EARTH HISTORY VISUALIZATION SYSTEM

TimeScale Creator, a free JAVA package (http://engineering.purdue.edu/Stratigraphy/tscreator/) developed in conjunction with the Geologic TimeScale Foundation (stratigraphy.science.purdue.edu) and the GTS2012 program. The software development and extensive datasets are the products of Purdue students in computer engineering and in earth sciences during the past six years. Age models for all internal datasets and external datapacks are calibrated to Geologic Time Scale 2012 (Gradstein et al.) or one can use the legacy GTS2008 versions. Features include:

(1) On-screen exploration of any portion of the geologic time scale from internal and supplemental datasets (ca. 100,000 entries, including biologic datums/zones with images, geomagnetic chrons, sea levels, stable isotope values, igneous provinces, bolide impacts, reconstructions, and other events). On-screen “hot-cursor-points” attached to datums/formations open additional windows containing images and URL links to provide in-depth details.

(2) Display of geologic transects, evolutionary trees, images with datums, and depth-scale outcrop/well columns. Search functions include an “in context” auto-display feature. There is a wealth of chart-modification and features, and outputs include SVG-PDF formats for publication.

(3) Loading additional specialized regional stratigraphy datapacks with map-interfaces of lithologies and fossil zonations compiled jointly with geological surveys (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, New Zealand, Britain, Belgium, China, Russia, etc.); or insertion of self-constructed datasets.

(4) Cross-plotting of outcrops/wells (meters) against global/regional time scales (myr), plus a depth-to-age conversion routine.

(5) A web-service “lite” interface for general and educational usage.

The databases and visualization package are envisioned as a convenient reference tool, chart-production assistant, and a window into the geologic history of our planet for both educational and professional users.