The "Chiba Section" proposed by the Japanese research team (22 people from 32 institutions such as Ibaraki University, National Institute of Polar Research, Chiba University, and National Museum) as the name of the geological era (International Standard Model Site: GSSP) is the international geology. He was selected as a candidate by a vote in the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).In response to this, Professor Makoto Okada of the Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University and others held a press conference at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on November 11, and reported.
Professor Okada said, "I'm relieved at first. However, when it comes to job interviews, it's the stage where one person has been decided to proceed to the next section chief interview. From now on, the section chief interview, the department manager interview, and the president interview will continue. There have been cases of invalidation in the past. I would like to continue to do my best to make the decision of the "Chiba era."
In geology, the history of the earth is classified into 115 eras based on the age of rock formation on the earth and the transition of biological fossils.In order to standardize the geological age division, one excellent stratum for observing and researching the boundaries of each geological age on the earth is certified as GSSP. There are currently 1 GSSPs in the world, but not yet in Japan.
The boundary between the early and middle Pleistocene is the time when the last earth's magnetic field reversal occurred so far, and it is one of the boundaries where GSSP is undecided.In addition to the "Chiba Section" in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture, in the central part of the Boso Peninsula, two geological formations in southern Italy were also applied for.
The research group develops various activities for accreditation.The Chiba section is a very suitable place for research on global climate change, such as publishing past papers of Japanese researchers in international academic journals and determining the age of geomagnetic reversal from the volcanic ash layer of the Chiba section with high accuracy. Revealed that there is.
From October to November, the IUGS Working Group voted to select GSSP candidates for the "early-medium Pleistocene boundary" of the geological age.As a result, the "Chiba section" was elected over Italy. It is reported to the upper committees within IUGS, and each committee deliberates and votes.It is said that the timing of voting at each examination stage will not be notified.
In the case of GSSP, the mid-Pleistocene of the geological era (about 77 to about 12 years ago) is named "Chibanian" which means "the era of Chiba".The IUGS vote is expected to be from next year at the earliest.
