ANNUAL REPORT for 2009
IGCP Spanish National Committee
1. Spanish National Committee
2. IGCP projects in which Spanish Working Groups have participated
3. National Committee activities
4. IGCP meeting held during the year 2009 in Spain
5. IGCP meetings planned for the following year
6. Forthcoming events available in connection with the Programme
7. Suggestions relating to the conduct and improvement of the Programme
8. Finantial support received for the activities of this National Committee, and given to IGCP projects and their activities
Prof. Dr. Marcos A. Lamolda (Chairman)
Departamento de Estratigrafía y Paleontología
Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada
Avda. de Fuentenueva s/n
E-18002 Granada, Spain.
Tel. 34 958243347. Fax no. 34 958248528. E-mail: mlamolda@ugr.es
Website: http://www.ugr.es/~mlamolda/PICG (since 1999, pioneer website of national committees)
Members: Dr. V. Gabaldón and Drª. C. Antón-Pacheco (Comisión Nacional de Geología-IGME); Dr. M. Aurell (Sociedad Geológica de España-SGE); Dr. B. Andreo (513); Drª B. Bauluz (Sociedad española de Mineralogía-SEM); Dr. D. Brown (524); Dr. Ramon Carbonell (559); Dr. P. Domínguez (503); Dr. J. A. Gámez (493); Dr. A. García-Casco (546); Dr. R. Gozalo (Sociedad española de Paleontología-SEP); Dr. G. Gutiérrez Alonso (574); Dr. A. Márquez (506); Dr. R. Mediavilla (CEICAG); D. C. Quesada (497); Dr. R. Sáez (502); Dr. Pablo G. Silva (567); Dr. J. I. Valenzuela (499); Prof. Dr. F. Vilas (526); Prof. Dr. C. Zazo (495).
2. IGCP projects in which Spanish Working Groups have participated
a) Project with Spaniard project co-leader
Project no. 502: ' Global comparison of Volcanic-hosted Massive Sulphide Districts'
Dr. Reinaldo Sáez Ramos
Depto. de Geología, Fac. de Ciencias Experimentales
Campus del Carmen, Universidad de Huelva
Avda. Fuerzas Armadas s/n
E-21071 Huelva
email: saez@uhu.es
http://www.uhu.es/igcp502
Secretary: Manuel Toscano-Macías, email: mtoscano@uhu.es
Spaniard co-leader: Dr. Fernando Tornos, IGME, Salamanca.
Abstract
During 2009, the IGCP 502 has been "On Exteded Terms" and the activities of the Spanish Working Group in the project have been limited. Highlight the active participation of four members of the group at the International Workshop held in Marrakech last March. Also two manuscripts have been submitted as a contribution to the special issue of Mineralium Deposita to be published in 2010 including the most relevant results of IGCP 502.
Publications and contributions to congresses
The working group has a total of 4 publications, 2 as a part of the special volume devoted to results and achievement of the IGCP project no 502, in the international journal Mineralium Deposita. Two contributions to the international congress "The VMS deposits of Morocco", Marrakech, Morocco, March 2009.
Project no. 513: ' Karst Aquifers and Water Resources'
Dr. Bartolomé Andreo Navarro
Depto. de Ecología y Geología
Facultad de Ciencias; Campus de Teatinos s/n
E-29071 Málaga
email: andreo@uma.es
http://www.hidrogeo.uma.es
Secretary: Dr. Juan J. Durán-Valsero, email: jj.duran@igme.es
Spaniard co-leader: Dr. Bartolomé Andreo
Abstract
During 2008, the Spanish Chapter of IGCP 513 Project of UNESCO (GTE-513) has participated in several scientific meetings connected with karst, which were held in Spain and other places (Gibraltar, USA, Croatia). Investigations on Spanish karst cavities were performed. The results have permitted advances on the origin of karst cavities and speleothems formed inside them, on the infiltration processes and water -CO2 flow trough the unsaturated zone of carbonate aquifers, and on the changes in the microclimatic conditions of the caves as consequence of the tourist visits. The hydrogeological characterization of carbonate aquifers, both in natural regime and influenced conditions by pumping exploitation (sometimes overexploitation) has been other line of research developed together with the groundwater recharge assessment. In carbonate aquifers from several Spanish regions it has been studied the functioning of these systems using the discharge data and water table records from boreholes, as well as the chemical and isotopic composition of the water, even from a multi-tracer dye test. The GTE-513 has also investigated on protection of groundwater by vulnerability mapping and protection zoning around springs and wells used for water supply. The main results obtained by GTE 513 have been presented in national and international meetings and congresses and they have been published in international journals.
Visiting Researchers
Two invited researchers paid their visits to the Universidad de Málaga, for study of common interest on Karst aquifers, physic Prof. Jens Lange (Fribourg University, Germany) and hydrogeochemistry topic (Prof. Jacques Mudry (Franche-Comté University, France) among French and Spanish localities.
Publications and contributions to congresses
The working group has a total of 6 publications in journals, and 4 contributions to congresses.
Project no. 524: 'Arc-Continent Collision'
Dr. Dennis Brown
Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra "Jaume Almera", C.S.I.C.
c/ Sole i Sabaris s/n
E-08028 Barcelona
email: dbrown@ija.csic.es
Spaniard co-leader: Dr. Dennis Brown
http://www.ija.csic.es/gt/IGCP524
Abstract
IGCP Project 524 focused on processes in zones of collision or accretion between volcanic island arcs and continental margins in both ancient and active settings. Since zones of arc-continent collision host much of the world's primary economic gold and copper, the search for new resources requires an understanding of the processes and geometries of accretion and the resulting cristal architecture. The island city of Orange, 200 km west of Sydney Australia, provided the setting for the third and final meeting of the IGCP 524. Orange is underlinen by the Ordovician Macquarie Arc, an ancient and anomalous example of an accreted intra-oceanic arc system embedded within the Lachlan Orogen of south-eastern Australia that formed part of the Ordovician palaeo-Pacific margin of east Gondwana. 105 scientifs attended including participants from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, , Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Spain, UK and USA. The large local contingent reflected the thriving minino and exploration industry in the arc. Two pre- and two post-conference one day trips examined aspects of arc evolution and mineralisation, while other two post-conference field trips were also held. One visited the Cowal Gold Mine in the western belt of the Macquarie Arc. The other undertook a transect across the southwern belt or the arc, examining relationships between, and structures of,the ofphiolites belts, Macquarie Arc and adjacent craton-derived sedimentary (turbidite + chert + black shale) sequences in southern NSW.
Meeting organization
- Coordination meeting at Leenane, Ireland, June 5th, 2009, about a monographic book titled: "Processes of arc-continent collision", being edited by Dennis Brown and Paul Ryan, Springer Verlarg is its Publisher. It will be available by Summer 2010.
Publications and contributions to congresses
The results of the Taiwan meeting have been published in a special issue of Tectonophysics,
Brown, D., Huang, C.-Y. (eds.), 2009. Arc-continent Collission. Tectonophisics 479 (1,2), 196 pp.
Brown, D., Ryan, P. (eds.) in press. Processes of arc-continent collision. Springer Verlag.
The working group has a total of 3 publications in journals, and 3 contributions to congresses.
Project no. 546: 'Subduction zones of the Caribbean'
Dr. Antonio García Casco
Depto. de Mineralogía y Petrología, Univ. de Granada
Avda. de Fuentenueva s/n
E-18002 Granada
email: agcasco@ugr.es
Spaniard co-leader: Dr. Antonio García Casco
http://www.ugr.es/agcasco/pigc546/
Abstract
We have arranged a stable group of scientist and students interested in the geology and social/economic development of the Caribbean region. We have produced a large number of scientific achievements concerning the age, geochemistry, petrology (P-T-t paths) and tectonic setting of formation of subduction related metamorphic and volcanic arc rocks, of Caribbean LIP rocks, and of sedimentary rocks of the Caribbean and the Proto-Caribbean basins. One synthesis book covering all these aspects is about to be published by the Geological Society of London (see below). Also, a special volume of Geologica Acta is being edited at this moment. During 2009 our activities have been tightly associated with the activities of the Cuban and Colombian Geological Societies, the projects of Andrew Kerr (Cardiff) on Caribbean LIP, the EU and Spanish MEC-MICINN projects of Javier Escuder (Madrid) on Hispaniola geology and Antonio García-Casco (Granada) on Cuban geology, from which we obtained financial support. The Spanish Committee for the IGCP, granted to Sandra Carrasquilla Ortiz, allowing her participation in the Pre-Congress Course "Metamorphic Petrology as a Geodynamic Tool", in the context of the III Cuban Convention in Earth Sciences, 15-25 March 2009. As a part of the project a MSc thesis has been presented at the University of Granada, "Geología y Geoquímica del Complejo Majubina y su relación con el arco volcánico del Caribe (Cuba Central)", by Sandra Carrasquilla Ortiz, available at
http://www.ugr.es/~agcasco/tierra/geologia/tesismaster09/carrasquilla.htm
Meeting organization
- Cuba 2009. 13-25 March 2009. La Habana, Cuba. Workshop "Subduction Zones of the Caribbean" (ca. 30 participants), and associated Field Trip "Subduction and arc complexes of central Cuba" (ca. 30 participants), in the context of the III Cuban Convention in Earth Sciences.
- Cardiff 2009. 2-4 september 2009. Cardiff, Wales, UK, workshop "Circum-Caribbean and North Andean tectonomagmatic evolution" (ca. 50 participants).
- Colombia 2009. 7-13 September, 2009. Paipa, Bocayá, Colombia. Workshop "Advances in the tectonic evolution of the Caribbean" (> 50 participants). In the context of the XII Colombian Geological Congress.
- San Francisco 2009. 14-18 December 2009. San Francisco, USA Session T22 "Evolution of the Caribbean Plate: linking its tectonic, magmatic, metamorphic and stratigraphic records". in the context of the AGU Fall Meeting. expected > 30 participants. See details at the website: http://www.ugr.es/agcasco/igcp546/
Postgraduate courses
* Cuba 2009. 13-25 March 2009. La Habana, Cuba. Pre-Congress Course "Metamorphic Petrology as a Geodynamic Tool" (ca. 20 participants) in the context of the III Cuban Convention in Earth Sciences.
* Stanford 2009. 1-18, May 2009. Stanford, USA. Course "Sedimentary Provenance Analysis and its bearing on subduction and strike-slip tectonics at the southwestern margin of the Caribbean. (5 attendants).
* Colombia 2009. 7-13 September, 2009. Paipa, Bocayá, Colombia. Course "Tools for tectonic analysis in the Caribbean margin" (ca. 20 participants). In the context f the XII Colombian Geological Congress.
The working group published 10 papers in journals, and presented 19 contributions to meetings, and produced one field-trip guide for an international congress, and two geological maps E=1:50000, from the Dominican Republic.
Project no. 559: 'Crustal Architecture and landscape Evolution'
Dr. Ramon Carbonell
Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra "Jaume Almera", CSIC
c/ Sole i Sabaris s/n
E-08028 Barcelona
email: ramon.carbonell@gmail.com
Spaniard co-leader: Dr. Ramon Carbonell
http://www.earthscrust.org
Abstract
This project focusses on that part of planet Earth that has the most significance for the world's communities, namely the Earth's crust, that outer part of the planet on which we all live. The project makes available to communities-at-large a wealth of information and seismic imaging that is commonly only available to research workers but yet has a profound effect on how we think of the landscapes, natural environments and their controlling geological processes and tectonic influences. IGCP Project 559 is a successor to IGCP Project 474 and delivers an international mechanism whereby specialist seismic researchers from all countries can meet at various sponsored conferences/symposia, can sponsor international student participation at conferences and symposia, and can disseminate information on seismic images of the Earth's crust and upper mantle that affect the lives of many communities on this planet. IGCP Project 559 sponsors international symposia every two years under the banner - Deep Seismic Profiling of the Continents and their Margins. The Next symposium in Cairns, Australia, in 2010 will be the 14th symposium in the series with a history going back to 1984. In addition, IGCP Project 559 sponsors sessions at other international relevant conferences such as the last IGC in Norway, 2008, and the forthcoming IGC in Brisbane during 2012, and various regional geoscientific conferences such as the European Geosciences Union General Assembly, 2009, in Vienna.
Contributions to congress
Two contributions to the European Geosciences Union General Assembly
c) Projects with active working groups
Project no. 495: 'Quaternary Land-Ocean Interaction'
Dr. Caridad Zazo
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, C.S.I.C.
c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2
E-28006 Madrid
email: mcnzc65@mncn.csic.es
Secretary: Dr. Javier Lario, email: Javier.Lario@ccia.uned.es
Abstract
Activities and results published in journal with high Impact Factor, and International books and journals most of them presented during specific Meetings and Congress, during which the opportunity to contrast ideas and methods is possible, show the great activity of our GTE. In order to understand all mechanisms and processes involved in sea-level changes. The use of several proxies at different temporal and special scale, have largely improved. Changes at millennial and submillennial scales have been recorded during the Present Interglacial (MIS 1) and Last Interglacial (MIS 5.5). The last one is globally considered to be a period warmer and with a sea level position 2 to 6 m higher than the present. Our investigations are geographically expanded, now including Tunisia, Açores, and Santo Domingo coasts. Littorals of Portugal peninsular, and Cape Verde continue under study. Research on coastal submarine areas have developed investigations on mapping and sedimentary environments. These studies are very important because they are necessary for highstand reconstruction. The record of high marine events such as storm surges and tsunamis together with its recurrence periods constitute an important research line in our Group. Two members of the Spanish working Group (J.Lario , and E.Leorri) attended the Sixth IGCP 495 Annual Meeting, held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina-USA. October 2009.
PhD as product of the Spanish Working Group, IGCP Project no. 495
Ana Cabero. Registro costero de los cambios eustáticos y climáticos durante los interglaciares recientes cuaternarios: Sur y Sureste peninsular, islas Baleares, Canarias y Cabo Verde. Septiembre 2009, Universidad de Salamanca. Supervised by several members of the IGCP 495, SWG.
Meeting organization
- 1st INQUA-IGCP 567 International Workshop on Earthquake Archaeology and Paleoseismicity. 7-13 Sept. 2009. Bolonia, Cádiz.
J. Lario, C. Zazo, (C.C), A. Cabero, T. Bardají, J.L. Goy, J. Lario, C. Zazo (C.O)
- VII Reuniao do Cuaternario Ibérico. O Futuro do Ambiente da península Ibérica- As Ligaçoes do Passado Geológico Recente. 5-9 Octubre 2009, Faro-Portugal.
J. Rodríguez-Vidal (C.C), T. Bardají, J.L. Goy, J. Lario, C. Zazo (C.O)
Publications and Contributions to congresses
The working group has a total of 10 publications in journals, and 15 contributions to meetings.
Project no. 499: 'Devonian land-sea interaction: Evolution of Ecosystems and Climate in the Devonian'
Dr. José Ignacio Valenzuela
Depto. de Geología, Facultad de Biología
c/ Dr. Moliner, 50
E-46100 Burjasot
email: Jose I. Valenzuela@uv.es
Secretary: Jau-Chyn Liao, email: Jau.Liao@uv.es
Abstract
Major contribution of the Spanish Working Group (SWG) during 2009 has been in the field of fine biostratigraphy, as this aspect of Geology is basic for other endeavours, such as precise chronologic arrangement of geological events that in turn is fundamental for, both palaeogeographical reconstructions and basin evolution. In this respect, basic palaeontology and its applications to biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy and palaeogeography, is mandatory, as the SWG has done it. This year, besides the publications listed below, three PICG-499-related Ph. D. Thesis have been concluded (or are in the final stage); this fact shows the relevant contribution of the SWG in supporting, mentoring and coaching young researches.
The SWG is composed of 25 scientists (10 women), from 7 universities and IGME. 6 are Ph. D students, (as stated, three of them finishing this year).
During 2009 the main working regions for WGW members have been: The Cantabrian Cordillera, The Iberian Cordillera, The Pyrenees, Ossa-Morena, the Catalonian Coastal Ranges, Andorra, Bohemia, the Carnic Alps and Sardinia. Besides, and thanks to the cooperation with foreigners scientists direct access to material and data from Central Asia (Uzbekistan and west Siberia), and the Rhein Slate Mountains has been made available to the group.
The main areas the SWG have focused its work are Cantabrian Mountains and the Pyrenees and, also, two have been the main paleontological groups studied by the members of the group: conodonts and brachiopods. Two of the three Ph. D. Thesis above-mentioned are focused on conodonts from the Pyrenees and the third one is devoted to a conodont-based analysis of perinorth-gondwanaland regions (Morocco, Sardinia, Pyrenees, Ardennes and Montaigne Noire).
Ostracods studies on the Lower Devonian of the Pyrenees and Iberian Chains aiming at the establishment of an alternative zonation, which age is independently controlled by conodonts, stand out, as well.
The SWG has also been very active in international cooperation, as several collaborations have strengthened the relations with different regional groups that are also involved in the ICGP-499: Novosibirsk (Siberia), Italy (Modena and Cagliari Universities), Germany (Senckenberg Research Institute and University of Braunschweig) and Czech Republic (Academy of Sciences).
Publications and Contributions to congresses
The working group has a total of 5 publications in journals, 14 contributions to meetings.
Project no. 503: 'Ordovician Palaeogeography and Palaeoclimate'
Dr. Patricio Domínguez
Depto. de Paleontología, Facultad de CC Geológicas
Ciudad Universitaria
E-28040 Madrid
email: patricio@geo.ucm.es
Secretary: Dr. Maria Consuelo Sendino-Lara, email: c.sendino-lara@nhm.ac.uk
Abstract
For the last year, "On Extent Term", it is worth highlighting our large participation in the Final IGCP 503 Closing Meeting in Copenhagen (31 August to 4 September 2009), with five communication from Spain and collaborations involving six out of 13 group members. These contributions focused on brachiopods, cystoids, bryozoans and ichnofossils. In addition there have been communication sin the classic Jornadas de la Sociedad Española de Paleontología (XXVth edition). The publications mainly concerning sedimentological and stratigraphical studies of the Upper Ordovician, ichnotaxonomy and the presence of reworked Ordovician fossils in the Triassic of Avalonia. The WG has 16 members.
Publications and Contributions to congresses
The working group has a total of 8 publication in journals, and 6 contributions to meetings during 2009, mainly in the Final IGCP Closing Meeting, Copenhagen, August 2009.
Project no. 506: 'Marine and Non-marine Jurassic'
Dr. Ana Márquez Aliaga
Depto. de Geología, Facultad de Biología
c/ Dr. Moliner, 50
E-46100 Burjasot
email: Ana.Marquez@uv.es
Secretary: Dr. Leopoldo Márquez Sanz, email: Leopoldo.Marquez@uv.es
Abstract
During the year 2009, the researches of the Spanish Working Group of the IGCP 506 have been engaged on several topics, which are directly related to the different working areas of the Triassic and Jurassic basins of the Iberian Peninsula (Iberian Chains, Betic Chains, Catalonian Coastal Ranges, Pyrenean Basin and Basq-Cantabrian Basin). During the period 2006-2009 the Spanish Working Group (SWG 506) has developed many original geological works, two doctoral dissertations (the first about Triassic Conodonts of the Iberian Peninsula and the second one about Triassic-Lower Jurassic bivalve genera revision), 76 publications and 70 national and international congress communications. Those are the results of our research activities as SWG of the IGCP 506 with thirty members, at the end of this project. On the other hand, the group is in disposition to keep in these topics in a future project.
Meeting organization
Symposium on project topics, as a part of the XXVª Jornadas de la Sociedad española de Paleotología, Ronda, Málaga, September , 2009.
Visiting researchers
Dr. Francis Hirsh, Naruto University, Japan, at the Universidad de Valencia during two weeks, February 2009.
Prof. Jingeng Sha, leader of the IGCP project no. 506, Geology and Paleontology Institute, Nanjing, China, at the Universidad de Valencia during one week in September 2009.
Publications and Contributions to congresses
The working group has a total of 21 publications in journals, and 30 contributions to meetings.
Project no. 526: 'Risks, resources and Record of the Past on the Continental Shelf'
Dr. Federico Vilas Martín
Depto. de Geociencias
Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Univ. de Vigo
36310 Vigo
email: fvilas@uvi.es
Secretary: Dr. Belén Rubio-Armesto, email: brubio@uvigo.es
http://gte526.geoma.net/
IGCP 526 home: http://igcp526.io.usp.br/
Abstract
The different groups involved in the GTE 526 have participated in national and international programs and projects contributing with several multi-disciplinary approaches to a global knowledge of the continental shelf processes and characteristics. Among them it must be highlighted those related to environmental conditions, sediment dispersion and instability, paleoclimatic evolution and the application of various technologies, among others.
Publications and Contributions to congresses
The working group has a total of 13 publications, and 30 contributions to meetings.
Project no. 567: 'Earthquake Archaeology''
Dr. Pablo G. Silva Barroso
Depto. de Geología
Escuela Politécnica Superior, Univ. de Salamanca
05003 Avila
email: pgsilva@usal.es
Secretary: Dr. Miguel A. Rodríguez-Pascual, email: ma.rodriguez@igme.es
IGCP 567 home: http://ees.duleuven.be/igcp567/
Summary
During the year 2009 the activities of the IGCP-567 Spanish Working Group (SPWG) were focused on the preparation, organization and celebration of the 1st INQUA-IGCP 567 International Workshop on Earthquake Archeology and Paleoseismology held in the Ancient Roman City of Baelo Claudia (Tarifa, Cádiz). About 101 researchers of 29 different countries attended this scientific meeting, resulting in a total amount of 51 scientific contributions, 14 of them directly produced by members of the SPWG. Several invited conferences were held during the Workshop by relevant international researchers in the fields of Archaeoseismology, Paleoseismology and Active Tectonics, such as A. Michetti (IT, Presidente INQUA Focus Group on Paleoseismology); M. Sintubin (BEL. Leader IGCP-567); T. Rockwell (USA. Fault Trenching); J. McCalpin (USA. Paleoseismology); K. Hinzen (GER. Archaeoseismology); I.D. Papanikolaou (GRE. Active Faulting); A. Vött (GER. Tsunamis); R. Tatevossian (RUS. Paleoearthquakes); N. Mörner (SWE. Liquefaction), among others. The organization of the workshop also included a two-days Field Course on Archaeoseismology attended by 56 of the 101 participants, most of them young scientist or researchers for developing countries. The workshop activities resulted in the publication of an Abstracts Volume (184 pp.), A Field-Guide Book (96 pp.) and A Field Training Course Notebook (65 pp. plus maps and files of Earthquake Archaeological Effects EAE). All these publications were published with the financial support of IGME, UNED and AEQUA the main national sponsors of the meeting. Aside the workshop during the year 2009 was also eventually published the Spec. Vol nº 136 of the Geological Society of London entitled "Paleoseismology: Historical and Prehistorical records of earthquake ground effects for seismic hazard assessment" co-edited by the Coordinator of the IGCP-567 SPWG. This publication also includes three papers of members of this WG. Contributions of members of the SPWG were also presented at different international meeting, basically thematic sessions included in the EGU Meeting 2009. Activities of the SPWG planned for the year 2010 are mainly focused in two points: A9 Co-organization of a Special Sesion within the framework of the next EGU Meeting 2009: NH9.14 (Environmental hazards and Ancient Societies: Lessons from the past?); and B) The edition of an Special Vol. Of the Journal Quaternary International entitled Earthquake Archaeology and Paleoseismology co-edited by the SPWG Coordinator and one of the international leaders of the IGCP567 (Manuel Sintubin). It is also planned the attendance to two International meetings (Vienna and Thesaloniki) sponsored by the International Project during which will be organised the corresponding business-meetings, for which financial support is requested.
Meeting organization
- 1st INQUA-IGCP 567 International Workshop on Earthquake Archeology and Paleoseismology held at the Roman city of Baelo Claudia, Tarifa, Cádiz. September 7-13, 2009, organised by Pablo G. Silva & Klaus Reicherter.
- Field Course on Paleoseismology and Archaeoseismology, Baelo Claudia, Tarifa, Cádiz. September 11 - 12 2009, organised by Klaus Reicherter & Pablo G. Silva.
Publications and Contributions to congresses
K. Reicherter, A. Michetti. P.G. Silva (eds.) 2009. Historical and Prehistorical Records of Earthquake Ground Effects for Seismic Hazard Assessment. Geological Society of London, Special Publications 316.
This working group has a total of 7 publications, and 6 contributions to meetings.
3. National Committee activities
The Spanish National Committee (SNC) annual meeting was held at Zaragoza on June 2-3, 2009 with Prof. M. A. Lamolda in the chair. The University of Zaragosa allowed a site and other facilities to us. This meeting was attended by 13 participants, who were welcome by Prof. Eladio Linán Guijarro, Professor of Paleontology. A representative of the Sudirección General de Programas Internacionales of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, Mrs. Cristina Bauluz, attended the meeting, giving us news about the policy of the ministry, and support to our activities. A representative of the Spanish Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO, Mrs. Consuelo Vázquez, attended the meeting offering the support of the Commission and the AECID (Ministry of Foreing Affairs) with its Project grants.
The committee reviewed the projects newly adopted by the IGCP Scientific Board during its last session in middle February 2009 at Paris. A proposal for the Spanish Working Group, Project no. 525 "Earthquake Archaeology" was approved.
The Chairman of the SNC, according to the promotion policy of GTEs, of interest to Spaniard researchers, has nominated correspondents of both IGCP Project no. 559 "Crustal Architecture and landscape Evolution" and 574 "Bending and Bent Orogens, and Continental Ribbons", as there are a relevant number of Spaniard researchers working in topics related with those projects.
The Chairman of the SNC gave a supportting letter to Dr. Roger Urgeles, for his proposal of a new Project, in collaboration with David Mosher, Jason Chaytor and Michael Strasser.
The Chairman of the SNC gave a supportting letter to : Dr. Adam D. Switzer, for his proposal of a new Project, in collaboration with Dr. Craig Sloss, Dr. Behamin Horton, and Dr. Yongqiang Zong.
This year has been a total of 15 working groups: GTEs project no. 493, 495, 497, 499, 502, 503, 506, 513, 524*, 526, 546*, 555*, 559*, 567 and 574* (* informal group, correspondent)
As results of working group activities, three monographies have been edited:
4. IGCP meeting held during the year 2009 in Spain
5. IGCP meetings planned for the following year
6. Forthcoming events available in connection with the Programme
7. Suggestions relating to the conduct and improvement of the Programme
It seems that temporal circumstances, often with weak support, may change well stablished research lines of the IGCP. A programme with a relevant impact on the Earth Sciences, transference of knowledge to developping countries and visibility of Earth Sciences among people.
An important trouble is caused by financement of the IGCP, and its projects. The annual budget has been reduced until 50% since 1995 to 2008. The adaptation to this dramatic budget reduction has induced a less number approved projects. In fact, the number of Projects has undergone a reduction of 40%, from 50 to 33, through the same period of time. Unfortunately, this is not the only trouble as the financement per Project has also decreased, from an average of 7000$ to 5000$. Either the small number of projects as the lower average financement are the main actual problems of the IGCP. Actually, with five main research lines, 30 projects are a risk to keep topic diversity, one of the great advantages of the IGCP. Furthermore, an average budget of 5000$ per year/Project is almost a nominative financement, and may produce non-working projects. Both circumstances might cause a doubful viability of the IGCP, which allowed to keep its aims with a topic diversity representative of the whole Earth Sciencies, such as it has been until today.
8. Finantial support received for the activities of this National Committee, and given to IGCP projects and their activities
Committee activities have been financed by a grant, ACI no. PCI2006-A5-0584 (18000 euro, a part was used for financing year 2008 activities), Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, and a grant of the Instituto Geológico y Minero de España with an amount of 2314 euro, for the following actions:
Most of the activities related to Spanish Working Groups have been financed directly by research projects of the participants, granted by the Spanish government, Regional governments, and other institutions.
Granada, February 15th 2010
Marcos A. Lamolda
Chairman, Spanish National Committee, IGCP