Data Processing Methodologies to Investigate Associations Between Depositional Environments and Trace Fossil Occurrence Dean Meek M.Sc. Candidate

Please join us for a graduate student seminar this Friday March 9 at 3:30 pm in rm 155 Geology presented by Dean Meek, MSc Candidate:

Data Processing Methodologies to Investigate Associations Between Depositional Environments and Trace Fossil Occurrence

Dean Meek M.Sc. Candidate

Earth science datasets are often found in many different formats and structures, making it difficult to compile multiple datasets and thus impeding analysis. Relational databases are an effective tool for applying structure to data, allowing users to query and extract information to use as they require. An Ichnology database does not exist and known compilations of data lack structure and spatial information. A work flow for database design has been employed, resulting in the creation of an Ichnology database.

Trace fossil data throughout the Ediacaran and Cambrian has been entered in the newly created database. This information will be used to investigate if there is an association between trace fossil occurrence and depositional environments throughout the Cambrian Explosion. Supplemental datasets have been compiled to assist in this investigation, including: a geological map of the Arctic, a palaeoenvironmental dataset, a palaeontology dataset, and a detrital zircon dataset.

GIS software has been utilized to integrate the compiled datasets and conduct visual analysis. Traditional GIS programs are limited in their use because they do not display the continents in their palaeogeographic locations. Using palaeogeographic reconstruction software we can get a sense of spatial and temporal relationships. Currently, visual analysis of spatial and temporal patterns has been the primary focus, with the intention of using multivariate analysis in the future to provide a more quantitative assessment.