Objective The project aims to integrate different and complementarypaleoenvironmental proxi-data in a context of the Mediterraneannatural ecosystem previous to human influence and the furtherinteractive changes undergone by human activity, in order tounderstand the present day desertification trend in the SpanishMediterranean area.The work is based on the elaboration of a Mediterraneandesertification model based on data obtained from lacustrine andmarsh sedimentary records. Palaeo-Mediterranean climatic patternwill be obtained from a series of cores analyses. The specificcoring sites will present continuous sedimentary record from thelast climatic crisis to present time along a south-north transect in thecoastal area, and also towards the inland peninsula. In eachsite, sampling will be made by core drilling with continuoussediment recovery.The comparison of the dynamic evolution between these two timespans, i.e. previous to and subject to human activity, shouldallow to evaluate the specific importance of each of the systemvariables and allow to identify how and when natural evolutionwas emphasized by human activity .Core analysis will consist of detailed description of thesediment survey of the sedimentary processes with special focusgiven to hiatus, slumps, postsedimentary disturbances which couldoriginate discontinuities in the analyses; and magneticsusceptibility record carried out in order to detect mineralphases and to establish the correlations between cores.Sample analysis will concern: 1) microscopic and spectralanalyses of sedimentary microstructures which include laminations(annual or not), possible reworking (load casts, hardground,paleosoils, etc.), sedimentation processes; 2) Bio-markers studywith pollen, diatoms and ostracods; 3) Absolute dating usingdirect methods ( 14C, U/Th, TL, annual laminite counting)and indirect methods (paleomagnetic events, volcanic ash levelrecords from Holocene); 4) Oxygen and carbon isotopes measuredon authigenic carbonates without diagenesis and on ostracodvalves; 5) amount of organic matter studied in order to find outthe biomass production; 6) Grain identification andquantification including authigenic minerals, detrital minerals,charcoal and potsherds.Once all these analytical data have been compiled and compared,it will be possible to reconstruct a detailed Mediterraneanenvironmental evolution going inland from coastal areas and fromsouth to north. The intensity of these evolutions will bequantified throughout sequential time slices. Fields of science natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeologysedimentologyagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturegrains and oilseedsnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compoundsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsagricultural sciencesagricultural biotechnologybiomass Programme(s) FP3-ENV 1C - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of the environment, 1990-1994 Topic(s) 0403 - Desertification in the Mediterranean area Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS EU contribution No data Address S/N,Lluis SolT Sabaris S/N 08028 BARCELONA Spain See on map Total cost No data Participants (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Universität Trier Germany EU contribution No data Address 54228 Trier See on map Total cost No data Université Catholique de Louvain Belgium EU contribution No data Address 3,Place L. Pasteur 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve See on map Total cost No data
