cc: nth@WPO.NERC.AC.UK, rcpad@WPO.NERC.AC.UK
date: Tue Jun  2 16:47:11 1998
from: Keith Briffa <k.briffa@uea.ac.uk>
subject: Re: PALAEOCLIMATE PROPOSAL
to: Geraint Webber <GDW@WPO.NERC.AC.UK>

Dear Dr. Webber
  Thanks for the information and invitation to take part in the 
'brainstorming' meeting. I'm happy to participate. I would also be very interested in helping to formulate a joint Board bid arising out of this or similar subsequent meetings. As fo availablity , I can pretty much confirm that I could make any day within your stated range , provided it was not a weekend. It would help to have a few days notice. I have decoded the short draft proposal and will comment on it after having had a chance to consider it. 
  yours sincerely
                 Keith 


At 03:18 PM 6/2/98 +0100, Geraint Webber wrote:
>Dear Dr Briffa
>
>Dr Neville Hollingworth has asked me to formally invite
>you on behalf of ESTB to become a member of a small
>working group which is being set up to develop a
>Palaeoclimate proposal. Your name was suggested by the
>Earth Science & Technology Board as a potential member
>due to your expertise and research into climate change. 
>
>Following the May ESTB meeting it was decided to meet
>with the Atmospheric Science community in order to
>consider furthering the proposal via a brainstorming
>meeting.
>
>A draft palaeoclimate proposal was produced following a
>discussion between Professor Boulton, Professor Lowe,
>Professor Shackleton and the office secretariat during
>Geoscience *98 in Keele and was discussed at the May
>ESTB meeting. 
>
>The Board felt that - the proposal lacked a significant
>novel component. In attempting to interface the geological
>climate record with the modelling activities of the
>atmospheric community, it would be necessary to establish
>the historical data requirements needed to validate and
>populate the current and proposed new climate prediction
>models. The geological record is essential to exploring
>timescales and changes from non-linear (but predictable)
>to chaotic climatic conditions. The Chief Executive pointed
>out that the key drivers of climate research will probably
>arise from the Kyoto summit and include carbon budgets,
>regional climate prediction, biogeochemical cycles, with
>the palaeoclimate record per se probably lower down the
>list of priorities. Linking the ancient record to the modelling
>criteria will therefore be essential.
>
>With the above in mind I would be grateful if you could:
>
>a) confirm whether you would be willing to become
>involved in the palaeoclimate proposal and its possible
>development as a joint board bid (with ASTB). (A copy
>of the draft proposal is attached for your reference and
>comments are welcome); and if so,
>
>b) confirm by Monday 8th June any free dates in your
>diary for an am or pm meeting between now and June
>18th. The venue will be London or Swindon. Relevant
>papers will be circulated as soon as a date is fixed.





