Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1
Davos Atmosphere and Cryosphere Assembly DACA-13
Symposia and Sessions
Symposium A1
From explaining the Pleistocene to projecting the Anthropocene
Without rapid and dramatic reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, the Earth’s climate may return to a level of warmth not experienced in many millions of years. This change may occur over only a few hundred years, accompanied by sea level rising at a rate of as much as a metre, or perhaps more, per century. The past few million years have seen some of the largest changes in climate that the Earth has experienced, ranging from conditions near the present to those with continental glaciations that reduced sea level by more than 100 metres below its present level. Understanding the nature and mechanisms of glacial-interglacial cycling and the relative stability of interglacials, has the potential to provide context and insight into climate and sea-level response to human activities over the industrial period and into the future. This symposium invites researchers who investigate the long-term behaviour of the Earth system in the past and how it is projected to change into the future. We particularly encourage both modellers and empirical scientists who focus on the cryosphere, the atmosphere and the interactions between them. Symposium lead convener: André Berger ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Michael MacCracken, Qiuzhen Yin, Axel Timmermann
Sponsors: IACS, ICCL of IAMAS
Session A1.1 Reconstructing and understanding the Pleistocene
Session conveners Lead Convener: Qiuzhen Yin ([email protected]), co-convener: André Berger
Many questions remain about climate system behaviour over the last ~3 million years. For example, why did the Pleistocene Ice Age begin around 2.7 Ma BP and what caused the switch from the 41- ka world to the 100- ka one at the Mid Pleistocene Transition about 900 ka ago? Why did the amplitude of the glacial-interglacial cycles change at the Mid Brunhes Event about 420 ka ago? Why did the CO2 concentration vary only between ~180 and 280 ppmv over the glacial-interglacial cycles of the last 1 Ma? This session will gather together scientists from different fields related to Pleistocene climate change. Pleistocene climatic variations in different regions and the underlying mechanisms and feedbacks between different climate components will be discussed. There will be particular emphasis on the comparison between cryospheric proxy records and other climate proxy records, as well as palaeoclimate modelling results.
Session A1.2 Reconstructing and understanding the Holocene
Session conveners Lead Convener: Axel Timmermann ([email protected]), co-convener: Andrew Mackintosh
2
The climate of the Holocene provided the environmental context for the development of civilisation worldwide. Reconstructions of global average temperature suggest that relatively small variations and possibly a slow cooling occurred over the several thousand years leading into the industrial period. However, there were significant regional variations, including the emergence of the Sahara Desert in the early Holocene and primarily Atlantic Basin variations in the recent Holocene. This session invites contributions describing research on the relative stability and variability of climate, the cryosphere, and sea level during the Holocene, including the Pleistocene-Holocene transition for the insights that it might provide about periods when relatively rapid climate change was occurring.
Session A1.3 Recording and understanding the Holocene-Anthropocene transition
Session conveners Lead Convener: Michael MacCracken ([email protected]), co-convener: André Berger
Human influences on the environment range from changes in land cover to emissions from human activities. The extent of these activities increased during the Holocene with the spread of agriculture and communities, and then the shift from wood to fossil fuels as the primary source of energy. Over the 20
th century, the primary forcing of the
climate system has appeared to shift from dominance by natural influences to dominance by human influences. This session invites contributions that examine the observational record documenting the changes that have occurred and detection and attribution studies that seek to distinguish the relative roles over time of natural and human influences.
Session A1.4 Projecting the climate of the emerging Anthropocene
Session conveners Lead Convener: Michael MacCracken ([email protected]), co-convener: André Berger
With the increase in global average temperature since the preindustrial period reaching near 1˚C and greenhouse gas emissions continuing upwards, global average temperature is projected to continue rising. Some of the many consequences include further loss of glacier and ice sheet mass and increases in sea level. Model simulations are being used to examine a range of radiative forcing scenarios for long-term changes in climate. Increasing attention is also being paid to the potential for slowing near-term climate change by reducing emissions of short-lived warming gases and aerosols. This session invites contributions that focus on conditions, including potential unusual consequences of additional and nonlinear feedbacks, to be expected over the next few decades, through to the end of the 21
st century and beyond.
Session A1.5 Reconstructing and projecting changes in sea level
Session conveners Lead Convener: Axel Timmermann ([email protected]), co-conveners: Andrew Mackintosh, Kurt Lambeck
A large fraction of the world’s population lives within 50 kilometres of the coast. Projected sea-level rise could threaten the livelihoods of entire nations. Although the rate of future sea-level rise is still highly uncertain, the long-term history of sea level makes clear that significant changes are possible, especially as a result of changing volumes of continental ice. Reconstruction of absolute sea-level changes during the Pleistocene and more accurate simulation of fast ice-sheet and ice-shelf/ocean processes are therefore urgently needed. The last glacial termination (~20,000-10,000 years ago) and last interglacial (125,000 years ago) are useful test cases for such models. This session invites contributions from the ice-sheet-climate modelling and palaeo-climate communities that provide new insights into Pleistocene sea-level changes, reconstruction and the stability of ice-sheets, their response to external forcings and their contributions to sea-level rise, past, present and future.
3
Symposium A2
Coupling processes in weather and climate
This symposium focusses on the multiple process interactions between the stratosphere and troposphere, or in other terms between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and cryosphere with a wide range of time scales from daily weather to climate change. It has been recognised that the stratosphere is coupled to the underlying troposphere through dynamical, radiative and chemical processes with multiple time scales from weeks to years. Impact of irradiance variations or influence of the ozone layer changes on the stratosphere and their linkages to the surface, influencing climate, including the oceans, lands and sea-ice have also been reported recently. It is therefore important to understand the coupling processes in climate variability and change and related weather conditions. Symposium lead convener: Shigeo Yoden ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Hisashi Nakamura , Werner Schmutz, Johannes Staehelin
Sponsors: IACS; ICMA, ICDM, IOC, and IRC of IAMAS, and CliC and SPARC of WCRP.
Session A2.1 Coupling mechanisms and predictability in weather and climate
Session conveners Lead convener: Shigeo Yoden ([email protected]), co-conveners: Elisa Manzini, Adam A. Scaife, David W. J. Thompson
The session will address fundamental mechanisms of the coupling processes among the stratosphere, troposphere, hydrosphere and cryosphere, over weather and climate time scales. Observational, numerical, and theoretical studies from dynamical, radiative and chemical aspects are all solicited. Papers on the importance of stratospheric variability for the troposphere and the Earth’s surface (lands, oceans and sea-ice) processes and the role of the stratosphere in changing climate are welcome as well as contributions on the predictability of the coupled climate system out to decadal time scales.
Session A2.2 Coupling processes with hydrosphere (ocean) and cryosphere
Session conveners Lead convener: Hisashi Nakamura ([email protected]), co-conveners: Marilyn Raphael, Michael Sigmond
It is well established that tropical ocean-atmosphere coupled variability exerts climatic impacts that extend into the extratropics by triggering atmospheric teleconnection to modify air-sea exchanges of heat, moisture and momentum over extensive maritime domains. Recent studies suggest, however, that the extratropical ocean, especially long-term variability of the western boundary currents and anomalous sea-ice cover, can influence large-scale atmospheric flow in the extratropics. In polar regions, decrease of Arctic sea-ice extent in September by over 10% per decade has attracted much attention. On the other hand, Antarctic sea-ice extent has experienced a comparably small increase in recent years, which has been investigated in relation to atmospheric circulation changes associated with the depletion of stratospheric ozone. Meanwhile, spring snow cover extent over Northern Hemisphere has experienced an accelerated rate of decrease over the last 40 years. It has thus become increasingly important to study climate variability and change from a viewpoint of the vertically coupled system that includes the hydrosphere (oceans) and cryosphere as well as the stratosphere and troposphere. We invite contributions including, but not limited to, theoretical, observational and/or modelling studies on the vertically coupled processes in weather and climate, responses of the hydrosphere and/or cryosphere to stratospheric variations and change via the troposphere, and influence of the hydrosphere and cryosphere variability onto the stratosphere.
4
Session A2.3 Sun-Earth connection processes
Session conveners Lead convener: Werner Schmutz ([email protected]), co-conveners: Ulrike Langematz, Joanna Haigh, Tom Woods
The session will address all aspects of the impact of solar variations on the Earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere and cryosphere. The session invites contributions on identifying the solar signal from ground-based and satellite observational datasets. Papers on the influences of total and spectral solar irradiance and particle flux on the stratospheric and tropospheric meteorological processes and climate are welcome as well as contributions on physical and chemical processes and mechanisms leading to the observed solar signal. Simulations with mechanistic, general circulation and chemistry climate models are especially encouraged. Studies may include solar variations on different time scales ranging from the 27-day rotation period over the 11-year solar cycle to centennial and millennial variations including the Maunder Minimum.
Session A2.4 Stratospheric ozone, greenhouse gases and climate change
Session conveners Lead convener: Johannes Staehelin ([email protected]), co-conveners: Geir Braathen, Sophie Godin-Beekmann, Theodore Shepherd
For several decades, the ozone layer has been threatened by the man made release of ozone depleting substances. However, the expected future recovery of stratospheric ozone is likely to be strongly modified by the effect of climate change on the dynamical properties of the stratosphere. In addition, the ozone hole appears to have been the primary driver of summertime changes in the southern high latitude tropospheric circulation over the last few decades. This session is planned to provide an overview of relevant recent research on the changing stratosphere and its connections to the troposphere under the combined effects of the increase of greenhouse gases and the decrease of ozone depleting substances resulting from the Montreal Protocol. Contributions are expected to include the effect of the ozone hole on surface climate, analysis of trace gas measurements and observed changes in stratospheric circulation and climate, numerical modelling of stratospheric ozone and its coupling to tropospheric climate, role of the stratosphere in the response of the climate system to increasing greenhouse gases, and other related subjects.
Symposium A3
Interannual to decadal climate variability and change
Climate change will alter our environment profoundly during the next century and beyond. On top of the long-term climate trend, large interannual-to-decadal variations occur due to internal climate variability and its interaction with long-term changes. Interannual-to-decadal changes can be relevant for decision making (e.g., probability of droughts), which is reflected in the relatively new field of decadal climate prediction. Model predictions of future climate fundamentally rely on the analysis of past and ongoing climatic variations and change using both observations and models and involving atmosphere, oceans, and the cryosphere. The symposium addresses observational and modelling studies on all aspects of interannual-to-decadal climate variability and change. Individual sessions address the role of oceans and ocean-atmospheric interaction, the ENSO system and its change, and decadal predictability. Symposium lead convener: Stefan Brönnimann ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Fei-Fei Jin, Gerald Meehl, Shang-Ping Xie
Sponsors: ICCL, ICDM of IAMAS
5
Session A3.1 ENSO and decadal variability under climate change
Session conveners Lead Convener: Fei-Fei Jin ([email protected]), co-convener: Jianping Li
The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), one of the most important drivers on climate variability, has profound climatic, environmental, societal, and economical impacts on both global and regional climate. Evidence, albeit limited, suggest that the basic characteristics of ENSO, including its sea surface temperature pattern, its amplitude and frequency, and its types and teleconnections etc., have been undergoing changes. However, projections for potential future changes are diverse and the whole issue how ENSO may respond to global warming and thus contribute to the global and regional climatic and environmental changes is far from understood and is an important subject of research worldwide. This session invites contributions regarding the latest scientific advances on observational, theoretical and modelling studies on: ENSO dynamics, ENSO impacts, ENSO predictability and prediction, ENSO and its relation to decadal variability, and ENSO projected changes and the associated impacts due to anthropogenic forcing. Session A3.2 Ocean’s role in climate variability, change, and predictability
Session conveners Lead-Convener: Shang-Ping Xie ([email protected]), co-conveners: Ruiqiang Ding, Hisashi Nakamura, Rowan Sutton
Ocean-atmospheric interaction is an important source of climate variability and predictability. Great progress has been made in understanding and modelling such interaction over tropical oceans. The mechanisms over extratropical oceans remain to be fully explored. As observed climate anomalies include an increasingly large component due to global warming, regional patterns of climate change and the role of ocean-atmosphere interaction are emerging as an important area of research. The session aims to strengthen interaction between the climate variability and change communities. We invite papers on ocean-atmosphere interaction, climate variability and predictability, and global warming dynamics. Session A3.3 Decadal climate prediction
Session conveners Lead-Convener: Gerald Meehl ([email protected]), co-convener: Lisa Goddard
Decadal climate prediction is a rapidly evolving new field of climate science. Research is currently taking place on a number of fronts, including improving our understanding of decadal timescale processes and mechanisms, formulating decadal climate prediction methodologies including initialization techniques and bias correction calculations, studying decadal clilmate predictability, and performing analyses of the CMIP5 decadal climate prediction with a number of models. Participants of this session are expected to report on current research on all these topics and more related to decadal climate prediction.
Symposium A4
Polar climate change and the cryosphere
Climatic changes significantly affect the polar latitudes of both hemispheres. Interactions of changes in the ocean and atmosphere with the cryosphere are particularly important in shaping the response of the system. This symposiusm addresses changes in the atmosphere, ocean, and the cryosphere and their interactions. Individual sessions address sea-ice changes using satellite remote sensing data, interactions between atmosphere, sea ice, ocean, and the cryosphere, and the potential effectiveness and scientific and technical problems associated with deliberate interventions to moderate or reverse human-induced changes.
6
Symposium lead convener: Stefan Kern ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Michael MacCracken, Stefan Kern, James Renwick, David B. Reusch
Sponsors: IACS, ICCL of IAMAS Session A4.1 Accurately quantifying changes in sea ice using satellite remote sensing
Session conveners Lead-Convener: Stefan Kern ([email protected]), co-convener: Cathleen Geiger
Forty years ago in 1972, the nimbus-5 satellite was launched. One of its payload instruments was the 19 ghz electrically scanning microwave radiometer (esmr). This prototype passive microwave instrument provided the first public-domain satellite views of sea ice. However, if we ask today: "what sea ice parameters are observed within a specific accuracy at a specific spatialtemporal scale?" there would be no consensus. Additionally, how much can be said about sea ice processes from polar-orbiting satellites, which have significant temporal sampling issues? The major sea ice dynamic and thermodynamic processes are rather simple at first glance, namely, horizontal (area) and vertical (thickness) growth and decay. In other words, processes that result in changes of the sea ice cover. To understand these changes, it is essential to know how accurately the true quantities can be estimated. Which changes in sea ice processes and properties most impact the accurate retrieval of area and thickness? Especially for the antarctic, sea ice thickness retrieval remains a real challenge. Also, regardless of the hemisphere, melting conditions often substantially deteriorate the retrieval quality if not inhibiting sea ice parameter retrieval completely. This session invites contributions which advance the above-mentioned theme questions and further related questions such as: how important is snow depth on sea ice for sea ice thickness retrieval in the antarctic compared to the arctic? How accurately can snow depth on sea ice be retrieved? How accurately can processes of sea ice melt, growth, and ridging, snow ice formation and snow metamorphism, and sea ice freeboard flooding be observed from space-borne platforms? Can current knowledge gaps be closed by synergistic combination of multiple satellite sensors such as amsr-e and quikscat or smos and cryosat-2?
Session A4.2 Sea ice and ocean-atmosphere interactions
Session conveners Lead-convener: James Renwick ([email protected]), co-conveners: John Turner, Sharon E Stammerjohn, Hiroyuki Enomoto
Sea ice is a critical component of the climate system, affecting atmosphere, oceans, and biological systems. In the Arctic, sea ice extent has been decreasing for decades while in the Antarctic, total extent has been increasing slowly. Understanding these conflicting trends, and predicting the future state of sea ice fields in both hemispheres is vital for our understanding of global climate change. This session will explore the latest developments in our understanding of atmosphere-ice-ocean interactions, process studies to improve understanding of such interactions, and improved modelling of sea ice in the context of global earth-system models. The session will include, but is not limited to, studies of sea ice albedo, surface energy exchange in the sea ice zone, the role of snow on sea ice, sea ice kinematics and dynamics, interactions between sea ice dynamics and thermodynamics, and the impact of sea ice formation and sea ice melt on ocean structure. It will also cover remote sensing of sea ice and sea ice modelling and prediction, both regional and global.
Session A4.3 High latitude climate change and links with the cryosphere
Session conveners Lead-convener: David B. Reusch ([email protected]), co-conveners: John Cassano, Christopher Karmosky, Matthew Lazzara, Michiel van den Broeke
Increasing evidence of climate change in high latitudes is seen in warmer air temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula, decreased Arctic summer sea-ice minima, increased surface melt on the Greenland ice sheet, and a wealth of other anomalies. Yet the combined effects of anthropogenic forcing and natural variability modes are yielding different levels of response in the atmosphere, ocean and cryosphere components of the two polar climate systems. This session will address how the meteorology and climate of the polar regions is responding to these changes, with a particular emphasis on linkages to the cryosphere. Surface melting is a leading example from the many atmosphere/cryosphere climate connections known to exist. The presence of surface melting on ice sheets and ice shelves marks an important climatic and geophysical
7
threshold. Changes in atmospheric circulation are known to be a key element of the surface melt question but exact mechanisms and spatial/temporal variability remain poorly understood in the high latitudes. To predict future contributions of surface melt to climate change requires better understanding of numerous physical processes in both the cryosphere and atmosphere. We solicit observation-, theory- and model-based papers from the atmospheric, oceanic and cryospheric communities that address questions of high latitude climate change. Of particular interest is work that examines questions of decoding and predicting past and future surface melt behavior on polar ice sheets and ice shelves.
Session A4.4 Can deliberate intervention moderate polar climate change and associated impacts?
Session conveners Lead-convener: Michael MacCracken ([email protected]), co-convener: IACS (to be determined)
With the pace of climate change increasing and the array and magnitude of climate impacts intensifying, particularly in high latitudes, increasing attention is being paid to the potential for limiting anthropogenic climate change and/or associated impacts through large-scale interventions. Possible intentional approaches include modifying the solar or infrared radiation balance on regional to global scales, altering biogeochemical cycles (CO2, CH4, etc.), and intervening to limit impacts on flora and fauna. Although specific approaches have been proposed, relatively little is understood about their potential effectiveness and possible unintended consequences. Issues of technological feasibility are also largely unexplored. Papers are invited that describe and address the potential effectiveness and scientific and technical problems associated with deliberate interventions to moderate or reverse human-induced changes in climate and/or the environment. Possible examples include modelling studies of the climatic impacts of proposed schemes for altering the absorption of solar radiation; approaches to reducing release of terrestrial carbon in high latitudes; and evaluations of technological feasibility. Papers are invited that analyze the strengths and limitations of possible approaches to intervening to moderate local to global changes in climate and/or consequent environmental and societal impacts, and/or that address issues relating to possible approval, monitoring, implementation, and overall governance.
Symposium A5
Climate change and the mountain cryosphere
Changes in the mountain cryosphere and especially in the length of well-known mountain glaciers have become iconic symbols of climate change. Mountain glacier recession is one of the largest contributors to sea-level rise, and downstream impacts on water resources affect millions of people.
The focus of this symposium is on understanding the relationship between the mountain cryosphere and the climate system. We will cover topics including; observations of past changes in glaciers, glacial processes, especially those influencing climate response, the relationship between climate variability, climate change and glaciers, future projections and sea-level contribution of glaciers, modelling of glaciers and their interaction with climate, and (more generally), improving our understanding of changes in the alpine cryosphere.
Symposium lead convener: Andrew Mackintosh ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Rianne Giesen, Martin Hoelzle, Gerard Roe, Thomas Moelg, Ramesh Singh, Michael Zemp
Sponsors: IACS, IAMAS, IPA, CliC of WCRP
Session A5.1 Glacier monitoring from in-situ and remotely sensed observations
Session conveners Lead convener: Michael Zemp ([email protected]), co-conveners: Andreas Kääb, Richard Armstrong, Vladimir Ryabinin
Understanding glacial processes is key to assessing the sensitivity of glacier systems to changing climate. Glaciers are monitored on different spatio-temporal scales, from extensive seasonal mass balance studies at selected glaciers to multi-decadal repeat inventories over entire mountain ranges. Internationally coordinated
8
glacier monitoring aims at combining in-situ measurement with remotely sensed data, and local process understanding with global coverage. Bringing together studies from the tropics to polar regions as well as from different disciplines, this session invites presentations on both in-situ and remotely sensed monitoring of glaciers, and on related uncertainty assessments. Session A5.2 The response of glaciers to climate trends and climate variability: modern observations, past reconstructions, and scale dependence
Session conveners Lead conveners: Gerard Roe ([email protected]), co-conveners: Thomas Moelg, Valentina Radic, Matthias Huss
This session targets the interface between atmospheric sciences and glaciology, with a focus on the link between larger-scale atmospheric/climate dynamics, glacier mass balance, and changes in glacier length. Modern glacier fluctuations are driven by both anthropogenic climate change and natural climate variability. Past glacier fluctuations are a primary data source for inferring Earth’s climate history. A detailed understanding of the causes of modern variability can better guide our interpretation of the paleorecords, and the past can in turn inform us of the context in which anthropogenic change is taking place. Changes in the cryosphere are often interpreted in terms of mean climatic changes, but the role of interannual variability is often neglected. There is great potential to track the importance of these factors to climate system dynamics on different scales. Coupled atmosphere-ocean modes, large-scale weather patterns, mesoscale circulations over mountains, and local-scale energy and mass exchanges in the surface boundary layer all can control glacier mass balance to various degrees, and can be interconnected as well. We invite model- and observational-based studies on any aspects of linkages between atmospheric processes and glacier mass balance on local, regional and global scales. We also seek contributions (theory, modelling, observations, or reconstructions) that characterise glacier length fluctuations on timescales ranging from the past century up to the past few millennia, and aim to understand their cause in terms of the climate changes and climate variability that drive them. Session A5.3 Glaciers in a changing climate: a global picture
Session conveners Lead convener: Rianne Giesen ([email protected]), co-conveners: Paul Leclercq, Tad Pfeffer
Glaciers are found from the warm Tropics to the cold Arctic regions and from maritime to continental climates. Despite the climatic differences, glaciers in all parts of the world are currently losing mass, thereby contributing to sea-level rise. The response of a glacier to a changing climate is mainly determined by the climatic conditions and its geometry, but also by the debris cover and frontal characteristics. The differences between individual glaciers form a challenge for global assessments of the contribution of glaciers to sea level change. An additional complication is that well-studied regions like the European Alps and Scandinavia only contain a small fraction of the world’s ice volume, while little is known about the long-term behaviour of glaciers in heavily glacierised regions, for example Alaska, Arctic Canada and the Himalayas. We invite contributions on the response of glaciers to a changing climate, from observations and modelling of current changes at individual glaciers to volume projections on regional and global scales. Studies addressing glacier changes in regions with a large potential sea-level contribution are especially welcome.
Session A5.4 Asian glaciers and climate change
Session conveners Lead convener: Ramesh Singh ([email protected]) , co-conveners: Alexander Kokhanovsky, Koji Fujita
Snow cover and glaciers influence the Indian monsoon and Asian climate in general. Recently, snow and glaciers in Asia became a hot topic due to their likely future impact on the hydrological cycle and sea level. Observations of glaciers in the Himalayas have been based on a limited number of ground observations. Satellie-based observations are now filling in these gaps, providing information about snow and glacier extent, as well as meteorological and atmospheric parameters.
9
Changes in land use and anthropogenic activities in Asia have led to an increase in atmospheric aerosol loading and aerosol transport. These changes affect the albedo of Himalayan snow and glaciers, increasing melt in some cases. The intensity of such impacts varies along the Himalayan range. We welcome contributions that help us to understand the interactions between glaciers and climate in Asia, including; radiative transfer modelling, mapping and monitoring of glaciers, dust and anthropogenic activities, river flow, relation with climate, Indian monsoon and ground and satellite observations.
Session A5.5 Open alpine cryosphere session
Session conveners Lead convener: Martin Hoelzle ([email protected]), co-conveners: Tobias Bolch, Matthias Huss, Marcia Phillips
The alpine cryosphere includes important elements of the earth system like snow cover, glaciers, permafrost, seasonally frozen ground, and lake and river ice. The cryosphere is currently one of the most prominent symbols to visualize the impact of climate change, because changes in many cryospheric variables can be observed in nature even by non-scientists. The observed changes in climate are affecting all elements of the alpine cryosphere on different scales. On a global scale, glaciers and ice caps are increasingly influencing the global sea level rise and are therefore threatening many heavily populated regions close to seashores. On a local to overregional scale the current retreat of mountain glaciers worldwide influences the water discharge and consequently sustainable agriculture and energy production, or mountain permafrost affecting slope stability. Therefore, it is still an urgent need to improve the understanding of alpine cryospheric processes and the corresponding long-term evolution of e.g. glaciers or mountain permafrost in connection with climate change adaptation programmes in order to reduce the high vulnerability of people living in mountainous regions. Contributions of all kind on alpine cryosphere topics dealing with field measurements, modelling or impacts are highly welcomed.
Symposium A6
Ice sheets in a warming climate
Recent projections of global sea-level rise by 2100 C.E. range from 20 cm to as much as 2 m, and sea level is projected to rise in the coming centuries even further. Without adaptation, a rise by 0.5 m would displace 3.8 million people in the most fertile part of the Nile River Delta. A rise by 2 m could displace 187 million people globally. Recent rapid changes at the edges of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets show acceleration of flow and thinning, with the velocity of some glaciers increasing more than twofold. Surface melt on the Greenland ice sheet has continued to increase with new record melt extent over most of the ice sheet in summer 2012. West-Antarctica is losing mass mainly caused by the ocean-ice interaction. It is unclear whether this imbalance is a short-term natural adjustment or a response to recent climate change, but processes causing accelerations are enabled by warming, so these adjustments will very likely become more frequent in a warmer climate. This symposium on “ice sheets in a warming climate” reviews and documents the advances in ice sheet modelling, discusses and reports new results on ice sheet-ocean-atmosphere interactions, and reports on the latest results on ice sheet melt in Greenland and Antarctica and the implication on ice shelf stability – all in view of the short and long-term contribution of ice sheets to sea level change. Symposium lead convener: Konrad Steffen ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Ralf Greve, Fiammetta Straneo, Stefan Vogel Sponsors: IACS, IAMAS
10
Session A6.1 Advances in ice sheet modelling
Session convener Lead convener: Ralf Greve ([email protected])
Complementary to field observations and remote sensing, numerical modelling has become established as an important tool for assessing the state and change over time of ice sheets on Earth. This includes (but is not limited to) the highly topical issue of predicting their contribution to future sea level rise under global warming conditions. Due to tremendous increases in computing power, new-high resolution data sets on ice sheet boundary condiitons, and improved understanding of surface processees, the capabilities of ice sheet models have improved greatly since their advent in the 1970’s. This session is intended to cover a wide range of recent advances in ice-sheet modelling, such as:
(i) simulations at very high resolution, (ii) full Stokes or higher-order flow modelling, (ii) adaptive meshing techniques for ice streams, outlet glaciers and grounding zones, (iv) data assimilation techniques and inverse modelling, (v) coupling between ice sheet and climate models, (vi) innovative computing techniques (e.g., massive parallelization, grid computing).
Session A6.2 Ice sheet – ocean – atmosphere interactions
Session conveners Lead convener: Fiammetta Straneo ([email protected]), co-conveners: Eric Rignot, Gordon Hamilton, Michiel van den Broeke
Rapid mass loss from the polar ice sheets has been attributed to increased discharge at the marine margins of Greenland and West Antarctica as a result of the acceleration, thinning and retreat of outlet glaciers, and the increase in surface melting in Greenland. Here evidence points at changes being initiated at the tidewater margins of these glaciers thus implicating both the ocean and the atmosphere as potential triggers and drivers for the mass loss. Yet the dynamic links between ice sheet, ocean and atmospheric variability are still unclear thus contributing to a large uncertainty in sea level rise predictions. This session will bring together the diverse communities addressing the wide range of mechanisms involved in ice sheet-ocean-atmosphere interactions. These include large-scale atmospheric and oceanic patterns, synoptic weather events, fjord and shelf dynamics, surface melt and subglacial drainage, glacier and ice stream dynamics. Session A6.3 Ice melt in Antarctica and Greenland and its implication for ice sheet and ice shelf stability in the 21
st century
Session conveners Lead convener: Stefan Vogel ([email protected]), co-convener: Petra Heil
The Greenland Ice Sheet is experiencing significant surface melting. Surface melting is directly and indirectly contributing to the global sea-level rise, through the melt water flux to the ocean as well as lubrication of outlet glaciers and subsequent increased ice flux to the ocean. In Antarctica - the Antarctic Peninsula has experienced significant warming and ice melt, and ponding of melt water contributed to the collapse of the Larsen B Ice Shelf. Almost 10 years after the collapse outlet glaciers are still experiencing thinning and mass loss. On the other hand East Antarctic is generally thought to be cold and stable. The session solicits contributions on past, present and future surface mass balance of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, ice-atmosphere interaction processes and the effect on ice sheet/ice shelf stability in the 21st century. Topics may include but are not limited to ice sheet/glacier surface energy/mass balance, ice sheet/glacier boundary conditions and mechanisms impacting glacier flow, ice sheets/shelf stability and may challenge the paradigm of East Antarctic being Cold and Stable.
11
Symposium B1
Data assimilation and ensemble forecasting for weather, climate and air quality
Probabilistic state estimation of past, current and future states is an essential tool in Earth System simulation and prediction. Data assimilation integrates the wealth of data from both satellite and in situ platforms to analyse the current and past state of the atmosphere and other elements of the Earth System, forming the basis of improved forecasts from the mesoscale to the global scale. Ensemble forecasting techniques provide an estimate of the inherent forecast uncertainty of future states of the atmosphere. A key issue is the characterization of the uncertainty in past, current and future state estimates in both coarse and high resolution models. The session will provide a forum for presentation and discussion of the latest research in data assimilation and ensemble forecasting. The effectiveness of data assimilation and ensemble forecasting is inextricably linked to our ability to estimate the distribution of truth given limited information. Given imperfect and sparse observations together with an imperfect forecasting system, data assimilation focuses on estimating the distribution of current and past states while ensemble forecasting strives for the distribution of future states. Data assimilation schemes need an estimate of the distribution of truth given a short term forecast – a key objective of ensemble forecasting. The intertwining of the aims of data assimilation and ensemble forecasting ensures that data assimilation experts can help ensemble forecasting experts and vice-versa. We are therefore calling for presentations of outstanding research in data assimilation and ensemble forecasting. Symposium lead convener: William Lahoz ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Craig Bishop, Christian Keil, Zhiyong Meng Sponsors: ICDM of IAMAS, IACS Session B1.1 Advanced methods in data assimilation and ensemble forecasting
Session conveners Lead convener: Craig Bishop ([email protected]), co-convener: William Lahoz
Presentations are requested on advanced methods in data assimilation and ensemble forecasting. Such methods include those currently in operations at some centres: hybrid variational and ensemble-based methods; weak constraint 4D-Var; and methods that may become suitable for operational use as computing power increases, such as particle filters, Monte-Carlo Markov Chains and other less parametrised attempts to solve Bayes’ theorem for arbitrary forecast and observation error distributions. Talks on coupled data assimilation where one investigates whether an observation of, e.g., the atmosphere can be used to improve the state of the ocean and vice-versa are also welcome.
Session B1.2 Improved use of Earth observations
Session conveners Lead convener: Zhiyong Meng ([email protected]), co-convener: Craig Bishop
This session will cover the assimilation of data from recent, new or planned atmospheric satellite instruments, such as IASI, ADM-Aeolus and prospective atmospheric missions from ESA, NASA, JAXA and other agencies. The session will also include studies of the impact of different observation types, including developments in OSEs (Observing System Experiments) and OSSEs (Observing System Simulation Experiments), adaptive observing methods and calculation of observation sensitivities. Session B1.3 Applications to weather and climate prediction
Session conveners Lead convener: Christian Keil ([email protected]), co-convener: Zhiyong Meng
This session focuses on the applications of data assimilation and ensemble forecasting to weather and climate prediction. Talks on the representation of forecast uncertainty and on short-range convective-scale ensemble
12
forecasting techniques are particularly welcome. Session B1.4 Applications to air quality monitoring
Session conveners Lead convener: William Lahoz ([email protected]), co-convener: Christian Keil
Presentations are requested on applications of data assimilation and ensemble forecasting to air quality monitoring. Talks on the various elements of the problem (chemistry, transport and emissions) and the interplay between them are welcome.
Symposium B2
High-impact weather, climate extremes, and extremely rare events
Extremes are an inherent aspect of the climate system. Such extremes are of different spatial and temporal scales, including for example, heavy precipitation and flooding, tropical and extra-tropical cyclones, tornados, ice storms, storm surges, heat and cold waves, drought as well as related phenomena. Many of these extremes may be compound events, resulting from several factors. This symposium covers a wide range of topics related to high-impact weather and extreme events, at timescales ranging from short-range weather forecasting to long-term climate change. The forecasting of extremely rare events will be a particular emphasis of this symposium. Symposium lead convener: Richard Swinbank ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Lisa Alexander, Juliette Blanchet, John Nielsen-Gammon Sponsors: ICDM of IAMAS, IACS, WCRP Session B2.1 The dynamics of extreme events – improving forecasts in the current climate
Session conveners Lead Convener: Richard Swinbank ([email protected]); co-convener: Istvan Szunyogh
The focus is on the dynamics and predictability of extreme climate and weather events and improving forecasts of high-impact weather in the current climate. This paradigm is addressed by WWRP-THORPEX - an international research programme to accelerate improvements in the prediction of high-impact weather. Presentations are invited on all aspects of the science of high-impact weather events, including: predictability and dynamical processes; application of ensemble methods for forecasting from short-range through to sub-seasonal time-scales; and data assimilation and observing system studies. Scientific studies based on THORPEX field campaigns and related research projects will be particularly welcome. Session B2.2 Extreme events under changing climate
Session conveners Lead Conveners: Lisa Alexander ([email protected]), co-conveners: Xuebin Zhang, Richard Grotjahn, Ron Stewart.
This sessions addresses the concern that a change in the climate may result in changes in extreme events. The ensuing impacts depend more on the changes in extremes than on changes in the mean state of the climate. This is addressed, for example, by various WCRP projects (e.g. CLIVAR, GEWEX and CliC). Presentations are requested on a range of issues within this topic area including the global distribution of weather and climate extremes; trends in frequencies and intensities of extremes; development of new tools and methods for the quantitative analysis of extremes; understanding the mechanisms responsible for the formation and evolution of extremes; interconnections of compound extremes e.g. soil moisture impacts on droughts or heatwaves; as well as projections of extremes and associated uncertainties in the future climate.
13
Session B2.3 Extremely rare events – forecasting, quantification and communication
Session conveners Lead Convener: John Nielsen-Gammon ([email protected]); co-convener: Richard Swinbank
An extremely rare event is one whose prior expected return frequency is less than once in 100 years. At both short- and long-range, extremely rare events present special challenges to forecasters. One section of this session will focus on those challenges, discussing case studies in which challenges have arisen and methods for dealing with them. Such events may, for example, have their probability of occurrence elevated by a factor of 100 or more in a given forecast scenario yet still be unlikely to occur. How should the level of risk of a rare extreme event, with its inherently low likelihood but potentially high cost, be quantified and conveyed to leaders and members of the public? Insights and best practices from meteorological forecasts of extremely rare events may also be valuable for forecasting other geological hazards such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Session B2.4 Statistical modelling of extreme values
Session conveners Lead Convener: Juliette Blanchet ([email protected]); co-convener: Xuebin Zhang
The investigation of extreme events has seen much progress in the past decades. It has only been recently that substantial attention has been given to the fact that many applications, which rely on the analysis of extreme values, require an interpretation in a time and/or spatial context. Such applications include the calculation of reliable return periods for natural hazards and other events. This session specifically focusses on non-stationary and/or spatial aspects of extreme value statistics and welcomes theoretical, numerical and application oriented contributions.
Symposium B3
Advances in atmospheric dynamics, and mountain weather
This symposium focuses on the application of geophysical fluid dynamics and turbulence theory to the understanding of the atmospheric circulation and climate, with an emphasis on (i) dry and moist dynamics of synoptic to planetary scale atmospheric circulations, both in the troposphere and stratosphere, and (ii) the dynamics of mountain weather and climate. The symposium will be structured into a general dynamics session and a mountain weather dynamics session.
Symposium lead convener: Olivia Romppainen-Martius ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Olivia Romppainen-Martius, Mathias Rotach
Sponsors: ICDM of IAMAS
Session B3.1 General Dynamics
Session conveners Lead convener: Olivia Romppainen-Martius ([email protected]), co-conveners: Nili Harnik, Hisashi Nakamura
For the general dynamics session, contributions based on theoretical, diagnostic, and modelling (either realistic or idealised) studies are invited on a range of topics including, but not limited to, wave, cyclone and anticyclone growth and evolution, eddy-mean flow interactions and possible dynamical regimes arising from it, the dynamics of storm tracks and jet streams, the dynamics of the stratospheric polar vortex, and its interaction with the troposphere, topographic and/or oceanic influence on large-scale atmospheric circulation, interactions between moist convection and large-scale flows and dynamical implications of aerosol-cloud-climate interactions.
Session B3.2
14
Dynamics of mountain weather and climate
Session conveners Lead convener: Mathias Rotach ([email protected]); co-conveners: Branko Grisogono, Ivana Stiperski
The session on “Dynamics of mountain Weather and Climate” focuses on dynamic processes that govern short and long-term (climatic) state of the atmosphere influenced by topography. Contributions based on theoretical treatment, numerical modelling, observational or combined approaches are invited on a range of topics including topographic precipitation, convective initiation, gap flows, mountain waves, thermally driven local circulations, mountain venting and exchange processes between the topography and the free troposphere. Spatial scales range from sub-synoptic (meso) scale to local / regional and the time scales from episodic to long-term climatic. Physical processes may equally be discussed as specific problems related to numerical modelling or observations in mountainous areas.
Symposium B4
Global monsoon, tropical cyclones and tropical dynamics
This is a wide-ranging symposium covering many aspects of tropical weather and climate, but focusing primarily on the global monsoon and tropical cyclones, which affect more than 60% of the world population. It is of great importance to understand varaiability and dynamics of the global monsoon and tropical cyclones, their interactions as well as their associated ocean-land-atmopshere-cryosphere-biosphere interactions, in order to make better predictions in the current climate and projections of future climate asscoiated with global warming. This symposium invites contributions regarding observational, diagnostic, theoretical, modelling, prediction, projection and model intercomparison studies on all aspects of the global monsoon, tropical cyclones and other tropical weather and climate. Presentations about the linkage of climate change with the global monsoon, tropical cylones and other tropical circulations are particularly welcome. Individual sessions separately address the global monsoon system, tropical cyclones and tropical dynamics.
Symposium lead convener: Jianping Li ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Patrick A. Harr, David S. Nolan
Sponsors: IACS; ICDM & ICCL of IAMAS; CLIVAR of WCRP
Session B4.1 Global monsoon system: past, present and future
Session conveners Lead convener: Jianping Li ([email protected]) , co-conveners: Bin Wang, E.Hugo Berbery, Harry Hendon, Jun Matsumoto, Georg Kaser, Andrew Turner
The global monsoon system is a central component of the global climate system as well as a fundamental regulator of the Earth's energy budget and water cycle. Monsoonal circulations dominate South and East Asia, northern Australia, West Africa and are also significant in the Americas. They impact climate, both regionally and globally, and involve complex multi-scale interactions. Meanwhile, they are also impacted by the principal modes of climate variability (e.g., ENSO, NAM/AO, SAM/AAO, NAO, PDO, AMO, IOD, etc.) as well as human activities (land use change, aerosols, greenhouse gas emissions etc.). This session focuses on the nature and mechanisms of monsoon variability at various time-scales ranging from diurnal to millennial timescales; linkages between monsoons and the principal modes of climate variability; multi-scale interactions within the global monsoon system among the atmosphere, ocean, land surface, cryosphere, biosphere and human activities, and their influences; monsoon simulation, predictability, prediction and projection. Presentations are also invited on the latest results from monsoon experiments such as the AMY, MAHASRI, AMMA, YOTC, NAME, MAIRS, GAME, SCSMEX, and MESA, etc. Session B4.2
15
Tropical cyclones
Session conveners Lead convener: Patrick A. Harr ([email protected]) , co-conveners: Elizabeth A. Ritchie, Kristen L. Corbosiero, Noel Davidson
Over many ocean basins and coastal areas, tropical cyclones are often a source of high-impact weather conditions. As such, significant research efforts are focused on many aspects of tropical cyclone formation, intensification, structure change, motion, and extratropical transition. For example, over the most recent five years several international field programs have been conducted to obtain special observations in and near tropical cyclones. In this session, research papers are solicited on all aspects of tropical cyclones. Specific topics include fundamental physical processes related to tropical cyclone formation, intensification and structure change; interactions among tropical cyclones and synoptic-scale, intraseasonal, and interannual circulations; and the role of tropical cyclones in tropical-extratropical interactions. Session B4.3 Tropical dynamics
Session conveners Lead convener: David S. Nolan ([email protected]) , co-conveners: Robert Burgman, Eric Maloney, Stefan Tulich
This part of the symposium concerns the diverse range of tropical circulations, including equatorial waves, organised tropical convection, and tropical intraseasonal, interannual, and decadal variability. Specific phenomena of interest are the Madden-Julian Oscillation, El Nino/Southern Oscillation, the Walker and Hadley Circulations, the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone, and their interactions with monsoons and tropical cyclones. In particular, papers related to acquisition and analyses of data obtained during the CINDY2011/DYNAMO field experiments are encouraged and will likely be organised into one or more sessions. Contributions on the diverse linkages between the tropics, subtropics and midlatitudes are also invited.
Symposium B5
Atmospheric lightning: physical processes with regional and global impacts
Lightning is a transient high-current discharge event that occurs in the atmosphere during thunderstorms, with a global rate estimated several tens of flashes per second. Charge separation and the build-up of electric fields within thunderstorms for producing lightning are believed to mainly rely on the interaction between graupel particles and ice crystals in the presence of super-cooled liquid water, and naturally are closely associated with the meteorological and environmental conditions. On the other hand, lightning discharges are known to produce various effects locally like emission of X-rays, production of transient luminous events (TLEs) and Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGF) and globally like the production of NOx and the propagation of Schumann resonance. This symposium welcomes in its two foreseen sessions contributions from all aspects of atmospheric electricity, especially those related to lightning physics, the microphysics of charge separation, and severe storm nowcasting and forecasting by using lightning data, upper atmosphere discharges, TGF, Schumann resonance, VLF phenomena, and global lightning distributions by both ground-based and space-borne measurements. Symposium lead convener: Zen Kawasaki ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Zen Kawasaki, Yoav Yair Sponsors: ICAE of IAMAS Session B5.1 Ice particles, lightning and severe storms
Session conveners Lead convener: Zen Kawasaki ([email protected]), co-conveners: Joan Montanyà, Vernon Cooray
Lightning discharge is one of the characteristic features associated with severe storms. It is because the charge separation in thundercloud highly depends on the temperature profiles as a function of height and the microphysics of the collision between falling graupel and rising snow crystals. Moreover the production rate of
16
graupel depends on the severity of storms like the velocity of updrafts and downdrafts in thunderclouds. Thus, the lightning activity can be regarded as a severity-measure for storms. From the aspects of severe storms the characteristic features of severe storms are graupel precipitation, heavy precipitation, lightning discharges, strong downburst, and tornado occurrences. Contributions are invited for a comprehensive and interactive discussion about lightning physics, the microphysics of charge separation, nowcasting and forecasting of severe storms etc. Session B5.2 Upper-level discharges and global circuit
Session conveners Lead convener: Yoav Yair ([email protected]), co-conveners: Torsten Neubert, Giles Harrisson
During the past two decades upper atmosphere discharges (e.g. red sprites and blue jets) have been investigated by a number of research groups. When red sprites were discovered, they were denoted as the “luminous transient events”. In other words red sprites and blue jets were hardly believed to be discharges from the top of thunderclouds to the ionosphere. However atmospheric electricians recognize them as a class of lightning discharges. Nevertheless upper atmospheric discharges are still not fully resolved. Moreover these phenomena are pointed out to be related with the fair weather electricity and the global circuit. Terrestrial Gamma Ray Flash (TGF) may also have relationship with upper atmospheric discharges. This session welcomes correspondences related with upper atmosphere discharges, TGF, Schumann resonance, VLF phenomena, and global lightning distributions by both ground base and space-borne measurements.
Symposium B6
Solar ultra-violet radiation in mountainous regions
Solar UV Radiation in mountainous regions is influenced by a large number of atmospheric and regional parameters, such as aerosols, clouds, topography and surface albedo as the main driving factors. Not only is the relationship between these parameters and the solar UV radiation field still not completely understood, but furthermore remote-sensing applications do typically not have the sufficient spatial and temporal resolution to estimate the UV radiation at the surface. Due to the high reflectivity of snow in the UV range (in contrast to most other surfaces such as vegetation, etc.) mountain topography and especially tilted surfaces have a significant impact on the UV radiation at the ground, i.e. at valley floors. Therefore measurements of solar UV radiation in combination with state-of-the-art radiative transfer modelling studies are required to quantify the influence of these parameters on the surface UV radiation. Since surface UV radiation is modulated by an area extending over several square kilometres around the site of interest, not only local but regional features need to be taken into account. A non-negligible fraction of the global population lives in high altitude mountain areas (Himalaya, Andes) where high UV radiation levels adversely affect the local population. This excessive UV exposure is a major health factor and has become the subject of an increasing number of studies in view of better quantifying the climatology of UV radiation in these Areas as well as studying the UV exposure of the indigenous population. Furthermore, leisure activities in mountainous regions in winter and spring (skiing, mountaineering, trekking) affect an increasing number of the population, thereby increasing the risk of negative health effects on individuals due to excessive UV exposure, while at the same time providing possibly significant positive health effects (Vitamin D production) in a period when solar UV radiation at lower altitudes is limited by adverse meteorological conditions. Recent studies of the solar UV exposure of skiers in the European Alps as well as in New Zealand have demonstrated the need for an accurate knowledge of the UV exposure on this population group. This Symposium seeks submissions addressing the above-mentioned aspects, specifically:
case studies and climatological studies which aim at quantifying and better understanding the solar UV radiation field in mountainous regions (European Alps, Andes, Himalaya, Southern Alps, etc.) on local and regional scales.
Investigations of the health impact of solar UV radiation levels through UV exposure case studies and epidemiological studies on the natural environment and the human population in particular.
Case studies combining measurements and radiative transfer studies to quantify the impact of the relevant atmospheric and geographic factors on the surface UV radiation. Specifically, studies investigating the relative merits of 1D and/or 3D radiative transfer models in assessing the UV radiation field in complex topographic terrain in the presence of highly reflective surfaces such as snow are sought.
17
Symposium lead convener: Julian Gröbner ([email protected])
co-convener: Mario Blumthaler Sponsors: IRC of IAMAS, IACS
Symposium B7
Changing chemistry and biogeochemistry in a changing climate: Atmosphere, ocean and ice
The impact of pollution is now recognised to extend across all scales form the local to the global. The availability
of inexpensive power since the industrial revolution, has led to a growth in the earth population from 1 to over 7
billion. We have entered the new geological age, the anthropocene, and climate change resulting from
anthropogenic activity is beginning to have significant impacts. This symposium addresses contemporary
multidisciplinary, trans-disciplinary and cross cutting science of relevance to the “Future Earth” programme
objectives. The objective is to bring together the leading scientists, researching the changing chemical
composition, biogeochemistry and their feedback and builds on the symposium at MOCA 2009. Improved
knowledge of these interactions is required to improve our understanding and prediction of environmental and
climate change. One important focus is the interaction between the cryosphere and the atmosphere. The
symposium B7 of DACA 2013 addresses key scientific foci, identified by the international Commission on
Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution, iCACGP. It comprises three sessions i) Atmosphere Ocean and
Cryosphere Interactions; ii) Atmosphere Land Cryosphere Interactions and iii) Atmosphere, UT/LS and
Cryosphere Interactions.
Symposium lead convener: John P. Burrows ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Maria Kankidou, Laura Gallardo
Sponsors IAMAS - ICACGP
Session B7.1 Atmosphere ocean and cryosphere interactions
Session convener Lead convener: John P. Burrows ([email protected]), co-conveners: Christian George, Roland von Glasow
The high latitudes have been changing rapidly in the past 30 years with record low in Artic Sea occurring in
September 2012. In spring and occasionally in autumn, the interaction between sea ice, frost flowers and aerosol
results in the bromine explosion the removal of tropospheric ozone and the deposition of mercury in both the
Arctic and the Antarctic. Release of Iodine to the atmosphere has its maximum in the Antarctic. The outflow of
pollution from Europe results in the Arctic haze and the fires in the boreal forest and peat result in pollution
otherwise pristine conditions. The Arctic as a source of methane and sink for carbon dioxide has recently been
highlighted. An adequate understanding of all the above issues and their feedback is a key to understanding
global oxidative capacity and climate change.
Session B7.2 Atmosphere land cryosphere interactions
Session conveners Lead convener: Maria Kankidou ([email protected]), co-conveners: Frank Dentener, Russell R. Dickerson, James Drummond, Laurens Ganzeveld
18
Atmospheric pollution, released from the growth of large conurbations/megacities, the modern
agroindustry/agricultural practises, biomass burning and wildfires, is transported and transformed. from the
releases of the growing industrial centres and as a result of biomass burning and forest wild fires to regions. In
this manner atmospheric pollution from Europe and also North America enters the otherwise pristine Arctic.
Climate change has potentially large consequences for the wetlands and permafrost and their feedback with
atmospheric chemistry. The surface fluxes of the greenhouse gases are their future changes are inadequately
understood . Improving our knowledge of land surface, cryosphere interactions is of key importance in the
assessment of the feedback and evolution of climate and environmental change. This session addresses the
above topics comprising measurements and relevant laboratory studies of the processes involved and modelling
studies addressing our understanding and future change.
Session B7.3 Atmosphere, UT/LS – Cryosphere Interactions
Session conveners Lead convener: Laura Gallardo ([email protected]), co-convener: John P. Burrows
The Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere region is both a key part of the atmosphere and a less well
known part of the cryosphere. In the generally cold temperatures of the UT/LS, phase changes and azeotropic
processing results in ice clouds, cirrus and polar stratospheric clouds being formed. These in turn participate in
multiphase chemical mechanisms, which transform the chemical composition: one outcome being the ozone hole
in spring over the artic. Atmospheric dynamics also play an important role. The changing Brewer Dobson
Circulation and our understanding of the size and duration of the polar vortex in a changing climate are
inadequately understood. The impact of the monsoon, biomass burning and volcanic eruption on this region and
exchange between the stratosphere and the troposphere are other important topics to be addressed.
Symposium C1
Atmospheres and ices in planetary systems
We invite papers reporting progress on our understanding of (i) giant planetary systems (cold gas and ice giants, their rings and icy satellites); (ii) terrestrial planets (lower, middle and upper atmosphere, ionosphere and surface ices); (iii) the cold conditions of icy bodies in the distance solar system (e.g., Pluto, dwarf planets, KBOs and comets); and (iv) the extreme physicochemical conditions to be found on extrasolar planets. This symposium will be subdivided into two sessions: outer planets, terrestrial planets, exoplanets and laboratory experiments. Comparative studies of exoplanet atmospheres including the solar system planetary atmospheres are on the verge of becoming possible. Papers dealing with such topics are welcomed. Laboratory measurements under conditions found on solar system and exoplanet atmospheres are essential for understanding those atmospheres. Papers addressing such measurements are also invited.
Symposium lead conveners: Athena Coustenis ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Sanjay Limaye, Leigh N. Fletcher Dmitri Titov, Sponsors: ICPAE of IAMAS, IACS
Session C1.1 Atmospheres and ices on terrestrial planets
Session conveners Lead convener: Dmitri Titov ([email protected]), co-conveners: Sanjay Limaye, Ralf Greve
Papers are invited on the physics and chemistry of the lower, middle and upper atmosphere, ionosphere and surface ice of the inner planets and comets. Comparative studies of the atmospheres of Venus, Earth and Mars, as well as the ices on Earth and Mars, are also invited, with emphasis on the differences and similarities in their climates. Results from recent missions to Mars, Venus and the terrestrial planets in general are of particular interest. Further, reports on improvements in general circulation models of the thermosphere and lower atmospheres of the planets, coupled atmosphere/cryosphere models and descriptions of future planetary
19
missions are welcome, as well as advances in laboratory experiments.
Session C1.2 Atmospheres and ices on outer planets
Session conveners Lead convener: Leigh N. Fletcher ([email protected]), co-conveners: Darrell Strobel, Athena Coustenis
We invite papers reporting progress in our understanding of the unique environments of the outer solar system, from the origins, evolution and processes at work in giant planetary systems (their atmospheres, rings and icy moons) to the conditions found on icy bodies in the distant solar system (e.g., Pluto, dwarf planets, KBOs). Particular emphasis will be placed on (i) results from recent planetary observations, both space-based and ground-based, and their implications for the importance of ice throughout our solar system; and (ii) comparative studies of giant planet atmospheres and origins with relevance to exoplanetary studies. Contributions describing interactions between surface ices and planetary atmospheres; comparative atmospheric dynamics and chemistry; the connection between icy crusts and subsurface oceans (e.g., Europa and Ganymede and their future exploration); and simulations of the evolution of icy moons and giant planet atmospheres are particularly welcome.
Symposium C2
Ice, clouds and climate
Ice particles and ice nuclei play an important role in the microphysics of clouds from the equator to the poles. Unfortunately our knowledge of ice formation and ice nuclei is poor in all geographic areas. This symposium will look at ice formation and precipitation in general as well as looking at Polar Regions in particular where in-situ measurements are rare and ice and cloud condensation nuclei numbers are often extremely low. Symposium lead convener: Tom Lachlan-Cope ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Greg McFarquhar, Bob Rauber Sponsors: ICCP, ICPM of IAMAS, IACS Session C2.1 Dynamics and impact of ice formation in clouds
Session conveners Lead convener: Greg McFarquhar ([email protected]), co-convener: Roland List
The most fundamental and complex problems in weather and climate research today are our poor understandings of the basic properties of clouds and our inability to determine quantitatively the many effects cloud processes have on weather and climate. Atmospheric ice particles play a role in the formation of over half of the world’s precipitation, yet many details about the initiation and evolution of ice particles in clouds are poorly understood. For example, the primary and secondary mechanisms by which ice particles form, the composition of ice nuclei, and the dependence of their growth due to deposition, riming, and evaporation on cloud and environmental conditions have not been well determined. Further, the linkage between melting, evaporation and sublimation on dynamics, critical for understanding precipitation, has not been well established. An enhanced understanding of these issues is needed for improving the representation of cloud processes in numerical weather and climate models, and for determining their impact on the cryosphere. This session will examine the current state of knowledge of ice formation and evolution in clouds, remaining questions, and the challenges to answering these questions. Papers are solicited on all aspects of ice microphysics and precipitation and its impacts on weather, climate and the cryosphere, including studies predicting the impact of aerosols on weather and climate. Results from in-situ measurements, laboratory studies, numerical modelling studies at all scales and remote sensing studies are welcomed. Session C2.2
20
Quantifying solid precipitation: Measuring and modelling challenges
Session conveners Lead convener: Bob Rauber ([email protected]), co-convener: Darrel Baumgardner
Predicting the onset, duration and intensity of precipitation and validating these predictions with measurements is a daunting challenge for rain and even more formidable for graupel, hail and snow. Significant progress has been made in the forecast of solid precipitation and remote sensing techniques have also been improved so that more accurate estimates can be made of precipitation intensity; however, there are still large uncertainties in the forecast models and measurement techniques. This session will include talks related to forecasting precipitation and to measurements of solid precipitation by in situ and remote sensing techniques.
Session C2.3 Clouds, aerosols and precipitation at high latitudes
Session conveners Lead convener: Tom Lachlan-Cope ([email protected]), co-conveners: David Bromwich, Greg McFarquhar
There is increased interest at the moment in high latitude clouds, aerosols and precipitation. Very few in situ polar measurements have been made, especially in the Antarctic. However, recently there has been increased activity at both poles and this session aims to review the existing in-situ measurements, satellite observations and modelling studies to present an overview of our present knowledge of polar clouds, aerosols and precipitation and where to look for future advances.
Symposium C3
Atmospheric-cryospheric chemistry and ice cores
Numerous examples of active chemical and biological processes in snow and ice have been identified in the last decades demonstrating that ice sheets and snow covers are more than a passive blanket covering vast areas of the Earth either in winter or year-round. This mini-symposium deals with such processes from two perspectives. First, traditional and new proxies in ice cores or firn will be discussed to improve the reconstruction of environmental and climate conditions. Secondly, mechanisms and products impacting the impurity concentrations in snow and ice and the composition of the overlying atmosphere will be considered.
Symposium lead convener: Margit Schwikowski ([email protected])
Session lead convener: Hans-Werner Jacobi Sponsors: IACS, IAMAS
Session C3.1 Ice cores and climate
Session conveners Lead convener: Margit Schwikowski ([email protected]), co-convener: Carlo Barbante
Ice cores from mountain glaciers and polar ice sheets have provided information about past climate and environmental conditions on time scales from decades to hundreds of millennia. They contain a variety of climate proxy indicators which are used to estimate climate variability and climate processes prior to the modern period with great accuracy and good coverage of instrumental meteorological data. Proxies must be calibrated against modern instrumental information to yield a quantitative reconstruction of past climate. Contributions to this session are invited on quantitative reconstructions of past climate from all regions of Earth and at all time scales. Presentations about new ice core proxies, proxy calibration, multi-proxy use or proxy forward modelling approaches are especially welcome. Session C3.2
21
Air-ice chemical interaction
Session conveners Lead convener: Hans-Werner Jacobi ([email protected]), co-convener: Thorsten Bartels-Rausch
The cryosphere plays an active role in Earth’s biogeochemical cycles. Physical, chemical, and biological processes in alpine and polar snow and ice have been shown to cause vivid fluxes between atmosphere, cryosphere, soil, and ocean. These fluxes can contribute to the accumulation, production, or modification of certain globally transported contaminants and greenhouse gases. This session focuses on the chemical and biological activity in ice and snow. We invite presentations about field, laboratory, and modelling studies identifying important processes and deepening our understanding of the impact of the multi-phase matrix of ice and snow on chemical and biological processes. Contributions regarding recent advances in the parameterization of such processes in models and the evaluation of the impact on atmospheric composition, climate are especially encouraged.
Symposium C4
Snow, water, vegetation and the atmospheric boundary layer
The earth’s surface with its many interactions is the place, where we live. This symposium addresses earth surface processes with a particular focus on snow and vegetation covers and their effect on the ABL. Studies on the snow- and vegetation covers often require to consider the full complexity of snow – vegetation – atmosphere interactions in various surroundings. Indeed, even large-scale atmospheric prediction (weather and climate) is very sensitive to these small scale surface processes. Therefore, a good knowledge of the basic data such as snow depth and land-use as well as of forcing data for modelling experiments is needed. Studies within this context are intimately linked to climatic, ecological, and hydrological questions, not forgetting the impact on natural hazard mitigation.
The five sessions of this symposium address earth-surface modelling in mountains, the important forest vegetation cover, the feed-back to the atmospheric boundary layer, and measurement techniques. Symposium lead convener: Charles Fierz ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Peter Bebi, Tobias Jonas, Christoph Marty, Stephan F.J. De Wekker, Ruzica Dadic
Sponsors: IACS, IAMAS, ICSIH of IAHS
Session C4.1 Meteorological forcing data and distributed modelling of snow, ice and hydrology in mountain watersheds
Session conveners Lead convener: Tobias Jonas ([email protected]), co-conveners: Danny Marks, Richard Essery
A primary constraint to spatially-explicit modelling in mountain basins is limited forcing data. Distributed snow, ice, and hydrological models have become a valuable tool for water resources and ecosystems research in alpine regions. But while the capabilities of such models have made significant progress in recent years, it remains challenging to provide the models with accurate meteorological forcing fields. This session will cover all aspects of distributing forcing data over complex mountain topography, including innovative mapping methods for precipitation, temperature, and wind, model sensitivity to different approaches, distributed sensing experiments, and scaling issues Session C4.2 Forest-snow Interactions
Session conveners Lead convener: Peter Bebi ([email protected]), co-conveners: Delphis Levia, Michele Freppaz
Interactions between snow- and forest covers involve a variety of fascinating processes and feedback mechanisms. Structure and functioning of boreal and mountain forests is greatly affected by snow cover and snowfall. Snow cover duration can, for example, be a critical factor for seedling survival and soil nutrient dynamics
22
in snow rich areas, whereas heavy snowfall events and avalanches can cause severe forest disturbances. Forest structure and composition, on the other hand, influence snow properties and related hydrological and climatological settings in many ways. For example, changes in canopy cover have implications on avalanche regimes or forest albedo when snow covers the ground. Thus, the aim of this session is to give an overview and share the developments being made in the field of interactions between forest- and snow properties and about the underlying ecological and hydrological processes under tree canopies . We particularly welcome contributions that are cross disciplinary and encompass forest ecology/soil science as well as hydrology/meteorology. The session should thus provide a basis to better understand the implications of changes in forest cover and snow regimes on ecosystem functioning and –services. Session C4.3 Atmospheric boundary layers in complex terrain and over ice, snow and vegetated surfaces
Session conveners Lead convener: Stephan F.J. De Wekker ([email protected]), co-conveners: M. Rotach, Friedrich Obleitner, Marc Parlange
This session focuses on boundary layer dynamics in complex terrain, which influence short- and long-term (climatic) state of the atmosphere. A special emphasis will be put on exchange processes between the atmosphere and the surface in complex terrain, including glaciated or snow-covered surfaces, bare soils, and vegetated surfaces. Contributions based on theoretical, numerical modeling, observational or combined approaches are invited on a range of topics including, but not limited to turbulence, boundary layer state, scaling, near-surface processes, mixing and transport processes, energy balance (closure) and convective initiation. They may address physical processes as well as specific problems of high-resolution numerical modeling or applicability of parameterizations or measurement techniques in complex terrain. Session C4.4 Fluxes of energy and mass over, in and under snow, ice and vegetated surfaces
Session conveners Lead convener: Ruzica Dadic ([email protected]), co-conveners: Hendrik Huwald, Anne Nolin, Rebecca Mott, Sarah Boon
This session treats soil-vegetation-snow/ice-atmosphere interaction processes in controlled settings as well as mountain environments. These interactions shape e.g. the temporal evolution of a seasonal snow cover being a key element in water resource management and natural hazard control. The presence of forest canopy and shrub vegetation over snow significantly affects aerodynamic roughness, wind speed, and turbulence patterns at the snow-atmosphere interface. Snow-vegetation-atmospheric interactions are typically modulated by topographic position and complexity, which has only recently been subject of intensive research. Therefore, sublimation and evaporation, snow melt, water percolation, and liquid water output are difficult to estimate at a point and even more in a spatial context and this session will focus on quantifying energy- and mass changes in space and time due to these processes. We invite contributions that elaborate on mass- and energy exchange at the upper and lower surfaces of the snow pack. Both model studies and experimental work are welcome. We particularly encourage abstracts, which propose novel innovative field methods and techniques aiming at the distributed measurement of complex processes such as sublimation, water percolation, refreezing, and liquid water output from the snow pack. We further invite studies on the effects of human and natural land cover change (forest harvest, wildfire, pest infestation) on these interactions as well as on ecohydrologic implications and feedbacks Session C4.5 Methods and challenges of snow measurements
Session conveners Lead convener: Christoph Marty ([email protected]), co-convener: Yves-Alain Roulet
Monitoring continuous changes in snowpack dynamics is critical for understanding key aspects of water resources, climate variability, and ecology. Nevertheless, the measurement of snow depth and snow fall is still a challenge. The uncertainties are largest for the automated measurement of solid precipitation and underestimates of 20-50% are common. Precipitation gauge technology has changed considerably in the last years and the focus has shifted to automated techniques for snow fall, but also for other snow parameters. There have been only a limited number of
23
coordinated assessments on the accuracy, reliability, and repeatability of automatic precipitation measurements in sub-zero environments. This session will cover recent advances in the measurement of snow depth, snow water equivalent and snowfall. It will especially highlight efforts of the ongoing WMO-Solid Precipitation Intercomparison Experiment to understand the relative accuracies of different gauges and wind-shield configurations to measure snowfall.
Symposium C5
Changing mountain water, snow and ice resources
Change is more rapid in mountains than in other places. Especially with respect to water resources, the vulnerability of the society is already high and becomes more and more critical. Since many regions worldwide heavily depend on water resources fed by mountains, the subject is of global importance. The symposium on mountain water resources treats the problem by distinguishing between aspects of mountain and snow hydrology (session II) and a more general approach from climate change to impact analysis (session I). All experimental (including data analysis from remote sensing), theoretical and modelling analyses covering the broad range of water, snow and ice resources and their change are highly welcome.
Symposium lead convener: Martin Beniston ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Danny Marks Sponsors: IACS, IAMAS, ICSIH of IAHS
Session C5.1 Past, current and future water, snow and ice availability, use, and management in mountain regions
Session conveners Lead convener: Martin Beniston ([email protected]), co-conveners: Markus Stoffel, Paolo Burlando
Many mountain regions of the world are already today experiencing climate-driven changes, as exemplified by the general retreat of mountain glaciers over past decades. Climate models are projecting warming in all seasons and for all emission scenarios as well as changes in precipitation amount and sometimes seasonality. The very perceptible impacts of a warmer climate on mountain snow and ice will strongly affect tourism, hydropower generation and agriculture in mountains. In addition, the type and timing of extreme runoff may also change, for example with in some regions a greater risk of flooding during the spring and drought in summer and fall. The direct and indirect impacts of a warming climate will affect key economic sectors such as tourism, hydropower, agriculture and the insurance industry (confronted to increasing hydrology-related hazards), both in the mountains themselves and in the populated lowland regions downstream. This session thus welcomes contributions that address the multiple constraints of water availability, use and management in a changing climate, from the past to the future, based on individual research or that emerging from major EU projects such as, for example, ACQWA, enviroGRIDS, and HIGH NOON.
Session C5.2 Changing snow and ice hydrology in mountain watersheds
Session conveners Lead convener: Dany Marks ([email protected]), co-conveners: Alexander Gelfan, Tetsuya Hiyama, Regine Hock, Tobias Jonas, John Pomeroy
In mountain watersheds, snow and ice melt constitutes a critical component of the annual hydrological cycle. Climate warming is changing the dynamics of this meltwater generation throughout the world. Being able to predict the amount and timing of meltwater is important for managing water resources and preventing natural hazards, not only in the mountains but also for large areas downstream. This session will focus on advances in mountain snow and ice hydrology, including process understanding, observational advances, model development and validation and projections of future snow and ice hydrology under a changing climate. Ecohydrological implications of changing snow and ice are also welcome.
Symposium C6
24
Mountain snow cover and avalanches
Snow avalanches threaten mountain communities worldwide and still cause severe local disasters especially in developing countries. This session is devoted to the latest results on (1) the small-scale distribution of snow on the ground in particular with respect to snow avalanche formation, (2) processes and prediction of avalanche formation, (3) the movement and effect of flowing snow, and (4) the interaction between avalanche flow and obstacles in view of hazard mapping and risk management. With new measurement techniques on snow distribution and snow structure as well as refined modelling approaches, the link between spatial snow properties and (i) avalanche formation as well as (ii) the resulting consequences on avalanche flow regimes and avalanche impact, can be assessed in a more quantitative way. The series of sessions in this symposium should address these diverse aspects and try to highlight how the processes are interlinked. Symposium lead convener: Jürg Schweizer ([email protected])
Session lead conveners: Peter Gauer, Alec van Herwijnen, Stefan Margreth, Ernesto Trujillo Sponsor: IACS
Session C6.1 Properties and variability of the mountain snow cover
Session conveners Lead convener: Ernesto Trujillo ([email protected]), co-conveners: Karl Birkeland, Kalle Kronholm, Hans-Peter Marshall, Kjetil Melvold
Recent improvements in remote sensing of snow (e.g., LiDAR and Radar technologies) have allowed significant progress in the quantitative understanding of small-scale (~.0.1 - 100 m) processes affecting the spatial and temporal variability of snow cover properties. In consequence, several improvements have been made in areas for which such small-scale variability is important (e.g., wind transport snow, topografic, canopy and energy controls on snow cover variability, snow avalanche formation and evolution). Parallel to this progress, there have been important advances in high-resolution modelling of the spatio-temporal snow cover evolution, modelling of wind transport of snow, and new statistical descriptions of snow distributions and snow characteristics. The objective of this session is to promote exchange on these diverse aspects associated with mountain snow cover processes and its variability over small scales in view of, for example, avalanche formation. Experimental, modelling and theoretical contributions are highly welcome.
Session C6.2 Avalanche formation and forecasting
Session conveners Lead convener: Alec van Herwijnen ([email protected]), co-conveners: Bruce Jamieson, Sascha Bellaire, Ethan Greene
Snow avalanche formation covers a wide range of scales from the bonds between snow crystals to the release of a snow slab avalanche. Key factors influencing snow avalanche formation are snow cover characteristics and meteorological boundary conditions (precipitation, wind, radiation etc.). The practical application of avalanche formation is avalanche forecasting. Contributions on the mechanical properties and texture of snow, snow cover simulation, contributing factors, snow slab release mechanics and avalanche forecasting are welcome. The aim for this subtopic is to improve our understanding of the avalanche formation process with a particular view on avalanche forecasting. We especially encourage contributions on wet snow avalanche formation and forecasting.
Session C6.3 Avalanche flow dynamics
Session conveners Lead convener: Peter Gauer ([email protected]), co-conveners: Mohamed Naaim, Betty Sovilla, Perry Bartelt, Shiva Prasad Pudasaini
With respect to snow avalanches, emphasis in this session is placed on fundamental flow dynamics with theoretical, numerical and experimental analyses that help to understand and predict flow velocities and run-out
25
distances. The integration of snow properties such as density and temperature on the one hand and snow distribution on the other hand on flow dynamics is one example of a recent development in the field. Other themes covered in this session include flow regimes in wet and dry-mixed avalanches (powder avalanches), entrainment and the material properties of flowing snow. The complex links between the granular structure of avalanches and levees formation or between density effects and variations in flow dynamics as well as avalanche interactions with forests are further subjects for which contributions are welcome.
Session C6.4 Avalanche protection measures and hazard mapping
Session conveners Lead convener: Stefan Margreth ([email protected]), co-conveners: Tómas Jóhannesson
The design of protective measures and buildings in the avalanche tracks and run-out zones of avalanches needs to be based on an understanding of the interaction between avalanche flow and obstacles. Likewise, design of defense structures in the avalanche starting zone should be based on (extreme) snow-fall statistics under the consideration of snow transport. The mechanical behaviour of the structure needs to be understood and its response quantified with respect to the load through creeping or flowing snow. In particular, the flow-obstacle interaction results in an intricate loading spectrum experienced by the structure that is also of great importance. Increasing theoretical and practical knowledge in these fields should contribute to an improved assessment of the physical vulnerability of structures subjected to severe dynamic actions stemming from snow avalanches. The aim for this subtopic is to present practical, experimental, numerical and theoretical studies referring to the dynamics of full-scale avalanches and small-scale granular flows around obstacles, the resulting impact pressures on obstacles and the mechanical behaviour of structures. In particular the presentation of real-world problems such as the calculation of run-out distances for diverse environments and the implications for hazard assessment, hazard mapping and mitigation are highly welcome.
Symposium D1
Economics of weather and climate risks
The objective of this session is to present innovative research and to promote communication between experts on weather and climate risks and economists working on related issues. Key topics of this symposium will be the assessment of economic costs of weather and climate risks, the design of optimal mitigation policies, the insurability of catastrophic risks, the role of the insurance and re-insurance industry, regulation issues related to weather and climate risks and the political economy of negotiations related to climate risk. Symposium lead convener: Antoine Bommier ([email protected])
Sponsors: IACS, IAMAS
Symposium D2
A century of international cooperation in geophysics: examples from IACS and IAMAS
IACS (since 2007, but with older roots in specialised commissions) and IAMAS (under changing names since 1919) are two of eight International Associations which form the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG). The latter was founded in July 1919 after the end of World War I as an international, non-governmental, non-profit organization, in place of several pre-existing organizations that were independent and separate from one another. At IUGG-2011 in Melbourne all associations started an initiative to create an IUGG Working Group on History (WGH) of Geophysics, with a special focus on the upcoming centenary of IUGG in 2019. For DACA-13 a number of solicited and contributed presentations are sought to exemplify the special need for international and interdiscplinary cooperation in geophysics. Furthermore, the interdependence with the prevailing geopolitical situation is to be elucidated. Of special interest are old, but not generally known roots of current research initiatives. Possible keywords include ‘geophysical satellites and the “space-race”’, the ‘international
26
geophysical year 1957/58’, the ‘global atmospheric research programme’ or the ‘international polar years’. Also of interest are studies dealing with the formative decade of international bodies as IRC (later ICSU), IUGG and IAM (now: IAMAS) from 1917 to 1927. Symposium lead convener: Hans Volkert ([email protected])
Co-convener: Kristine Harper Sponsors: IACS, IAMAS, WGH of IUGG
