The Quaternary is the most recent major subdivision of the
geological record, covering the last 2.5 million years or so of
earth history and extending to the present day. Over the course of
the Quaternary, the earth's global climate system oscillated
between glacial and interglacial modes. A reliable chronology is
key to our understanding not only of the dramatic changes in the
physical and biotic landscapes that resulted from these major
climatic shifts, but also of the important human evolutionary and
dispersal events that occurred during this period. "Quaternary
Dating Methods" describes the different techniques that can be
employed to establish a Quaternary timescale, and shows the wide
range of contexts in which these can be applied.
The book begins with a review of the history of Quaternary
dating from the early attempts based on biblical genealogies to
recent developments involving radiometric methods. The basics of
radioactivity and concepts of Quaternary stratigraphy are also
introduced. Subsequent chapters cover the different dating
techniques, beginning with those based on the radioactive decay of
certain chemical elements, through the use of annually-banded
records such as tree-rings and varves, to methods that enable
materials either to be ranked in terms of relative order of
antiquity or to be correlated using time-parallel marker horizons
in different sedimentary sequences.
This book: Introduces each dating technique in a clear and
straightforward manner, with a minimum of technical detail.
Discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each method. Focuses on
the practical aspects of dating, with specific examples that show
the versatility of the different approaches.Covers a broad field,
including Quaternary Science, Earth Science and Archaeology.
This book is essential reading for second and third-year
undergraduates in Physical Geography, Environmental Science, Earth
Science and Archaeology, and for students taking courses in
Quaternary Studies, Geochronology, and Palaeoclimatology. It is
equally important for professionals in the fields of Earth,
Environmental and Archaeological Sciences, who need to know about
the range of dating techniques that are available, and about their
strengths, limitations and potential applications.
General
Imprint: |
John Wiley & Sons
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
April 2005 |
First published: |
May 2005 |
Authors: |
M. Walker
|
Dimensions: |
244 x 170 x 17mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
306 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-470-86927-7 |
Categories: |
Books >
Earth & environment >
Earth sciences >
General
|
LSN: |
0-470-86927-5 |
Barcode: |
9780470869277 |
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