INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGICAL CORRELATION PROGRAMME PROJECT 396

Short title - .....Continental shelves in the Quaternary
Return to Main IGCP-396 Page
Return to Report of 3rd Annual Meeting


National Reports for 3rd Year

Countries presenting National reports
  • Argentina*
  • Australia*
  • Belgium*
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada [Verbal Report only]
  • China ..and.. Hong Kong SAR
  • France
  • Germany*
  • India
  • Israel
  • Italy*
  • Japan
  • The Netherlands [Verbal Report only]
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • South Africa [Verbal Report only]
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka*
  • UK
  • USA
  • * Countries reporting for the first time


    Argentina - [Geraldo Parker]

    This is the first time that Argentina has reported to IGCP-396, and the following covers a period more than the last year. The researchers in that country have been active in research activities on the Argentinian Continental Shelf regarding the quaternary shelf characteristics. Hitherto they have not published anything outside Argentina, and are thus keen to make known their activities to the wider scientific community. [The group has sent the Secretary of IGCP-396 several of their papers - in Spanish, covering the present decade, and these will be listed in the current year references]. Recent effort has focussed on the northern inner shelf and the first submarine geological chart will be published shortly.

    Activities are discontinuous through very restricted financial support and the equipment for geological and geophysical testing, though adequate for some purposes, limits their work to depths less than 100m. The researchers make us of the Argentinian Oceanographic Vessel "Puerto Deseado" on 15 - 20 days a year.

    The Argentinian group would welcome doing collaborative work with groups elsewhere.


    Australia - [No report was available from the National Correspondent - the following are notes submitted by Lindsay Collins]


    Belgium - [Patric Jacobs]

    Most of the marine activities of the Renard Centre of Marine Research - Stratigraphy Unit (Prof. Dr. Patric Jacobs, University of Gent, Belgium) during the course of 1997-1998 have been undertaken within the framework of a PhD study (Dra. Vera Van Lancker) on sediment and morphodynamics of the Belgian near-coastal zone.

    As monitoring of the coastal environment is crucial, several offshore campaigns are performed on a seasonal basis, mostly on board of the national oceanographic research vessel "Belgica". Gradually built up since 1995, the database consists of sedimentological and geoacoustical data mainly comprising side-scan sonar and bathymetrical information. This integrated approach, supported by both spatial and temporal field measurements, and coupled to the forcing hydrodynamical and meteorological agents allows a better confining of process-response models with the ultimate aim to play an active role in the understanding and predictability of coastal erosion and accretion phenomena. It is expected the PhD research to be finalised by the beginning of 1999.

    During the period 1997-1998 research results were presented at the international conference BORDOMER 97 (FRA) "Coastal Environment Management and Conservation", at a national meeting focussing on "Sandbanks" or as an international contribution at the Dutch national "Days of the Netherlands Centre of Coastal Research". Through working visits and a seminar an active link is maintained with the sediment-dynamics research group of the "Department of Oceanography" of the University of Southampton (UK) enabling support on sediment transport modelling. Within the framework of the exchange programme SOCRATES two foreign MSc students take part in our research activities.

    To keep pace with the newest technologies, workshops or exhibitions are attended, both internationally (Oceanology 1998) and locally (i.e. Multibeam - Digital side-scan sonar workshop). Whenever the opportunity, the "Belgian Sea Scientific Potential" is actively promoted such as in Lisbon during the "Third European Marine Science and Technology Conference" and "EXPO'98". Also educational training and lectures are given concerning seafloor dynamics, the geology of the Belgian continental shelf or monitoring of coastal environments within the framework of the postgraduate course "Ecological Marine Management" at the Free University of Brussels (BE).

    Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Patric Jacobs, an MSc thesis student (Mrs. Natasja Brughmans) mapped in detail the surficial sediments in the Zwin estuary (northeastern part of the Belgian coast). In general sedimentation character turned out to be rather fine while facies successions mostly showed to coarsen up slightly in stead of fining up. Comparison with historical documents proved the sediment infilling of the estuary to be more complicated than might be expected from application of simple theoretical models valid for actual sedimentation processes under constant but decelerating sea-level rise. Storm-dominated sediment transport processes might largely govern estuary infilling.

    Offshore campaigns 1997-1998 (Monitoring of the coastal environment)

    DateShip Chief Scientist
    1997/01/22 - 1997/01/22 Jacqueline S. Degraer (University of Gent, Section Marine Biology)
    1997/02/24 - 1997/02/28 Belgica V. Van Lancker (University of Gent, RCMG - Stratigraphy)
    1997/04/22 -1997/04/22 Jacqueline S. Degraer (University of Gent, Section Marine Biology)
    1997/04/29 - 1997/04/30 Belgica V. Van Lancker (University of Gent, RCMG - Stratigraphy)
    1997/05/05 - 1997/05/07 Belgica C. Vernemmen (University of Gent, RUMACOG)
    1997/08/26 - 1997/08/26 Jacqueline S. Degraer (University of Gent, Section Marine Biology)
    1997/09/08 - 1997/09/12 Belgica P. Jacobs (University of Gent, RCMG - Stratigraphy)
    1997/11/03 - 1997/11/07 Belgica V. Van Lancker (University of Gent, RCMG - Stratigraphy)
    1997/12/15 - 1997/12/18 Belgica V. Van Lancker (University of Gent, RCMG - Stratigraphy)
    1998/02/02 - 1998/02/04 Belgica V. Van Lancker (University of Gent, RCMG - Stratigraphy)
    1998/03/23 - 1998/03/27 Belgica V. Van Lancker (University of Gent, RCMG - Stratigraphy)
    1998/04/08 - 1998/04/08 Oostende XI S. Degraer (University of Gent, Section Marine Biology)
    1998/06/02 - 1998/06/03 Belgica A. Cattrijse (University of Gent, Section Marine Biology)
    1998/09/07 - 1998/09/11 Belgica

    NOTE: All activity was centered on the Belgian continental shelf

    Dr Van Lancker made two visits to the Oceanogrpahy Centre, Southampton, UK and gave a seminar entitled: "Chronosequential field measurements as a tool for the determination of sedimentary processes in the Belgian coastal zone." He also gave the following lectures


    Bulgaria - [Elissaveta Bozilova]

    During the last year pollen analysis and determination of dinoflagellate cysyts was performed on a core from the north Bulgarian shelf of the Black Sea at water depth of 70m (E.Bozilova and J.Atanassova). The core length is 34m. A pollen diagram was constructed from the same core the molluscs remains were analysed ( V. Shopov). At present, the results have yet to be published. Pollen analysis is also done on a core from the south Bulgarian Shelf. (M.Lazarova).

    Additional comments: We would appreciate very much to receive some financial help or assistance within the programme of the Project 396 in order to make radiocarbon dates of marine sediments. The lack of such information makes our work very difficult. Regretably there are no financial possibilities in our country and there is no such a laboratory.


    Canada - [Heiner Josenhans]


    China - {Xiaodong Zhu]

    During the past year, all members of IGCP 396 CNWG as always actively engage the scientific researches and national/international cooperation and exchange of continental shelves in the Quaternary: interpretation, correlation and application, with focus on the seas of and neighboring China.

    Three national symposia related to IGCP 396 CNWG were held in Dalian, Huangshan and Nanjing, 1998. IGCP 396 CNWG members submitted papers and delivered talks. CNWG members apparently have become the core research capacity of IGCP 396 in China. With the implementation of ODP in the South China Sea early of 1999, many of CNWG members will participate the land-based researches which will target on the interpretation of marginal sea (including continental shelf ) record of the East-Asian monsoon derived from the uplift of the Tibetan.

    One point worth of mention is that with the rapid economic development of China, especially in its coastal area, resources and environmental issues are becoming more and more important. Therefore, marine and geological scientists in China are faced the new challenges and began to serve themselves in the area. CNWG made a great effort to bid for hosting the1999 IGCP 396 annual meeting. However, as South Africa has its great advantage over China, that is it is in another continent and it will host INQUA. So it won the bid rationally. Athouth this is not good new for the Chinese colleagues, they will be happy to go to Cape Town in 1999 and meet all of IGCP 396 colleagues there.


    France - [Gilles Lericolais]

    Studies on the Continental Shelves in the Quaternary is driven by different French universities and by The French Institute of Oceanography (Ifremer).

    The Main topics of the Continental shelves studies in the Quaternary consist of

    1. Effect and record of relative sea level changes (global glacio-eustatic changes, complicated by fresh water input),
    2. Sediment record of climatic variability related to the variation of the Northern hemisphere Ice sheet,
    3. Origin of organic carbon in relation with changes in the physical regime of the Seas or ocean of the different shelves studied,
    4. Hydrodynamic and anthropic effects recorded during the last deglacial periods.
    French Universities involved in The IGCP-396
    1. University of the Mediterranean Sea (Marseille)
    2. University of Aix/Marseille (LAPMO-MMSH)
    3. University of Perpignan
    4. University of Lille 1
    5. University of Bordeaux 1
    6. University of Rennes
    7. University of Caen
    French Institutes involved in The IGCP-396
    1. Ifremer - DRO/GM/LES - Brest
    2. CNRS, CEREGE, UMR 6536
    3. CEA, Gif/yvette
    Continental Shelves studied :

    The continental shelves from France are studied through different projects:

    1. The fluvial system of the English Channel river and its connection with the western approaches in the frame of the SEDIMANCHE project led by Ifremer and participation from (Lille, Rennes, Caen, .)
    2. The Bay of Biscay shelf and the Gironde Estuary (Bordeaux, Ifremer)
    3. The Mediterranean shelf. Different projects are carried out on this shelf (LAPMO-MMSH,
    4. Marseille, Ifremer, .
    International Collaboration: The IGCP 396 also has a link with the IGCP 404 (W.G. Coral Reef Carbon)


    Germany [Barbara Mauz] Barabara Mauz reports that she is working on luminescence dating of littoral and shallow marine deposits and also on deep sea cores. The research is concentrated on the methods, in order to establish luminescence dating for this type of sediment.


    Hong Kong SAR [China]

    In the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Hong Kong, four new funded research projects under the leadership of the writer were initiated. They include:

    1. Holocene record of typhoons in southern China.
    2. Correction factor for marine shell 14C dates in the South China Sea.
    3. Quaternary stratigraphy of a siliciclastics-dominated inner continental shelf.
    4. Palaeo-environmental significance of Quaternary diatoms in offshore boreholes of Hong Kong.
    Mr L.P. Su at the Radioisiotope Unit of the University of Hong Kong initiated a new project on 137Cs dating of coastal sediments in Hong Kong

    Three higher degree projects under the supervision of the writer are currently in progress. They are:

    1. G. Huang (Ph.D. project) on Holocene record of typhoons in the Pearl River Estuary.
    2. A.S.F. Choy (Ph.D. project) on Quaternary sea-level changes and engineering properties of
    3. offshore sediments in Hong Kong.
    4. B.J. Tolani (M.Phil. project) on sequence stratigraphy of the Quaternary inner continental shelf
    5. sediments of Hong Kong.

    One M.Phil. project on magnetic properties of sea-floor sediments by Mr C.H. Yeung under the supervision of a colleague Dr L.S.Chan is currently in the examination stage.


    India - [Veerayya]

    At the 2nd Annual Meeting of IGCP Project-396 held at Durham, U.K. in July 1997, India has been elected as venue and National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, as host for the 3rd Annual Meeting being held now in October 1998.

    Besides oral, poster sessions, Working and Business Group Meetings, a one-day workshop on frontier research areas of continental shelves has been conducted during this international meet.

    Research related to the IGCP Project-396 is being carried out at National Institute of Oceanography, Goa and Geological Survey of India (GSI), besides, at several Universities along the east and west coasts of India. The current investigations at National Institute of Oceanography are concentrated along the western and eastern continental margins of India.

    Western continental margin of India

    1. Late Quaternary-Holocence geologic history of the central and southwestern continental shelf of India, through bathymetric, shallow seismic and sedimentological investigations.
    2. Seismic evidence of gas-related sedimentary features and gas hydrates along the southwestern continental margin of India. These studies resulted in identification of palaeo- buried ridges and gas-charged sediments on the continental shelf and gas hydrate horizons on the continental slope-rise areas.
    3. Continuation of research work on outer shelf- upper slope resulted in deciphering neotectonic activity along the northwestern continental margin of India.
    4. New data on surficial sediments and rocks led to an understanding of late Quaternary geological, history of the western margin.
    5. Comprehensive studies on Corg distribution helped in identifying Holocene sedimentation history of the central western margin.
    6. Particle flux studies on the continental shelf have been initiated.
    7. Investigations from Mangalore and Cochin Universities were concentrated on the high resolution dating of western continental shelf sediments.
    Eastern continental margin of India
    1. Quaternary stratigraphy of the central eastern continental margin of India has been interpreted through high-resolution seismics.
    2. Geological Survey of India (GSI) has carried out extensive studies on morphology and sediments off southestern continental margin of India.
    3. Also GSI convened two NWG Meetings of IGCP Project-396 (July-1997 and January- 1998), wherein, an action plan of GSI for the late Quaternary history of the east coast has been emphasised.
    4. The efforts and contributions of Indian geoscientists to the IGCP Project-396 related activities and their involvement gained more and more momentum since 1997.


    Israel - [Gvirtzman]

    List of projects (Carried out in universities and scientific institutions in Israel. The list includes old projects with on-going follow-ups).

    1. Late Quaternary fossil and modern coral reefs and marine sediments in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba (refs. 1, 3 and 8).
    2. Onshore - offshore stratigraphic correlations of the Quaternary sequence in the Eastern Mediterranean coastal belt (ref. 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14).
    3. The Younger Dryas event in the Eastern Mediterranean (ref. 6).
    4. Sea-level curve of the last 20,000 years reconstructed from the Mediterranean offshore of Israel (no report as of Nov. 1998).
    5. Artificial islands on the continental shelf of Israel: feasibility studies and environmental impact (no publications, only internal progress reports).
    6. Recording of changes of the Mediterranean shoreline during the last 80 years based on air photos and satellite images (ref. 12).
    7. Environmental and ecological characterization of microfauna and sediments of the Mediterranean continental shelf off Israel (no publications, only internal progress reports).
    8. Underwater archaeological excavations of early Holocene sites in the Mediterranean shelf off Israel (ref. 2).


    Italy - [Francesco Chiocci]

    As Italy is a country surrounded by sea, most of the main cities are situated on the coast and a lot of economic activities occur on the shelf, as fishing, navigation, and tourism. Hydrocarbon (especially gas) exploration and exploitation take place on the shallow seas of the Adriatic and Sicily Channel (some hundreds of rigs operated there since the 60's).

    Tectonics is very active so the tsunami risk is real (the 1908 Messina tsunami caused several thousands of causalities). Beach erosion is a main problem on most of the Italian regions; some exploitation of relict sand on the shelf occur in northern Adriatic for Venice beach nourishment (several hundred thousand of m3 dredged) while researches are going on for the beaches near Rome.

    Concerns about sea level rise caused/increased by localised subsidence arose especially in the northern Adriatic (Po river delta and Venice).

    For all the previous reasons, the study of continental shelves has been actively promoted by the Italian Universities and Research Institutes.

    After the pioneering work of Raimondo Selli and its fellows (Colantoni, Fabbri, Gallignani) in the 50's and 60's, the study of Italian continental shelves was driven in the 70's by a large national project on "Oceanografia e Fondi Marini" (Oceanography and seafloor), funded by National Research Council of Italy (CNR), that investigated most of the Italian Seas and shelves.

    At present CNR is the leading Institution in this field, with two Institutes dedicated to marine geology (some hundred people mainly working in Bologna and Naples) and a Research Vessel (N/O Urania) operating continuously on the Italian seas. Shelf researches are still done in the Universities as well as by other research institutions as Osservatorio Geofisico Sperimentale of Trieste, Servizio Geologico Nazionale and ENEA (National Board for Alternative Energy Resources).

    In the table hereafter a list of the research groups operating in Italian continental shelves is reported. The names of the leaders, the main study areas, the scientific aspects they are (or were) focused on, and their current status of activity (only in respect to the shelf studies) are only indicative and do not aim to be exhaustive.

    No foreign groups are working on the Italian continental shelves (some is working on the basins); Italian groups working abroad on shelves include Univ. of Trieste (Brambati) for seafloor sedimentology and geological mapping of Magellan Strait, Univ. of Trieste (Finetti) for exploration seismics in the Black Sea and Antarctica, Osservatorio Geofisico Sperimentale (..) HR seismics in Antarctica.

    The following is a list of people who are currently active in Continental Shelf Research in Italy in recent years

    /tr>
    INSTITUTION PEOPLE MAIN AREAS TOPICS
    Univ. of ROMA + CNR of Roma Chiocci, Tortora, Bellotti, La Monica Tuscany shelf, Latium shelf,Calabria shelf HR seismics/sequence stratigraphy, deltaic sedimentation, shelf dynamics, sedimentary processes, marine geotechnics, geological mapping 1/50.000
    CNR NAPOLI D'Argenio, de Alteriis, Sacchi, Budillon Gulf of Napoli, Southern Adriatic Sea, Campania shelf HR seismic stratigraphy, miltichannel seismics, structural land/sea correlation, magnetic susceptibility, geological mapping 1/50.000
    University of PALERMOCatalano, Agate Sicily Channel, South Tyrrhenian Sea 3rd order sequence stratigraphy and correlation with land outcrop
    CNR BOLOGNA Trincardi, Roveri Adriatic Sea, Calabria. Tuscany HR seismic/sequence stratigraphy, Shelf coring and dating
    CNR BOLOGNA Marani North Adriatic Holocene evolution of Po River delta
    CNR BOLOGNA Frascari Adriatic Sea Geochemistry/ polluttant dispersion
    Univ. BOLOGNA Romagnoli Etna/Eolian Isl. Submarine volcanology
    Univ. of TRIESTE Finetti Italian Seas, Black Sea, Antartica Exploration seismics, deep crust structural geology
    Oss. Geof. Sperim. TRIESTE Antartica HR seismics, gas occurence in the shelf
    ENEA Antonioli Tyrrhenian Sea Submarine geology/ sea level curve
    Serv. Geologico D'Angelo Italian seas Geological mapping 1/50.000


    Japan - [Yoshiki Saito]

    The National Committee for Quaternary Research of Japan and Japan Association for Quaternary Research had an International Symposium on Quaternary Environmental Change in the Asia and Western Pacific Region on 14-17 Octover, 1997.

    In the syposium, IGCP-396 had a special session on coastal dynamics: late Quaternary changes of deltas and continental shelves. 13 papers were presented from USA, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Korea, and Japan. The proceedings of this session will be published from a special issue of the Journal of Asian Earth Science jointly organized with IGCP-367 session in the symposium.

    The Geological Survey of Japan and JISTEC are organizing an International Workshop on Land-Sea Link in Asia to be held in Tsukuba on 15-19 October, 1999. IGCP-396 is supporting this workshop. This meeting will be in memory of Emeritus Professor K.O. Emery, who was a honorary adviser to IGCP 396. A special session on the Yellow Sea and East China Sea is planned on 16 October, 1999.

    Though Japanese working group did not have a meeting, information and news of IGCP-396 in Japan have been announced using an official news letter "Daiyonki-Tsuushin" of Japan Association for Quaternary Research.


    The Netherlands - [George Postma]


    South Africa - [John Rogers]



    To send an E-mail to all the officers clickhere


    This page is maintained by the Geotechnical Microanalysis and Micromorphology Centre, UEA.

    gmc information

    contact geo.micro@uea.ac.uk