support for the scientific activities related to SIS Task/Working Groups shall be sought by individual members from governmental and other grant-funding agencies for specific projects such as research projects and meetings, in particular where collaborative research has been set up.

12. OBJECTIVES AND WORK PLAN FOR NEXT 5 YEARS (2003-2006)

The Subcommission will focus on a worldwide basis on the continuous gathering of selected stratigraphic information to be edited, incorporated into logically arranged interactive and user-friendly relational (oracle-type) databases, and made easily accessible through its website.

Mechanisms to stimulate scientific exchange and cooperation:

We envisage that periodically a SIS Symposium (every 2 years or so) and regional thematic Task Group meetings/workshops (every year) be held as a forum to where SIS-related research data and results will be presented and discussed, where specific SIS problems will be clarified and new directions appointed, as well as a means of stimulating new research to be carried out within the scope of SIS, and of facilitating scientific exchange and cooperation.

Mechanisms to update the information:

Establish well-defined mechanisms to allow constant refreshment and update of information into SIS. We may count on a chain reaction mechanism of individual and group contributions to SIS, which could be further stimulated by active thematic Task/Working Group coordinators.

Mechanisms to foster the flow of contributions on integrated stratigraphy:

Develop an exclusive peer-reviewed electronic publication, to be called e-Strata, within ICS/IUGS and SIS, devoted to the main thematic issues of SIS, as a forum to present innovations and applications in integrated stratigraphy. It would be sequential but non-periodical, appearing twice to four times a year, with one or more contributions per issue, and have an ISSN record. Potential papers shall not deal with too specific subjects, which should rather go to specialized journals (such as JFR, J. Micropal., J. Palaeont., J. Sedim., AAPG Bull., etc.). Submitted contributions will be first evaluated by the main editor and/or one or more associated editors. After formal publication in electronic format the contents of the paper could be linked to SIS, and compiled into the databases.

13. SUBMITTED BY:

Eduardo A. M. KOUTSOUKOS

Chairperson, International Subcommission on Stratigraphic Information System

24th November 2002

PETROBRAS-CENPES

Cidade Universitária, Quadra 7 - Ilha do Fundão,

21949-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

koutsoukos@cenpes.petrobras.com.br

Bureau of the IUGS/ICS International Subcommission on Stratigraphic Information System (SIS):

Chairman

Eduardo A. M. KOUTSOUKOS

PETROBRAS-CENPES