IGCP379 -- Karst Processes and the Carbon Cycle (1995-1999)

Goal and Objectives

(1). To assess the contribution of carbonate rocks to the content of CO2 in atmosphere through karst processes, especially dissolution and precipitation, this aspect of the global carbon cycle has been little studied to date.
(2). To compare the annual balance of CO2 between the atmosphere and karst system under different geological, climatic and ecological environments.
(3). To determine the origin and amount of annual emission of CO2 into the atmosphere from karst areas with geothermal, volcanic activities or active fault, especially those near plate margins.
(4). To provide informations about the processes of environmental change after the late Pleistocene in major karst regions of the world, especially those without other paleoenvironmental information (such as ice cores, lacustrine deposits or eolian
deposits).

Research Emphases

Focus1. Comparison of on-going karst processes based on in-situ monitoring, in an attempt to find out the role of modern karst processes in global carbon cycle.
Focus2. The role which karst processes may play in global greenhouse gas budget.
Focus3. To get high resolution karst records for paleoclimate reconstruction with all the available new techniques for selected transect of the world.

1996	1997	1998	1999