Special Session on Permafrost at Fall AGU, San Francisco, CA, 6-10 December 2002

Announcing a Special Session on Permafrost at Fall AGU

For more information on the Special Session on Permafrost at Fall AGU,
San Francisco, CA, 6-10 December 2002, please visit the web site:

http://agu.org/meetings/fm02top.html

or contact:
Douglas L. Kane
University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Institute of Northern Engineering
Fairbanks, AK USA
email: ffdlk [at] uaf.edu

Larry Hinzman
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Water and Environmental Research Center
P.O. Box 755860
437 Duckering Building
Fairbanks Alaska 99775-5860
Phone: 907/474-7331
Fax: 907/474-7979
http://www.uaf.edu/water/

ABSTRACT DEADLINE: 29 August 2002 (postal or express)
ABSTRACT DEADLINE: 5 September 2002 by 1400 UT (Web submissions)

There will be a special session on permafrost at the 2002 American
Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 6-10 December 2002

More information is available at the web site:
http://agu.org/meetings/fm02top.html

ABSTRACT DEADLINE: 29 August 2002 (postal or express)
ABSTRACT DEADLINE: 5 September 2002 by 1400 UT (Web submissions)

Interactions of Permafrost with Climatic, Hydrologic, and Ecosystems
Processes

Permafrost is an important component of the hydrosphere, biosphere and
cryosphere and it is critically important to understand how permafrost
terrain is influenced by natural and human disturbances. Permafrost is a
dynamic component of high latitude and high elevation ecosystems that
often exerts dominant control the hydrological and thermal regimes. If
permafrost degrades, in response to climate warming or some other
disturbance, we often witness a cascade of impacts as surface water
drains and vegetation adapts to an altered environment. Despite the fact
that permafrost covers approximately 20% of the earth's land surface, we
do not have a good understanding of the role of permafrost in climatic
processes, nor is it well-modeled in the major General Circulation
Models. This session will focus upon bringing together permafrost
related studies that exhibit links with neighboring physical, chemical
and biological processes.

For more information on this session, contact:
Douglas L. Kane
University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Institute of Northern Engineering
Fairbanks, AK USA
email: ffdlk [at] uaf.edu

Larry Hinzman
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Water and Environmental Research Center
P.O. Box 755860
437 Duckering Building
Fairbanks Alaska 99775-5860
Phone: 907/474-7331
Fax: 907/474-7979
http://www.uaf.edu/water/