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Multi-proxy analysis: a reflection on essence and potential pitfalls

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 March 2014

J. Vandenberghe
J. Vandenberghe*
Affiliation:
Institute of Earth Sciences, VU University, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Email: j.f.vandenberghe@vu.nl.

Abstract

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Multi-disciplinarity and multi-proxy approaches are necessary to understand the processes in complex earth systems. However, unlimited and uncontrolled multi-proxy-correlations may be risky. A number of case studies illustrate the potential pitfalls when the processes that drive the individual proxies have no common causal significance or dating is not precise enough. Crossing thresholds at different levels and delay times may also be factors that hamper direct correlations of proxies. Multi-proxy analysis of the intrinsic relationships between proxies in a system is the primary task before any correlation should be made.

Keywords

multi-proxy correlationproxy
Type
Research Article
Information
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences , Volume 91 , Issue 1-2 , September 2012 , pp. 263 - 269
Copyright
Copyright © Stichting Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 2012

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