For more information on Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) or this
workshop, contact either:
Odd Rogne
Executive Secretary of IASC
International Arctic Science Committee
PO Box 8100 Dep
N-0032 Oslo, Norway
Telephone: +47/2324-1600; direct 1602
Fax: +47/2324-1601
Web site: http://www.iasc.no
E-mail: iasc [at] iasc.no
Prof. Gunter Weller
Executive Director of the ACIA Secretariat
Geophysical Institute
University of Alaska Fairbanks
PO Box 757320
Fairbanks, AK 99775
Telephone: +1-907/474-7371
Fax: +1-907/474-7290
E-mail: gunter [at] gi.alaska.edu
Impact of Climate Change and UV in the Russian Arctic: ACIA Workshop
28-31 May 2001
St. Petersburg, Russia
This workshop announcement is intended for Russian scientists studying
impacts of climate change and increased UV radiation in the Arctic. This
message is also sent to others, who are kindly asked to forward this
announcement using their network to Russian Arctic scientists. Our best
thanks for assisting us in getting this message to potential
participants.
Deadline for abstracts is: 10 April 2001
(Participants are selected on the basis of abstracts)
Dear Colleagues,
The need for an Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) was discussed
within IASC some years ago, and a document outlining such an assessment
was drafted. As the Arctic Council had taken an interest in the same
issue, we invited AMAP and CAFF (working groups under the Arctic
Council) to a joint undertaking. Since then several organisations have
joined, an ACIA Implementation Plan (can be found at:
http://www.acia.uaf.edu) has been agreed upon, and an Assessment
Steering Committee has started their work supported by an ACIA
Secretariat (in Fairbanks, Alaska).
However, when searching for scientists who could contribute to this
circumarctic assessment, it soon became evident that Russian scientists
(and data) were less well represented. In order to rectify this deficit,
an ACIA Workshop in St. Petersburg, Russia has been agreed (workshop
announcement below). As it is desirable to identify Russian scientists
as soon as possible, in order to involve them as early as possible in
this process, the workshop will be held 28-31 May 2001.
Selection of participants is based on short abstracts, see the ACIA
Abstract Instructions in the enclosure. Please also note that the
deadline for abstracts is: 10 April 2001.
The "ACIA Operative Outline" gives details as to the planned contents of
the assessment, and it is a useful guide for those who are interested in
contributing to ACIA. A copy of this outline can be found at:
http://www.acia.uaf.edu or you can contact Odd Rogne at IASC or Gunter
Weller at the ACIA Secretariat for a paper copy.
WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT
Impact of Climate and UV in the Arctic: Russian Activities
ACIA Workshop in St. Petersburg, Russia, 28-31 May 2001
BACKGROUND
At the Arctic Council Ministerial meeting in Barrow, Alaska in October
2000, ministers from the eight Arctic countries endorsed the plan for an
assessment of the effects on the Arctic environment and its population
due to changes in climate and UV radiation. ACIA (Arctic Climate
Assessment Programme).
As a part of the ACIA assessment, AMAP, CAFF, and IASC are mobilising
national research and monitoring agencies and scientists to participate
in the assessment work. In addition, national and international
monitoring and research programmes are being encouraged to provide input
to the assessment.
As a part of this process we invite Russian and Western experts to a
three-day workshop in St. Petersburg to be held 28-31 May 2001.
OBJECTIVES
This workshop is planned to bring together the best Russian scientists
and institutes engaged in Arctic research and monitoring of changes in
climate and UV/ozone. At present the number of Russian scientists
involved in ACIA, and the knowledge within ACIA about ongoing research
and monitoring in the Russian Arctic is insufficient.
In addition to improving the Russian contribution to the ACIA, the
intention is also to encourage bilateral/international programmes
between the Arctic Council member countries, including the permanent
participants (Artic indigenous organisations).
PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS
A small initiator group has made preparations for the workshop, but is
now being replaced by:
- The scientific committee composed of some of the Lead Authors for the
ACIA assessment, and 4-5 Russian experts.
- The organizing committee composed of representatives from Roshydromet
and the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) as well as by the core
organisations involved in the ACIA process: AMAP, CAFF, IASC, and RAIPON
(as representative for the Russian Arctic Indigenous Peoples). WWF as
an interested partner, is also invited to join.
PLACE AND TIME FOR THE WORKSHOP
The workshop will be held at the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
(AARI) in St. Petersburg starting 28 May 2001
PARTICIPATION AND PRESENTATIONS
At the workshop, the ACIA process will be presented: its background,
goals, ongoing activities (including research and monitoring), etc.
Russian scientists are kindly asked to present relevant work in which
they are currently involved, and the plans they have for the next 3-5
years.
ABSTRACTS
A short abstract, 1 page (in English) should be provided before 10 April
2001
See below for specifics.
Based on these abstracts, the scientific committee will select the best
15-20 for oral presentation (15 minutes), and offer poster presentations
for up to 30 experts. The scientists presenting the posters could be
offered a 3-minute oral presentation of their posters (max 2 overheads,
focusing on objectives and results). To ensure a good discussion between
Russian and Western scientists, a sufficient number of the ASC members
(Lead Authors) will also attend the workshop. Representatives from
RAIPON and Arctic indigenous organizations will play a key role in the
assessment and are encouraged to participate.
TENTATIVE AGENDA
DAY 1:
Morning session
Registration,
Opening statements,
The ACIA process and links to IPCC,
Ongoing research and monitoring activities in the West and
bilateral/international activities with Russia.
Afternoon session
10-12 Oral presentation
Evening
Reception
DAY 2:
Morning session
10 Oral presentations
Afternoon
30 Oral presentation of posters and poster session
Group discussions
DAY 3:
Morning session
Summing up and recommendations:
What are the main activities ongoing in Russia?
What are the main future activities?
Practical involvement of Russian institutes and scientists in the ACIA
process.
End of the meeting
Afternoon
Departure
FUNDING
Funds are available for travel, hotel, and meals for Russian
participants and for the Lead Authors. The funds will also cover some
common expenses like translation service, local transport, conference
lunches, etc.
ACTIONS
Russian interested scientists should as soon as possible and not later
than 10 April send their abstracts as an attachment to an e-mail to:
amap [at] amap.no
ACIA ABSTRACT INSTRUCTIONS
The abstract should be sent as an enclosure to an e-mail addressed to:
amap [at] amap.no
Deadline: 10 April 2001
Main scientific activities relevant to ACIA
Please see: "Arctic Climate Impact Assessment: Operative Outline,"
(http://www.acia.uaf.edu) which lists the planned chapters of the
assessment with a brief listing of intended contents. Please use this
document to check to see if your research is relevant and where it may
belong.
The abstract must be written in English and contain the following parts:
1: Name
Your full name, academic title, address, phone, fax, and e-mail address
2: The summary of achieved results (20 lines) written in a simple and
plain language. The summary should also include the 1-3 most relevant of
your scientific publications, and quoting:
- title, number of pages, when and where published
- brief description of the contents (if not clear from the title)
Preferably only peer-reviewed publications/articles.
Classification: Please add which chapter(s) from the "Operative Outline"
your work fits into.
3: Listing of ongoing research and co-partners (10 lines)
4: Future plans
Please indicate which topics your future research may cover and if
funding is secured. As the abstracts for those invited to the workshop
will be printed in a separate publication, future plan information would
be helpful in bringing scientists with common interests together.