Cold-water corals occur worldwide from high latitudes to tropical areas, in various settings from the deep-sea to shallow marine environments near the coast. The topic of this thesis is the establishment and extension of knowledge about environmental conditions controlling cold-water coral (CWC) mound development. From literature it is known that glacial-interglacial cycles drive development and geographic distribution of CWC mounds on a large scale. On the other hand, knowledge about the influence of small scale climatic and oceanographic changes during the Holocene is scarce. Thus, this thesis focuses on the investigation of the limited Holocene climatic and oceanographic changes and their effect on the process of mound genesis. For this purpose, a Holocene CWC mound setting in a sound in the Altafjord in northern Norway (70°N) -- the Stjernsund -- was chosen and the local benthic ecosystem was extensively analysed. Von den sub-arktischen hohen Breiten bis in warme tropische Zonen besiedeln Kaltwasserkorallen unseren Planeten. Sie haben sich verschiedenste Lebensräume erschlossen --- Von der Tiefsee bis zu marinen Flachwassergebieten an der Küste kann ihr Vorkommen beobachtet werden. Sie bilden faszinierende Ökosysteme die erst in den letzten Jahrzehnten intensiver erforscht wurden. Diese Arbeit widmet sich der tieferen Erforschung dieser Lebensräume. Im Fokus stehen dabei Umweltbedingungen, die die Entwicklung der Kaltwasserkorallenvorkommen kontrollieren. Umfangreiche frühere Untersuchungen haben bereits gezeigt, dass ihr Wachstum, als auch ihre geographische Verbreitung im Wesentlichen von Glazial-Interglazial-Zyklen gesteuert werden. Die kurzzeitlichen klimatischen und ozeanographischen Steuerungsfaktoren sind im Vergleich dazu jedoch nahezu unbekannt. Daher konzentriert sich diese Arbeit auf die Erforschung von kurzeitigen klimatischen und ozeanographischen Veränderungen, die insbesondere im Holozän zu beobachten sind, sowie deren mögliche Auswirkungen auf die Entwicklung von Kaltwasserkorallen Mounds. Hierzu wurde der holozäne Kaltwasserkorallen Mound im Stjernsund, ein Sund im Altafjord in Nordnorwegen (70°N) ausgewählt und dessen benthisches Ökosystem umfassend analysiert.

Cold-water corals occur worldwide from high latitudes to tropical areas, in various settings from the deep-sea to shallow marine environments near the coast. The topic of this thesis is the establishment and extension of knowledge about environmental conditions controlling cold-water coral (CWC) mound development. From literature it is known that glacial-interglacial cycles drive development and geographic distribution of CWC mounds on a large scale. On the other hand, knowledge about the influence of small scale climatic and oceanographic changes during the Holocene is scarce. Thus, this thesis focuses on the investigation of the limited Holocene climatic and oceanographic changes and their effect on the process of mound genesis. For this purpose, a Holocene CWC mound setting in a sound in the Altafjord in northern Norway (70°N) -- the Stjernsund -- was chosen and the local benthic ecosystem was extensively analysed. Von den sub-arktischen hohen Breiten bis in warme tropische Zonen besiedeln Kaltwasserkorallen unseren Planeten. Sie haben sich verschiedenste Lebensräume erschlossen --- Von der Tiefsee bis zu marinen Flachwassergebieten an der Küste kann ihr Vorkommen beobachtet werden. Sie bilden faszinierende Ökosysteme die erst in den letzten Jahrzehnten intensiver erforscht wurden. Diese Arbeit widmet sich der tieferen Erforschung dieser Lebensräume. Im Fokus stehen dabei Umweltbedingungen, die die Entwicklung der Kaltwasserkorallenvorkommen kontrollieren. Umfangreiche frühere Untersuchungen haben bereits gezeigt, dass ihr Wachstum, als auch ihre geographische Verbreitung im Wesentlichen von Glazial-Interglazial-Zyklen gesteuert werden. Die kurzzeitlichen klimatischen und ozeanographischen Steuerungsfaktoren sind im Vergleich dazu jedoch nahezu unbekannt. Daher konzentriert sich diese Arbeit auf die Erforschung von kurzeitigen klimatischen und ozeanographischen Veränderungen, die insbesondere im Holozän zu beobachten sind, sowie deren mögliche Auswirkungen auf die Entwicklung von Kaltwasserkorallen Mounds. Hierzu wurde der holozäne Kaltwasserkorallen Mound im Stjernsund, ein Sund im Altafjord in Nordnorwegen (70°N) ausgewählt und dessen benthisches Ökosystem umfassend analysiert.

This volume reflects the current state of scientific knowledge about natural climate variability on decade-to-century time scales. It covers a wide range of relevant subjects, including the characteristics of the atmosphere and ocean environments as well as the methods used to describe and analyze them, such as proxy data and numerical models. They clearly demonstrate the range, persistence, and magnitude of climate variability as represented by many different indicators. Not only do natural climate variations have important socioeconomic effects, but they must be better understood before possible anthropogenic effects (from greenhouse gas emissions, for instance) can be evaluated. A topical essay introduces each of the disciplines represented, providing the nonscientist with a perspective on the field and linking the papers to the larger issues in climate research. In its conclusions section, the book evaluates progress in the different areas and makes recommendations for the direction and conduct of future climate research. This book, while consisting of technical papers, is also accessible to the interested layperson.

Cold-water coral ecosystems figure the formation of large seabed structures such as reefs and giant carbonate mounds; they represent unexplored paleo-environmental archives of earth history. Like their tropical cousins, cold-water coral ecosystems harbour rich species diversity. For this volume, key institutions in cold-water coral research have contributed 62 state-of-the-art articles on topics from geology and oceanography to biology and conservation, with some impressive underwater images.

There is little dispute within the scientific community that humans are changing Earth's climate on a decadal to century time-scale. By the end of this century, without a reduction in emissions, atmospheric CO2 is projected to increase to levels that Earth has not experienced for more than 30 million years. As greenhouse gas emissions propel Earth toward a warmer climate state, an improved understanding of climate dynamics in warm environments is needed to inform public policy decisions. In Understanding Earth's Deep Past, the National Research Council reports that rocks and sediments that are millions of years old hold clues to how the Earth's future climate would respond in an environment with high levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases. Understanding Earth's Deep Past provides an assessment of both the demonstrated and underdeveloped potential of the deep-time geologic record to inform us about the dynamics of the global climate system. The report describes past climate changes, and discusses potential impacts of high levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases on regional climates, water resources, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and the cycling of life-sustaining elements. While revealing gaps in scientific knowledge of past climate states, the report highlights a range of high priority research issues with potential for major advances in the scientific understanding of climate processes. This proposed integrated, deep-time climate research program would study how climate responded over Earth's different climate states, examine how climate responds to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and clarify the processes that lead to anomalously warm polar and tropical regions and the impact on marine and terrestrial life. In addition to outlining a research agenda, Understanding Earth's Deep Past proposes an implementation strategy that will be an invaluable resource to decision-makers in the field, as well as the research community, advocacy organizations, government agencies, and college professors and students.

Dated June 2004

This introductory textbook introduces the basics of dating, the range of techniques available and the strengths and limitations of each of the principal methods. Coverage includes: the concept of time in Quaternary Science and related fields the history of dating from lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy the development and application of radiometric methods different methods in dating: radiometric dating, incremental dating, relative dating and age equivalence Presented in a clear and straightforward manner with the minimum of technical detail, this text is a great introduction for both students and practitioners in the Earth, Environmental and Archaeological Sciences. Praise from the reviews: "This book is a must for any Quaternary scientist." SOUTH AFRICAN GEOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL, September 2006 “...very well organized, clearly and straightforwardly written and provides a good overview on the wide field of Quaternary dating methods...” JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE, January 2007