Second Circular: IGCP 572 Third Annual Field Workshop at GUtech, Muscat, Oman February 20-26, 2010

Second Circular:

IGCP 572: Third annual Field workshop at GUtech, Muscat, Oman February 20-26, 2010

Objectives:

There is much evidence to indicate that many of Earth's ecosystems are under threat during the present day. This is nothing new, as the Earth has suffered major extinction and upheaval on numerous occasions over the geological past, the most serious of which occurred during the Permian-Triassic transition. Of the major factors proposed to have caused the Permian-Triassic biotic crisis, including increased carbon dioxide concentrations, oceanic anoxia, hypercapnia, and rapid global warming, some are observed in the present day, and others are predicted for the near future. The Permian-Triassic rock and fossil records may thus record a natural experiment in global-scale ecosystem collapse that, if properly deciphered, could provide insights into the possible responses of modern ecosystems to present day climate and environmental change. The field workshop aims to investigate the recovery of ecosystems following the end-Permian mass extinction through analyses of the rock and fossil records via studies of biostratigraphy, paleontology, paleoecology, sedimentology, geochemistry and biogeochemistry.

Potential participants: Members of the IGC 572 Program, Members of the Permian subcommission on Stratigraphy, Members of the Triassic Subcommission on Stratigraphy, all interested Geoscientists from Middle-East and Oil Companies.

Schedule: February 20-26, 2010:

The topics of the one and a half day conference at GUtech, February 21 and 22, 2010, will address recovery patterns of various fossil groups; reconstruct global Permian-Early Triassic oceanic and climatic conditions; outline P/Tr ecosystem types; and correlate these types of data within a global stratigraphic framework. New data on Permian-Triassic transition in Oman will be presented.

Fieldtrip Organisation and Schedule:

Leaders: O. Weidlich, A. Baud, B. Beauchamp, L. Krystyn, A. Nicora, C. Henderson, S. Richoz, T.. Aigner

Half-day, February 22: Permian-Triassic transition in Wadi Aday (Oliver Weidlich)

One-day fieldtrips (return to Muscat in the evening, please book your hotel) :

February 23: Permian-Triassic bloc in Wadi Wasit (A. Baud, L- Krystyn) February 24: Permian-Triassic transition on Saiq Plateau (A. Baud, T. Aigner)

Two-day fieldtrip (Hotel in Hatta, UAE, included) :

February 25: Permian-Triassic transition in deep water: the Buday'ah section (A. Baud, B. Beauchamp, L. Krystyn, A. Nicora, C. Henderson) February 26: Permian-Triassic transition in slope deposit: the Wadi Maqam section (Sumeini), (A. Baud, B. Beauchamp, L. Krystyn, S. Richoz)

Registration fees at GUtech:

Registration workshop 21.-22.Feb: 50 RO

One-day field trips 23.-24.Feb: 50 RO

Two-day field trip 25.-26.Feb: 200 RO

(100 RO Rial Omani = ca. 175 Euro)

Payment:

Payment of registration and fieldtrip fees can be done only by Bank transfer:

Bank Name: Oman International Bank

Branch: Head Office Branch, Muscat

Account Name: German University of Technology in Oman

Account Nr: 15-002942-04

Account Currency: Rial Omani

Swift Code: OIBAOMMXXXX

Purpose of remittance to indicate: “IGCP-2010”

Accomodation:

IBIS Hotel Muscat offers a special rate for IGCP workshop participants:

Single room R.O. 45.000

Double room R.O. 50.000

(room rates are inclusive buffet breakfast and 17% tax and service charge)

Please book your accommodation directly at IBIS Hotel Muscat by sending an email to Yasar Khan (email: H6587-SL1@accor.com) indicating “IGCP workshop GUtech”

GUtech guesthouse: very limited number of rooms (please contact Michaela Bernecker michaela.bernecker@gutech.edu.om for availability.

Ibis Hotel Muscat – Accommodation Booking Form

IGCP workshop at German University of Technology

20. – 25. February 2010

O Single room RO 45.000

O Double room RO 50.000

(above room rates are inclusive buffet breakfast and 17% tax and service charge)

Date of arrival…………………………………………

Date of departure…………………………………….

Name ____________________ Date_____________ Signature_______________________

If you want to book a room at IBIS Hotel, please send the form directly to

Yasar Khan [email: H6587-SL1@accor.com]

Yasar Khan

Asst. Sales Manager

Ibis Muscat

Tel: +968 244 898 90

Fax: +968 244 879 70

GSM: +968 99576218

e-mail : H6587-SL1@accor.com