The objectives of the CRP are (i) to improve the capability of member states to investigate the El Niño phenomenon in the ocean, (ii) to contribute to better understanding its past behaviour and to predict possible scenarios for the future, (iii) to explore the applications of recent nuclear and isotopic techniques suitable for the quantitative estimation of past el niño events. the CRP will co-ordinate efforts in the use of nuclear and isotopic techniques for studying isotope records in corals, seawater and sediment with the aim of deriving past temperature records in the pacific ocean. for this purpose, analysis of stable isotopes (d/h, 18o/16o, 13c/12c, sr/ca, u/ca), natural (210pb, 226ra, th and u isotopes) and cosmogenic/anthropogenic (3h, 10be, 14c) radionuclides will be carried out in coral, seawater and sediment samples collected in the Pacific regions using radiometric and mass spectrometry techniques. in addition to nuclear techniques, chemical and remote sensing techniques will also be applied as complementary tools. It is intended that the contract and agreement holders, to be selected for participation in the CRP, will apply their techniques in two or three reference sites where active programmes for investigations of the El Niño phenomenon and related aspects are being carried out.
The objective of this CRP was to contribute to the understanding of climate and environmental changes in the marine environment, in particular on better knowledge of the El Niño events in the Pacific Ocean and its impact on coastal zones.
Application of nuclear and isotopic techniques in climate and environmental change studies.
The CRP demonstrated the useful application of nuclear and isotopic techniques to climate change research.
Climate change and the El Niño phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean has a big impact on the population worldwide. The IAEA could demonstrate the relevance of this type of research to the climate change policy.