In 2014 within the Taphonomy Working Group meeting at the ICAZ in Argentina, it was planned to launch, among the worldwide taphonomist colleagues, a Global Weathering Project focused on how weathering affected macromammal bones in different climates and environments all over the world. This initiative is led by Yolanda Fernandez Jalvo (MNCS, Madrid), Alexander H Parkinson (University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa) and Peter Andrews (NHM, London). Following their extensive research on this topic, they set up the protocols of these worldwide experiment.
Here we include you all the information about why it was decided to undertake this project ( Why Global Weathering) and which are the protocols to follow if you want to participate. Any colleague from any country and region can take part in this global study, therefore it is important that all of us follow the same procedures in order the results can be compare objectively later on.
Some colleagues have already started with the experiment in different countries and regions, and more researchers are welcome to join to this promising Global Weathering Project!!
You can obtain all the information in the following links:
Global weathering_The protocols_TWG
GLOBAL WEATHERING PROJECT_updating
To make feasible, comparable and to follow the results in each region at the beginning of every researcher participation we will making a compilation of your names, institutions, experiment area, location. You will need to provide coordinates of altitude and latitude in a google map, basic climatic parameters such as data of temperature and relative humidity, annual rain rates of the area and type of vegetation. We are asking for a summary every year and photos along the experiment, possibly after the first year, we will need to get the collected samples or a portion of it to evaluate changes. If you want to participate please contact Yolanda Fernandez-Jalvo (yfj@mncn.csic.es)
Please, feel free to share with any colleague that might be interested and WELCOME to this exciting project!!
Publications related:
2023. Marín-Arroyo, A.B.; González-Rabanal, B.; Arteche, J.L.; Fatás, P.; González Morales, M.R. Bone weathering in an Atlantic environment: preliminary results of the Global Weathering Project in Spain, Quaternary Science Advances. Volume 12, 100112.