This volume is the third in a series of impact books resulting from the activities of the scientific programme, Response of the Earth System to Impact Processes (IMPACT), funded by the European Science Foundation. The volume begins with an overview of impact markers in the stratigraphic record, and is followed by three general papers on various aspects of impact cratering, ranging from a suggested nomenclature of impact product to a treatment of the hypothesis that impacts can trigger mantle plumes. Then follow 10 original contributions on various impact deposits in the stratigraphic record, ordered by increasing age, ranging from the Late Eocene Popigai impact crater to the K-T boundary to the J-K boundary and Late Devonian and Ordovician deposits.

The present volume is an outcome of the scientific programme "Response of the Earth System to Impact Processes" (IMPACT) by the European Science Foundation (ESF). The ESF is an association of 67 national member organizations devoted to scientific research in 24 European countries. The IMPACT programme is aimed at understanding meteorite impact processes and their effects on the Earth System. Launched in 1998 for duration of 5 years, 15 ESF member organizations now participate in this programme, which will officially end in late 2003, although the momentum gained for European (and worldwide) impact research will be carried on in other programs and organizations. The programme deals with all aspects of meteorite impact research and operates through workshops, exchange programs, publications, and short courses. This particular book is the third in an informal series on "Impact Studies," which is published by Springer and intended to go beyond the ESF IMPACT programme by providing a venue for high quality (and peer-reviewed) monographs and conference and workshop proceedings on general topics connected to impact cratering and related research. th The 6 ESF-Impact workshop "Impact makers in the stratigraphic record" was held in Granada (Spain) on May 2001, with about sixty scientists from Europe, Taiwan, and North America attending the workshop. During the workshop 30 oral, 32 poster, and 3 keynote contributions were presented.