Dating Quaternary climatic, environmental or even archaeological sequences often remains challenging due to the lack of precise, reliable and applicable dating methods for a variety of sedimentary records (marine, lacustrine, fluvial terrace or coastal sequences). It is, however, essential to improve age models for the various archives and to find dating tools common to them if we are to improve the resolution of our understanding of past Quaternary climates. One approach to dating these sequences, where interstratified volcanic deposits are present, relies on tephrochronological techniques combining geochronological (⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar, ¹⁴C) and geochemical (tracing volcanic sources) analyses of the pyroclastic deposits found in the sedimentary records.

Objectives of the Research Theme: The aim of our research activities is to provide robust chronological constraints for various volcanic environments or those containing volcanic deposits, in order to date and synchronise a wide range of sedimentary records at high resolution across numerous regions of the world (Europe, particularly the Mediterranean basin, South-East Asia, and South America). This will provide additional information on the phasing relationships between climatic events in high and low latitudes, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the mechanisms of climate variability.

List of permanent and non-permanent staff:

G. Siani, A. Pereira, G. Delpech