Page 6 - Modern Spatiotemporal Geostatistics

Foreword to the Series

The series, Studies in Mathematical Geology, issued under auspices of the
International Association for Mathematical Geology, was established in 1984
under the able leadership of Richard B. McCammon, whose idea it was to
provide an outlet for book-length contributions on topics of special interest to
the geomathematical community. The first volume, Use and Abuse of Statis-
tical Methods in the Earth Sciences, appeared in 1987. Almost exactly 10
years later, McCammon stepped down as Editor-in-Chief and in November of
1997, I agreed to carry on his work and shepherd the series into the next century.
Now I know why there was a lag between Dick's inspiration and the appearance
of that first monograph. Another 3-year period has elapsed, give or take a few
months, and we have a good start on 2000 (despite the dreaded "millennium
bug"). We also have a good start toward fulfilling IAMG President Olea's
hopes of revitalizing the Oxford series. Dick promised that "an important part
of these studies will be an evaluation of the adequacy and the appropriateness
of present geomathematical and geostatistical applications." The provocative
monograph by George Christakos, Modern Spatiotemporal Geostatistics, No.
6 in our IAMG series, fits these criteria "to a T." Like Dick, I also hope that the
series volumes "will become valuable working and research tools in all facets of
geology"—and in all the interdisciplinary branches that look to the Association
for leadership in the application and use of mathematics in geological research
and technology.

Jo Anne DeGraffenreid, Editor

Kansas Geological Survey

Lawrence, Kansas USA