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CHRONOS Network for Earth System History and the Geochemical Cyclesthrough-Time Node
 Compile data from paleontological assemblages, evolution, biodiversity and extinction,
productivity proxies, terrestrial and marine trends, etc.
 Determine best means to link these databases into a single integrated thematic LIFEthrough-Time sub-network with data search and acquisition capabilities
 Join the EGI-Amoco database, the Neptune database (predominantly marine microfossils),
and the Paleobiology Database (predominately macrofossils)
 Link additional databases (Paleodata, JANUS-ODP, NORGES, Palynodat, ODSN) and an
extensive reference set of taxonomic dictionaries and images
RADIOMETRIC AGES
The CHRONOS Concept. The goal of the CHRONOS project is to deliver a
dynamic, interactive and time-calibrated framework for Earth System history
as a network of comprehensive databases containing information related to
biotic evolution and diversity, climate change, geochemical cycles, geodynamical
processes, and other aspects of the Earth system. The CHRONOS system will
consist of a ‘central hub’ coordinating a network of individual databases linked
to the same temporal framework (Fig. 1). The databases will be interactive and
referenced to a constantly updating timescale that forms the core control on the
data presentation.
Key Components and Relevant Data
• Time (“absolute” ages derived from geochronology, and “relative” ages
derived from correlations to global and regional geological stage boundaries)
• Life-through-Time (paleontological assemblages, evolution, biodiversity and
extinction, productivity proxies, terrestrial and marine trends, etc.)
• Climate-through-Time (orbital forcing, glaciations, ice core records,
temperature records from oxygen isotopes and other proxies, ecosystem
changes, dust accumulation, etc.)
• Geochemical Cycles-through-Time (carbon and other elements that serve as
biogeochemical cycle indicators, weathering balances from strontium isotopes
and other data, sea-level changes, sediment accumulation rates, global facies
patterns, etc.)
• Core-to-Crust Dynamics-through-Time (magnetic reversals and intensity
variations, rates and directions of plate motions, hydrothermal fluxes of
elements, volcanic ash frequency, etc.)
 Compile dates that directly calibrate or constrain the geological time scale
 Design an interactive database that will automatically update the relevant portion of
dependent geological time scale after entry of “new” or “updated” ages
 Develop radiometric database (ERRAD) under the EarthRef (http://earthref.org)
umbrella, relying heavily on data in the EarthRef infrastructure
Standard Geological Time Scale
 Provide authoritative definitions and global correlation of geological intervals (stages,
periods, etc.) as fixed by a Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP), ratified by the ICS
and International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS)
 Extrapolate absolute ages for each stage boundary and compile data and methods
incorporated into these assignments
 Provide common or standardized zonations for fossil groups and magnetic reversals and
the associated estimates of their ages, with an interactive database linked directly to other
relevant nodes
 Create online databases and display graphics, provide outreach information on the
geological time scale, and host international workshops to utilize the CHRONOS system
and its analytical tools to improve the ages of the Standard Geological Time Scale
CLIMATE-through-Time
 Focus on climate proxy data interpreted as having recorded Milankovitch climate cycles
 Target climate proxies including marine stable isotopes, microfossil assemblages, %
carbonate, biogenic silica, clay mineralogy, trace elements, facies successions, and even
wireline logs
 Design cyber-structure to accommodate linkages to the rapidly increasing inventory of
sub-Milankovitch (decadal-millennial) scale datasets
 Install linkage to databases for the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs (e.g., NOAA’s World
Data Center for Paleoclimatology, ODP, Delphi Project, Pangaea); solicitation and
amalgamation of isolated databases for older sediments
GEOCHEMICAL CYCLES-through-Time
GEOINFORMATICS
WEBPORTAL
LIFE
through
Time
RADIOMETRIC
AGE
CLIMATE
through Time
CENTRAL
HUB
GEOCHEM. Core-to-Crust
CYCLES
Dynamics
through Time through Time
Education &
Outreach
Standard
Geologic
Time Scale
Other
relevant
databases
Taxonomic
Dictionaries
Cross-cutting
databases
Figure 1 – Basic structure of the CHRONOS system, and its envisioned role with the NSF geoinformatics
network. Orange rectangles indicate thematic coordination task groups. Yellow cylinders and sheets
represent databases and data sets, respectively.
 Compile geochemical proxies linked to chronostratigraphy for interpreting global
change and paleoclimate including proven proxies (C, O, S, and Sr isotopes and
emerging proxies like B, Ca, Os, Si, and Fe isotopes)
 Spearhead the repository of time-series data for element/calcium ratios in marine
carbonates
 Design system to permit integration of different proxy records for holistic
interpretations, and enable evaluation of data schemes within a variety of
stratigraphic and temporal schemes
 Catalogue data with a comprehensive set of metadata, permitting detailed evaluation
of sample quality both in the fidelity of the data and in its spatial and temporal
placement
 Include metadata categories like those discussed in Staudigel et al. (2002,
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems); include additional information on sample
quality such as overall specimen preservation, screening methods and ancillary data
(e.g., trace-element data, petrographic and cathodoluminescent character),
maximum burial depth, conodont alteration index, and sample size
 Coordinate data compilation with GERM (Geochemical Earth Reference Model;
GERM Steering Committee 2001) group of EarthRef (http://earthref.org/GERM/) ,
enhancing the temporal component of that program. The two programs will share
data and use standardized protocols so as to complement and not duplicate efforts
A workshop will be organized (perhaps as early as August, 2004) to discuss how to best
organize the database and data display to fulfill the needs of the geochemistry
community. In the meantime, the CHRONOS group and its Geochemical Cyclesthrough-Time group are soliciting comments on what data and metadata to include in
CHRONOS, and how to best integrate CHRONOS and GERM.
User / Tools
LIFE-through-Time
Clients
Thematic Task Groups, Goals, and Tasks
network system that utilizes open software and standards. It will be composed of
open and well-described interfaces to hosted and federated databases based on
the web services model. This is an extremely flexible and open system that will be
designed to inter-operate with Grid-based solutions such as OGSA (Open Grid
Service Architecture) and other systems employed by GEON. It can be described
in terms of five layers consisting of (from bottom up): (1) Databases, (2)
Translation/wrappers, (3) Interface/ Registry description, (4) Clients, and (5)
Users and tools (Fig. 2).
Databases
*CHRONOS steering committee
1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
2Department of Earth Science, UCL, London WC1E 6BT UK
3Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
4Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 USA
5Permian Research Institute, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83728 USA
6College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersberg, FL 33701 USA
7Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 USA
8Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC 20560 USA
9American Geological Institute, Alexandria, VA 22302 USA
10Scripps Inst. of Oceanography, Univ. of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA
11Department of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003 USA
12Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
13Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sci., Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
14Energy & Geoscience Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108 USA
15U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA 20192 USA
The CHRONOS IT System will be a platform-independent open database
Translation Interface / Registry
Wrappers
Description
Ethan L. Grossman1 ([email protected]), John McArthur2, Samuel Bowring3, Cinzia Cervato*4, Vladimir Davydov5,
Benjamin Flower6, Linda Hinnov7, Brian Huber*8, Christopher Keane*9, Anthony Koppers10, R. Mark Leckie11, Charles
Marshall*12, James Ogg*13, Paul Sikora*14, Bruce Wardlaw*15
Implementation. The proposed CHRONOS project will carry out the following
tasks (Table 1) over the next 6 years (2003-2009):
Assemble a high-precision ‘Standard Geological Time Scale’ under the aegis of
the International Commission on Stratigraphy
Progressively establish and interlink critical thematic database networks for
fossil occurrences, radiometric ages, climate change, geochemical cycles, core-tocrust processes, and other components of Earth system history
Establish central CHRONOS portals to access and analyze major component
data types for researchers and the general public
Develop advanced tools and visualization capabilities that investigators can
apply to uploaded data
Coordinate an outreach program with educational modules and informative
demonstrations of the CHRONOS system
User / Tools
Tasks, Institutions, and Participants are shown in Table 2.
Alternate Interface
1) CORBA
2) RMI
3) etc.
Rich client interface
Custom client
interface talking to
the SOAP layer
Table 1. Timetable of selected milestones.
Web interface layer
(XML-based to allow data
return in XML, HTML,
PDF, or legacy formats)
RADIOMET RIC
AGES task group
Year 1
(2003)
Registry and Description
Services
Associated
middle ware
SOAP
Interface
Ontology mapping
layer
Direct connect to local
databases via
connection pool
SQL Engine to hosted databases
Hosted
Databases
Archival copies
of Federated
Databases
Standard
Geological Time
Scale task group
International
Workshop
Connection to federated
databases via:
1) SQL connection
2) SOAP interface layer
3) Interface mapping
Year 2
(2004)
Development
Year 3
(2005)
Development
Deployment (key
Phanerozoic ages)
Year 4
(2006)
Enhancement
(Phanerozoic
igneous intrusion
ages)
Year 5
(2007)
Enhancement
(pre-Camb rian
ages)
Year 6
(2008)
Enhancement
(interactive time
scale)
Federated Databases at
remotely administrated sites
Figure 2 –IT architecture of Central Hub coordination of federated database network and
user interface.
GEOCHEMICAL
CYCLE Sthrough-Time task
group
CORE-to-CRUST
DYNAMICSthrough-Time task
group
Deployment (ICS
standards;
estimated ages of
stage boundaries)
International
Workshop
(Standard Time
Scale deployment)
Enhancement
(bio-zone and
magnetic ages;
regional scales)
Conceptual
database design
Conceptual
database design
Conceptual
database design
International
Workshop
Development
International
Workshop
Development
Development
Deployment
(Neogene climate
cycles)
International
Workshop
(enhanced
consensus time
scale)
Enhancement
(pre-Camb rian)
Enhancement
(MesozoicPaleozoic climate
cycles)
Development
Deployment
(carbon-oxygenstrontium is otope
trends)
Enhancement
(sediment facies)
International
Workshop
Deployment (plate
motion parameters)
Enhancement
(magnetic strat)
Development
GSSP graphics
SOAP
Interface
Wrapper layer to map schemes
and ontology
CLIMATEthrough-Time task
group
Enhancement
(paleo-climate)
Enhancement
(mass balances)
Enhancement
(paleo-geography)
Enhancement
(tectonic activity)
Table 2. Tasks, Institutions, and Participants.
Task
Central Hub
Testing and Application. The CHRONOS Consortium will study four critical
time-slices of Earth history to test the expanding capabilities of the informationtechnology infrastructure and toolkits of the assembled CHRONOS system. The
four time-slice studies will address longstanding scientific questions of societal
relevance and interest (Cambrian life explosion; Permian-Triassic catastrophic
extinctions; middle Cretaceous super-greenhouse world; middle Miocene climate
transitions). Each involves different types and qualities of data and will improve
and refine marine and continental data correlations at the global scale. The
ultimate goal is for all geoscientists to be able to apply the CHRONOS system of
integrated databases for deciphering the complex interactions of the Earth system
through all of geologic time.
Outreach. Outreach will be coordinated by the American Geological Institute
(AGI) to increase awareness of the CHRONOS initiative and to engage users to
work in the developing system. Two primary constituent groups will be targeted –
the geoscience community and the public. The geoscience community will be
involved in the early phases of CHRONOS to build long-term community
awareness and support; public outreach will focus on the education community of
K-16, and the general public. A significant portion of AGI’s effort will be
dedicated to active promotion of the CHRONOS vision through articles and
promotional materials. As the CHRONOS system starts to come online,
community outreach will need to focus more on specifics, such as info sheets,
white papers, and tutorials on use and integration with CHRONOS, as well as
identifying opportunities to spotlight successful ongoing research. Specific focus
will be made to ensure awareness of CHRONOS within industry. This may
include an instructional workshop on the use of the CHRONOS system to provide
interfacing between industry and government researchers with the main
CHRONOS participants.
Outreach
Executive Office
(Wash., DC)
LIFE-throughTime task group
RADIOMET RIC
AGES task group
Standard
Geological Time
Scale task group
CLIMATEthrough-Time task
group
GEOCHEMICAL
CYCLE Sthrough-Time task
group
CORE-to-CRUST
DYNAMICSthrough-Time task
group
Permian-Triassic
time-slice
demonstration
project
mid-Cretaceous
time-slice project
mid-Miocene
time-slice project
Cambrian timeslice project
Main Institutions
Iowa State University*, UCSD
Supercomp uter Center*, Kansas Geological
Survey*
American Geological Institute*, Iowa State
University*, with the assistance of
pestry of Times PastΣ (U.C. Berkeley)
and DLESE
Hosted by U.S. Geological Survey*
Faculty and other personnel
Cinzia Cervato, Chaitan Baru, Lee Allison,
Doug Fils, Pat Diver; Additional system and tool
programm ers (4)
Chris Keane (AGI ), Cinzia Cervato
Outreach professional
Geoscience teacher (summer support)
Faculty summer-salary support (rotating)
Bruce Wardlaw (up to 50% FTE)
University of Utah* (host), Iowa State
University*, Smithsonian*, Univ. Mass.
Amherst*, U.S. Geological Survey*
With additional database contributions by
Harvard Univ., U.C. Santa Barbara, U.C.
Riverside, Louisiana State Univ., Univ.
Oslo, Ocean Drilling Program, Kiel Univ.,
Bremen Univ.
Paul Sikora, Tony Gary, Cinzia Cervato, Brian
Huber, Mark Lec kie, Bruce Wardlaw, and
Charles Marshall.
Additional assistance from J ohn Alroy, Tim
Bralower, Martin Farley, John Firth, Robert
Goll, Felix G radstein, Dave Laza rus, Rakesh
Mithal, Pete Sadler, Emanuel Soeding,
Volkhardt Spiess.
Additional post-docs and graduate students
Anthony Koppers, Samu el Bowring
Additional post-doc and graduate student
James Ogg (Purdue Univ., secretary general of
ICS), Felix Gr adstein (Univ. Oslo, chair of ICS)
Scripps Inst. of Oceanography*, MIT*
Purdue University*, International
Commission on Stratigraphy
Johns Hopkins University* and U. Florida*
Linda Hinnov, Ben Flower
Additional post-doc
Texas A&M*, with Univ. College Lo ndon
Ethan Grossman, John McArthur
Additional post-doc and graduate student in
cooperation with GERM group (H. Staudigel, A.
Koppers, Scripps)
James Ogg, Cathy Constable, Lisa Tauxe, Neil
Opdyke, Anthony Koppers
Additional post-doc and graduate student
Purdue University*, with Scripps* (PMAG
database initiative) and U. Florida
Boise State Univ.*, USGS*, Nanjing Univ.
(China)
Vladimir Davydov, Bruce Wardlaw, Jin Yugan
Additional post-doc and graduate student
Univ. Mass. Amh erst*, Univ. Utah* and
Johns Hopkins University
Mark Lec kie, Paul Sikora, Brian Huber, with
assistance from Linda Hinnov
Additional post-doc and graduate student
Ben Flower, Linda Hinnov
Additional post-doc and graduate student
Charles Marshall, Samuel Bowring
Additional post-doc and graduate student
Univ. South Florida* and Johns Hopkins
University*
Harvard*, MIT