The present volume is an outcome of the scientific programme "Response
of the Earth System to Impact Processes" (IMPACT) by the European
Science Foundation (ESF). The ESF is an association of 67 national
member organizations devoted to scientific research in 24 European
countries. The IMPACT programme is aimed at understanding meteorite
impact processes and their effects on the Earth System. Launched in 1998
for duration of 5 years, 15 ESF member organizations now participate in
this programme, which will officially end in late 2003, although the
momentum gained for European (and worldwide) impact research will be
carried on in other programs and organizations. The programme deals with
all aspects of meteorite impact research and operates through workshops,
exchange programs, publications, and short courses. This particular book
is the third in an informal series on "Impact Studies", which is
published by Springer and intended to go beyond the ESF IMPACT programme
by providing a venue for high quality (and peer-reviewed) monographs and
conference and workshop proceedings on general topics connected to
impact cratering and related research. th The 6 ESF-Impact workshop
"Impact makers in the stratigraphic record" was held in Granada (Spain)
on May 2001, with about sixty scientists from Europe, Taiwan, and North
America attending the workshop. During the workshop 30 oral, 32 poster,
and 3 keynote contributions were presented.