Long Title: Controversies in the Quaternary of the Southern Hemisphere
Short Title: PASH2

Convenors / Guest Editors: Peter Kershaw, Jan-Berend Stuut & Marcus Vandergoes

Rationale

As has been demonstrated within several workshops and scientific sessions at previous Southern- Connections and other meetings, particularly those associated with PASH2 (Land-Ocean correlation of long Quaternary records from the southern hemisphere on orbital and sub-orbital timescales), the time is ripe to bring information together on the Quaternary of the southern hemisphere from groups in different scientific disciplines, and discuss and publish the outcome of the interaction between these groups. On land, the Continental Drilling Program has recently been employed to produce long cores from previously inaccessible areas or water depths, such as Lake Titicaca and Lake Potrok Aike in South America, and Lake Malawi in Africa, while research on long continuous records is being pursued and supported within Australia and, recently, in New Zealand. In the marine realm, exciting results are emerging from combined marine-terrestrial proxy studies off southern South America with research off southern Africa at last providing some clarification of climate patterns in this region. These African results are beginning to relate to those from more established studies off tropical West Africa and from terrestrial studies in the south- western Cape. Intensive study of terrestrial and marine proxies in the northern Australian-Indonesian region is revealing complex relationships with climate forcing from the North Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean regions that cry out for comparison with the other areas, while records in southern Australia are challenging long-held ideas on the nature and timing of the evolution of present day synoptic patterns. On shorter timescales, human activity becomes important, and long records are seen as an important ingredient in the interpretation of their role, relative to climate, in environmental change.

It is felt that to maximise interest as well as to inform on current thinking and information about issues that may have had a rather complex history within the literature or been the subject of some debate, a focus on controversies may be appropriate. This feeling seems to be shared by the organisers of Southern Connections VI who have accepted this symposium topic and the editor of Quaternary International who has given the go-ahead for the production of a special issue.

Below are listed some potential themes that have emerged from previous meetings. These are provided as a guide only with papers welcome that cover all or a component of these themes or other topics. Papers will be both invited and unsolicited.

• Climate evolution of the Southern-Hemisphere Deserts;
• Controversial climate patterns like e.g.,
  • the Mid Holocene Climatic Optimum or Thermal Maximum;
  • timing of events around the LGM;
  • geographical extent and nature of the YD;
  • latitudinal trends.
• Forcing and extent of the Southern Westerlies;
• Development of the Southern Westerlies;
• Patterns of change in monsoon systems and ENSO;
• Initial Colonisation of South America;
• Timing and causes of megafaunal extinction, particularly in Australia;
• Human evolution and climate change in Southern Africa;
• Forcing of lake levels in Australia, the Andes and Central/Southern Africa;
• Degree of Antarctic forcing;
• Modelling of distinct southern-hemisphere environmental changes;
• Regional patterns and causes of Holocene intensification of human settlement;
• Agricultural origins and development in the southern Hemisphere.

Bariloche is the ideal place for a meeting of natural scientists because of its landscape attributes including extensive lakes, the Andean backdrop, active volcanic and glaciated lanscapes, remarkable vegetation gradients, range of Nothofagus and other temperature rainforests, dramatic Araucaria forests and steppe. It’s an experience not to be missed.

To ensure timely publication of the special volume, everybody is requested to submit their manuscripts shortly before or during the Southern Connection meeting in February 2010. In other words, all manuscripts should already be prepared before the meeting. Please let one of us know, when you submit your abstract whether you will be contributing to the issue. It is anticipated that some papers, solicited or unsolicited, will be from those who feel that the Congress as a whole is somewhat peripheral to their interests, to ensure a balanced and impressive issue.

Congress: SC2010

• Early-bird registration for the conference closes on 15 June 2009;
• but standard registration is open until 30 December 2009;
• Abstracts are due by 2 October 2009.Please visit www.sccongress2010.com.ar for further congress details.

Special volume of QI

• Confirmation to write a paper before 30 June 2009;
• Abstract and title before 2 October 2009;
• Full manuscript before 1 March 2010.

Please visit www.elsevier.com/locate/quaint for detailed info on the manuscript requirements

Please send us an email if you are prepared to be put onto the PASH2 membership list and receive updates of these and any other activities.

Best regards,

Peter Kershaw: Peter.Kershaw@arts.monash.edu.au

Jan-Berend Stuut:jbstuut@marum.de

Marcus Vandergoes:M.Vandergoes@gns.cri.nz