IGCP PROJECT PROPOSAL

INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGICAL CORRELATION PROGRAMME PROJECT 396

.....Continental shelves in the Quaternary
Full title -: The record of the Quaternary on continental shelves; their interpretation, correlation and applications

CONTENTS PAGE

Proposers -

Dr W.W.-S. Yim: Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong E-mail: wwsyim@hkucc.hku.hk Fax: 852-25176912
Prof. P.J. Davies: Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia E-mail: pjd@beryl.es.su.oz.au Fax: 61-2-3710184

This WEB page is a full version of the proposal as sent in October 1995 and editted by Dr N.K. Tovey for incorporation on the WEB. It gives further details of the proposal over and above those given in the summary page

CONTENTS of the PROPOSAL DOCUMENT

Brief outline and main objectives of the project:
Tentative work schedule:
Concrete results expected of the project:
Description of current activities in the field
List of responsible Persons
List of persons showing willingness to collaborate.
List of persons showing interest
Previous Work
Suggested locations of Major Field activities
Location of Major Laboratores with agreed cooperation
Other Information

Full Description of Proposed Project
Work Plan

Further Information

Brief outline and main objectives of the project:

Continental shelf sediments provide a direct geological record of Quaternary sea-level changes. However, in comparison to deep sea sediments, they have played only a minor role in marine-terrestrial correlation. This is attributed mainly to the lack of a major international research initiative like the Ocean Drilling Programme on continental shelves. The project will therefore go some way to correcting this inbalance. The main objectives are to study and interpret the Quaternary sequences on continental shelves to permit global correlation of sea-level and climatic changes and at the same time identify beneficial uses for humankind.

Estimated duration of the project: 5 years (1996-2000)

Tentative work schedule:

Year 1 - Election of project leader(s); getting the project off the ground; preliminary overviews of Quaternary sequences from key areas and identification of suitable methodology including dating methods.
Year 2 - Dating and interpretation of Quaternary sequences on continental shelves.
Year 3 - Examination of the implications of Quaternary sea-level history on continental shelves.
Year 4 - Correlation and applications of Quaternary sequences on continental shelves.
Year 5 - Preparation of the final report.

The proposed venues of the meetings are:-

Hong Kong;
Sydney;
Cape Town or Durban;
Bangor (UK), Brest or Bordeaux;
New Orleans or St. Petersburg.

Concrete results expected of the project:
(a) in theoretical sciences:

i. Quaternary evolution of continental shelves of the world.
ii. Correlation between continental shelf sequences with those in the deep sea and on land.
iii. Provision of evidence on Quaternary environmental changes on continental shelves during glacial and interglacial periods.
iv. Better understanding of erosional and depositional processes on continental shelves.
v. Marine archaeology including migration routes of flora and fauna.
vi. Application of continental shelf evolution in the Quaternary to explain the past.
(b) in applied science and technology;

i. Engineering properties of offshore soils for assisting coastal engineering including coastal land reclamations e.g. airports; offshore waste disposal, port and harbour facilities, and, submarine tunnels.
ii. Utilization and management of continental shelves for humankind.
iii. Numerous foundation engineering applications including the better prediction of punch through failures associated with offshore platforms.
iv. Exploration and exploitation of mineral resources on continental shelves.

The following short-term results are expected (with indications of years):

Better use of continental shelf sediments in marine-terrestrial correlation (2-3 years).
etter understanding of engineering properties of offshore soils (2-3 years).
Better understanding of palaeosoil development including the occurrence of loess and acid sulphate soils on continental shelves (2-4 years).
Better understanding on the geological evolution of fringing and barrier reefs (2-4 years).
Improvement in dating methods (4-5 years).
Better understanding on erosional and depositional processes on continental shelves including the palaeohydrology of continental areas during glacial and interglacial periods (4-5 years).
Better understanding on the distribution of mineral resources on continental shelves (4-5 years).
Training of researchers from developing countries (4-5 years).

Description of current activities in the field

The present state of activities in this field (include the names of institutions and responsible persons):

This project is timely because coastal development involving expansion into continental shelves in many parts of the world is taking place at an alarming ly fast rate. For example, the Kansai International Airport in Osaka Bay, Japan was built on an artificial island located on the continental shelf at an average water depth of 18 m. Other international airports located on continental shelves are currently being built in Hong Kong, Macau, Seoul (Korea), Langkawi (Malaysia), etc.

The engineering site investigation carried out for large coastal engineering projects is providing much new information on the Quaternary sequences of continental shelves. Another important source of information on the Quaternary is provided by stability study of offshore oil platforms, the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources including constructional materials in continental shelves.

Research work on continental shelves in the Quaternary is largely restricted to the developed countries with few exceptions. This is however rapidly changing because of the importance of continental shelves as a source of food and minerals. In many countries, research activities are undertaken by national geological surveys, universities and research institutes. It is also a growing trend that oceanographic research institutes are giving much more attention to continental shelves than previously. In the shallower parts of the continental shelves, most investigations are linked to site investigation work carried out for coastal engineering projects. In the deep er parts of the continental shelves, most investigations are carried out in connection with fuel mineral exploration and exploitation. International groups such as the Committee of the Co-ordination of Offshore Prospecting (CCOP) in Thailand are actively involved in the exploration of marine mineral resources on continental shelves.

The International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) Pages thematic studies is actively engaged in obtaining long and high resolution records of palaeoenvironmental changes. To date, the greatest attention has been given to the study of palaeoclimatic record of coral reefs. It is therefore desirable to carry out investigations on continental shelves to fill the void existing between continental areas and the deep sea. One major advantage of continental shelves is that the presence of Holocene deposits is certain when a sufficient number of boreholes are available for study. Deep sea core s on the other hand, may have their top part missing making it difficult to distinquish between oxygen-isotope stages 1, 3 and 5. On land, the upper part of the loess sequence also faces difficulties due to inadequacies in the available dating methods.

A list of institutions and responsible persons on a country basis is provided below:

The full list contained in this section is being developed on a separate page ordered by country and will be available shortly

Amongst countries at the forefront of research on continental shelves in the Quaternary, Australia may be mentioned as an example. The Australian Geological Survey Organization, universities and state geological surveys have all been very active. This has led to a much better understanding of Quaternary sea-level changes and the geological development of the Great Barrier Reef. The University of Sydney in co-operation with industry is building a sea-bed drill to improve the Quaternary stratigraphy of continental margins (see Appendix). This drill will have 100 m-penetration capability to a maximum water depth of 2000 m. In coastal cities with major infrastructural development like Hong Kong, a vast amount of site investigation information from coastal engineering is already available. This has resulted in the development of a promising line of research using Quaternary environmental changes to explain engineering properties of offshore soils on continental shelves.

Which countries or institutions (or individuals) have already:

(a) agreed to co-operate: (A full list in each Country as of 18th December 1995 may be found under each of the countries below)

Note - Letters of support from more countries and institutions to follow.

Which countries or institutions (or individuals) have already:

(b) shown interest in the project:

Brazil -
- Dr M. El-Robrini, Universidad Federal Do Para
Canada -
- Dr D.B. Scott, Centre for Marine Geology, Dalhousie University
New Zealand -
- Dr J. Shulmeister, Research School of Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington
Spain -
- Dr C. Zazo, Museo Nal. CC. Naturales;
- Dr J.L. Goy, Dpto Geodinamica, Universitario de Lugo;
- Dr J. Hernandez, Dpto. Estructura Y Propiedades, Ciencias Del Mar.
U.S.A. -
- Dr M. Timpson, Quaternary Studies, North Arizona University
U.K. -
- T. Hardman, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia

Note - Letters of support from more countries and Institutions to follow.

Suggested location of major field activities:

Africa -
- Atlantic shelf and Indian Ocean shelf
Antarctica -
- Antarctica shelf
Asia -
- Yellow Sea shelf, East China Sea shelf, South China Sea shelf, Sunda shelf and Indian shelf
Australia -
- Eastern and northwest shelf
North and South America -
- Arctic shelf, Pacific shelf and Atlantic shelf
Europe -
- Northwestern Europe shelf and Mediterranean Sea shelf

Location of major laboratory research (expected or assured co-operation of laboratories):

Australia -

Quaternary Dating Research Centre, Australian National University

China -

Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica

India -

National Institute of Oceanography

Japan -

Department of Earth Sciences, Kanazawa University

U.K. -

School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales - Bangor;
Geotechnical Microanalysis & Micromorphology Centre, University of East Anglia
U.S.A. -
- Department of Geology, University of Delaware

Note - Letters of support from more countries and institutions to follow.

Other information:

(a) full description of the proposed project (including summary of previous work)

Importance of continental shelves

Continental shelves are a finite non-renewable resource of great importance to humankind. It is not only a place where a major source of the world's food production is obtained but also an important source of mineral deposits including oil and natural gas, sand and gravel deposits, and placers including diamonds, tin and gold. It is therefore essential to obtain a better understanding of continental shelves during the Quaternary to assist in their utilization and management of human activities on continental shelves.

Objectives

The project is aimed at studying present day continental shelves down to a water depth of about 200 m in order to provide a better understanding of continental shelves in the Quaternary. Information will be sought based on the study of borehole sequences, remote sensing methods including seismic profiling. The topics to be studied will include:

Record of Quaternary sea-level and climatic changes.
Palaeoenvironmental record of corals and other marine organisms.
Palaeoenvironmental record of terrestrial flora and fauna including migration routes.
Record of soil development.
Engineering properties of offshore sediments as related to Quaternary environmental changes.
The reliability of pre-Holocene conventional and accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dates.
The dating of continental shelf sediments using a wide range of methods to facilitate comparison.
Quaternary marine mineral deposits and their genesis.

Methods for achieving objectives

The research will be based on:

Geophysical methods, coring and drilling.
Dating methods including -
- Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction using all available methods of Quaternary research such as palaeontology, sedimentology, geochemistry, palaeopedology including soil microfabrics, and, engineering properties of soils including cone penetrometer testing.
- Mapping of the continental shelves of the world during the Quaternary in regions where sufficient data is available.

Previous work

The project will draw on relevant previous IGCP projects including 200, 274, 281 and 296, and current IGCP projects including 341, 367 and 379.

Previous work on the dating of continental shelf sequences have revealed a young age bias of pre-Holocene radiocarbon dates. Where boreholes have been drilled on the floor of the shelf and on coral reefs, a record of desiccated crust and dissolution surfaces related to low sea-level stands have been found. This is further supported by a vast largely untapped database of engineering soil testing results which has provided information on Quaternary environmental changes. Substantial evidence of Quaternary sea-level changes on continental shelves has already been recognised including karstic features, loess, floral and faunal remains, palaeosoils and archaeological remains. However, very little is known of their global correlation.

Previous work has already highlighted the importance of continental shelves as being critical to the understanding of marine and terrestrial processes. Unlike some of the previous IGCP projects and the IGBP where the greatest attention is given to the late Quaternary, the project will examine the entire Quaternary period. This is the main difference between the proposed project and other projects. The longer time scale examined and the multidisciplinary nature of the project should permit a much improved understanding of Quaternary processes and events on the continental shelves and provide high resolution records to assist the study of global change.

(b) work plan (with details on initial phase)

See previous section on the tentative work schedule. The initial phase is aimed at establishing good communications between active researchers in both developed and developing countries. A World Wide Web Page

(http://www2.env.uea.ac.uk/gmmc/index.html

Further remarks of reference:

Note that in August 1995, during a business meeting of the Commission on Quaternary Shorelines of the 13th International Union for Quaternary Research Congress (INQUA) held in Berlin, participants were informed of the proposed project with encouraging response. This has led the Commission to identify the record of Quaternary sea-level changes on continental shelves as a priority topic during the intercongress period 1995-99. The project will therefore work closely with the six geographic subcommissions of the Commission on Quaternary Shorelines - Africa, Americas, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and Black Seas/ Northwestern Europe and West Pacific.

Face to face discussions with Dr P.P. Smolka, Co-leader of IGCP 341 has smoothed the path of co-operation in the field of southern hemisphere palaeoclimates during the Quaternary until the completion of IGCP 341 in 1997.

Discussions with Dr D.B. Scott, Project leader of IGCP 367 has revealed only minimal overlap. It is only in the investigation of boreholes near the present day shorelines where there is a possible overlap.

Date ___________________________ Signature ____________________________ Enclosures:

(1) Appendix (Portable remotely operated drill)
(2) Letters of support received as of 5/10/1995.