INQUA Sub-Commission on Data-Handling Methods

Newsletter 16: July 1997

Training sessions for the use of data handling programs

International Union for Quaternary Research, Commission on Palaeoclimate, Working group on Milankovitch and Plio-Pleistocene vegetation succession from 2.6 to 0.9 Ma

The leaders of this INQUA working group, S. Leroy and C. Ravazzi, held an INTER-INQUA colloquium, 29 March - 1 April 1997, Ankara, Turkey, including a special training day and a two-day fieldtrip. The following training sessions were organised in the computer centre of the Middle East Technical University, Ankara under the efficient supervision of Dr N. Dalfes of the Istanbul Technical University (dalfes@itu.edu.tr):

1. Dr L. Dupont, Germany (dupont@allgeo.uni-bremen.de), background and pitfalls in the use of spectral analysis. M. Schulz technique allows direct Fourier analysis on non-equidistant data.
2. K.D. Bennett, UK (k.d.bennett@queens-belfast.ac.uk), psimpoll: a platform-independent computer program for plotting stratigraphic data (especially pollen) and carrying out statistical analyses. It has a strong emphasis on offering multiple techniques for any given numerical analysis. The session will cover the basics of psimpoll use and describe the range of numerical analyses available.
3. Dr R. Cheddadi, France (epd@dialup.francenet.fr), interaction with the European Data Base and the World Data Bank-A, using paradox, siteseer and paleovu programmes.

For more information, please contact: Dr. Suzanne A. G. Leroy, Centre for Palaeoecology, School of Geosciences, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, N. Ireland. Ph: +44-1232-273 978 and 335 143; Fax: +44-1232-321 280; s.leroy@qub.ac.uk.