Welcome to the second edition of Seabed News. The magazine will initially be produced bimonthly and will feature news stories, synopses of scientific studies, cruise notices, project news, meeting/cruise reports, offers of participation in studies, free advertising for conferences, workshops and meetings. 

The magazine welcomes submission of any of the above items , providing the information submitted has a sedimentary theme and relates to the seabed. The magazine includes  a 'What's On' diary  of forthcoming events. 

Stratigraphical development of the glaciated European margin - STRATAGEM
Dan Evans, British Geological Survey, United Kingdom
A three -year project to study the stratigraphical development of the European margin from Ireland to Norway began on March 1st 2000. The STRATAGEM project will focus on defining sedimentary packages on the margin and produce a unified common terminology  for the mid-Cenozoic to Recent sediments of the region. A geological model for the evolution of the margin will also be produced, taking a regional view of both the processes that have produced the present-day margin and of the forcing factors that have controlled those processes. 

The timing of geological events on the north-west European margin is a problem of international significance that 

impacts directly on its exploration, exploitation and sustainable development. The successful management of this region and its resources is highly dependent upon a thorough understanding and ability to model the nature and frequency of the processes that have shaped and continue to shape this margin. In particular, hydrocarbon exploration along the glaciated margin is a strategic activity for several European countries, and solving problems associated with margin development has important socio-economic environmental
The STRATAGEM partners are:  British Geological Survey; Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland; The Netherlands Institute for Sea Research; Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (Italy); University College, Dublin (Ireland); University of Bergen (Norway); University of Tromsø (Norway).

Go to page 2 (STRATAGEM continued)