Hubert Staudigel

Geoscientists unite to develop Earth Reference Model

Seventy Earth scientists from Europe, North America, and Australia gathered in Lyon, France, from March 28 to 30, 1996, to make plans for developing an Earth reference model for geochemical budgets and fluxes between different reservoirs in the Earth. The Geochemical Earth Reference Model (GERM) Workshop brought together a diversity of geochemists working on Earth systems, from core to atmosphere. Sessions began with keynote speeches that covered a range of issues related to characterizing various reservoirs and a statement of what we know about element budgets and fluxes. Following the speakers, there were general discussions of issues and brief presentations by other participants. Topics ranged from the deep mantle to mid-ocean-ridge budgets to the cycle of carbon and other volatile components.