This 10th volume in the DPER series is intended to show how stable isotopes can be applied to understanding the palaeoenvironment. There are chapters on the interpretation of isotopes in water, tree rings, bones and teeth, lake sediments, speleothems and marine sediments. Isotopes can be extremely powerful palaeoenvironmental tools, however, as with all archives it is desirable to carry out a calibration exercise to investigate the basic systematics of isotope variation in the modern environment to establish the relationship between the measured signal and the isotope composition of the host. A robust calibration is seldom easy so isotope methods should be used in conjunction with a multi-proxy approach, using isotope signals from different materials or combined with other palaeoenvironmental techniques. This book is advanced but aimed at both students and scientists who are interested in environmental change.
From the contentsIsotopes in water.- Isotopes in tree rings.- Isotopes in bones.- Isotopes in lake sediments.- Isotopes in speleothems.- Isotopes in marine sediments.
Melanie J. Leng (ed) is head of palaeoclimate research at the NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory and Chair in Isotope Geoscience, University of Nottingham.
From the reviews: "This 10th volume in Springer's series 'Developments in Palaeoenvironmental Research's intended to show how stable isotopes can be applied to increase the understanding of palaeoenvironments. ! The book has an advanced level, but aims at both students and scientists who are interested in stable isotopes and environmental changes. The readers will find new methodologies and advances regarding isotope analysis for palaeoenvironmental research, and learn the basics on isotope fractionation and transport." (Ms. Yu Xiaoguo, Journal of Sedimentary Research, May, 2007) "The editor of this volume notes that the intention of this book is to 'show how isotopes can be applied to understanding the paleoenvironment.' With that intension, several key issues should be addressed in each chapter. ! Overall, this book is a useful summary of recent paleo-isotope literature. ! The book focuses on water isotopes, and ! carbon isotopes. ! Isotopes in Palaeoenvironmental Research is aimed at both students and teachers, and as a summary of recent isotope literature it is ! useful to both." (Matt Fischer, EOS, Vol. 88 (7), February, 2007)