[Aqualist] PASH2 session at Southern Connections VI

[Tim Barrows]

Scientific Session of Southern-Connections VI 
(15-19 Feb. 2010, Bariloche, Argentina) Special 
volume of Quaternary International
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.,
	o the Mid Holocene Climatic Optimum or Thermal Maximum;
	o timing of events around the LGM;
	o geographical extent and nature of the YD;
	o 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.

The Congress
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.
The Special Issue of Quaternary International
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.

Deadlines / Milestones
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

Additional information
This circular, and subsequent information, will 
appear shortly on the PASH2 web page at http://users.monash.edu.au/~pkershaw/
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 at arts.monash.edu.au
Jan-Berend Stuut jbstuut at marum.de
Marcus Vandergoes M.Vandergoes at gns.cri.nz