Tephrabase: A Tephrochronological Database

Tephrabase was originally designed to be used by those involved in tephrochronological research in north-west Europe. In practice, this means those working in the British Isles, Scandinavia and Iceland (the source of the tephra layers). The aims of this project have not changed since Tephrabase was first unveiled in 1995, except that details about tephra layers and eruptions in central Mexico and other parts of Europe have been included.

More detailed information about this project can be found in Newton et al. (1997 and 2007) and Newton (1996). The original aims of this project were:

To provide the Quaternary community of north-west Europe with an easily accessible database of the diagnostic characteristics and spatial distribution of Icelandic tephra layers (initially post 20 ka BP).
To aid in the identification of tephra layers by using the spatial, temporal and geochemical information stored in the database.
To provide a database of Icelandic volcanic systems, their eruptions and products to which distal tephra layers may be correlated.
To encourage and promote responsible use of existing data.
To promote the use of tephrochronology in palaeoenvironmental studies and archaeology.

This original funding for this project was through a grant from Natural Environment Research Council awarded in 1994. Subsequent funding from the Leverhulme Trust and National Science Foundation have continued to help maintain and develop this resource.

database tephra tephrochronology

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