Designators for special sessions belong to the lead section or committee abbreviation (i.e., A01 denotes Atmospheric Sciences, P01 denotes Planetary Sciences, etc.).  Additionally, special sessions are listed under all sections, focus groups or committees who have agreed to sponsor particular sessions.
 

Union(U)	Ocean Sciences(OS)
Atmospheric Sciences(A)	Paleoceanography and Paleclimatology(PP)
Atmospheric and Space Electricity(AE)	Planetary Sciences(P)
Biogeosciences(B)	Public Affairs(PA)
Cryosphere(C)	Seismology(S)
Earth and Space Science Informatics(IN)	SPA-Aeronomy(SA)
Education and Human Resources(ED)	SPA-Solar and Heliospheric Physics(SH)
Geodesy(G)	SPA-Magnetospheric Physics(SM)
Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism(GP)	Study of Earth's Deep Interior(DI)
Global Environmental Change(GC)	Tectonophysics(T)
Hydrology(H)	Volcanology, Geochemistry, and Petrology(V)
Mineral and Rock Physics(MR)	Ecological Society of America(ES)
Near Surface Geophysics(NS)
Nonlinear Geophysics(NG)

Union

U01 Origin of Late Holocene (Pre-Industrial) Increases in Atmospheric CO2 and CH4
The proposed session will explore the causes of the gradual increases in atmospheric CO2 and CH4 during millennia prior to the industrial era. A vigorous debate has been underway for 5 years as to whether these increases were natural in origin or the result of anthropogenic forcing tied to early agriculture. The session will also cover two additional issues relevant to the main theme: Would a new glacial inception have begun by now in the absence of early anthropogenic (agricultural) forcing? Were the short-term CO2 decreases in the last 2000 years linked to mortality from pandemics and warfare?
Conveners: William F. Ruddiman, University of Virginia, , Charlottesville, VA 22904 USA, Tel: 540-348-1963, email: rudds2@ntelos.net, and Michel Crucifix, Institut d''''Astronomie et de Geophysique, Universite Catholique de Louvain 2, Chemin du Cyclotron , Louvain-de-Neuve, BE-1348 BEL, Tel: 00 32 10 47 33 00, email: michel.crucifix@uclouvain.be

U02 The International Polar Year
The Polar Regions are indisputably vital components of the Earth System and sensitive indicators of change. Many polar environments change faster than anywhere else on the planet and perhaps faster than at any time in the past. Given the pressing need to understand both the processes of change in the Polar Regions and their wider implications for the planet, the launch of the International Polar Year 2007-2008 programme in March 2007 has been timely, relevant and necessary. This session will provide an introduction to, and overview, of the broad IPY program, including its objectives, design, preliminary results and achievements. Many of these achievements represent new standards of international and interdisciplinary cooperation and new models for public engagement that bode well for all of science. A series of invited-only presentations in this session will link to presentations in a related IPY Cryosphere session (C32)and to IPY activities in science, data and outreach described throughout the Fall Meeting
Conveners: Marco Tedesco, CUNY / NASA / UMBC, 138th St. and Convent Av., New York, NY 10031 USA, Tel: 2126505188, email: mtedesco@umbc.edu, and David Carlson, IPY International Programme Office, , , GBR, email: ipy.djc@gmail.com, and J. Cynan Ellis-Evans, British Antarctic Survey, , , GBR, email: jcel@bas.ac.uk

U03 MESSENGER at Mercury: The Second Flyby
MESSENGER is the first spacecraft to visit the planet Mercury in more than 30 years. In January of this year, MESSENGER flew by Mercury and conducted color imaging of the surface, the first high-resolution spectral reflectance measurements (UV to near-IR) of surface composition, the first spacecraft altimetric measurements of surface topography, the deepest penetration yet into Mercury's magnetosphere, the first measurements of the abundances and compositions of plasma ions in Mercury's magnetosphere, and searches for previously undetected species in Mercury's surface-based exosphere and neutral Na tail. In October of this year, MESSENGER will fly by Mercury for a second time, an encounter that will reveal more than 30% of the planet never before seen at close range. Targeted observations of the surface, exosphere, and tail will profit from the experiences of the first flyby, and a more active Sun than in January will permit sampling a different suite of solar wind interactions with the magnetosphere and neutral and ionized exosphere. The Fall AGU meeting will be the first presentation of the results of this second Mercury flyby to the scientific community and should be of broad interest to workers in planetary science, geochemistry, geomagnetism, atmospheric science and aeronomy, and space physics.
Conveners: Sean C. Solomon, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism 5241 Broad Branch Road, N.W., Washington, DC 20015 USA, Tel: 202/478-8850, Fax: 202/478-8821, email: scs@dtm.ciw.edu, and Ralph L. McNutt, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Space Department 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723 USA, Tel: 240/228-5435, Fax: 240/228-0386, email: ralph.mcnutt@jhuapl.edu, and Maria T. Zuber, MIT, Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences Building 54-915 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA, Tel: 617/253-6397, Fax: 617/258-9697, email: zuber@mit.edu

U04 Understanding of the Global Carbon Cycle Using Models and Observations
This session will focus on our understanding of carbon in the atmosphere, ocean and land, including assessments of our knowledge of carbon reservoirs and exchange. Papers are solicited that consider global observations and models of carbon species, including carbon dioxide, methane and carbon monoxide. Specific questions span our understanding of processes that control carbon exchange between land-and-atmosphere and ocean-and-atmosphere and how realistically these processes can be represented in models. Natural and anthropogenic processes will be considered. Timescales of interest range from seasonal to multi-decadal. Seasonal to interannual timescales are expected to use land, atmosphere and ocean models alongside contemporary space-based and in-situ datasets to critically assess our understanding of processes and their representation in models. Longer timescales will focus on coupled models that can be used to assess our understanding of past observed increases and seasonality of carbon reservoirs and concentrations, as well as to predict future evolution.
Conveners: Steven Pawson, Global Modeling and Assimilation Office, NASA GSFC, , , USA, email: Steven.Pawson@nasa.gov, and Watson Gregg, Global Modeling and Assimilation Office, NASA GSFC, , , USA, email: Watson.Gregg@nasa.gov, and Jim Collatz, Biospheric Sciences Branch, NASA GSFC, , , USA, email: George.J.Collatz@nasa.gov

U05 Episodic Tremor and Slip: Insights into a Newly Discovered Process
This session explores the latest observations, models, and implications of episodic tremor and slip (ETS). ETS encompasses two closely associated phenomena - one detected seismically, the other geodetically. These previously unrecognized phenomena are being discovered in an increasingly diverse range of tectonic environments, and there is increasing evidence that episodic tremor and slip are two end members of a spectrum of fault motion that ranges over characteristic durations from a fraction of a second to weeks or more. Differences of ETS from ordinary earthquakes awaiting explanation include far longer durations of activity, much greater sensitivity to small stresses, and sometimes strikingly periodic occurrence. Understanding of ETS and its relation to ordinary earthquakes is in its infancy, but it is of intense interest not only because it is a newly discovered way for faults to slip, but also because of its strategic location near the down-dip edge of dangerous, seismically active faults. ETS recurs predictably enough that temporary field experiments now routinely record it in detail. A diversity of seismic and geodetic instruments, including: high-gain and broadband seismometers, long-baseline and borehole strainmeters, long-baseline and borehole tiltmeters, and GPS arrays, many recently added by EarthScope, provide complementary information that allows us to characterize these phenomena over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales.
Conveners: John E. Vidale, University of Washington, 4000 15th Avenue NE Seattle, WA 98195-1310, Seattle, WA 98195-1310 USA, Tel: 310-210-2131, email: john_vidale@mac.com, and Greg C. Beroza, Stanford University, , Palo Alto, USA, email: BEROZA@stanford.edu, and Herb Dragert, Geological Survey of Canada, , , CAN, email: hdragert@nrcan.gc.ca, and Paul Segall, Stanford, , , CA USA, email: segall@stanford.edu

U06 Geoengineering to Counteract Global Warming?
Geoengineering schemes have been proposed to temporarily counteract global warming, as nations work to implement preferred mitigation strategies - namely, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. While many general geoengineering concepts have been put forward in recent years, no concrete proposals that address the range of scientific and social issues related to such activities have been submitted for consideration. This session focuses on climate modification through the manipulation of solar energy input to Earth via processes internal or external to the atmosphere. Several specific schemes along these lines have been investigated in a preliminary way in terms of basic processes. Examples include the injection of reflective aerosols into the lower stratosphere, seeding of marine clouds to modify their albedo, and placement of mirrors beyond the atmosphere to deflect incoming sunlight. However, it is now desirable to ask more detailed questions regarding implementation and expected outcomes. Accordingly, this session invites papers describing the most recent scientific and engineering results on solar radiation control strategies. Particularly sought are papers describing the feasibility, risks, costs, policy implications, and ethical and political dimensions of global radiation intervention, but only if the analyses are developed on the basis of sound scientific findings. While proposed engineering projects may assume regional or global scales, all of the local, regional and worldwide impacts are open to consideration, including predictions of changes in climatological, biological, and social parameters. Presentations of well-developed designs for laboratory or field experiments relevant to the topics outlined above are also welcome.
Conveners: Alan Robock, Rutgers University, Department of Environmental Sciences 14 College Farm Road , New Brunswick, NJ 08901 USA, Tel: 732-932-9800, x6222, email: robock@envsci.rutgers.edu, and Richard P. Turco, University of California - Los Angeles, , Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA, Tel: 310-825-6936, email: turco@atmos.ucla.edu, and Georgiy L. Stenchikov, Rutgers University, Department of Environmental Sciences 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 USA, Tel: 732-932-9800, x6215, email: gera@envsci.rutgers.edu

U07 Role of Science in Water, Biologic, and Geologic Hazards Security
Adequate knowledge about the risks to human health and ecosystems, and innovative solutions to prevent pollution, warn of impending disasters, and reduce risk can be gained through both science and technology transfer. Never before has that need been more important, especially in the areas of water, biologic, and geologic hazards in regard to disaster risk reduction, targeting vulnerability and overall security for populations around the globe. A burgeoning population and frequent large-scale disasters (growing from about 60 country-level disasters in 1975 to almost 400 in 2006) make it imperative that science respond to assist in more focused efforts regarding health, disaster risk reduction, environmental sustainability, water security, and related issues. This session seeks hydrological, biological, and geological results, methods, and data that evaluate science and technology, vulnerability targeting, adaptation, and modeling within the parameters of disaster risk reduction.
Conveners: James Tindall, USGS, MS 413, Box 25046 Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225 USA, Tel: 303 236 5005, Fax: 303 236 5034, email: jtindall@usgs.gov, and Edward Moran, Bethel Scientific, 620 E. Whitney Road, Anchorage, AK 99501 USA, Tel: 907.522.6311 ext 130, email: ehmoran@bncak.com

U08 The Library - Data Center Alliance in Earth and Space Sciences
Preserving, sharing, and understanding the diverse and growing collection of Earth and space science data and information require sustained commitment and diverse expertise. Recent reports from national and international scientific organizations increasingly emphasize professional and collaborative approaches to managing data and information, especially supporting interdisciplinary science. The electronic Geophysical Year (eGY) promotes this professional development and collaboration. In particular, eGY recognizes the conceptual alliance between today's research libraries and scientific data centers, and promotes partnerships, collaboration and even hybrids of these two types of enterprises to meet the Earth science informatics challenge. Research libraries have a long, sustained, and respected role as curators of Earth science information and knowledge. Yet, in recent decades, scientific data centers have also played an increasingly important role in stewarding Earth science data and information. Libraries seek to extend their expertise to manage new forms of digital publication, including data. Data centers seek to develop sustained, long-term archival systems. It is apparent; the two communities should collaborate to achieve their complementary objectives. This session aims to bring together members of both the research libraries and the data center communities to survey and compare approaches, philosophies, and long-term strategies for dealing with the problems of managing digital scientific data collections, and invites submissions regarding issues and approaches for archiving, serving, and curating such collections. An emphasis on support of interdisciplinary science is encouraged.
Conveners: Mark A. Parsons, National Snow and Ice Data Center, , , USA, email: parsonsm@nsidc.org, and Rajendra Bose, Columbia University Center for Digital Research and Scholarship, , , USA, email: rbose@columbia.edu

U09 Different Views on One Asthenosphere
It is generally accepted that the asthenosphere is a mechanically weak region in the shallow mantle underneath the lithosphere. Even so, every discipline has a different perspective on what the asthenosphere is. For example, it has been termed the low (seismic) velocity zone and the low-viscosity zone, and its unique properties have been attributed to either mineral properties at relevant temperatures and pressures or to the presence of melt and/or water. While we have a good understanding of some of the asthenosphere's properties and know of the importance of this thin layer as it influences mantle flow, we are still seeking a unified picture that includes independent constraints from all relevant disciplines. In this session we will explore different views on the asthenosphere to (1) identify first order characteristics (e.g. location, depth, viscosity, seismic velocity, anisotropy, attenuation, electrical conductivity, density, flow field, lateral variations) and (2) combine observations to provide a forum to discuss a unified picture of the asthenosphere.
Conveners: Tobias Höink, Rice University, MS 126, PO Box 1892 Earth Science , Houston, TX 77021 USA, Tel: +1 713 348 4497, email: tobias.hoeink@rice.edu, and Greg Hirth, Brown University, Box 1846 Dept. of Geological Sciences, Providence, RI 02912 USA, Tel: 401-863-7063, email: Greg_Hirth@Brown.Edu

U10 Tropical Cyclone-Climate Interactions Past, Present, and Future
Aspects of tropical cyclone activity are strongly influenced by climate variability; yet large uncertainties in the understanding of tropical cyclone sensitivity to climate change continue to limit predictability on short and long timescales. It is critical to understand the linkages between tropical cyclone dynamics and both natural and anthropogenic climate variability in order to assess potential anthropogenic influences and project future tropical cyclone activity. This session aims to bring together computer modelers, climatologists, and earth scientists to examine the temporal and spatial patterns of past, present, and future tropical cyclone activity using a range of forward and inverse approaches. The session will foster cross-disciplinary discussion of critical needs in the areas of data and modeling. We hope to feature new results from studies of tropical cyclone feedbacks in the climate system, as well as storm impacts on ecosystems and water resources. Cross-disciplinary studies involving models and data or proxy data are especially welcome.
Conveners: Amy Frappier, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Ave Devlin Hall 213 , Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 USA, Tel: 617-552-1296, email: amy.frappier@bc.edu, and James Done, NCAR, PO Box 3000 , Boulder, CO 80307 USA, Tel: 303 497 8209, email: done@ucar.edu, and E. Christa Farmer, Hofstra University, 156 Gittleson Hall , Hampstead, NY 11549 USA, Tel: 516-463-5566, email: geoecf@hofstra.edu, and Kerry A. Emanuel, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rm. 54-1620, MIT 77 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139 USA, Tel: 617-324-0308, email: emanuel@texmex.mit.edu

U11 Comparative Climate Studies of Earth, Venus and Mars
Venus and Mars are Earth’s nearest planetary neighbors and provide the closest analogs for many important climate processes. Venus, with its runaway greenhouse atmosphere and Mars, with its record of orbitally driven climate cycles, represent extreme examples of nonlinear climate evolution. What challenges are encountered, and insights gained, in adapting terrestrial climate and circulation models to Mars and Venus? What lessons do the divergent climate histories of these three planets hold for Earth’s long term evolution? Motivated by recent advances in modelling of Earth’s climate system, along with relevant new data sets from several recent Mars missions and the Venus Express spacecraft, this session will cover comparative studies of the climates, and climate-related processes, on these three planets. Suggested topics include: atmospheric dynamics; radiative balance; solar cycle responses; cloud microphysics, structure and radiative forcings; volcano-climate interactions, polar processes and feedbacks between any of the above phenomena.
Conveners: David Grinspoon, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80205 USA, Tel: 3033706469, Fax: 3033706005, email: dgrinspoon@dmns.org, and Brian Toon, University of Colorado, Boulder, , , USA, email: brian.toon@lasp.colorado.edu, and Janet Luhmann, University of California, Berkeley, , , USA, email: jgluhman@ssl.berkeley.edu

U12 Consequences of Peak Oil for Climate Change
"Peak Oil" refers to the peaking of world oil production and its subsequent decline. According to the inexorable laws of supply and demand, Peak Oil will be signaled by a relentless rise in the price of oil as rising demand outstrips flat or declining production. The reality of Peak Oil has become increasingly accepted, even by oil companies, and now the only substantive disagreement is about when it will occur; some say it occurred this year (2008), while others say it is 10-20 years away. Peak Oil has received little attention in projections of future global warming by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) . The IPCC relies upon the Special Report on CO2 Emissions Scenarios (SRES), in which future energy use is projected without considering Peak Oil per se. The SRES scenarios have not been updated since the early 1990s, although revisions are in progress now. The scenario which will ultimately be played out due to Peak Oil may lie somewhere between the two most extreme SRES scenarios, but this knowledge provides little in the way of predictive power for climate change. The implications of Peak Oil for climate change are profound and complex. It is a sword that cuts both ways. If the decline of oil production is swift, its rapid price rise will dampen consumption, and CO2 emissions will fall. On the other hand, Peak Oil may drastically hasten coal-burning and tar-sand processing, causing CO2 emissions to rise much more rapidly than any current scenario. Therefore, this session solicits contributions on the interaction between Peak Oil and climate change. This is part of a rapidly growing activity called "Integrated Assessment" which attempt to factor humans into the climate change prediction equations. We particularly encourage contributions about the global warming consequences of energy decisions that are looming rapidly due to Peak Oil.
Conveners: Warren Wiscombe, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Bldg. 490-D, Upton, NY 11973 USA, Tel: 631-344-4260, email: wwiscomb@bnl.gov, and Catherine Gautier, University of California, Institute for Computational Earth System Science, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3060 USA, Tel: (805) 893-8095, Fax: (805) 893-2578, email: gautier@icess.ucsb.edu

U13 The Phoenix Mission
On May 25, 2008, the Phoenix lander touched down on the polar plains of Mars. Its sophisticated complement of instruments, including a Thermally Evolved Gas Analyzer, a wet chemistry lab with optical and atomic force microscopes, an atmospheric LIDAR, air pressure and temperature sensors, an electrical conductivity probe, and panoramic and close-up cameras, have provided unprecedented insights into the chemistry, thermodynamics, geology and meteorology of the northern polar regions of Mars. Phoenix's overall goals are to dig to water frozen under subsurface soil, touch, examine, vaporize and sniff the soil and ice to discover the history of water on Mars, determine if the Martian arctic soil could support life, and study Martian weather from a polar perspective. This session invites papers describing the first measurements and scientific results of this historic mission.
Conveners: Leslie K. Tamppari, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Dr. M/S 264-623, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, email: leslie.tamppari@jpl.nasa.gov, and Peter H. Smith, University of Arizona, 1415 N. 6th Ave., Tucson, AZ 85705 USA, email: psmith@lpl.arizona.edu

U14 Environmental Consequences of the Changing Global Food System
Producing agricultural products, whether for food, animal feed or biofuels, is a primary driver of global environmental change. The pressure on terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems worldwide is increasing due to rises in the global population, the demand for diets rich in meat and fish protein, and the demand for biofuels. At the same time, globalization and the commodity trade are creating linkages between demand, land use change and environmental degradation in different, distant regions of the planet. This session will examine recent changes in the production of food, feed and fuel around the planet, the social, cultural and economic forces driving those changes, and the global implications for ecosystems, biodiversity, food security, water resources and the climate. Emphasis will be places on the following issues: i) appropriation of planetary resources (land, water, estuaries, fisheries) for food, feed and biofuel production; ii) environmental "teleconnections" caused by globalization and the international food trade; iii) the consequences of changes in food demand and diet on nutrient cycling, water resources, biodiversity, and air quality; iv) the effect of global change on agricultural production.
Conveners: Simon Donner, University of British Columbia, Department of Geography 133-1984 West Mall University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6K 1X2 CAN, email: simon.donner@ubc.ca, and Jonathan Foley, University of Wisconsin, Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment University of Wisconsin-Madison 1710 University Avenue , Madison, WI 53726 USA, email: jfoley@wisc.edu, and Navin Ramankutty, McGill University, , , CAN, email: navin.ramankutty@mcgill.ca, and Mutlu Ozdogan, University of Wisconsin, , , USA, email: ozdogan@wisc.edu

U15 Global Climate Change and Gas Hydrate Reservoir Degassing: Assessing the Scientific Evidence
Frequent media reports and numerous scientific papers maintain that rising air and water temperatures will significantly, and possibly catastrophically, increase methane fluxes from permafrost and/or marine gas hydrate reservoirs. Such increased fluxes would serve as a positive climate feedback by elevating atmospheric concentrations of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and its long-lived oxidation product, carbon dioxide. This session will evaluate emergent scientific evidence to address the controversy over the impact of past, contemporary, and future climate change events on gas hydrate reservoirs and the potential consequences of releasing such gas to the ocean-atmosphere system. Of particular interest are studies that document contemporary degassing of gas hydrates through field-based observations, that describe unambiguous terrestrial or marine rock evidence for or against massive gas hydrate dissociation and methane release in the past, that couple Earth models to ocean-atmosphere models to quantitatively assess the susceptibility of contemporary hydrate deposits to climate change under IPCC scenarios, that report on factors that mitigate (e.g., microbially-mediated oxidation of methane in ocean water) or enhance direct communication between degassing hydrates and the atmosphere, and that constrain time scales for methane release or gas hydrate reservoir recharge.
Conveners: Carolyn Ruppel, U.S. Geological Survey, , Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA, Tel: (508) 457-2339, email: cruppel@usgs.gov, and Gerald Dickens, Rice University, Dept.of Earth Sciences, Houston, TX USA, email: jerry@rice.edu

U16 The Van Allen Radiation Belts and Their Impact on Modern Space Science
In 1950 a small group of scientists gathered at the home of James A. Van Allen and proposed that the International Geophysical Year (IGY) be planned for 1957-58 during the expected maximum of solar activity. The IGY stimulated the U.S. Government to propose Earth satellites as geophysical tools.Data from Explorer 1 (launched 31 January 1958) and Explorer 3 (launched March 26, 1958) provided the first space-age scientific discovery: the existence of a doughnut-shaped region of charged particle radiation trapped by Earth's magnetic field. Today, we see that radiation belt processes are universal phenomena. Results from recent space missions have shown clear evidence that radiation belts exist at all strongly magnetized planets throughout our solar system. The particle acceleration physics that we study within the Earth's radiation belts and our neighboring planets has far reaching implications beyond our solar system. In the relatively accessible planetary environs we can study processes applicable in a whole host of cosmic settings. In this special Union session we will explore the broad relevance of radiation belt studies to all of space science. The session will consist of both invited and contributed papers and we welcome observational, theoretical, and modeling results pertinent to radiation belt phenomena. Highly dynamical behavior of radiation belts still remains a mystery even 50 years after the original discoveries. During increased geomagnetic activity, radiation levels across the belts vary over orders of magnitude on the timescales from minutes to days. A large range of acceleration and loss mechanisms operating at different spatial and temporal scales compete over the global extent of the belts. While a number of local and global mechanisms have been identified as potentially important, their relative role is not understood. We solicit contributions that address these and related topics, and also contributions that address how the physics of Earth's radiation belts might explain or otherwise impact particle radiation observed in distant extraterrestrial environments.
Conveners: Daniel N. Baker, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Campus Box 590 University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309 USA, Tel: 303-492-4509, Fax: 303-492-6444, email: Daniel.Baker@lasp.colorado.edu, and Nicola J. Fox, JHU/Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723 USA, Tel: 240 228 3529, Fax: 240-228-1641, email: nicola.fox@jhuapl.edu, and Geoff D. Reeves, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Mail Stop D-466, Los Alamos, NM 87545 USA, Tel: 505-665-3877, Fax: 505-665-7395, email: reeves@lanl.gov, and Harlan E. Spence, Boston University, Boston University Department of Astronomy and Center for Space Physics CAS Room 410 725 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA, Tel: 617 353 7421, Fax: 617 353 6463, email: spence@bu.edu

U17 Decision Support Needs and Tools for Global Change: Bridging the Gap Between Physical and Societal Models
Human-induced climate change, land-use, and water-use individually and collectively present a challenge to decision support analysis affecting societal needs ranging from treaty verification and carbon markets to natural resource management and human health. An understanding of the couplings and feedbacks between technological activities, the earth system, and societal vulnerabilities is a critical precursor to successful risk-assessment and response. There currently exists a significant informational gap between the earth-sciences, solution engineering, and socio-economics in the form of the disparate models, analytical methods, and basic terminology used in the various domains. A comprehensive and sustained effort to integrate the various disciplines is necessary to meet this challenge – and on more than one front as there likely is no “one size fits all” approach. This session solicits contributions in the following areas: a) Identification of decision-maker information needs, b) Methods and tools for integrating models of earth science, technological activity, and socio-economics, c) Other techniques for addressing the information gap between earth scientists, engineers, decision-support analysts, and decision makers. In particular, case-studies which identify sector-specific questions and analytical frameworks for delivering answers in a format understood by decision-makers are encouraged. Examples include but are not limited to: atmospheric CO2 linkages with treaty verification, carbon markets, and marine ecosystem management – or, the interplay between hydrological changes, urban planning, and agriculture.
Conveners: Riley Duren, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, , , USA, email: riley.m.duren@jpl.nasa.gov, and Robert Lempert, RAND Corporation, , , USA, email: lempert@rand.org

U18 Interaction and Co-evolution of Earth Reservoirs: Coupling of Mantle, Tectonic, Atmospheric, and Hydrospheric Dynamics in the Evolution of Earth
While significant progress has been made in understanding the evolution of the various reservoirs that constitute Earth (e.g. mantle, atmosphere, continents, etc...), recent research suggests the interaction of these reservoirs plays an important role in the dynamics of the planet. Degassing from Earth's interior at volcanoes influences the evolution of the atmosphere and hydrosphere. Climatic and tectonic processes have been found to develop feedbacks which alter the evolution of both reservoirs. The interaction of climate and mantle dynamics has been explored in planetary tectonics, and this coupling may be important in the stability of plate tectonics on a planet. The purpose of this session is therefore to bring together researchers from various disciplines to discuss the coupled interaction between various components of Earth's mantle, continents, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Does the evolution of the atmosphere and hydrosphere influence the thermal history of Earth and vice versa? What is the influence of climate on the evolution of continental crust, and what controls would these processes have on mantle dynamics? We would also like to address the interplay of the different physical and chemical processes governing reservoir interactions on short (< kyr), intermediate (~100 kyr), and long (> Myr) timescales and various lengthscales. We seek contributions from any field bearing on this subject including atmospheric science, geochemistry, and geophysics. Contributions considering the interactions of various reservoirs on other planets are highly encouraged as well.
Conveners: William Landuyt, Yale University, , , USA, email: william.landuyt@yale.edu, and Adrian Lenardic, Rice University, , , USA, email: ajns@rice.edu, and Mark Jellinek, University of British Columbia, , , CAN, email: mjellinek@eos.ubc.ca

U19 The Great 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake: A Multi-disciplinary View
The devastating Ms 8 Wenchuan (Sichuan, China) earthquake occurred on May 12, 2008 along the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau on May 12, 2008, killing over 70, 000 people. The fault has a distinctive geomorphologic expression, lies in a region where existing GPS studies indicate low shortening rates, and is part of the overall north-trending Longmen Shan thrust belt that bounds the eastern Tibetan plateau against the Sichuan basin. The purpose of this session is to bring experts from multidisciplinary fields of seismology, earthquake geology, geodesy (GPS and InSAR), neotectonics, geomorphology, regional geology and geodynamics to an integrated view on the tectonic processes related to this earthquake. The topics include, but are not limited to: (1) geometry and kinematics of the Longmen Shan fault system, (2) rupture processes of the main shock and aftershocks, (3) pre-, co-, post-, and inter-seismic deformation and regional stress evolution and associated earthquake potentials, (4) neotectonic and morphological expression of the active fault systems in the eastern Tibetan plateau and their relationships to the Wenchuan earthquake fault, (5) structure of crust and lithospheric mantle and regional tectonics of the eastern Tibetan plateau and its margins, (6) dynamic implications for the development of the Tibetan plateau, and (7) lessons on seismic hazards mitigation. We hope the session will provide new insights into large earthquakes in collisional orogens in general and future earthquake hazards in the region in particular.
Conveners: Robert van der Hilst, Dept of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, MIT, Building 54-521A 77 Massachusetts Avenue , Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 USA, Tel: 1-617-253-6977, email: hilst@mit.edu, and Peizhen Zhang, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, P.O.Box 9803 Qijiahuozi, Beijing, 100029 CHN, Tel: 86-10-62009520, email: peizhen@ies.ac.cn, and An Yin, University of California, Los Angeles, Dept. of Earth and Space Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA, Tel: 310-825-8752, Fax: 310-825-2779, email: yin@ess.ucla.edu, and Yongshun (John) Chen, Peking Univerisity, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Beijing, 100871 CHN, Tel: 86-10-6275-8277, email: johnyc@pku.edu.cn, and David Sandwell, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0225 USA, email: dsandwell@ucsd.edu

U20 Fluids at Convergent Margins: Synthesis of Observations, Experiments and Models
Water and other fluids play defining roles in subduction zone processes over a wide range of depths and scales. At shallow levels these processes include diagenesis and alteration, fault zone stability and seismogenesis, and coupling of deformation between subducting and overriding plate. Fluids likely play an important role in controlling shallow seismic events at the plate interface. Deeper in the subduction zone fluids control dehydration and metamorphic reactions, magma formation and migration, rheology and dynamics of the mantle wedge, and generation of intermediate-depth seismicity. Characterizing the role of fluids and volatiles has been a key component of international and collaborative subduction zone research projects, that include the Seismogenic Zone Experiment (SEIZE) and Subduction Factory (Subfac) initiatives of the NSF MARGINS program, the Japanese IFREE program, the German SFB574 collaborative research center and the Russian-German KALMAR collaborative project, with focus sites at Nankai, Central America, Central Chile, Kamchatka, and Izu-Bonin-Marianas. These efforts have led to unprecedented advances in our understanding of the role of fluids in the formation and maintenance of the seismogenic zone and the connection between the inputs and outputs of the subduction factory. In-situ observations of fluids in subduction zones remains difficult, but the additional use of indirect observations coupled with integrated experimental and theoretical work has allowed for significant progress. This session will further the synthesis of observational, theoretical and experimental research on the role of fluids in subduction zones. This session is intended to bring together researchers from various fields with interests that cut across traditional discipline boundaries. We invite contributions from a wide range of disciplines including geodesy, ocean drilling, hydrology, volcanology, seismology, petrology, geodynamics, and geochemistry.
Conveners: Peter van Keken, University of Michigan, , Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1063 USA, Tel: 1-734-764-1497, email: keken@umich.edu, and Alison Shaw, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, , , USA, email: ashaw@whoi.edu, and Demian Saffer, Penn State, , , USA, email: dsaffer@geosc.psu.edu, and Kaj Hoernle, IFM-GEOMAR, , , DEU, email: khoernle@ifm-geomar.de

U21 Geologic, Seismologic, and Geodynamic Constraints on the 4-D Evolution of North America: Where are we now and Where are we Going?
New advances in our understanding of the 4-D evolution of the North American continent will require integrated, multidisciplinary approaches that combine observations of seismology, geology, and geodesy, together with computationally intensive geodyanmic approaches that utilize these observations. Furthermore, continued input from the fields of mineral physics and rock mechanics are also critical. The rich data sets available through EarthScope, combined with the diversity of geologic field work performed to date, provide an unprecedented opportunity to understand the inner workings of the distributed plate boundary zone that spans the western third of the continent, including crust-mantle coupling, large-scale driving mechanisms, the presence or lack of distributed deformation, and the role of vertical and lateral variations in crust and mantle composition, temperature, and rheology, as well as provide insights into the processes that drive the Wilson cycle over longer time scales. We invite papers that take multidisciplinary approaches to understand the geodynamic history of North America. We especially encourage papers that highlight new results from data acquired through USArray and PBO, including anisotropy and tomography studies, and papers that use these recent results in geodynamic models. We welcome larger-scale studies that account for global effects of continental keel structure, the role of dynamic topography, and 4-D subduction dynamics. Finally, we seek insight from geologic studies that provide a window into the nature of past middle and lower crustal flow in North America. The expected outcome of this session is to identify a number of key scientific targets, controversies, and goals for further focus and a deeper scientific inquiry into the nature of plate boundaries through time.
Conveners: William Holt, Dept. of Geosciences, Stony Brook University, Dept. of Geosciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794 USA, Tel: 6316328215, Fax: 6316328240, email: william.holt@sunysb.edu, and Michael Williams, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Department of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Department of Geosciences,, Amherst, MA USA, Tel: 4135450538, email: mlw@geo.umass.edu

U22 Geologic Carbon Sequestration: The Vital Links Between Risk Assessment, Monitoring and Mitigation Design
Global climate change and increasing anthropogenic carbon emissions are two of the chief environmental challenges facing the world today. Forecasts of future energy usage suggest that fossil fuels will continue to be used far into the future. Geologic carbon sequestration is a technology that can be used to bridge the gap between the two competing needs, whereby carbon dioxide is captured from power plants or other sources and stored in deep geological formations, thereby allowing for continued usage of fossil fuels without increasing carbon emissions. Technology exists today to achieve geologic carbon sequestration, but risks are inherent to the process. Therefore, many modeling, monitoring, and risk assessment technologies are being developed to ensure safe storage of large volumes of CO2 in underground formations. This session will review, explore and break down the critical links among risk assessment, monitoring, and development of effective mitigation plans for geologic carbon sequestration sites. Dozens of geologic CO2 field tests, including injection with extensive monitoring programs, are ongoing in the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, Japan and other countries. Most of these tests are relatively small in size and scope, from tens to hundreds of thousands of tons per year, but commercial-scale sequestration will necessarily involve millions of tons per year injection. While injection and monitoring technologies are relatively mature, the design of a meaningful monitoring strategy involving multiple technologies requires quantitative input from risk assessment to be effective. Furthermore, the development of effective mitigation plans is critically dependent on reliable risk assessment, and also on robust monitoring and associated simulation models. This session will explore this complex system in detail and synthesize the short- and long-term research agenda for integrated monitoring, risk assessment and mitigation design.
Conveners: Brian McPherson, University of Utah, , , USA, email: bjolm@yahoo.com, and Grant Bromhal, NETL, , , USA, email: grant.bromhal@netl.doe.gov, and John Litynski, NETL, , , USA, email: john.litynski@netl.doe.gov

U23 Observing, Understanding, Predicting and Responding to Pan-Arctic Environmental Change and Rapid Arctic Ice Retreat Problems
It is recognized that the Arctic system is currently undergoing unprecedented change whose impacts can be severe but whose drivers and rates remain ill quantified. This is an amplified response to global change and expresses itself in the physical, biogeochemical, ecological and human domains. For example, the Arctic ice is melting at rates much faster than the IPCC-2007 climate model predictions. The potential for an ice-free Arctic in our lifetime, and the abrupt Pan-Arctic and global impacts it would trigger, underscores the urgency of the problem. Rapid response from the scientific community is required to determine the rate of change, to understand its causes and for future projection, as well as for design of response strategies, including mitigation and adaptation. The Union (U23) session will provide a broad overview of the existing integrated Arctic Environmental Change programs and field campaigns. A series of invited presentations will inform policy relevant questions such as: Is anthropogenic activity or natural variability the driving the rapid Arctic melting? Or Are both of these conspiring to make the Arctic more vulnerable? Has Arctic melting occurred in the past? How does this inform policy to adapt to and respond to impacts? How well can we predict the rate of future Arctic change? What energy, exploration, shipping and air quality policies will help slow (or exacerbate) the pace of the Arctic ice retreat? The session will be followed by a Cryosphere session (C33) dealing with specific results and covering topics dealing with observing, understanding, and responding to Arctic Environmental Change across physical, biogeochemical, and human domains.
Conveners: Michael Tjernstrom, Stockholm University, , Stockholm, SWE, email: michaelt@misu.su.se, and Manvendra K. Dubey, LANL, , Los Alamos, NM USA, Tel: 5056653128, email: dubey@lanl.gov, and Julienne Stroeve, CIRES, NSDIC, , Boulder, CO USA, email: stroeve@kryos.colorado.edu, and Peter Schlosser, Columbia University, , Palisades, NY 10964 USA, Tel: 845 365 8707, email: schlosser@ldeo.columbia.edu

U24 Perspectives on the Past and Future of Paleoceanography and Paleclimatology
The fields of paleoceanography and paleoclimatology are evolving at an ever-rapid pace with new analytical techniques and collection methods providing the community with more and more data to process and disseminate. As an example to the speed at which the field is growing, the 2001 annual meeting had twenty-two oral and poster sessions offered under the paleoceanography and paleoclimatology division compared to forty-eight in 2007. With the field growing so quickly and most presentations revolving around very specific data sets, a little perspective as to where we have been, where we are, and where we might be going would help educate the community at large and focus our future efforts. This session would bring together several eminent paleoclimatologists and paleoceanographers who would be invited to give talks about their perspectives on the past, present, and future of the field of paleoclimatology. The invited speakers will span several sub-disciplines of the Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology Focus Group (modelers, oceanographers, glaciologists, geologists, etc.) and will preferably be respected leaders in the field. This session will be particularly important for graduate students and other young scientists who are just being set free into the field and could use some perspective and parting advice before embarking on their respective research careers. Because of the nature of the session, we are proposing an all invited speaker assembly consisting of 6-8 speakers for one, two-hour session. This will enable our speakers the leverage to provide a perspectives talk without sacrificing their current research presentations.
Conveners: Shaun A. Marcott, Oregon State University, , , USA, email: marcotts@science.oregonstate.edu, and Jeremy D. Shakun, Oregon State University, , , USA, email: shakunj@geo.oregonstate.edu

U25 Integrated Geohazards Along Continental Margins and Plate Boundary Zones
An ancillary but significant product of investigations along continental margins and plate boundary zones (e.g., through the NSF MARGINS Program, ODP/IODP, and related programs) has been a broader, highly integrated understanding of the scientific causes and resulting impacts of geohazards. Examples include, but are not limited to, (1) rheologic and structural controls on plate boundary seismogenesis and tsunamigenesis; (2) stratigraphic, chemical, and geomechanical factors that promote weakening and failure; (3) climatic, tectonic, and anthropogenic influences on rates of sediment erosion, transport and deposition, and impacts on our coastlines, and (4) explosive volcanism, and the role of magma composition and volatile flux in eruptive behavior. Although geologic settings may differ, they share many common processes and conditions that contribute to hazardous phenomena; therefore a broad, cross-disciplinary discussion could benefit many scientific communities. To foster these discussions, we solicit contributions that address the wide range of margin-related geologic hazards, their causes, and their consequences. Field, laboratory, and numerical studies are welcome.
Conveners: Julia K. Morgan, Rice University, Dept Earth Science, MS-126 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005 USA, Tel: (713) 348-6330, Fax: (713) 348-5214, email: morganj@rice.edu, and Brandon Dugan, Rice University, Dept Earth Science, MS-126 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005 USA, Tel: (713) 348-5088, email: dugan@rice.edu, and Eli Silver, University of California, Santa Cruz, Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 USA, email: esilver@pmc.ucsc.edu, and Cynthia Ebinger, University of Rochester, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences 227 Hutchinson Hall, Rochester, NY 14627 USA, email: ebinger@earth.rochester.edu, and Susan Bilek, New Mexico Institute of Technology, , , USA, email: sbilek@nmt.edu

Atmospheric Sciences

A01 General Contributions: Chemistry and Composition
Abstracts discussing topics related to chemistry and climate are solicited for this session.
Conveners: Russell Dickerson, University of Maryland, , , USA, email: russ@atmos.umd.edu

A02 General Contributions: Aerosols and Clouds
General contributions related to aerosols and clouds are solicited for this session.
Conveners: Eric Jensen, NASA Ames Research Center, , , USA, email: eric.j.jensen@nasa.gov

A03 Aerosol Indirect Effects: Measurements and Modeling
Aerosol indirect effects are a very challenging problem in climate research. Research efforts dealing with the understanding of aerosol indirect effects on clouds and climate rely on both measurements and numerical models. Following considerable efforts made over the past decade in both model developments and space sensor deployments, a challenge lies ahead on how to best combine multiple observations and modeling efforts. On the observational front, the quality and availability of data essential for dealing with the aerosol-cloud interaction problem are both increasing rapidly. In particular, the altitude region between the boundary layer and the lower stratosphere can now be examined by accurate and global scale measurements from a constellation of satellite instruments (e.g. those on the “A-Train”) currently in orbit. On the modeling front, state-of-the-art numerical models are now available as a powerful tool to aid satellite data analysis by providing information about dynamical and microphysical processes in the atmosphere that can not be easily measured. This session solicits observational (particularly from satellite instruments) and numerical modeling studies on aerosols and clouds, with a focus on all aspects of aerosol indirect effects. Discussion of new ideas for future satellite mission (e.g. Aerosol-Clouds-Ecosystem mission) on studies of aerosol-cloud indirect effects are also welcome.
Conveners: Jonathan H. Jiang, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, Tel: 8183547135, Fax: 818-393-5065, email: jonathan.h.jiang@jpl.nasa.gov, and Steven T. Massie, National Center for Atmospheric Research, , Boulder, CO 80305 USA, Tel: 3034971404, email: massie@ucar.edu, and Hui Su, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, , Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, Tel: 8183937388, email: hui.su@jpl.nasa.gov, and Mark Schoeberl, NASA GSFC, , , USA, email: Mark.R.Schoeberl@nasa.gov

A04 General Contributions: Dynamics and Climate
General contributions related to dynamics and climate are solicited for this session.
Conveners: William Vizuete, University of North Carolina, , , USA, email: airquality@unc.edu, and Eric Jensen, NASA Ames Research Center, , , USA, email: eric.j.jensen@nasa.gov

A05 Long-Term Trends in the General Circulation of the Atmosphere: Observations, Simulations, Mechanisms, and Impacts
An increasing body of evidence indicates that key-elements of the large-scale atmospheric general circulation have undergone significant change over the past several decades, which may be an important indicator of climate change. Examples include widening of the Hadley cell, changes in the position of the subtropical jets and extratropical storm tracks, lifting of the tropopause, and trends in the annular modes. However, there is still much to be learned about the observational evidence of these changes, their causes, and their societal and environmental impacts. Several causal mechanisms have been suggested, such as changes in tropospheric stability, extratropical eddy activity, and stratospheric dynamics. But it is still unclear which may be most appropriate and whether there exists a single unifying theory. This session will bring renewed focus to this issue by examining further evidence for these processes, exploring their cause(s), and improving our theoretical understanding of their linkages. We invite studies on all aspects of long-term change in the general circulation, particularly papers that combine observational, modeling, and theoretical approaches.
Conveners: Thomas Reichler, University of Utah, 135 S 1460 E, Rm 819 (WBB), Salt Lake City, UT 84112 USA, Tel: 801-585-0040, email: thomas.reichler@utah.edu, and Jian Lu, NCAR / Climate and Global Dynamics Division, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307 USA, email: jianlu@ucar.edu, and Dian Seidel, NOAA Air Resources Laboratory (R/ARL), 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA, email: Dian.Seidel@noaa.gov

A06 Reducing Uncertainties in our Understanding of the Atmospheric Mercury Cycle
Mercury is an important neurotoxin with a complex atmosphere-biosphere-geosphere cycle. There are large uncertainties associated with the Hg biogeochemical cycle, especially regarding atmospheric chemistry and air-surface exchange. In this session we will explore development of new methods for measuring air speciation and surface fluxes, as well as discuss the use of models as tools to help address uncertainties. Papers are solicited on: better characterization of existing methods, new methods for measurement of atmospheric mercury species and surface fluxes, model sensitivity analyses that help pinpoint key processes and mechanistic studies addressing poorly understood atmospheric reactions and processes.
Conveners: Dan Jaffe, University of Washington, 18115 Campus Way NE , Bothell, WA 98011 USA, Tel: 425-352-5357, email: djaffe@u.washington.edu, and Mae Sexauer Gustin, University of Nevada, 1664 North Virginia St NRES Dept MS 370, Reno, NV 89557 USA, Tel: 775-784-4203, email: mgustin@cabnr.unr.edu

A07 Aerosol Multi-sensor and Model Inter-comparison and Synergy
The integration of data from multiple sources represents the cutting edge of global aerosol science. Aerosols are measured by a variety of space-based sensors and are simulated with a range of climate and transport models. However, there are significant differences among global and regional aerosol properties, retrieved or simulated, from different sources. Presentations are solicited discussing aerosol measurement and model inter-comparison and fusion, using MODIS, MISR, POLDER, OMI, MERIS, AIRS, and other sensors’ Level 1, 2 or 3 data, and/or model simulations. Presentations can focus on interdisciplinary applications exploiting the complementary nature of aerosol, trace gases, and cloud information from satellite and sub-orbital measurements and models. Talks covering inter-comparison techniques, such as data comparison and fusion algorithms, and the spatial and temporal statistical and sampling aspects of inter-comparison and fusion, are also encouraged.
Conveners: Gregory Leptoukh, NASA GSFC, Code 610.2 Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, Tel: 301-614-5253, email: Gregory.Leptoukh@nasa.gov, and Ralph Kahn, NASA GSFC, Code 613.2 Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, email: ralph.kahn@nasa.gov, and Rudolf B. Husar, Washington University, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130 USA, Tel: 314 935 6099, email: rhusar@me.wustl.edu

A08 Innovative Applications of Satellite and Ground Observations in Evaluating General Circulation Models
General circulation models need to be evaluated against various observations before their projection of future climate changes can be trusted. The accumulation of enormous amount of satellite and in-situ measurements over the past decade, especially the unprecedented A-train observations, has motivated innovative ways of using observations in model evaluation, which is in sharp contrast with traditional evaluations of, for example, regional and monthly mean maps. These new approaches try to establish physically meaningful avenues to expose model deficiencies in cause-attributable ways (e.g. running climate models in numerical weather forecast mode, diagnosing GCM in the spectrally-resolved radiance domain, using statistical techniques to characterize cloud objects observed from satellite and simulated in the GCMs). In return, it would help guide further model improvement. Moreover, the coordinated observations like A-train satellites or DOE-ARM measurements provide comprehensive measurements of various physical variables. The synergy between different measurements and dataset in model evaluation is another promising area for enhancing the merits of these observations in model evaluation. Based on the above rationales, we solicit presentations on reviewing or introducing such innovative analyses and their applications in model evaluations, reporting new results from such usages of satellite and in-situ measurements, and illustrating the synergy between different observations for model evaluations.
Conveners: Xianglei Huang, University of Michigan, 2455 Hayward St 1541A SRB Bldg., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2143 USA, Tel: 734-936-0491, Fax: 734-936-0503, email: xianglei@umich.edu, and Stephen A. Klein, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, PCMDI Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Mail Code L-103 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550 USA, Tel: 925-423-9777, email: klein21@llnl.gov, and Zhengzhao Johnny Luo, City College, City University of New York, Dept. of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences and NOAA-CREST center City College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031 USA, Tel: 212-650-7026, email: luo@sci.ccny.cuny.edu

A09 Airborne Mineral Dust: Sources, Emissions, Destinations
2 billion people live in the arid 34 percent of Earth’s land surface. Routine exposure to airborne dust increases their risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disease. People a continent or ocean away are exposed to these dusts, along with hitchhiking molds, spores and bacteria. Air and land transportation safety, human and veterinary health, and food and water security are threatened, and linked to the global economy. Weather, climate and air quality are affected by the 17 billion tons of dust suspended in our atmosphere at any given time. Papers are invited that identify source, composition and emission characteristics of arid-land, airborne particulates and their consequences in weather, climate, health, safety, and food and water security. Papers are also solicited in the detecting, monitoring and modeling of airborne dust generation, entrainment, transport and fate.
Conveners: William A. Sprigg, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210081, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA, Tel: 520-626-8646, Fax: 520-621-6833, email: wsprigg@u.arizona.edu, and Slobodan Nickovic, World Meteorological Organization, 7 bis, Avenue de la Paix BP2300, 1211 , Geneva, CHE, Tel: : +41 (0)22.730.80.95, Fax: +41 (0)22.730.80.49, email: SNickovic@wmo.int

A10 Year of Tropical Convection (YOTC): High-Resolution Modeling, In-Situ Data and State-of-the-Art Satellite Observations to Address the Challenge of Multi-Scale Organized Convection
The realistic representation of tropical convection in our global atmospheric models is a long-standing grand challenge for numerical weather prediction and climate projection. To address this challenge, WCRP and WWRP/THORPEX have proposed a year of coordinated observing, modeling and forecasting of organized tropical convection and its influences on predictability. This new effort, referred to as the Year of Tropical Convection (YOTC), is intended to exploit the vast amounts of existing and emerging observations, the expanding computational resources and the development of new, high-resolution modeling frameworks. The objectives of YOTC are to advance the characterization, diagnosis, modeling, parameterization and prediction of multi-scale convective/dynamic interactions, including the two-way interaction between tropical and extra-tropical weather/climate. This project and its ultimate success will be based on the coordination of a wide range of ongoing and planned international programmatic activities (e.g., GEWEX/CEOP/GCSS, THORPEX/TIGGE, EOS, AMY), strong collaboration among the operational prediction, research laboratory and academic communities, and the construction of a comprehensive data base consisting of satellite data, in-situ data sets and global/high-resolution forecast and simulation model outputs relevant to tropical convection. The time frame targeted for scientific focus, May 2008 to October 2009 was chosen in order to leverage the most benefit from recent major investments in Earth Science infrastructure and overlapping programmatic activities (e.g., AMY, TIGGE). Specific areas of emphasis identified in the YOTC are: i) the MJO and convectively coupled waves; ii) diurnal cycle; iii) easterly waves and tropical cyclones; iv) tropical-extratropical interactions; and v) the monsoon systems. Presentations are welcome that address such focus areas, especially if they have relevance to the target period and have an emphasis on the application and development of high-resolution modeling frameworks, parameterization development, application using satellite and in-situ data analysis and model-data comparison, and connections between YOTC and the above or related programmatic activities.
Conveners: Duane Waliser, Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, Tel: 8183934094, email: duane.waliser@jpl.nasa.gov, and Mitch Moncrieff, NCAR, Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000 USA, Tel: 303 497 8960, email: moncrief@ucar.edu

A11 ENSO and Global Change: The Past, Present, and Future
Historical SST records suggest that for the past three decades, ENSO has been anomalously strong. What has caused this elevation of ENSO activity? Is it a response to anthropogenic forcing? A manifestation of an intrinsic decadal mode of the coupled climate system? A stochastically forced variability? Are there analogues from past climates that shed light on this recent elevation of ENSO activity? How might we quantitatively disentangle natural fluctuations of ENSO from its response to anthropogenic forcing? Could a significant portion of global warming due to anthropogenic forcing take place through an elevation of this natural mode of variability? What are the effects of a persistent elevation in the ENSO activity on the heat uptake of the tropical Pacific? What is the relationship between the zonal SST gradients in the mean state of the tropical Pacific and the level of ENSO activity? Do state-of-the-art climate models reliably predict the response of ENSO to global warming? How can we improve the reliability of these model projections? We invite modelers, theoreticians, and observational experts who have an interest in these questions to gather together, report their findings, and discuss new strategies and possible collaborations.
Conveners: De-Zheng Sun, University of Colorado/CIRES & NOAA/Earth System Research Laboratory, 325 Broadway USA 303 497 6272, Boulder,, CO 80305 USA, Tel: 303 497 6272, Fax: 303 497 6449, email: dezheng.sun@noaa.gov, and Andrew T. Wittenberg, NOAA/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Forrestal Campus, US Route 1, Princeton, NJ 08542 USA, Tel: 609 987 5064, Fax: 609 987 5063, email: Andrew.Wittenberg@NOAA.GOV, and Amy Clement, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149 USA, Tel: 305 421 4846, Fax: 305 421 4696, email: aclement@rsmas.miami.edu, and Fei-Fei Jin, Department of Meteorology, University of Hawaii, 2525 Correa Rd, HIG 350, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA, Tel: 808 956 4645, Fax: 808 956 3498, email: jff@hawaii.edu, and Axel Timmermann, IPRC, University of Hawaii, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA, Tel: 808 956 2720, Fax: 808 956 9425., email: axel@hawaii.edu, and Jin-Yi Yu, Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, 3315 Croul Hall, Irvine, CA 92697 USA, Tel: 949 824 3878, email: jyyu@uci.edu

A12 Observed and Predicted Changes in Upper Stratospheric Composition and Processes Related to Changes in Climate and Emissions
Recent models and observations suggest that changes will occur, or may already be occurring, in the upper stratosphere (20-30 km) as a result of anthropogenic or natural forcings. For example, climate change is expected to accelerate the Dobson-Brewer circulation possibly changing atmospheric composition. Increased emissions related to energy production and transportation likewise may change tropospheric composition, which can be transferred to the upper stratosphere in the tropics. This session will bring together scientists to discuss and compare predictions and observations of upper stratospheric composition with the primary goal of determining if there are emerging connections to specific forcings. For example, is upper stratospheric water vapor or sulfate aerosol concentration changing? Are changes in ozone clearly detectible and are they related to the expected recovery from ozone depleting substances, to changes in transport, or to a combination of both? Contributions related to stratospheric changes that might affect climate will also be considered.
Conveners: David Hofmann, CIRES, University of Colorado, NOAA Earth System Resarch Laboratory, R/GMD 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305 USA, Tel: 303-497-6966, email: David.J.Hofmann@noaa.gov, and Michael Kurylo, Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center, University of Maryland Baltimore County, NASA GSFC, Mail Stop 610.6, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, Tel: 301-286-2751, email: Michael.J.Kurylo@nasa.gov

A13 Climate Change in the Coastal Zone: Observed Trends and Future Predictions
This special session will address the fundamental scientific aspects of climate change along coastal regions, with topics covering the following physical processes: 1. Trends in coastal storm frequencies and intensities 2. Sea level rise: past, present and future 3. Wave hindcasts and climatologies 4. Modeling near-shore waves, wave run-up and inland penetration 5. Storm surge observations and predictions 6. Observed changes in coastal erosion and future scenarios given sea level rise Abstract submissions are encouraged on these and related topics, with special emphasis on studies that integrate historical observations with hindcast models and prognostic perspectives.
Conveners: David Levinson, NOAA National Climatic Data Center, 151 Patton Avenue , ASHEVILLE, NC 28801 USA, Tel: 828-271-4851, Fax: 828-271-4358, email: David.Levinson@noaa.gov, and John Marra, NOAA Integrated Data and Environmental Applications (IDEA) Center, East-West Center John A. Burns Hall (JAB4092) 1601 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96848 USA, Tel: 808-944-7453, Fax: 808-944-7499, email: John.Marra@noaa.gov, and Len Pietrafesa, North Carolina State Univserity, , Raleigh, NC USA, email: ljpietra@ncsu.edu

A14 Cloud Effects on Aerosol
Clouds affect aerosol through a variety of mechanisms, including vertical transport, activation to droplet and crystal phase, aqueous-phase chemistry, surface chemistry, in-cloud scavenging, cloud-particle collision and coalescence, resuspension, precipitation, and impaction scavenging. These processes play major roles in determining the distribution, microphysical and chemical properties, and climatic effects of both natural and anthropogenic aerosol. Although most of these processes are understood quite well, their representation in climate models is extremely crude, largely because of the difficulty of parameterizing clouds in climate models. Presentations in this session will describe field studies and cloud-resolving and global simulations of cloud effects on aerosol, with emphasis on improving understanding of the mechanisms, characterizing sensitivity to uncertainty in cloud parameterization, and developing more accurate methods to represent these processes in climate models.
Conveners: Steven Ghan, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, , Richland, WA USA, Tel: 509-372-6169, email: steve.ghan@pnl.gov, and Chien Wang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, , Cambridge, MA USA, email: wangc@mit.edu, and Phil Rasch, NCAR, , Boulder, CO USA, email: pjr@ucar.edu

A15 Oceanic Sources and Sinks of Trace Gases
The troposphere contains many biogenic trace gases that are significantly affected by the oceans. Many of these compounds play a role in the NOx/ozone cycle in the troposphere or otherwise significantly affect the chemistry of the atmosphere. Understanding how the oceans affect the chemistry of the atmosphere is important to our overall understanding of atmospheric chemistry, especially in the remote atmosphere. This session focuses on oceanic sources and sinks of biogenic trace gases to the atmosphere not including CO2. Specific topics of interest include 1) ocean-atmosphere fluxes; 2) water column measurements; 3) aerosols as related to trace gases; and 4) oceanic production and loss rates as well as mechanisms for production and degradation for trace gases.
Conveners: Shari A. Yvon-Lewis, Texas A&M University, Department of Oceanography, College Station, TX 77843 USA, Tel: 979-458-1816, Fax: 979-845-7211, email: syvon-lewis@ocean.tamu.edu, and Brandon D. Finley, University of Washington, Bothell, 11136 NE 180th St Box 358511 (UW2-340) , Bothell, WA 98011-8246 USA, Tel: 425-352-3475, email: bfinley@uwb.edu, and Elizabeth E. Dahl, Loyola College in Maryland, Chemistry Department 4501 N Charles St. , Baltimore, MD 21210 USA, Tel: 410-617-2236, Fax: 410-617-2803, email: eedahl@loyola.edu

A16 Processes Regulating the Sources, Transformations, and Fate of Tropical Aerosols
Tropical aerosols, in large part from biomass burning, dust emissions, and biogenic primary and secondary processes, have chemical and physical properties that are in many ways distinct from aerosols in other domains of the Earth system. There have been recent intensive investigations of tropical aerosols in equatorial Africa in African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses (AMMA, www.amma-international.org/), in equatorial South America in the Amazonian Aerosol Characterization Experiment (AMAZE-08, www.seas.harvard.edu/AMAZE-08), and in equatorial Asia (Borneo) in the Oxidant and Particle Photochemical Processes above a South-East Asian Tropical Rain Forest (OP3, www.es.lancs.ac.uk/op3/). The results of these campaigns separately offer fresh insights into tropical aerosols, but further depth and integrated understandings and insights can be expected by cross comparisons and communication among these communities. In pursuit of this goal, this session will bring together all scientists interested in tropical aerosols, including those of these campaigns as well as more generally, to provide an integrated perspective on the general findings of processes regulating the sources, transformations, and fate of tropical aerosols. Topics include, but are not limited to, particle properties (such as light scattering and absorption, CCN activation, on-line and off-line chemical characterization, size distributions, flux measurements, and changes in all of these because of aging processes in the atmosphere), direct and indirect emissions of particle number and mass, and wet and dry deposition.
Conveners: Scot T. Martin, Harvard University, , Cambridge, MA USA, Tel: (617) 495-7620, email: scot_martin@harvard.edu, and Paulo Artaxo, University of Sao Paulo, , Sao Paulo, BRA, email: artaxo@if.usp.br, and Hugh Coe, The University of Manchester, , Manchester, GBR, email: hugh.coe@manchester.ac.uk

A17 Ice Nucleation: From Laboratory, Field and Remote Sensing Data to Process and Global Models
We solicit presentations that will advance our understanding of ice nucleation from recent laboratory experiments, field studies, or via remote sensing as well as from model representations of this process on all scales. Special emphasis will be placed upon studies that bridge experiments, remote sensing and modeling. There are recent laboratory experiments, for example those that take place in cloud chambers, which have investigated fundamental processes of ice formation under controlled conditions. Field studies in the upper troposphere and in the Arctic have collected unique data for process understanding, modeling evaluation, and parameterization development. Remote sensing instruments from surface and space now provide unprecedented views of ice clouds. New physically-based parameterizations are being implemented into GCMs to improve ice microphysics and to better estimate climate forcing. This session will bring together experiment, remote sensing, and modeling efforts to tackle this challenging and important problem.
Conveners: Xiaohong Liu, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, , Richland, WA 99352 USA, Tel: (509) 372-4528, email: xiaohong.liu@pnl.gov, and Daniel Cziczo, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, , , USA, email: daniel.cziczo@pnl.gov, and Ulrike Lohmann, Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zurich, , , CHE, email: ulrike.lohmann@env.ethz.ch

A18 Tropospheric Halogen Chemistry
The presence of halogen species and their impact on the composition of the troposphere is a subject of growing interest. However, many of the underlying physical, chemical and biological processes leading to the release of halogens at the surface are poorly understood and quantified. In addition, considerable uncertainties remain in the homogeneous and heterogeneous chemistry of many halogen species. The reliable measurement of many halogen species at tropospheric concentrations has also not yet been fully achieved. Consequently the quantification and assessment of the impact of halogen chemistry on tropospheric ozone, mercury, aerosols and climate still remains a considerable challenge. The goal of this special session is to provide a forum for discussion of all aspects of the study of tropospheric halogens, their chemistry, sources and sinks, and their impact on local, regional, and global scales. Papers are solicited on field experiments, satellite observations, laboratory studies, and numerical models of halogen chemistry. Contributions on results from research related to the International Polar Year (IPY) and the Ocean Atmosphere Sea Ice Snowpack (OASIS) projects are particularly encouraged.
Conveners: Alfonso Saiz-Lopez, NASA Jep Propulsion Laboratory, , Pasadena, CA USA, Tel: 818-354-5858, Fax: 818-393-5019, email: alfonso.saiz-lopez@jpl.nasa.gov, and Jochen Stutz, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, UCLA, , Los Angeles, CA USA, Tel: 310-825-5364, Fax: 310-206-5219, email: jochen@atmos.ucla.edu

A19 Impacts of Small-Scale Variability on Regional Flux Estimates Derived From Greenhouse Gas Observations
Anthropogenic emissions of CO2 are relatively well known, but the total amount of CO2 that remains in the atmosphere is strongly influenced by biological and oceanic uptake. The sources and sinks of other important greenhouse gases (GHGs), e.g. CH4, N2O, CFCs, HFCs, Halons, SF6, etc. are not well known, and because many GHGs have long atmospheric lifetimes, even small errors in the parameters that are used to construct emissions inventories can cause large errors in predicted atmospheric abundance. Accurate accounting for CO2 and other GHGs will be needed in order to track efforts to reduce emissions. GHG flux information is needed at politically relevant spatial and temporal scales (e.g., monthly to seasonal fluxes with spatial resolution of a large metropolitan area or of a state, province or small country). In principal, networks for measuring GHG concentrations can enable accurate regional-scale flux accounting, but adequate modeling tools to interpret the data are lacking. The session focuses on the aspects of linking local-scale measurements of greenhouse gases to larger-scale models. Strictly speaking, in-situ observations represent only a point in space, and remote sensing data represent the column of air seen by the satellite instrument at a particular time, usually with a footprint area of only few square km or less. Over continents, in the vicinity of strong and highly variable surface-atmosphere fluxes, trace gas distributions as observed by aircraft measurements show significant spatial variability. Tall tower observatories used for monitoring greenhouse gases in the continental boundary layer are strongly affected by fluxes in the near-field (nearest 100 km) and thus will respond to small scale flux heterogeneity. Further, mesoscale transport phenomena such as land-sea breezes or mountain-valley circulations can cause significant variability. Another significant source of uncertainty when using measurements made within the continental boundary layer is related to the representation of vertical mixing within the transport models, especially during nighttime. These issues should be taken into account when using GHG observations in a modeling framework for analysis or to derive trace gas budgets. Current generation inverse modeling tools resolve scales of at most 1x1 degree, leaving a significant fraction of the variations unresolved. In the best case, unresolved variability is treated as “noise” which reduces the power of atmospheric concentration measurements to constrain surface-atmosphere exchange fluxes, but it can also lead to biased flux estimates. This session seeks to solicit presentations that describe observed or modeled spatial variability of greenhouse gases over the continents and high-resolution modeling efforts to bridge the gap between measurement scales and global models.
Conveners: Christoph Gerbig, Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knoell-Str. 10 , Jena, 07745 DEU, email: cgerbig@bgc-jena.mpg.de, and Arlyn E. Andrews, NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, 325 Broadway R/GMD 1, Boulder, CO 80305 USA, email: Arlyn.Andrews@noaa.gov, and Ravan Ahmadov, Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knoell-Str. 10, Jena, 07745 DEU, email: rahmadov@bgc-jena.mpg.de

A20 Atmospheric Aerosols and Electron Microscopy
This session invites studies of the understanding of atmospheric aerosols through the use of electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis. Studies include but are not limited to microscopic determinations of particle size, morphology, and chemical composition to reveal sources of anthropogenic aerosols vs. natural aerosols and to reveal links between climatic effects of aerosols and the physical and chemical properties of individual particles.
Conveners: Joseph Michael Conny, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive Stop 8372, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA, Tel: 301-975-3932, email: joseph.conny@nist.gov, and Robert Willis, US Environmental Protection Agency, MD E205-03 Research Triangle Park, Research Triangle Pa, NC 27711 USA, Tel: 919-541-0960, email: willis.robert@epa.gov

A21 Vertical Exchange and Chemical Processing in the Tropical Marine Atmosphere
The tropical maritime atmosphere is a complex photochemical and thermodynamic environment. Biogenic emissions, particularly over nutrient-rich upwelling regions, not only greatly enrich the chemical environment of the local marine boundary layer but have important implications for the global atmosphere. Near the ocean surface, abundant sea salt aerosols provide fertile ground for heterogeneous chemical processing of sulfur and halogen compounds. The buffer layer, a region controlled by weakly stratified intermittent turbulence, lies above the well-mixed boundary layer and below the trade wind inversion. This transition layer is regulated by intricate interactions between boundary layer sources, sporadic turbulent mixing, and cloud processing, which results in chemical characteristic distinct from both the marine boundary layer and the free troposphere. The vertical exchange and cloud scavenging in the tropical troposphere can be quite efficient due to convective processes near the intertropical convergence zone. However, marine airmasses of considerable photochemical age can develop around the inflow regions. Lastly, pollution episodes driven by transport from distant biomass burning regions can strongly alter photochemistry in these environments. This session will focus on measurements and modeling studies that elucidate the complex relationships of marine sources, trace gases, aerosols, clouds, and pollution transport in the context of fundamental chemical, physical, and dynamical processes over the maritime tropics. Recent field experiments, long-term measurements, laboratory studies, and modeling analyses are of particular interest in this session.
Conveners: Yuhang Wang, Georgia Institute of Technology, , , USA, email: ywang@eas.gatech.edu, and Lee Mauldin, NCAR, , , USA, email: mauldin@ucar.edu, and Ian Faloona, University of California, Davis, , , USA, email: icfaloona@ucdavis.edu

A22 Underwater Acoustic Sensing of Tropical Cyclones
Advances in technology for the design and deployment of hydrophones, coupled with the finding that acoustic noise in certain frequency intervals is strongly affected by surface winds, offer the intriguing possibility that tropical cyclone intensity and, perhaps, other characteristics might be routinely estimated from suitably deployed hydrophones. Currently, in-situ measurement of tropical cyclones is done routinely only over the North Atlantic, and only then for events that pose a threat to the United States. Elsewhere, tropical cyclone characteristics are routinely estimated using almost exclusively using satellite-based measurements, and intensity estimates based on these still have large margins of error. For developing nations, such as Myanmar and Bangladesh, that suffer devastating tropical cyclones but cannot afford to conduct airborne reconnaissance, hydrophone arrays may provide a cost effective means of estimating storm intensity to aid in warning and evacuation decisions. This session will review recent advances in acoustic detection of storms at sea and explore ways that this technique could be improved and expanded so as to provide useful information about tropical cyclones on a routine basis.
Conveners: Kerry Emanuel, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rm 54-1620 MIT 77 Mass Ave , Cambridge, MA 02139 USA, Tel: 617-253-2462, email: emanuel@texmex.mit.edu, and Nicholas Makris, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rm 5-212 MIT 77 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA, Tel: 617-258-6104, email: makris@mit.edu, and Peter Niiler, The Scripps Institution of Oceanography, The Scripps Institution of Oceanography A-0213 , La Jolla, CA 92093-0213 USA, Tel: 858-534-4100, email: pniiler@ucsd.edu

A23 Multi-Platform and Multi-Sensor Satellite Observations of Cloud-Precipitation Structures and Microphysics: New Discoveries and Applications to Model Developments
A combination of multi-platform and multi- frequency satellite observations can provide a more complete view of cloud-precipitation processes, ranging from cloud formulations, to coalescence processes, to the onset of precipitation and on the aerosol and thermodynamic effects of these processes. This session aims to create a forum that discusses new discoveries and model developments of cloud-precipitation structures and microphysics using A-train constellation satellites (e.g., Aqua, Aura, Terra, CloudSAT, CALIPSO, and PARASOL) as well as other existing satellites (e.g., TRMM, POES, and GOES). The session particularly welcomes researchers who provide innovative idea that combines multi-platform and multi-sensor satellite observations in order to improve understanding of following topics, i) cloud-to-precipitation microphysics and processes (coalescence, the onset of precipitation, precipitation efficiency), ii) cloud-precipitation structures associated with energy and water budget, and iii) i) and ii) processes linking to atmospheric aerosols, thermodynamics, and diurnal cycles. Multi-platform and multi-sensor satellite observations can be also applied to development of cloud-precipitation processes in global, regional and process-scale atmospheric models. This session also encourages studies that utilize new multi-platform and multi-frequency satellite observations to i) improve cloud parameterizations in global- and regional-scale models, ii) improve cloud microphysics in cloud-resolving models, and iii) develop data assimilation techniques in mesoscale and cloud-resolving models. Studies that use direct satellite observations via satellite simulators are particularly welcomed.
Conveners: Toshihisa Matsui, GEST UMBC & NASA GSFC, , , USA, email: Toshihisa.Matsui-1@nasa.gov, and Wei-Kuo Tao, NASA GSFC, , , USA, email: Wei-Kuo.Tao-1@nasa.gov, and Graeme Stephens, Colorado State University, , , USA, email: stephens@atmos.colostate.edu

A24 High Resolution Active Optical Remote Sensing of Atmospheric Processes
This session focuses on new observations of atmospheric phenomena at fine spatial and temporal scales enabled by active optical remote sensing (lidar) methodologies. The value of these techniques for the elucidation of dynamic atmospheric processes occurring on sub-km, sub-diurnal scales is being demonstrated by a steadily increasing number of fielded systems on the ground, in the air, and in space. This session solicits contributions that describe original research results from each of these observational regimes. Topics will include: process studies related to atmospheric composition, pollution, transport, and dynamics; convection and storm development; climate, aerosols and clouds.
Conveners: David M. Tratt, The Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 92957, M2-747, Los Angeles, CA 90009-2957 USA, Tel: 310 336 2876, Fax: 310 563 5617, email: David.M.Tratt@aero.org, and Grace S. Peng, The Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 92957, M1-102, Los Angeles, CA 90009-2957 USA, Tel: 310-336-5699, Fax: 310-563-8240, email: Grace.S.Peng@aero.org, and Yongxiang Hu, NASA Langley Research Center, MS 475, Hampton, VA 23681 USA, Tel: 757-864-9824, Fax: 757-864-2671, email: Yongxiang.Hu-1@nasa.gov, and Alan Brewer, NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305 USA, Tel: 303-497-7859, Fax: 303-497-5318, email: Alan.Brewer@noaa.gov

A25 Space Observations of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide: Retrieval, Validation, Modeling, and Assimilation
Carbon cycle science stands on the verge of a new era in research that will be enabled by satellite remote sensing of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). New retrieval approaches are being applied to existing sensors (AIRS, SCIAMACHY, IASI), and the first instruments designed specifically to measure global CO2 at high precision (OCO, GOSAT) are scheduled for launch in 2008. Validation data at several sites (TCCON) are providing accurate measurements to compare with space observations. These new capabilities promise to revolutionize our scientific understanding of the behavior of the global carbon cycle. The improved ability to resolve regional sources and sinks of atmospheric CO2 will allow new insight into the underlying biological, physical, and socioeconomic mechanisms regulating atmospheric CO2 levels and how surface fluxes are evolving in time. This knowledge will lay the foundation for more reliable forecasts of future changes of CO2 in the atmosphere and the effect that these changes may have on Earth's climate. Realization of this promise will require careful attention to measurement quality, validation (including FTIR, aircraft, and other surface-based systems), innovative analysis, and veritable modeling. Much of this work is already in progress. In this session, we solicit papers focused on remote sensing measurements of CO2, both ongoing and future missions; validation measurements; analysis procedures to optimize and maximize the information content of these measurements with application to carbon cycle science; and modeling activities using CO2 remote sensing and other carbon-related measurements to infer higher level properties such as the distribution of surface sources and sinks and the transport of atmospheric CO2.
Conveners: Moustafa T. Chahine, JPL/CALTECH, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, Tel: 818-354-6057, Fax: 818-393-1554, email: Chahine@jpl.nasa.gov, and Anna M. Michalak, University of Michigan, 183 EWRE Bldg., 1351 Beal Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2125 USA, Tel: 734-763-9664, Fax: 734-763-2275, email: amichala@umich.edu, and Charles E. Miller, JPL/CALTECH, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, Tel: 818-393-6294, Fax: 818-354-0966, email: charles.e.miller@jpl.nasa.gov

A26 Physics and Chemistry of the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere (UTLS)
Rapid progress is occurring in characterizing behavior of the UTLS using observations and models. This session will focus on a wide range of topics related to the UTLS, focused on improved understanding of processes on regional and global scales. Topics include dynamics and chemistry of the tropopause region (in both the tropics and extratropics), strat-trop exchange, improved understanding of water, ice and clouds, aspects of climate change relevant to the UTLS, and the dynamics of large- and small-scale waves and coupling with processes such as deep convection. We especially encourage presentation of new observational results, based on aircraft and satellite data, plus modeling and diagnostic studies.
Conveners: Paul A. Newman, NASA, Code 613.3 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md 20771 USA, Tel: 301 614 5985, Fax: 301 614 5903, email: Paul.A.Newman@nasa.gov, and William J. Randel, National Center for Atmospheric Research, National Center for Atmospheric Research PO Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307 USA, Tel: 303-497-1439, email: randel@ucar.edu

A27 Air Quality and Photochemical Processes in Polluted Regions Impacted by Complex Meteorology: Land/Sea Influences
Poor air quality related to high levels of fine particulates, ozone and other photochemical oxidants continues to be of concern to governments, health agencies and the general population at large. Many urban areas are adjacent to oceans or inland seas (ie- Great Lakes), where the air quality is not only impacted by emission, transformation and transport of pollutants into and out of a domain, but also by the effects of the complex boundary layer meteorology at the land/sea interface, including sea breeze induced convection and sea breeze circulations. An example of such an area is the Detroit/Windsor cosmopolitan area and surrounding regions. This region is impacted by local and long range transport of anthropogenic, biogenic and agricultural sources of pollutants, heat island effects, lake breeze circulations associated with three inland seas (lakes). This region was the location of a major field study in 2007; the Border Air Quality and Meteorological Study (BAQS-Met 2007). Many other large field studies have also taken place in recent years in coastal polluted regions. In this session we invite contributions that address photochemical processes of oxidant and aerosol formation, spatial and temporal heterogeneity of particles and gases, transport of pollutants, complex boundary layer meteorology and air quality modeling in polluted regions where the meteorology and air quality is perturbed by large bodies of water.
Conveners: Robert McLaren, York University, Centre for Atmospheric Chemistry 4700 Keele St., North York, ON M3J 1P3 CAN, Tel: 416-736-2100 x30675, Fax: 416-736-5411, email: rmclaren@yorku.ca, and Katherine L. Hayden, Environment Canada, Science and Technology Branch Air Quality Research Division 4905 Dufferin Street, Downsview, ON M3H 5T4 CAN, Tel: 416-739-5733, Fax: 416-739-4281, email: katherine.hayden@ec.gc.ca, and Jennifer Murphy, University of Toronto, Department of Chemistry 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6 CAN, Tel: 416-946-0260, email: jmurphy@chem.utoronto.ca

A28 Biogenic and Anthropogenic Influences on Particle Nucleation and Growth
This session focuses on recent field study results studying the frequency and nature of nucleation events in rural areas impacted by anthropogenic emissions. Measurements from two campaigns serve as the core of this session and investigators examining other similar study areas are encouraged to participate. BAQS-Met 2007 was over SW Ontario at four rural sites impacted by local agriculture and signifcant urban and industrial emissions. NIFTy 2008 was conducted over an expansive deciduous forest in S Indiana.
Conveners: Greg Evans, University of Toronto, , Toronto, ON CAN, email: greg.evans@utoronto.ca, and Sara Pryor, Indiana University, , Bloomington, IN USA, email: spryor@indiana.edu, and Jeff Brook, Environment Canada, , , CAN, email: jeff.brook@ec.gc.ca

A29 Linking Past and Present Hydrological Cycles to Climate with Water Vapor and Precipitation Isotopes
The isotopic composition of water reflects the history of exchange processes and can be used to determine pathways of water in the atmosphere and capture the linkage between large-scale atmospheric circulation and the hydrological exchange. In the modern setting isotopes of precipitation and water vapor have been used to understand cloud processes, the balance between multiple contributing water fluxes and changes in the source of water at some location. Many proxy records of climate rely on known or assumed linkages between the isotopic composition of precipitation and other climate parameters (such as temperature or precipitation). The origin of the isotopic signal in precipitation is tied to the isotopic composition of atmospheric water vapor, but until now very few measurements of the isotopic composition of atmospheric water have been available to constrain understanding of the controls on the final proxy record. Simple and comprehensive models have been used to test the relationships between climate and isotopes on many time scales, but there remains great potential for understanding the linkages between the water cycle and climate on long and short time scales by making use of new isotopic observations and interpretations guided by improved knowledge of the underlying physical and dynamical drivers. While in the past only a small number of water vapor isotope measurements have been available using cryogenic or chemical trapping methods, new measurement technologies now allow estimates of atmospheric water vapor isotopes to be obtained more directly. These compliment more traditional precipitation measurements, and open new research avenues. Laser absorption instruments have been used on aircraft with great success, and now commercial instruments are poised to revolutionize the field by enabling larger volumes of water vapor isotope measurements to be made by more research groups. Similarly, satellite observations of water isotopes have begun to emerge as a new source of information on isotopes at global scales. This session aims to bring together researchers using observations and models of water vapor and precipitation isotopes to understand the linkages between the large- and regional-scale atmospheric processes and hydrologic cycles, and how these linkages change with climate. Special attention is given to making use of newly available observational constraints and the need for such observations in science applications. As such, the session will provide a forum to leverage contemporary isotopic information to inform interpretation of proxy records and understand processes controlling modern climate.
Conveners: David Noone, University of Colorado, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and CIRES Campus Box 216, Boulder, CO 80309-0216 USA, Tel: 303-735-6073, email: dcn@colorado.edu, and Joe Galewsky, University of New Mexico, Earth and Planetary Sciences MSC 03 204 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 USA, Tel: 505-277-2361, email: galewsky@unm.edu, and Worden John, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Earth and Space Sciences Division MS 183-617 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CO 91109 USA, Tel: 818 393 7122, email: john.worden@jpl.nasa.gov

A30 The Role of Atmospheric Wind Measurements in Weather and Climate Forecasting
Accurate knowledge of 3D tropospheric wind profiles are critical to improved weather and climate forecasting as well as accurate hurricane tracking. To date, this lack of direct observations of winds has been the greatest unmet challenge in the US satellite global observing system. “Wind profiles at all levels” is listed as the number one priority in the strategic plan for the United States Integrated Earth Observing System (USIEOS) where “wind speed and direction” is stated as having a “high level of importance” in five of nine societal benefit areas in the USIEOS. Recently, the NRC Earth science decadal survey identified a space-based lidar wind mission as one of top 15 priorities. Notably the NRC Weather panel named the wind mission as its top priority calling 3D winds a “transformational” measurement for the weather community. The European Space Agency is currently developing a wind lidar mission called the Atmospheric Dynamics Mission (ADM) that is slated to launch in 2009. Additionally, in summer of 2009, the THORPEX Pacific-Asian Regional Campaign (T-PARC) will be underway in which two wind lidar instruments will be deployed on aircraft to assess impact of the observations on forecasting skill. Preparing for these missions has stimulated significant new activities in technology development, observing system simulation, and application of existing instruments to assess the impact of atmospheric parameters on measurement precision. This session will focus on new developments and results associated with remote sensing of winds. Technology advances, assessment of the impact of wind measurements on numerical forecasts, results from field experiments, and synergism obtained through measurements of winds in combination with other meteorological observations will be included. The session solicits original contributions describing wind observations from surface instruments or networks, aircraft-based systems, and space-based techniques such as atmospheric motion vectors from feature-tracking, as well as results showing how these observations are applied to weather and climate problems on all scales
Conveners: Robert Michael Hardesty, NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305 USA, Tel: 303-497-6568, Fax: 303-497-5318, email: mike.hardesty@noaa.gov, and George David Emmitt, Simpson Weather Associates, 809 East Jefferson St, Charlottesville, VA 22902 USA, Tel: 434-979-3571, Fax: 434-979-5599, email: gde@swa.com, and Azita Valinia, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, , Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, Tel: 301-286-5039, Fax: 301-286-1772, email: azita.valinia@nasa.gov

A31 Results from the Cumulus Humilis Aerosol Processing Study (CHAPS) and the Cloud and Land Surface Interaction Campaign (CLASIC)
While fair-weather clouds (FWC) are small in size, they are ubiquitous, occurring over large areas of continents, such as the Southern Great Plains, and in the trade wind regions over the oceans. These clouds play an important role in the earth’s climate by reflecting the sun’s energy away from the planet. These clouds are tightly coupled to the planetary boundary layer, and form a conduit for the transport of aerosols moisture from the boundary layer to the free troposphere. This session will consist of the presentation of results from two concurrent field campaigns that were focused on cumulus processes over the central United States: the Cumulus Humilis Aerosol Processing Study (CHAPS; asp.labworks.org), and the Cloud and Land Surface Interaction Campaign (CLASIC; acrf-campaign.arm.gov/clasic). These studies, conducted during June 2007, employed 11 aircraft and involved scientists from the US Department of Energy, NASA, NOAA, the US Department of Agriculture, Rutgers University, the University of Oklahoma, and Duke University. CHAPS was focused on changes to the properties of aerosols as they pass through shallow cumuli, and included in situ measurements of cloud and aerosol properties as well as ground-based and airborne lidars. CLASIC was focused on linking cloud properties to the surface characteristics and aerosols, and included enhanced surface sites for measuring the fluxes of heat, moisture, momentum, and carbon dioxide, in situ measurements of turbulence and cloud properties in and above the boundary layer, and ground based and airborne radars and lidars, including the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Airborne Simulator.
Conveners: Larry K. Berg, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard P.O. Box 999, MSIN K9-30, Richland, WA 99352 USA, Tel: 509-375-3916, email: larry.berg@pnl.gov, and Peter J. Lamb, The University of Oklahoma, The National Weather Center 120 David L. Boren Boulevard, Suite 2100, Norman, OK 73072 USA, Tel: 405-325-3041, Fax: 405-325-7614, email: plamb@ou.edu

A32 The Next Generation of Operational Earth Observations from the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS)
The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) will be the primary source of U.S. operational, space-based measurements of the atmosphere, ocean, land, and near-Earth space environment in about five years. NPOESS platforms and instruments will combine the two polar-orbiting satellite systems operated separately by NOAA and DoD into a single national system while transitioning technological advances from NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites into an integrated, broad interdisciplinary mission serving the nation’s civilian and military needs for space-based, remotely-sensed environmental data. NPOESS will be a primary source of operational and research data used by the worldwide scientific community comprising AGU’s membership. The first flight of several new instruments will occur in 2010 with the launch of the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP). The first operational NPOESS spacecraft is planned for launch in 2013. NPOESS will provide faster delivery of high quality real-time data for numerical weather prediction and improved weather and environmental forecasts and warnings, a critical mission for this new system. As a result of recent programmatic decisions, several instruments have been remanifested on NPOESS to improve capabilities for climate monitoring. NPOESS will provide measurements of more than half of 26 essential climate variables with its VIIRS, CrIS, ATMS, OMPS, CERES, and TSIS instruments. In this session we solicit abstracts covering a range of topics on NPOESS including capabilities of NPOESS instruments for atmospheric, oceanic, terrestrial, and space environment measurements; calibration and validation plans; plans for processing, distribution, and availability of data; applications of NPOESS data in weather forecasting, natural hazards detection and monitoring, and climate monitoring; and continuity of measurements with the current NOAA operational and NASA research satellites. This session will be of interest to not only the Earth science remote sensing community but also to scientists interested in interdisciplinary applications in biogeoscience, global change, and Earth and space science informatics. Contributions are invited in all these AGU interest areas.
Conveners: John Bates, National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, 151 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 USA, Tel: 828-271-4378, Fax: 828-271-4328, email: john.j.bates@noaa.gov, and Ron Birk, Northrop Grumman Space Technology, 1000 Wilson Blvd, Suite 2300, Arlington, VA 22209 USA, Tel: 703-741-7788, email: Ron.Birk@ngc.com, and Gary McWilliams, Integrated Project Office, NOAA NESDIS, 8455 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA, Tel: 301-713-4808, Fax: 301-427-2164, email: Gary.Mcwilliams@noaa.gov

A33 Anthropogenic Influences on Aerosols and Clouds
Evidence is emerging from long-term aerosol loading trends, rainfall pattern changes, and weekly cycles of climate variables, that anthropogenic influences on atmospheric aerosols and clouds have reached detectable levels, and may be environmentally significant relative to natural variability. Likely causes range from fossil fuel consumption rates to possible indirect human impacts on wildfire occurrence and regional weather patterns. However, much remains unclear about the mechanisms involved, the magnitudes of the effects, and the degree to which nature can absorb these influences. This session aims to survey recent observational and modeling studies focused on anthropogenic contributions to aerosol and cloud property changes.
Conveners: Dong L. Wu, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech, M/S 183-701, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, Tel: 818-393-1954, email: Dong.L.Wu@jpl.nasa.gov, and Ralph Kahn, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 613.2, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, email: Ralph Kahn

A34 Advances in Cloud System Resolving Models
A cloud system resolving models (CSRM) are two- or three-dimensional non-hydrostatic numerical models that resolve deep convective and mesoscale cloud system structures using horizontal grid sizes between 1 and 10 km. Such models are increasingly being used as regional numerical weather prediction models, as tropical cyclone models, embedded in global climate models using the multiscale modeling framework, and even as global cloud system resolving models. Boundary-layer clouds, turbulence, and microphysical processes are subgrid-scale (SGS) in CSRMs and must be parameterized. Existing parameterizations are not general enough for current and future applications. What is the optimal strategy for improving the parameterization of SGS processes in CSRMs? Improve them at the cost of increased complexity? Decrease the horizontal grid size? Or some combination of the two? We encourage contributions that describe recent advances in parameterizing SGS processes in CSRMs, especially systematic tests that compare various approaches using observations or benchmark high-resolution (large-eddy) simulations. We also solicit contributions that describe advances in the modeling frameworks for CSRMs, including the governing equations and the numerical methods.
Conveners: Steve Krueger, University of Utah, 135 South 1460 East, Room 819, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 USA, Tel: 801 581-6136, Fax: 801 585-3681, email: steve.krueger@utah.edu, and Marat Khairoutdinov, Stony Brook University, , Stony Brook, NY 11794 USA, Tel: 631-632-6339, email: mkhairoutdin@ms.cc.sunysb.edu

A35 Cooperative Studies Incorporating Measurements from Land-Based Atmospheric Arctic Observatories
The main mission of the International Arctic Systems for Observing the Atmosphere (IASOA) is coordination of atmospheric data collection and research at existing and newly established intensive Arctic atmospheric observatories. This effort supports the International Polar Year (www.ipy.org) but is intended to establish a continuing network consortium into the foreseeable future. Data of interest to the IASOA consortium include measurements of standard meteorology, greenhouse gases, atmospheric radiation, clouds, pollutants, chemistry, aerosols, and surface energy balances. IASOA is responsive to growing evidence that the earth system may be approaching environmentally critical thresholds within decadal time scales. The information from IASOA will not only enhance scientific understanding but will also support decisions by the global community regarding climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. The International Arctic Systems for Observing the Atmosphere (IASOA) International Polar Year (IPY) project invites papers on Arctic atmospheric research. We are particularly interested in receiving papers comparing measurements from two or more of the IASOA observatories: Abisko (Sweden), Alert/Eureka (Canada), Barrow (USA), Cherskii or Tiksi (Russia), Ny-Ålesund (Norway), Pallas/Sodankylä (Finland), and/or Summit (Greenland). Papers addressing Arctic climate change attribution (why things are changing), rather than trends (how things are changing), are particularly desirable. Results from recent IPY Arctic experiments, analyses of long-term measurements, as well as satellite or model assessments using measurements from IASOA stations are encouraged.
Conveners: Lisa Darby, Earth Systems Research Laboratory, R/PSD3 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305 USA, Tel: 303 497 5219, Fax: 303 497 6181, email: Lisa.Darby@noaa.gov, and Taneil Uttal, Earth Systems Research Laboratory/NOAA, R/PSD3 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305 USA, Tel: 303 497 6409, Fax: 303 497 6181, email: Taneil.Uttal@noaa.gov, and John Burkhart, Norwegian Institute for Air Research, P.O. Box 100 , Kjeller, N-2027 NOR, Tel: +47 96 82 5011, email: jfb@nilu.no

A36 Improving Hurricane Prediction through Advanced Data Assimilation, Modeling and Observations
One of the major deficiencies in current regional and global hurricane prediction models is initialization of hurricane structure, which is critical to forecasting hurricane intensity change. The lack of conventional observations over the open ocean requires new approach to the problem. Systematic studies of assessing utility of satellite and airborne observations can be done using Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs). Data assimilations using simple schemes, such as 3DVar, may not be able to represent the influence of a single observation on the analysis of the presence of a hurricane vortex. The Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) and 4DVar, in contrast, use information about the existing cyclone and the flow around it to enhance the information provided by the nearby and embedded observations. The successful implementation of fully coupled air-sea models will require the development of new data assimilation methods using both atmospheric and oceanic data sets. Recent advances in technology in observations from field programs such as the ONR supported Coupled Boundary Layer Air-Sea Transfer (CBLAST) and the NSF supported Hurricane Rainband and Intensity Change Experiment (RAINEX), the NASA, NOAA and NSF supported CAMEX, Tropical Cloud System Processes (TCSP), Sahara Air Layer (SAL), and NASA African Monsoon Multi-scale Analysis (NAMMA) and are all providing important new insights into storm dynamic, its interaction with environmental changes and changes in the upper layers of the ocean. These insights are helping to drive a strategy for the next generation hurricane prediction models from regional to global scales. Furthermore, the data from these field programs provided a unique opportunity to develop and test new data assimilation techniques for high-resolution models. The goal of this session is to develop new strategies for improving data assimilation, high-resolution modeling, and observations for hurricane prediction and to discuss the issues concerning the representation of dynamic and thermodynamic processes and data assimilation technique in hurricane prediction models. It will bring together those knowledgeable in the areas of data assimilation, hurricane dynamics and modeling, observations, and forecasting.
Conveners: Shuyi S. Chen, RSMAS/University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149 USA, email: schen@rsmas.miami.edu, and Robert Atlas, NOAA/AOML, 4300 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149 USA, email: robert.atlas@noaa.gov

A37 A Micro-scale, GIS-Based Modeling Emission Inventory System in Support of Micro-scale Chemical Transport Modeling
As the city is urbanized, population density and the volume of traffics get larger. Also, more commercial and residential high-rise buildings have been constructed due to the improvement of technology and higher cost of land areas. The regional-to-local atmospheric transport models usually parameterize the influence of those high-rise structures, such as roughness length. The effect of the structures in 3-dimensional air flow estimation should be very important for the micro-scale urban air pollution modeling and analysis. In addition, because of confined atmospheric dispersion, air pollution in urban area can be easily affected by detailed emission sources which are located within the area. The conventional modeling emissions inventory, however, could not support the detail-micro scale modeling. Therefore, developments of methodologies, which can estimate micro-scale modeling emissions inventory from each sources types, are important for successful atmospheric transport modeling. So, we established a 3D building GIS database and developed a micro-scale emission inventory in support of micro-scale atmospheric modeling in Seoul. Methodology of establishing 3D building GIS and developing micro-scale modeling emission inventory system and initial results will be presented.
Conveners: Rina Ryoo, Konkuk University, , Seoul, KOR, email: joinrina814@naver.com, and Jung-Hun Woo, Konkuk University, , Seoul, KOR, email: woojh21@gmail.com, and Rok-Jin Park, Seoul National University, , Seoul, KOR, email: rjpark@snu.ac.kr, and Jae-Jin Kim, Pukyung National University, , Busan, KOR, email: jjkim@pknu.ac.kr, and Young Sunwoo, Konkuk University, , Seoul, KOR, email: ysunwoo@konkuk.ac.kr

A38 Combined Analysis of Carbon Dioxide Emissions Information and Airborne Measurements in Support of NASA ARCTAS and TC4 Field Campaigns
Please note that this session has been withdrawn from the Fall Meeting program. Please use the Session Search Tool to find an alternate session in which to submit an abstract. This can be found at: http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/?content=search
Conveners: AGU AGU, AGU, , , UGA, email: fm-help@agu.org

A39 Diagnosing Climate Feedbacks and Climate Sensitivity
The uncertainty in the equilibrium and transient climate sensitivity, and in the magnitude of individual feedback factors has scarcely decreased over the last 10 years. A number of approaches have been taken to narrow this uncertainty, diagnosing climate sensitivity or climate feedbacks either from data alone, or from a combination of data and model output. It has become clear that the ranking of climate sensitivity across a range of climate models depends strongly on the definition (whether transient or equilibrium) of sensitivity employed. Work on climate feedbacks has expanded from analysis of purely atmospheric effects to work on biological and ecological feedbacks involving the carbon cycle response to climate change. In this session we solicit original contributions to the work of narrowing the range of climate sensitivity and climate feedback, and contributions that seek to better define the problem for particular purposes.
Conveners: Daniel B. Kirk-Davidoff, University of Maryland, College Park, 3423 Computer and Space Sciences, College Park, MD 20742 USA, Tel: 301-405-5386, email: dankd@atmos.umd.edu, and Chris Forest, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave Rm E40 - 427 , Cambridge, MA 02139 USA, Tel: 617-253-6958, email: ceforest@MIT.EDU

A40 Sources, Evolution and Sinks of Organics in the Troposphere
The troposphere contains a very large number of organic compounds in both the particle and gas phases, spanning a wide range of lifetimes, volatilities, and sources. These species have a major influence on both climate and air quality: the atmospheric oxidation of gas-phase organics forms ozone and other secondary pollutants, condensed phase organic compounds make up a substantial fraction of fine particulate matter, and organics may play a role in global biogeochemical cycles. In addition, specific organic compounds can be of interest due to their potential toxicities or use as emission source markers. Despite the importance of organics in the chemistry of the atmosphere, their chemical composition and atmospheric transformation remain highly uncertain. In particular, overall budgets are generally poorly constrained, as are the processes governing concentrations of oxygenated and low-volatility organics. Obtaining an improved understanding of the role of organic compounds in the troposphere requires contributions from field measurements, laboratory studies, and modeling. Development and deployment of new analytical techniques allows for the identification and quantification of tropospheric organics; laboratory measurements help constrain their properties and changes upon atmospheric oxidation; and modeling studies can integrate this information to examine regional to global budgets and implications for air quality and climate. Satellite or remote observations could provide important insights on large-scale distributions and evolution of organics, though few compounds are currently detected and considerable challenges remain. This session focuses on work aimed at understanding the nature, transformations and fate of non-methane organics in the atmosphere, from the perspective of field measurements, laboratory studies, and atmospheric modeling. Specific topics of interest include 1) anthropogenic vs. natural sources of organic compounds, 2) the formation and chemical transformation of organic particulate matter, and 3) depositional and reactive sinks of atmospheric organics. Contributions which consider novel approaches to measuring/modeling individual or total organics in the atmosphere are particularly encouraged.
Conveners: Colette L. Heald, Colorado State University, Department of Atmospheric Science 1371 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80524 USA, Tel: 970-491-8034, email: heald@atmos.colostate.edu, and Jesse H. Kroll, Aerodyne Research, , Billerica, MA 01821 USA, Tel: 978-663-9500, email: kroll@aerodyne.com, and Joost de Gouw, NOAA ESRL, , Boulder, CO 80305 USA, Tel: 303-497-3878, email: Joost.deGouw@noaa.gov

A41 Inter-comparison Study of Global Emission Inventories in Support of Climate Change and Air Quality Interaction Modeling
Emission preparation is a critical stage in air quality and climate change modeling. In order to correctly understand the impact of global climate change on regional air quality, it is required to prepare the most up-to-date global emissions inventory. In our study, we extensively reviewed many existing global emission inventories, such as EDGAR, GEIA, and POET, so that we can understand the structures of inventories. The attribute the databases that were selected for the review are: pollutants list, emission sectors, spatial/temporal extents, spatial/temporal resolution, and chemical speciation information. The intercomparison analysis suggested that the best available emissions data and the points of improvements that are needed to conduct better modeling. On site, we will present the characteristics of reviewed global emission inventories then discuss the resulting emission inventories.
Conveners: BuJeon Jung, Konkuk University, , Seoul, KOR, email: Bujeon.jung@gmail.com, and Jung-Hun Woo, Konkuk University, , Seoul, KOR, email: woojh21@gmail.com, and Young Sunwoo, Konkuk University, , Seoul, KOR, email: ysunwoo@konkuk.ac.kr, and Rok-Jin Park, Seoul National University, , Seoul, KOR, email: rjpark@snu.ac.kr, and Ki-Chul Choi, Konkuk University, , Seoul, KOR, email: minic3000@gmail.com, and Young-Il Ma, Konkuk University, , Seoul, KOR, email: bluesky0002@gmail.com, and Sang-Wook Yeh, KORDI, , Seoul, KOR, email: swyeh@kordi.re.kr, and Ul Kyu Im, Hanyang University, , Seoul, KOR, email: imeg@hanyang.ac.kr, and ByeongKwon Moon, Chonbuk University, , Seoul, KOR, email: moonbk@chonbuk.ac.kr, and DaeOk Yoon, Seoul Natioanl University, , Seoul, KOR, email: bujeon.jung@gmail.com, and ChangKeun Song, National Institute of Environmrntal Reaserch, , Seoul, KOR, email: cksong@me.go.kr, and JungSoo Kim, National Institute of Environmental Research, , Seoul, KOR, email: jsookim@me.go.kr

A42 Studies of Atmospheric Composition using Satellite Occultation Instruments: Past, Present and Future
The high vertical resolution of occultation measurements have provided and continue to provide valuable insights into atmospheric composition. From the extensive data sets provided by the SAGE, POAM, ILAS and HALOE instruments to new results from the current ACE and AIM missions and the SCIAMACHY and GOMOS instruments, there is a broad range of scientific studies being undertaken using solar and stellar occultation observations from space. This session welcomes presentations related to all aspects of remote sensing using the solar, stellar and lunar occultation techniques. In addition to studies of retrieval methods, validation, data analysis and scientific studies for past and present missions, contributions are encouraged for future and follow-on instruments employing this technique.
Conveners: Kaley Walker, Department of Physics, University of Toronto, 60 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1A7 CAN, Tel: +1 416 978 8218, Fax: +1 416 978 8905, email: kwalker@atmosp.physics.utoronto.ca, and Peter Bernath, Department of Chemistry, University of York, , Heslington, York, YO10 5DD GBR, Tel: +44-(0)-1904-434526, Fax: +44-(0)-1904-432516, email: pfb500@york.ac.uk

A43 Recent Advances in Atmospheric General Circulation Models: Towards Earth System Models
An improved representation of dynamical and physical processes in Atmospheric General Circulation Models (GCMs) is one of the key challenges for future climate model developments. They are a stepping stone towards future Earth System Models that will (1) allow seamless weather and climate predictions at all scales, (2) provide increased complexity such as the carbon cycle and chemistry modules with hundreds of tracers, (3) have unprecedented levels of scalability on peta-scale computing architectures and (4) incorporate modern numerical techniques and computational grids. The session invites papers that address recent advances in atmospheric modeling techniques. The goal of the session is to facilitate an open discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of current and future modeling approaches. Special emphasis will be placed on models that resolve large-scale down to meso-scale atmospheric phenomena. The areas of interests are: 1) Recent developments in hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic dynamical cores, physics parameterizations, advection algorithms and numerical methods 2) Multi-scale modeling approaches including variable mesh sizes, nested grids and regional climate models 3) Idealized model assessments including simplified General Circulation Models (GCMs) and idealized test cases for GCMs 4) Advances in whole atmosphere models with model tops above 80km, middle atmosphere dynamics 5) Model intercomparisons including sensitivity studies with respect to varying horizontal and vertical resolutions. Of particular interest are issues related to very high mesh resolutions in global atmospheric models. 6) Software engineering and data management aspects for Earth System Models
Conveners: Christiane Jablonowski, University of Michigan, 2455 Hayward St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA, Tel: 734 763 6238, Fax: 734 936 0503, email: cjablono@umich.edu, and Peter H. Lauritzen, National Center for Atmospheric Research, 1850 Table Mesa Dr., Boulder, CO 80305 USA, Tel: 3034971316, email: pel@ucar.edu

A44 Possible Links Among Vegetation, Aerosols and Climate
Natural fluxes of climate-relevant compounds can exceed those from human activities. Hence, climate change depends on both, direct anthropogenic impacts and on future changes of natural processes. Because of the complexity of the climate system, reliable predictions of future developments and consequent policy decisions remain difficult. An important uncertainty to be resolved is the interaction between the atmosphere and biosphere and the related feedbacks - and how they may change under predicted climate changes. A negative feedback between terrestrial eco-systems and the atmosphere was proposed by Kulmala, et al., ACP 2004. Increase in biogenic emissions coupled with increasing temperatures can lead to more and larger particles. An increase of particle number and size could lead to increasing cloud coverage and increasing cloud albedo possible counteracting temperature increase. The formed particles also scatter (and possibly absorb) solar radiation, which may also lead to decreased solar radiation flux to the Earth's surface. Understanding these feedbacks by laboratory, modeling and field data is the focus of this session.
Conveners: Yinon Rudich, Weizmann Institute, , , ISR, email: yinon.rudich@weizmann.ac.il, and Thomas Mentel, Research Center Juelich, , , DEU, email: t.mentel@fz-juelich.de

A45 Climate Services Structures in Support of Societal Response: Challenges and Opportunities
Clear, timely, and accurate climate data and information that frame the influence of climate variability and change are in strong demand by many sectors and user groups. Yet the practices and tools required to meet this demand are fragmented across many entities. This session will survey current and evolving organizational models of climate services developed to meet user needs in a systematic fashion. An important organizational model, the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS; drought.gov), will be featured for its drought monitoring, prediction, and impacts assessment infrastructure. Presentations of additional organizational models that address the following attributes of climate services on a thematic and/or sectoral basis are encouraged: Brokerage of climate data and information that explicitly enable public and private sector applications, assessments, and both mitigation and adaptation responses; user-defined accessibility to climate and data information through web-based portals and databases; research-to-operations and research-to-applications constructs that translate climate information for specific user groups; and/or collaborative structures for synergies between environmental and socioeconomic data sources.
Conveners: Timothy Owen, NOAA/NESDIS/National Climatic Data Center, 151 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 USA, Tel: 828-271-4358, Fax: 828-271-4246, email: Tim.Owen@noaa.gov, and Roger Pulwarty, NOAA/OAR/Climate Program Office, , , USA, email: Roger.Pulwarty@noaa.gov, and Richard Heim, NOAA/NESDIS/National Climatic Data Center, , , USA, email: Richard.Heim@noaa.gov

A46 Troposphere Gaseous Composition in the Regional and Global Prospective
The composition of the troposphere is an important environmental issue. Concentrations of many chemically and radiatively important gases are changing under the impact of anthropogenic and natural factors. Some changes are understood and well-described, while others are not. The focus of this session will be to further define and understand changes in tropospheric chemical constituents on regional and global scales as inferred from measurements and models. Relevant species include tropospheric ozone and its precursors, other reactive gases, free radicals, and greenhouse gases. Results from the global and zonal monitoring networks, regional sites and field campaigns representative of large regions are of interest, as are long-term in-situ and satellite measurements of troposheric composition. Papers that discuss processes controlling tropospheric variability with an emphasis on human and natural emissions are solicited. Submission of papers on results from global transport chemical models and source/sink attributions are also encouraged.
Conveners: Michiel G.M. Roemer, TNO, Postbus (PO Box) 80015, Utrecht, 3508 NLD, Tel: 08886 62071, email: michiel.roemer@tno.nl, and Oksana A. Tarasova, Max-Planck Institute for Chemistry, Joh.-Joachim-Becher-Weg 27, Mainz, 55128 DEU, Tel: +49(6131)305495, email: tarasova@mpch-mainz.mpg.de

A47 Wind Power Meteorology: The Decade Ahead
Wind energy promises to be an important component of a sustainable energy portfolio as governments seek to balance increasing demands for energy while striving to minimize impacts of global climate change. For example, wind projects accounted for about 30% of all new power-generating capacity added in the U.S. in 2007. Increasing wind energy production and efficiency will require improved scientific understanding and characterization of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and its interactions with the underlying surface. With the participation of scientists and engineers from academia, research laboratories and the wind energy industry, this session will summarize the current status of wind power meteorology, highlight current research projects, and suggest future research directions to break new ground in wind power meteorology. Specific topics include, but are not limited to: wind resource assessments, short-term wind forecasting, atmospheric modeling for power grid integration efforts, physics of flow over complex terrain, physics of flow over canopies, offshore PBL modeling, remote sensing for resource assessment, turbulence-turbine interactions, turbine micrositing, turbine wake modeling, effects of wind farms on local microclimates, effects of climate change on wind energy production, and resource assessment for high-altitude wind energy generation.
Conveners: Sukanta Basu, Texas Tech University, , , USA, email: sukanta.basu@ttu.edu, and Julie K. Lundquist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, , , USA, email: jkl@llnl.gov, and Jim McCaa, 3Tier Group, , , USA, email: jmccaa@3tiergroup.com

A48 Infrared Hyperspectral Sounder Data and Climate Research
Long-term global and precise measurements of the spectrally resolved upwelling infrared radiances from Earth orbit have a unique role in the observation of climate and climate change: They give direct insight into the way the Earth Climate System responds to periodic and longterm changes in forcing with changes in surface and atmospheric temperatures and changes in large scale atmospheric circulation patterns. With the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) since 2002 and the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) since 2007 we now have two extremely well calibrated infrared hyperspectral sounders in polar orbit, which sample the diurnal cycle at 1:30 PM, 9:30 PM, 1:30 AM and 9:30 AM local time. AIRS, to be continued with the CRosstrack Infrared Sounder (CRIS), and IASI form the start of a multi-decadal sequence of hyperspectral infrared sounders in support of climate research. Papers describing results with data from AIRS and IASI for the evaluation and refinement of climate models and climate related atmospheric processes are solicited
Conveners: Hartmut Aumann, California Institute of Technology/JPL, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, Tel: 818 354 6865, email: hhaumann@jpl.nasa.gov, and Sergio DeSouza-Machado, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle JCET and Dept of Physics , Baltimore, MD 21250 USA, Tel: 410-455-1944, Fax: 410-455-1072, email: sergio@umbc.edu, and Yuk L. Yung, Caltech, 150-21 Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125 USA, Tel: 626 395 6940, Fax: 626 585 1917, email: yly@gps.caltech.edu

A49 Extratropical and High-Latitude Storms: Synoptic-Scale Perspective and Linkage to Large-Scale Climate Variability, Change, and Impact
Storms bring extreme weathers to the extratropical and polar regions, and are directly responsible for the major high-wind events, big ocean waves and surges, coastal flooding and erosion, and rapid temperature changes. Shift of storm track and intensification of storm activity may also leave fingerprints on or contribute to large-scale climate variability and change through altered or strengthen synoptic-scale atmosphere-ice-ocean interactions associated with storms. This session will continue to provide a platform to present new progresses of the studies on the extratropical and high-latitude storm activity from synoptic-scale analysis to its upscale/integrative linkage to climate variability and change, as well as associated ecosystem- and societal impacts. Specifically, the following topics fit this session well: detection of interannual-to-decadal variability and long-term changes of storm activity in observations and in model simulations; projections of possible future conditions; exploration of underlying physical mechanisms, examination of anthropogenic forcing impacts on the storm activity; investigation of storm impacts on atmosphere-ice-ocean interactions and the associated role in climate variability and change; comparison of storm identification and tracking methodologies; and statistical analysis and model simulation of extreme weather associated with storm events. Studies of storm-induced severe weather systems, on storm dangers and damages, such as big ocean waves, storms surges and erosion as well as impacts of storm activity on coastlines, ecosystem and society in the extratopical and polar regions are also welcome.
Conveners: Xiangdong Zhang, International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska, , , USA, email: xdz@iarc.uaf.edu, and Vladimir Alexeev, International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska, , , USA, email: valexeev@iarc.uaf.edu, and John Walsh, International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska, , , USA, email: jwalsh@iarc.uaf.edu, and Lennart Bengtsson, Environmental Systems Science Centre, University of Reading, , , GBR, email: lennart.bengtsson@zmaw.de, and Christoph Matulla, Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics, , , AUT, email: christoph.matulla@zamg.ac.at, and Hans von Storch, GKSS Research Center, , , DEU, email: hvonstorch@web.de

A50 Arctic Chemistry and Climate
The advent of the Third International Polar Year has brought renewed attention to the polar regions and has prompted numerous modeling and field studies. A particular concern has been the impact of long-range transported pollutants on Arctic atmospheric chemistry and climate. During the winter and spring pollutants from northern hemisphere mid-latitude industrial and urban sources are transported to the Arctic contributing to the build-up of Arctic Haze. In addition, biomass burning emissions are transported to the Arctic during the spring and summer as a result of boreal forest fires and agricultural burning. Industrial, urban, and shipping activities within the Arctic also provide a growing source of pollutants. Once in the Arctic atmosphere, these short-lived pollutants which include tropospheric aerosols, ozone and its precursors, and methane, impact the surface radiation budget and contribute to an accelerated warming of the Arctic relative to the global average. This session will focus on recent results from modeling studies, long term measurements, and intensive field campaigns that provide insight into sources of pollutants and naturally occurring gas and aerosol phase species in the Arctic (long range transport and local production), chemical processing of these gas and aerosol phase species in the Arctic atmosphere and along the transport pathway, and their impacts on the Arctic climate system.
Conveners: Trish Quinn, NOAA PMEL, , , USA, email: patricia.k.quinn@noaa.gov, and Tim Bates, NOAA PMEL, , , USA, email: tim.bates@noaa.gov, and John Burkhart, NILU, , , NOR, email: jfb@nilu.no, and Eric Williams, NOAA ESRL, , , USA, email: eric.j.williams@noaa.gov, and Jack Dibb, University of New Hampshire, , , USA, email: jack.dibb@unh.edu

A51 Science in Support of Climate Regulation – Quantifying and Managing Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Regional to National Scales
Regulating green house gas (GHG) emissions requires higher resolution information than has been generally obtained to assess aggregate national or global contributions to climate forcing. For example, regulating GHG emissions in California will require quantification of specific sources and sinks of all GHG gases (CO2, N2O, CH4, CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs) on a state-wide scale. Observationally-derived estimates may be possible on such scales through a combination of atmospheric measurement data and a range of analysis approaches including sophisticated atmospheric models. Such top-down estimates can in principle allow for validation of emission inventories and sink fluxes, documentation of emission increases or reductions, estimation of changes in emissions from non-regulated (or natural) processes, and support both direct control and market trading of emissions and sequestration capacity. This session will focus on recent air sampling and modeling approaches, and other research activities aimed at providing such finer scale emissions data from atmospheric observations. It is open as well to consideration of future needs and/or methods development for monitoring emissions of greenhouse gases in regulatory contexts.
Conveners: Richard VanCuren, California Air Resources Board, , , USA, email: rvancure@arb.ca.gov, and Marc Fischer, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, , , USA, email: MLFischer@lbl.gov, and Martin Vollmer, EMPA, , , CHE, email: martin.vollmer@empa.ch, and Stephen Montzka, NOAA/ERSL, , , USA, email: stephen.a.montzka@noaa.gov

A52 Bjerknes Lecture
The Atmospheric Sciences section invites a distinguished scientist each Fall Meeting to give a lecture in honor of Jacob Bjerknes. This year's Bjerknes Lecture will be given by James Hansen of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Recent past Bjerknes Lectures were given by Veerabhadran Ramanathan in 2006 and Susan Solomon in 2007. Please visit http://www.agu.org/sections/atmos/BjerknesLecture.htm for a list of all past lecturers and a link to a biography of Jacob Bjerknes.
Conveners: Alan Robock, Rutgers University, Department of Environmental Sciences, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 USA, Tel: 732-932-9800 x6222, email: robock@envsci.rutgers.edu, and Eric Jensen, Ames Research Center, , , USA, Tel: 303-492-3290, email: eric.j.jensen@nasa.gov

A53 The 2008 Eruptions of Okmok and Kasatochi Volcanoes, Alaska
During the summer of 2008 two large explosive volcanic eruptions occurred in the Aleutian Volcanic Arc at Okmok Caldera and Kasatochi Volcano. On July 12, 2008 Okmok Caldera in the central Aleutian Arc erupted with notably short seismic precursors. Continuing eruptive activity has been characterized by protracted periods of explosive activity accompanied by volcanic tremor and large ground deformation. On August 7, 2008 Kasatochi Volcano began eruption following a strong sequence of earthquake activity and volcanic tremor. These eruptions were highly explosive producing ash plumes that reached altitudes of 10 to 20 km. Volcanic clouds of ash, gas, and aerosols from these eruptions were transported across the Northern Hemisphere and caused disruptions to airline traffic over North America. These are the first two eruptions in the Aleutian arc that have produced such widely distributed atmospheric plumes since 1992, and were tracked by a variety of satellite sensors. Contributions covering all aspects of these two large explosive eruptions are welcome including satellite remote sensing; ground based monitoring, petrologic studies, as well as the geologic context, hazards and impacts.
Conveners: David Schneider, U.S. Geological Survey, 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508 USA, email: djschneider@usgs.gov, and Simon Carn, Michigan Technological University, , Houghton, MI 49931 USA, email: scarn@umbc.edu, and Jessica Faust-Larsen, Geophysical Institute, Univeristy of Alaska, , Fairbanks, AK 99775 USA, email: faust@gi.alaska.edu, and John Power, U.S. Geological Survey, 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508 USA, email: jpower@usgs.gov

Atmospheric Sciences also presents jointly with the following Special Sessions:
GC05 Climate Change Impacts: Estimating Probabilities and Risks
GC02 Land-Atmosphere-Cryosphere Interactions in Northern Eurasia
OS09 Air-Sea Gas Exchange
C09 Large Scale Cryosphere – Climate Connectivity
B09 Reducing Uncertainties in Quantifying Emissions From Biomass Burning
OS13 Anisotropic Mesoscale Structure of Basin-Wide Ocean Circulation
B14 Effects of Air Pollutants on Ecosystems
H39 Soil Moisture and Freeze/Thaw Science, Algorithms and Applications for the SMAP Mission
GC10 Air-Sea interactions and Their Impacts on Climate Changes
IN10 Data Fusion: Issues, Barriers and Approaches
GC13 Regional-Scale Forcing of Climate
IN12 Strategies for Improved Marine and Synergistic Data Access and Interoperability
B24 Data Assimilation in Biogeochemical Models
P08 Evolution of Planetary Atmospheres
IN05 Frontiers in Advanced Information Systems and Earth Observation Technology
OS24 Climatic Variability in the Marine Freshwater Cycle
ED11 Climate Literacy and Communication Strategies
B29 Linking Land Use and Land Management to Models of the Earth System
G11 GNSS/GPS Observation Systems and Their Utility in Climate and Meteorological Applications
H16 Evaporation and Water Transport Dynamics in the ABL
C21 Snow/Ice Chemistry: Impacts on Atmospheric and Hydrologic Systems
H49 Large-Scale Hydrologic-Atmospheric-Remote Sensing Field Experiments: Past, Present and Future
OS26 Coupled Land-Ocean Biogeochemical Cycling in the Gulf of Mexico
GC23 Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Needs in California: New Science – Growing Challenges
B36 The Role of Climate, Carbon and Limiting Nutrient Cycles and Human Activities in Terrestrial Ecosystems
B37 Isotope Tracers of Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions: Advances in Measurements, Theory and Analysis
G13 Ever Faster: Low-Latency Data Collection and Applications Across the Earth Sciences
PP21 Interhemispheric Teleconnections and Quaternary Marine and Continental Climate Records
B27 Integrated Studies of Regional Carbon Exchange
ED14 Teacher Professional Development Programs Promoting Authentic Scientific Research in the Classroom
ED18 IYA Dark Skies Awareness Programs, Citizen Science and You
PP03 Loess 2.0 – Renaissance in the Study of the Terrestrial Dust Record
V02 Innovations in Isotope Mass Spectrometry and Isotope Metrology in Geochemistry
AE05 Thunderstorm Electrical Effects in the Upper Atmosphere
PP16 High to Ultra-High Resolution Sedimentary Records of Climate
PP19 Paleoproxy-Model Comparison of ENSO-NAO-AAO Dynamics and Forcing Over the Last 2000 Years
PP20 Asian Monsoon History and Arid-Region Environmental Changes: Global and Regional Significance
PP26 Paleoclimate and Modern Perspectives of the Southern Hemisphere Westerlies and Polar Frontal Zone
PP27 Short-Term Climate Variability in the Context of Long-Term Paleoclimatic Change
C06 Polar Regions: Local Change, Global Impacts and Future Challenges - Outcomes of the International Polar Year 2007-2008
B45 Fires in the Earth System
IN07 Making Earth Science Data Records
IN03 Emerging Cyberinfrastructure for Geosciences
B49 Enhanced Carbon Sequestration in the Biosphere: New Science and Comprehensive Analyses
B34 Methane: Toward Accurate Estimates of Fluxes Over Regional Scales
GC07 Regional Climate Modeling
OS28 Application of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Theory to Atmospheric and Oceanic Observations
H67 Predicting Precipitation
H42 Adaptation and Mitigation Under Climate Change and Uncertainty
H32 Spatial and Temporal Trends in Hydrometeorological Records as Indicators of Climate Variability and Change
H72 Linking Isotope Geochemistry to Environmental and Forensic Science: Analytical Approaches, Novel Applications, Policy Implications
IN04 Rich Collaboration Environments for Geosciences
S12 Search for Large Earthquake Precursors from Space and Ground Observations
AE04 Scientific Outcomes From Lightning Mapping Observations
AE06 Thunderstorm Electrification and the Physics, Detection, and Warning of Lightning
OS16 Coastal Ocean Processes
IN08 Provenance Management for Large Scale Scientific Datasets
IN13 Information Technology Infusion - Successful Strategies
IN16 Challenges for Earth Science Software Reuse
H03 Advances in Land Data Assimilation Systems and Estimation of Large-Scale Surface Turbulent Fluxes
T04 Interactions Among Climate, Exhumation and Tectonics Through the Changing Climate of the Neogene and Quaternary
T32 Active and Reactivated Faults and Thrusts, Neo-Tectonic Feedback and Related Climate Change: Implications for Landscape Development in Young Orogens
IN15 Emerging Multi-core Computing Technology in Earth and Space Sciences
IN02 Visualizing Scientific Data Using KML and Virtual Globes
B07 Shifts in Phenology and Seasonality? Recent Evidence from Multiple Taxa, Ecoregions, and Models
B39 The Bio-atmospheric N Cycle: N Emissions, Transformations, Deposition, and Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystem Impacts
B41 The World Is Not Flat: Isotopic Tools for Understanding Mountainous Terrain
GC08 Dynamic and Thermodynamic Controls of the Global Water Cycle in the 20th and 21st Centuries
H11 Historic Hydrologic Synthesis: Quantifying the Past to Understand the Future
H14 Verification of Hydrologic, Hydrometeorological, and Hydroclimatological Forecasts
H37 Remote Sensing and Modeling of Land Surface Hydrological Processes
H40 Advanced Methods of Groundwater Resources Assessment Under the Pressures of Aridity, Humanity and Climate Change
H60 From Points to Pixels: Design and Implementation of Ground Measurement Campaigns for Calibration and Validation of Satellite-Derived Hydrological Variables
IN06 The Science of Coupling with the Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF)
PP17 Green Sahara: Evidence From Climate Models and Proxy Records
S11 Research and Development in Nuclear Explosion Monitoring
OS05 Influences of Atmospheric Deposition of Nutrients, Trace Elements, and Isotopes on Ocean Biogeochemistry.
GC24 Progress and Challenges in Bridging the Gap Between Science and Decision Making
H38 Tracer and Timescale Methods for Understanding Complex Fluid Flows
H52 Precipitation Extremes and Their Economical Impacts
C29 International Collaboration to Build Understanding of Climate Change in Polar Regions
B31 Black Carbon in the Environment
C04 Snow and Ice Impurities as Climate Forcing Agents and Records
GC04 Has Solar Variability Been the Dominant Forcing of Climate Change During the Industrial Era?
GC03 Urban Impact on the Weather, Climate, and Hydrology: Field Experiments, Modeling, Remote Sensing, and Societal Implications
PA02 Increasing the Societal Impact of Geophysics

Atmospheric and Space Electricity

AE01 Atmospheric and Space Electricity: General Contributions
This session provides the opportunity for contributions that fall within the broad spectrum of Atmospheric and Space Electricity.
Conveners: Victor Pasko, Penn State University, , , USA, email: vpasko@psu.edu

AE02 Runaway Electrons and Energetic Radiation in Terrestrial and Planetary Atmospheres
X-rays and gamma-rays have been measured from the ground in association with natural and rocket-triggered lightning, from inside thunderstorms using balloon and aircraft instruments, and from low-Earth orbit in the form of terrestrial gamma-ray flashes. Recent x-ray measurements from long sparks demonstrate that some aspects of these phenomena can be studied in the laboratory under controlled conditions. There is a consensus that the energetic radiation results from the production of runaway electrons by strong electric fields in our atmosphere, but many variations on this theme have been proposed including a variety of physical processes. Runaway electrons and their high-energy bremsstrahlung photons may play a role in lightning initiation and propagation and may have significant impacts on the upper atmosphere and the radiation belts. The role of runaway electrons and their x-ray and gamma-ray emission in other planetary atmospheres, especially with regard to planetary lightning, have just begun to be investigated. Contributions are invited on all aspects of energetic runaway electrons and related X-ray and gamma-ray radiation in terrestrial and planetary atmospheres.
Conveners: David M. Smith, University of California, Santa Cruz, , , USA, email: dsmith@scipp.ucsc.edu, and Kenneth B. Eack, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, , , USA, email: keack@nmt.edu, and Joseph R. Dwyer, Florida Institude of Technology, , , USA, email: jdwyer@fit.edu, and Steven A. Cummer, Duke University, , , USA, email: cummer@ee.duke.edu

AE03 Lightning and Electrical Phenomena on Other Planets
Lightning and thunderstorms have been recently re-observed optically in Jupiter (New Horizons) and electromagnetically in Saturn (Cassini) and Venus (VEX). The nature of electrical conditions on the surfaces of solid- planets is of special importance for exobiology and also for future spacecraft safety and performance. This session encourages submissions of works concerning the latest results from space- and ground-based observations of electrical activity on other planets, as well as updates on the status of present and future missions. Theoretical works and models of planetary lightning, electrical processes in volcanic plumes and in planetary rings are highly encouraged. Submissions on the nature and components of the fair-weather planetary electrical circuit as well as surface and aerosol charging processes are also desired.
Conveners: Yoav Yair, The Open University of Israel, 108 Ravutsky Street, Ra'anana, 43107 ISR, Tel: (972)-9-7781341, Fax: (972)-9-7780626, email: yoavya@openu.ac.il, and Yukihiro Takahashi, Tohoku University, Dept.Geophysics, Graduate Schol of Science 6-3 Aza-aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku Sendai, Miyagi , Sendai, 980-8578 JPN, Tel: +81-(0)22-795-5775, email: yukihiro@pat.geophys.tohoku.ac.jp, and Davis Sentman, University of Alaska, , , USA, email: dsentman@gi.alaska.edu

AE04 Scientific Outcomes From Lightning Mapping Observations
Observations of lightning activity with new ground-based and satellite-based electromagnetic or optical mappers provide important clues for the understanding of lightning processes. This session aims to assess the outcomes from those observations in terms of the physics of lightning and the relation between the dynamics and microphysics of convective clouds. The focus of this session is on observations of lightning using VHF and optical mapping systems.
Conveners: Pierre Andre Laroche, ONERA, 29 avenue Division Leclerc, Chatillon, 92322 FRA, Tel: +33140734723, Fax: +33140734148, email: pierre.laroche@onera.fr, and Paul Krehbiel, New Mexico Tech, , Socorro, NM 87801 USA, Tel: 575 835 5423, Fax: 575 835 5913, email: krehbiel@ibis.nmt.edu

AE05 Thunderstorm Electrical Effects in the Upper Atmosphere
Papers are solicited on all aspects of the effects of thunderstorms and lightning in the upper atmosphere and ionosphere, including the various forms of TLEs (Transient Luminous Events - sprites, jets, ELVES and haloes), the associated electromagnetic and photochemical processes, their meteorological correlates, and linkages to other elements of the terrestrial system. Of particular interest are new results from ongoing satellite and ground based observational programs, as well as from theoretical studies of underlying kinetic mechanisms.
Conveners: Davis Sentman, University of Alaska, , , USA, email: dsentman@gi.alaska.edu, and Victor Pasko, Penn State University, , , USA, email: vpasko@psu.edu

AE06 Thunderstorm Electrification and the Physics, Detection, and Warning of Lightning
Recent technological advances have provided new capabilities for studying lightning physics, electrical charge structures of thunderstorms, and cloud electrification processes. Technologies include new lightning-triggering facilities, digital high-speed video cameras, improved electric field sensors, microphysical probes, and polarimetric radar. Also, more realistic numerical models have been developed for simulating lightning and for examining how various thunderstorm processes affect storm electrification and lightning characteristics. This session seeks papers concerned with all aspects of the lightning discharge (natural or triggered), the spatial and temporal distributions of lightning activity, the electrical properties of storms, the mechanisms by which storms become electrified, and the relationship of various lightning characteristics to storm severity and other storm properties. Of special interest are improved numerical simulations of lightning or thunderstorm electrification, techniques for forecasting or warning of lightning hazards, as well as observations of lightning or electrification from recent field programs, from triggered-lightning experiments, and from high-speed video.
Conveners: Donald MacGorman, NSSL/WRDD, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, OK 73072 USA, Tel: 405-325-5667, email: don.macgorman@noaa.gov, and Beyza Caliskan Aslan, University of North Florida, Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics 1 UNF Drive Building 14, Room 2731 , Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA, Tel: 904-620-2653, email: aslan@math.ufl.edu, and William Hager, University of Florida, Dept. of Mathematics 358 Little Hall P. O. Box 118105, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA, Tel: 352-392-0281 ext.244, email: hager@math.ufl.edu

AE07 Franklin Lecture
In 2004 Atmospheric and Space Electricity Focus Group (ASE FG) began a named lecture: the Franklin Lecture. The Lecture is intended to discuss current science in lightning related fields of research and to connect it to earlier research. The lecture is presented at even-year Fall AGU Meetings. In order to select a speaker for the Franklin Lecture ASE FG forms a Franklin Lecture Committee. The Committee consists of session conveners from previous year Fall AGU meeting. The membership of the committee also includes current ASE FG Executive committee. In 2006 the Franklin Lecture Committee was chaired by Dr. Tom Marshall, Vice-Chair of ASE FG, and in 2008 by Dr. Mark Stanley, Secretary of ASE FG. The first Franklin Lecture was given by Dr. Phil Krider (University of Arizona) at the Fall 2004 AGU meeting with the title ``Advances in Atmospheric Electricity and Lightning Research" and the second one by Dr. Don Gurnett (University of Iowa) at Fall 2006 AGU meeting with the title ``Lightning in Planetary Atmospheres". Both of these events have been exceptionally well received and had excellent attendance. The 2008 Franklin Lecture Committee has completed its work and we are pleased to announce that Dr. Martin Uman (University of Florida) has kindly accepted invitation to present Franklin Lecture at Fall 2008 AGU meeting with preliminary title ``What triggered lightning has taught us about natural lightning."
Conveners: Victor Pasko, Penn State University, , , USA, email: vpasko@psu.edu

Atmospheric and Space Electricity also presents jointly with the following Special Sessions:
A18 Tropospheric Halogen Chemistry
ED05 Defining, Communicating and Protecting Authentic Science in Education, the Public and the Media: New and Expanding Roles for Scientists and Science Societies?

Biogeosciences

B01 Biogeosciences: General Contributions
This session provides the opportunity for contributions that fall within the broad spectrum of Biogeosciences
Conveners: Alistair M. Smith, University of Idaho, , , USA, email: Alistair@uidaho.edu, and Lara Kueppers, University of California Merced, , , USA, email: lkueppers@ucmerced.edu, and Anne Hartley, Florida Gulf Coast University, , , USA, email: ahartley@fgcu.edu

B02 Remote Characterization of Vegetation Structure
This session highlights advances in the remote characterization of vegetation structure, with a focus on individual plant detection methods to regional scale analysis of biophysical characteristics using aerial and satellite systems. This session will also feature research that will help inform the planned NASA DESDynI mission. Knowledge of vegetation structure, such as height, crown width, canopy gaps, and shading, can be used to evaluate biogeochemical pools and fluxes, vegetation functional group classification, ecological successional dynamics, light and water interception and their effects on radiative transfer and water budgets, among other topics. The widespread application of aerial photography, Lidar, and SAR systems has emphasized the potential of remote sensing to characterize structural information from the individual plant to the landscape level. We are soliciting both oral and poster presentations on all aspects of method development, monitoring, and modeling applications using remotely sensed datasets to quantify vegetation structure, with emphasis on the following topics: (i) Development of automated methods to locate individual trees and shrubs from lidar and passive systems (ii) Measurement and prediction of stand- to regional-scale variables using data from both air- and spaceborne sensors including: photography, lidar (discrete return and full waveform), and synthetic aperture radar (e.g., BioSAR, GeoSAR, etc) systems (iii) Application of vegetation structural metrics to model light and water interception, and/or effects on radiative transfer and water budgets, carbon accumulation, wildlife habitat, plant succession or establishment, in addition to policy and management implications (iv) Topics relating to NASA DESDynI mission and modeling requirements, algorithm development, as well as applications of data expected from the mission.
Conveners: Michael J. Falkowski, University of Idaho, 975 W 6th Street, Moscow, ID 83843 USA, Tel: 208-885-4946, email: mjfalkowski@vandals.uidaho.edu, and Alistair Mathew Stuart Smith, University of Idaho, 975 W 6th Street, Moscow, ID 83843 USA, Tel: 208-885-1009, email: alistair@uidaho.edu, and Andrew T. Hudak, USDA FS-Rocky Mountian Research Station, , Moscow, ID 83843 USA, Tel: 208-883-2327, email: ahudak@fs.fed.us, and Jonathan A. Greenberg, UC Davis, , , CA USA, email: greenberg@ucdavis.edu

B03 Monitoring and Assessing the Impacts of Disturbance on the Terrestrial Carbon Budget
Disturbance is common characteristic for almost all terrestrial ecosystems, occurring across a variety of spatial and temporal scales. Variations in the disturbance regime affect a variety of ecosystem processes and functions, and the legacies from previous disturbances can last for decades to centuries. Here we propose a special session that focuses on the impacts of disturbance on the terrestrial carbon budget. We envision attracting researchers from a variety of disciplines, including those who are: (a) using land-surface remote sensing data to monitor and analyze characteristics of different disturbance regimes and monitor how ecosystems recover from disturbance; (b) using field-based data (including forest inventory data) to analyze characteristics of different disturbance regimes and assess how ecosystems recover from disturbance; (c) integrating information from multiple sources to determine how disturbances are impacting the terrestrial carbon budget across different spatial and temporal scales.
Conveners: Eric Kasischke, University of Maryland, , , USA, email: ekasisch@umd.edu, and A. David McGuire, University of Alaska, , , USA, email: ffadm@uaf.edu, and Scott Goetz, Woods Hole Research Institute, , , USA, email: sgoetz@whrc.org, and Dan Hayes, University of Alaska, , , USA, email: ffdjh1@uaf.edu

B04 Climate Variability, Extreme Events, and Biospheric Responses and Feedbacks
Societal and ecosystem vulnerability is closely related to climate variability. Extreme climate and weather events such as droughts, heat waves, cold waves, large spring temperature fluctuations, hurricanes and floods are among the most devastating natural disasters for wildlife, vegetation and mankind. Their sudden occurrences have frequently led to fundamental shifts in structures and functions of ecosystems as well as downfall of prosperous dynasties and civilizations. It is expected that climate warming and the intensification of the water cycle will result in changes in the type, frequency, and severity of extreme events. Current climate models are in urgent need of improvement in the projection of both the occurrence of extreme events and the associated biospheric responses and feedbacks. These weaknesses are now standing in the way between climate modeling and policymaking and resources managing processes because extreme events play pivotal roles at local and regional scales and it is at these scales that climate policies and resource management strategies can be effectively made. This session will offer an opportunity to review the latest knowledge on biospheric responses and feedbacks to climate variability and extreme events and to inform the next-generation of climate models in their need of improvements in representations of physical, biological, ecological processes sensitive to extreme events. Examples of scientific questions that this session can address (but is not limited to): - How do droughts and heat waves affect terrestrial carbon cycle (e.g. 2003 European heat wave)? - How do large spring temperature fluctuations affect ecosystem structures and functions (e.g. 2007 US Easter Freeze)? - How do winter ice rains affect forest ecosystem structures and functions and fire risks (e.g. 2008 South China freezing rain)? - How do changes in the frequency and intensity of precipitation affect plant growth? - What are the potential interactive effects between extreme events and increased CO2 concentration? - How do extreme events affect nutrient cycling? - How to model ecosystem responses to extreme events?
Conveners: Lianhong Gu, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, , , USA, Tel: 8652415925, email: lianhong-gu@ornl.gov, and Philippe Ciais, Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l''Environnement, , , FRA, Tel: 01 69 08 95 06, email: philippe.ciais@lsce.ipsl.fr, and Markus Reichstein, Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry Jena, , , DEU, Tel: 49 3641 576273, email: markus.reichstein@bgc-jena.mpg.de, and Altaf Arain, McMaster University, , , CAN, email: arainm@mcmaster.ca

B05 Peat Soils: Natural Archives of Information on Sea-level Rise, Landscape Evolution, and Anthropogenic Disturbance
Peat soils in marshes, bogs, and fens contain a tremendous amount of information about long-term natural and anthropogenic processes. Vertical profiles in peat can be used to estimate processes such as relative sea-level rise, accretion rates, carbon sequestration, and heavy metal contamination. The characteristics of peat soils, such as organic and inorganic matter content, extent of compaction, and bulk density, can vary across wetland types and environmental conditions. The goals of this session are to present a wide range of peat archive studies and to discuss some of the challenges involved in interpreting long-term peat data.
Conveners: Judith Z. Drexler, U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819-6129 USA, Tel: 916-278-3057, Fax: 916-278-3071, email: jdrexler@usgs.gov, and Charles N. Alpers, U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819-6129 USA, Tel: 916-278-3134, email: cnalpers@usgs.gov

B06 Vegetation Controls Over Ecosystem Water Cycling
The water cycle plays a fundamental role in all biogeochemical cycles. All major climate change scenarios predict fundamental changes in precipitation which will alter vegetation controls over the water cycle. Adaptations and acclimations of plants allow them to balance carbon gain through photosynthesis and water losses through transpiration, to grow and thrive across a wide range of environmental conditions and gradients. Recent advances in plant-water relations are elucidating the mechanisms, from soil-to-root and canopy-to-atmosphere interactions, which determine how plants respond to environmental drivers. These advances are coming from laboratory and field experiments, small-to-large scale field studies, and modeling efforts across a spectrum of research fields in biology and hydrology. The purpose of this session is to bring together a broad range of emerging theories and methodologies that specifically address vegetation controls over ecosystem water cycling. Session goals include increased discussion on the role of vegetation in ecosystem water cycling at a variety of scales and better understanding of the nonlinear responses of- and feedbacks to ecosystem water cycling by vegetation. In this session, we would like to see a broad range of papers covering a variety of spatial and temporal scales, observations and modeling and theory and empiricism.
Conveners: Brent E. Ewers, University of Wyoming, Dept. of Botany, 1000 E. University Ave., 3165, Laramie, WY 82071 USA, Tel: 307-766-2625, Fax: 307-766-2851, email: beewers@uwyo.edu, and David S. Mackay, SUNY-Buffalo, Dept. of Geography, 105 Wilkeson Quad, Buffalo, NY 14261 USA, Tel: 716-645-2722, Fax: 716-645-2329, email: dsmackay@buffalo.edu

B07 Shifts in Phenology and Seasonality? Recent Evidence from Multiple Taxa, Ecoregions, and Models
In the wake of the IPCC AR4, questions arise about extents, magnitudes, and directions of shifts in the phenologies of species and species interactions, as well as in the seasonalities that compose their host environments. We are casting a wide net to gather multiple perspectives across spatial, temporal, and taxonomic scales to explore the evidence for significant shifts in the timing of biogeophysical phenomena. This session constitutes the fifth year of a phenology focus at the AGU Fall Meeting.
Conveners: Geoffrey M. Henebry, South Dakota State University, Geographic Information Science Center of Excellence (GIScCE) 1021 Medary Ave., Wecota Hall 506B , Brookings, SD 57007-3510 USA, Tel: 605-688-5351, email: Geoffrey.Henebry@sdstate.edu, and Kirsten M. de Beurs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Geography 115 Major Williams Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA, Tel: 540-231-1642, email: kdebeurs@vt.edu, and Julio Betancourt, US Geological Survey, Desert Laboratory 1675 West Anklam Road , Tucson, AZ 85745 USA, Tel: 520 670-6821 x107, email: jlbetanc@usgs.gov, and Mark Losleben, USA National Phenology Network, National Coordinating Office 1955 E. Sixth St. , Tucson, AZ 85719 USA, Tel: 520-626-4696, email: losleben@email.arizona.edu

B08 *WITHDRAWN* - Frontiers in Biomineralization Research: Processes and Signatures in Natural and Model Systems
You may search here http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/index.php/Program/SessionSearch for another session within your area of interest.
Conveners: AGU HELP, AGU, , , USA, email: fm-help@agu.org

B09 Reducing Uncertainties in Quantifying Emissions From Biomass Burning
Over the past several years, research efforts have improved our understanding of the impacts of biomass burning on terrestrial carbon cycling and on a variety of atmospheric processes. This research has involved developing and evaluating methods and approaches to reduce uncertainties in estimating biomass consumption during fires and the pyrogenic emissions at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Studies have included approaches to develop better characterization of the fire regime through integration of land-surface satellite remote-sensing observations and field studies (e.g., bottom-up estimation of carbon consumption and emissions from biomass burning), as well as approaches to use satellite and ground-based observations of key atmospheric constituents as constraints on the amount of emissions entering the atmosphere (top-down estimation of emissions from biomass burning). The goal of this special session is to bring together researchers from a variety of disciplines to discuss recent studies on estimating and analyzing emissions from biomass burning. We expect to attract researchers who are: (a) producing land-surface remote sensing products needed to quantify key land surface characteristics needed to estimate emissions; (b) integrating field-based observations with other geospatial data sets to produce maps of fire fuels (biomass) and estimates of carbon consumption and emissions from fires; (c) using atmospheric remote sensing products to characterize the amount and distribution of key atmospheric constituents resulting from biomass burning; and (d) using ground-based observations to characterize the amount, distribution, and source of key atmospheric constituents resulting from biomass burning.
Conveners: Nancy HF French, Michigan Technological University, Michigan Tech Research Institute 3600 Green Court, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 USA, Tel: 734-913-6844, Fax: 734-913-6880, email: nancy.french@mtu.edu, and Jennifer Logan, Harvard University, , , USA, email: jlogan@seas.harvard.edu, and Eric Kasischke, University of Maryland, , , USA, email: ekasisch@umd.edu, and Guido van der Werf, Vrije Universiteit, , , NLD, email: guido.van.der.werf@falw.vu.nl

B10 Role of Flux Networks in Biogeosciences: Experiments and Modeling
Regional and global networks of flux towers have been measuring fluxes of water vapor and CO2 between vegetation and the atmosphere for over 10 years. New and expanded databases have recently been compiled and are ready for evaluating interannual variability and validating and parameterizing land surface models. We seek contributions that examine data across regional and global networks and use the data in conjunction with ecosystem and climate modeling
Conveners: Dennis Baldocchi, University of California, Berkeley, ESPM 137 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, ca 94720 USA, email: baldocchi@nature.berkeley.edu, and Rodrigo Vargas, University of California, Berkeley, ESPM 137 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA, email: rvargas@nature.berkeley.edu

B11 Developing Integrated Models for Mid-ocean Ridge Processes at the Ridge 2000 East Pacific Rise Integrated Study Site
The East Pacific Rise at 8°-11°N is one of the best studied segments of the mid-ocean ridge (MOR) in the world, and has been a focus site (Integrated Study Site - ISS) of the Ridge 2000 (R2K) Program since 2001. In particular, monitoring and repeat visits to the hydrothermal vent sites in the 9° 46’-50’N area have led to a sophisticated temporal and spatial understanding of this area. It is the only known ridge site where a full volcanic cycle has been studied with eruptions occurring in 1991-2 and 2005-6. In additional to being volcanically active, there is well-documented temporal and spatial variability in fluid chemistry, biological community development, vent fluid temperature responses and patterns of microseismicity. As such it is an ideal site at which to study the linkages between different aspects of the MOR system, and specifically to understand causal processes associated with the input of energy from the mantle that drives the hydrothermal system and associated biological communities and microbial populations that are supported by it. With more than 15 years of multidisciplinary studies, and 5 years of focused R2K ISS studies at this site, integrated conceptual and numerical models that describe the processes operating at this fast spreading ridge are being developed. This session will focus on EPR ISS data integration and modeling efforts. Results from recent field data that will soon be available for integration are also welcome with an emphasis on how these data will be most useful in addressing the underlying processes critical to understanding the integrated MOR system.
Conveners: Daniel J. Fornari, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Rd, MS24 Geology & Geophysics Dept. , Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA, Tel: 508-289-2857, email: dfornari@whoi.edu, and Maya Tolstoy, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964-8000 USA, Tel: 845-365-8791, email: tolstoy@ldeo.columbia.edu

B12 Stress Response and Survival of Metal-Reducing Bacteria in the Environment.
Metals and radionuclides in the environment present the most difficult remediation problems because they cannot be destroyed, are inorganic, react with soil and sediment constituents, and can remain hazardous and recalcitrant at extremely low concentrations. Microorganisms that can derive energy for growth by reducing metals/radionuclides like Uranium, Chromium, Technetium, Iron, Mercury thus play an important role affecting the geochemistry of soil and sediments by changing the redox state of the metals altering their solubility and toxicity. The subsurface environment is fairly complex, and the growth and survival of bacteria involved in bioremediation of metals/radionuclides is in turn affected by the co-presence of stressors in the environment that includes low and high pH, oxygen, nitrate/nitrite, high salt and other heavy metals amongst others. It is imperative to understand the microbial response to such stressors in order to elucidate the efficacy of natural attenuation and bioremediation strategies for immobilization of metals. This session strives to achieve a better understanding of stress response and survival of anaerobic bacteria in a myriad of subsurface environments.
Conveners: Romy Chakraborty, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road MS 70A-3317, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA, Tel: 510-486-4091, Fax: 510-486-7152, email: RChakraborty@lbl.gov, and Terry C. Hazen, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road Bldg 70A, Rm 3317, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA, Tel: 5104866223, email: TCHazen@lbl.gov

B13 Incorporating Process Level Measurements of N Cycling Into Global Scale Models of Terrestrial C Storage in Response to Climate Change
The availability of N limits terrestrial productivity, yet N limitation is rarely included in global-scale analysis of biosphere-atmosphere exchanges of CO2. The objective of this session is to explore the interactions between rising atmospheric CO2, N limitation and 21st century changes in climate on the uptake of C by terrestrial ecosystems. This session will bring together scientists working at different spatial and temporal scales of analysis, from ground-based observations of primary production and N cycling to the application of remote sensing tools and global-scale coupled climate-carbon cycling models. Through the discussion of available data and models we hope to facilitate the development of a new generation of global scale models that explicitly treat N cycling and limitation when predicting the terrestrial C sink through the 21st century.
Conveners: Adrien C. Finzi, Boston University, Department of Biology 5 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02445 USA, Tel: 617-353-2453, Fax: 617-353-6340, email: afinzi@bu.edu, and William H. Schlesinger, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, PO Box AB , Millbrook, NY 12545 USA, Tel: 845-677-5343, Fax: 845-677-5976, email: schlesingerw@ecostudies.org

B14 Effects of Air Pollutants on Ecosystems
The transport and deposition of air pollutants such as oxidized and reduced compounds of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, ozone, persistent organic pollutants, and mercury can have a wide variety of cascading impacts on ecosystems that include acidification, eutrophication, bioaccumulation, phytotoxicity, and subtle shifts in species composition and community structure. New research on the cycling of air pollutants in the environment is highlighting the role of multi-pollutant interactions, as for example work on the role of atmospheric sulfur deposition in mercury methylation. Additionally, new studies are exploring the role of land use and disturbance history on the fate and effects of air pollutants in the environment, particularly nitrogen. Finally, ongoing and projected future changes in climate and the carbon cycle are likely to strongly impact the cycling and effects of air pollutants on ecosystems. Many of these air pollutant effects can be studied through the use of models and communicated to policymakers as critical loads—levels below which harmful environmental effects are not expected. Multi-pollutant interactions, landscape disturbance history, and climate change all present challenges to ecosystem and critical loads modeling efforts. In this session, we seek contributions from both empirical and modeling studies that address these challenges to our understanding of air pollutant effects on ecosystems.
Conveners: Douglas Burns, U.S. Geological Survey, 425 Jordan Rd., Troy, NY 12180 USA, Tel: 518-285-5662, email: daburns@usgs.gov, and Jason Lynch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460 USA, Tel: 202-343-9257, email: Lynch.jason@epa.gov

B15 Life in the Deep Subsurface: A Decade of Peeking at the Unseen Majority
Ten years ago, back-of-the-envelope calculations suggested that an “unseen majority” of microbial life existed in the deep subsurface of terrestrial and marine environments, a hypothesis that has significant ramifications for our understanding of energy flow and elemental cycling on Earth. In this session, we aim to bring together researchers in geo- and biosciences to discuss what we have learned in the intervening decade about life in the deep biosphere. We hope to address the following topics: What is the extent and activity of life in the deep biosphere? Which microbes comprise the deep biosphere, and how do they acquire energy for life? What are the limits for life in the deep subsurface? How important is lithoautotrophy in this habitat? In the marine subsurface, what role does microbial life have in the exchange of elements between the ocean and the crust? We also hope to highlight recent technological advances that have allowed us to access the deep biosphere.
Conveners: Beth Orcutt, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway AHF 143, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371 USA, Tel: 213-740-3187, email: borcutt@usc.edu, and Peter Girguis, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA, Tel: 617-496-8328, email: pgirguis@oeb.harvard.edu, and Mitchell Schulte, University of Missouri, 101 Geology Building, Columbia, MO 65211 USA, Tel: 573-884-5712, email: schultemd@missouri.edu

B16 Current Applications of Phospholipid Analyses Across the Biogeosciences
Techniques that use microbial membrane phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and/or phospholipid ether lipids (PLELs) for assessing microbial communities and processes in diverse settings have been used in the biogeosciences for approximately three decades. Because of their utility for quantifying viable microbial biomass, fingerprinting microbial communities, and providing a vehicle for measuring isotope signatures of their parent microbes, these analyses remain a popular probe for microbial processes. The result is innumerable publications across a broad range of fields including marine science, soil microbial ecology, microbiology, bioremediation, and geobiology. Although keeping abreast of new reports in varied fields is important for interpreting phospholipid data, the volume and diversity of publications makes this difficult to impossible. The proposed session aims to bring together researchers who use phospholipid applications to share their analytical methodologies, data interpretation strategies, and recent findings for a diverse set of topics and environments. Abstract submissions should highlight the role of phospholipid techniques in the research as well as show how these techniques are integrated with other methods and data. Potential topics include, but are not limited to: - Applying multivariate statistical methods to PLFA data - Determining PLFA profiles of pure or enrichment cultures - Using stable isotope probing to identify PLFA structures associated with specific microbial processes - Methodologies and results of PLEL analyses - Intact phospholipid analyses by LC-MS-MS - Measuring the natural abundance stable carbon and/or radiocarbon isotopes of PLFAs to understand: - in situ microbial carbon cycling processes - carbon isotope fractionations occurring in microorganisms
Conveners: Chris Mills, U.S. Geological Survey, , Denver, CO 80225 USA, Tel: 303-912-0690, email: cmills@usgs.gov, and Kate Scow, University of California, Davis, , Davis, CA USA, email: kmscow@ucdavis.edu, and Jiasong Fang, Hawaii Pacific University, , Kaneohe, HI 96744 USA, email: jsfang@iastate.edu, and Greg Slater, McMaster University, , Hamilton, ON CAN, email: gslater@mcmaster.ca

B17 Terrestrial Ecosystem Respiration: Identifying Sources and Controls
Terrestrial ecosystem respiration is the combined flux of CO2 to the atmosphere from above- and below-ground, plant and microbial sources. Flux measurements alone (e.g. from eddy covariance towers or soil chambers) cannot distinguish the contributions from these plant and microbial sources. The development of process-based models that can predict how plants and microbes respond to changing environmental conditions require that field experiments partition the sources of respiration. The purpose of this session is to assemble studies in which novel approaches have been applied (or being developed) to separate ecosystem (or soil) respiration sources and their drivers. This may include the combination of flux measurements with isotopic techniques, manipulations, gradient studies, or modeling approaches. In addition, this session welcomes contributions that can highlight important environmental, biological, or physical controls on ecosystem (or soil) respiration fluxes over diel, seasonal, interannual, or decadal time scales.
Conveners: Mariah S. Carbone, UC Santa Barbara, 1832 Ellison Hall University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 USA, email: mcarbone@icess.ucsb.edu, and Rodrigo Vargas, UC Berkeley, 137 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA, email: rvargas@nature.berkeley.edu

B18 Surface Energy, Water and Carbon Fluxes in Northern Wetlands
Concern about a potential carbon bomb or, more precisely, the fate of the enormous quantities of carbon currently stored in northern wetlands is driving much research to understand and simulate the linkages among peatland energy, water and carbon fluxes with the atmosphere. Substantial progress through the study of processes and the now longer, continuous measurements of the many components of carbon, energy and water balances across the various scales of the coupled peatland biogeochemistry - climate system has allowed us significant insight into the sensitivity of the peatland carbon cycle to environmental and direct human induced change. This has led to more realistic models that can be used to address the role of peatlands in present day, future and past climates. This session will bring together a discussion of the measurements and models to demonstrate the present day state of knowledge and where to focus future efforts on coupled climate-ecosystem models at the regional to global scales.
Conveners: Nigel Roulet, McGill University, Department of Geography 805 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, QC H3A 2K6 CAN, email: nigel.roulet@mcgill.ca, and Steve Frolking, University of New Hampshire, Complex Systems Research Center Inst for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space Morse Hall, Durham, NH 03824 USA, email: steve.frolking@unh.edu, and Patrick Crill, Stockholm University, Dept of Geology and Geochemistry Geovetenskapens hus Svante Arrhenius väg 8C, Stockholm, 10691 SWE, email: patrick.crill@geo.su.se

B19 Using Trees to Better Understand the Impacts of Human Activities on the Nitrogen Cycle
Human activities have generated emissions of atmospheric nitrogen at an increasing rate over the last 150 years, and the impacts of these emissions on forests are not well constrained. Nitrogen deposition has the potential to acidify terrestrial ecosystems, cause losses of soil nutrients and modify soil fertility. Providing a long term view on how human activities affect the N cycle constitutes an important issue as there is no long-term measurement of atmospheric N emissions. Recent investigations suggest that tree-ring nitrogen-isotope series may record regional anthropogenic perturbations of the N cycle. However, the interpretation of nitrogen isotope ratios in tree as environmental indicators is not always well constrained. This session will gather a group of scientists exploring the possibility of using Nitrogen isotope ratios in trees to: (1) construct and compare long series in various parts of the world, (2) provide a historical perspective on the N cycle; (3) gain a better understanding of the N cycle, and (4) evaluate the anthropogenic impacts on the global N cycle.
Conveners: Martine M. Savard, Geological Survey of Canada, 490 de la Couronne, Quebec, QC G1K 9A9 CAN, Tel: 418 654-2634, Fax: 418 654-2615, email: msavard@nrcan.gc.ca, and William Showers, North Carolina State University, Dept. of MEAS, Box 8202, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695 USA, Tel: 919 515-7143, email: w_showers@ncsu.edu

B20 Urban Areas and Global Change
Urban and exurban areas contribute significant inputs to Earth system processes from local to global scales. This session will invite communities that represent observations, experimental investigations and modelers studying the biogeochemical interactions within humans-land-atmosphere system in urban and exurban areas. We encourage abstract submissions from groups that are investigating the development and deployment of new measurement techniques, experimental designs and scaling methods as well as integrated modeling approaches in complex urban terrain. Potential topics of this session include: urban climate (e.g. heat “island effect” and its influence on regional climate), land use change (e.g. remote sensing of cities’ fractional land cover), measurements of energy budget and GHG in urban areas, role of transportation patterns in city’s carbon budget, modeling of biogeochemistry in urban areas, carbon storage in urban vegetation, buildings, waste, and their interactions with policy and urban planning
Conveners: Galina Churkina, Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knoll str. 10 , Jena, 07745 DEU, Tel: +493641576355, email: churkina@bgc-jena.mpg.de, and Kathy Hibbard, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307 USA, Tel: +49(303)4971706, email: kathyh@ucar.edu

B21 Toward Large Scale Assessments of Soil Carbon Turnover and Vulnerability: Measures, Models, and Networks
Soil is a crucial natural resource and soil carbon is an integral component of soil structure and function. Although the global stock of soil carbon is immense, it is not static: about 120 Pg of carbon moves annually between soil and the atmosphere and vegetation. Soil carbon may thus play a singular but uncertain role in climate forcing during the coming decades, with significant net losses contributing to positive feedbacks, or significant sequestration helping to mitigate climate forcing. The loss of soil carbon or disruption of its cycling may also impair the ecosystem services it provides, with consequent negative impacts on society. Given the critical role that soil carbon plays in the climate cycle and ecosystems services globally, there is a strong need to conduct large scale, spatially explicit assessments of soil carbon turnover and vulnerability. Recent advances in measurement technologies, statistical applications, modeling approaches, and geographic information systems have made it possible to develop stand-to-landscape scale information in support of carbon sequestration decisions by both land managers and policy makers. This session invites researchers to discuss measurement, modeling, and networking of soil carbon turnover and vulnerability studies.
Conveners: Mark Waldrop, USGS, , , USA, email: mwaldrop@usgs.gov, and Chris Swanston, USFS, , , USA, email: cswanston@fs.fed.us, and Julie Jastrow, Argonne National Labs, , , USA, email: jdjastrow@anl.gov

B22 Soil Organic Matter: Mechanisms of Stabilization and Response to Global Change
Soil organic matter contains more reactive organic carbon than any other single terrestrial pool on Earth. Consequently, SOM balance (the difference between accumulation of decaying plant materials and combined losses due to SOM oxidation to CO2 and leaching of dissolved compounds) plays a major role in determining C storage in ecosystems and in regulating atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Despite the critical roles played by SOM within ecosystems, in the global C cycle and in the Earth’s climate system, controls on SOM balances in ecosystems remain poorly understood. This session will focus on studies of soils and carbon: storage potential, mechanisms of stabilization/destabilization/long term storage. Invited talks will fall into two categories: those that address mechanisms and process, and those that use modeling approaches to understand response of C storage to climate change as well as how to quantify change accurately at meaningful scales for a landscape, a regional or the globe.
Conveners: Kate Lajtha, Oregon State University, 2082 Cordley, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA, Tel: 541-737-5674, email: lajthak@science.oregonstate.edu, and Nancy Cavallero, NRI Soils & Global Change Programs, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC, 20250-2241 USA, email: Ncavallaro@csrees.usda.gov

B23 Environmental and Ecological Consequences of Deploying Second Generation Biofuels on the Landscape
The accelerating combustion of fossil fuels is driving the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; as this “greenhouse” gas accumulates it forces a rapid and potentially dangerous warming of the planet. Biofuels have the potential to offset the accumulation of carbon dioxide and thus slow the rate of global warming. The largest contiguous biome in continental North America is the agricultural region where corn and soybean are grown in rotation. Allocating a portion of this region to the production of “second generation” biofuels, such as perennial grasses, has the potential to reduce the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and may mitigate some of the negative impacts of modern agriculture, including the loss of soil carbon and nitrogen contamination of ground water. This session will examine recent understanding of the effects of biofuel feedstocks on the biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen and water, and will incorporate societal and economic implications through a discussion of life-cycle analysis applied to biofuel feedstocks.
Conveners: Evan DeLucia, University of Illinois, , , USA, email: delucia@uiuc.edu, and William Parton, Colorado State Universtiy, , , USA, email: billp@nrel.colostate.edu

B24 Data Assimilation in Biogeochemical Models
Significant increases in the amount of observational data on biogeochemical fluxes, including remote sensing of CO2 and other trace-gas concentrations (e.g., the Orbiting Carbon Observatory), eddy-flux tower measurements, and in situ sensor networks, promise to revolutionize large-scale understanding of biogeochemical processes. Biogeochemical data assimilation, or data-model integration, seeks to extrapolate available, generally sparse, observations to regional or global scales and provide tools for estimating unknown parameters in biogeochemical models. The outcome of these efforts will hopefully be to improve understanding of large-scale biogeochemical processes and their response to changing climate. Combining field observations with remote sensing and with process-based biogeochemical models is critical for gaining improved insight into biogeochemical processes and for effectively utilizing new types of measurements, but can be challenging because many processes respond non-linearly to environmental drivers and exhibit a great deal of spatial and temporal variability. Initial results from various data assimilation techniques applied to biogeochemical topics have been promising, notably in synthesizing information on land-air and ocean-air carbon fluxes (e.g., CarbonTracker) to provide regional and global estimates of carbon cycle variability. In view of increasing interest in and the great potential of data assimilation approaches in biogeochemistry, this session will highlight exemplary recent work and address potential challenges to future progress. Presentations may focus on any scale from local to global. We particularly welcome work that bridges multiple scales, that integrates field measurements with remote sensing, or that critically compares multiple approaches to data-model integration. Some possible presentation areas include: 1. Local to global carbon data assimilation 2. Parameter estimation in models of carbon or nutrient cycling 3. Data assimilation for predicting climate-change impacts on and feedbacks from ecosystems and nutrient cycles 4. Adaptation of variational and ensemble methods (similar to those developed for numerical weather prediction) for assimilating observations into biogeochemical models to provide optimal state estimates and predictions and to enhance understanding of processes, taking into account the distinctive characteristics of biogeochemical systems (such as strongly nonlinear interactions and multiscale spatial and temporal variability) 5. Developments in spatial statistics that allow accounting for the variability of point measurements in developing representations of processes at large scales
Conveners: Nir Krakauer, University of California at Berkeley, , , USA, email: niryk@berkeley.edu, and Junjie Liu, University of California at Berkeley, , , USA, email: jjliu@atmos.berkeley.edu, and Lori Bruhwiler, NOAA/ESRL, , , USA, email: Lori.Bruhwiler@noaa.gov, and Jessica M. Cable, University of Wyoming, , , USA, email: jcable1@uwyo.edu

B25 Redox Processes in Iron-Bearing Soils and Sediments
Iron is the fourth most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, ubiquitous in soils and sediments, and often concentrated in clay particle-size fractions. Numerous bacteria, such as Shewanella, Geobacter, and Pseudomonas species, are capable of reducing ferric iron in Fe-bearing minerals, including phyllosilicates, oxides, hydroxides and oxyhydroxides. As a consequence, bacterial reduction and oxidation of iron play a key role in many biogeochemical processes occurring in natural geological systems. In recent years, scientific research in this field has focused on the role of iron-reduction and iron-reducing bacteria in the transformation and/or dissolution of the mineral constituents of soils and sediments, and on the fate of redox sensitive contaminants in contact with reduced Fe-bearing minerals. We propose a special session that focuses on redox processes in iron-bearing soils and sediments. This session will offer a great opportunity to review the latest advances in this field and will inform future research directions. We are soliciting both oral and poster presentations on all aspects of iron redox processes in natural and artificial systems, with emphasis on the following topics: (i) Method development for the accurate monitoring and/or modeling of redox processes in Fe-bearing soils and sediments; (ii) Recent improvements in understanding of redox processes in natural and artificial Fe-bearing systems; (iii) Applications of bacterial iron reduction or oxidation for the remediation of organic or inorganic contaminants in soils, sediments, and waters; (iv) Industrial applications of bacterial Fe-reduction or oxidation.
Conveners: Claire Isabelle Fialips, Newcastle University, United Kingdom, School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Drummond building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU GBR, Tel: +441912225313, Fax: +441912225322, email: C.I.M.Fialips@ncl.ac.uk, and James Amonette, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999 MSIN: K8-96, Richland, WA 99352 USA, Tel: (509) 371-6381, Fax: (509) 371-6354, email: jim.amonette@pnl.gov, and Joseph William Stucki, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, W-321 Turner Hall, 1102 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801 USA, Tel: (217) 333-9636, Fax: (217) 244-7805, email: jstucki@uiuc.edu

B26 Bio-geochemical Controls on Fate of Mercury at Contaminated Industrial Sites
This session seeks further understanding of bio-geochemical processes that affect the fate and transport of mercury in sediment-water environments. Emphasis will be placed on mercury redox transformation, methylation and demethylation processes influenced by interactions of mercury with aqueous inorganic compounds, natural dissolved and particulate organic matter (DOM and POM), colloidal materials, biota, and sunlight. We invite a diverse group of scientists, engineers and specialists to present their latest observations and scientific findings that are related to 1) biogeochemical controls on mercury speciation, transformation and transport, 2) molecular-scale understandings of the interactions of mercury with DOM and POM, 3) biological processes, genetic basis and models of mercury methylation and demethylation, and 4) rates and mechanisms of photochemical and catalyzed reactions at highly contaminated industrial sites. We hope that the session serves as a forum for presentation and discussion of advances in broad scientific fields on mercury-related research, with a focus on geochemical, biological, and molecular processes at contaminated sites.
Conveners: Carrie Miller, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA, email: millercl@ornl.gov, and Baohua Gu, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA, email: gub1@ornl.gov, and Anthony Palumbo, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN USA, email: Palumboav@ornl.gov, and Liyuan Liang, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN USA, email: liangl@ornl.gov

B27 Integrated Studies of Regional Carbon Exchange
Significant progress in reducing uncertainty about sources and sinks of greenhouse gases is coming out of studies that bridge across traditional methodological boundaries. Observation-based flux estimates, inventory accounting, bottom-up process modeling, and top-down inverse modeling are all valuable on their own, but their combination offers powerful insights into fluxes and underlying processes at policy-relevant scales. This session provides an opportunity to examine (in)consistency emerging from 1) comprehensive data analyses, 2) model intercomparisons, 3) data-model fusions, and 4) multi-method syntheses centered on diagnostic surface-atmosphere carbon exchanges at landscape to continental and ocean basin scales. We invite a wide range of submissions spanning terrestrial ecoregions, oceans, and the coastal zone, especially those documenting process-level understanding coming from mixed-method analyses of carbon exchanges. Presentations synthesizing results from research programs with regional focus are encouraged, including but not limited to the North American Carbon Program, CarboEurope, CarboAfrica, LBA, and FLUXNET.
Conveners: Christopher A. Williams, UMBC, Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center, , Greenbelt, MD USA, Tel: 301 614 6624, email: caw@umbc.edu, and Ken Davis, Department of Meteorology, Penn State University, , , USA, email: davis@meteo.psu.edu, and Burke Hales, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, , , USA, email: bhales@coas.oregonstate.edu, and Phillipe Peylin, Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l''Environnement, , , FRA, email: peylin@lsce.ipsl.fr

B28 Biogeochemistry of Oxyanion-Forming Metals and Metalloids in the Environment
The importance of biogeochemical cycling of trace metals in the environment has long been recognized; both from the aspect of occurrence of trace metals that are toxic to organisms and also owing to the presence of metals that are critical trace nutrients in the environment. Historically, studies focused on the heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Pb, Hg, Cd, Zn, Cu, and Ni), whereas much less attention was directed towards understanding the biogeochemistry of oxyanion-forming metals and metalloids (e.g., Cr, Mo, W, V, Re, As, Sb, Se, Te) in the environment. However, a number of relatively recent, environmental poisoning events have drawn widespread attention to oxyanion-forming metals and metalloids in the environment, and in particular, helped to underscore the necessity of an improved understanding of their biogeochemistry. Chief among these events is the mass poisoning of tens of millions of people in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India, owing to the consumption of groundwater with elevated As concentrations. In addition, the mass poisoning of waterfowl by selenium at the Kesterson Reservoir (California) and the possible influence of tungsten as a contributing factor in the development of childhood/adolescent leukemia clusters in western Nevada and southeastern Arizona are also of note. Many of the oxyanion-forming metals/metalloids are important biologically. For example, molybdenum-based enzymes are important in a number of processes including nitrogen fixation (i.e., dinitrogenase reductase of the nitrogenase complex) and dissimilatory reduction of many oxyanion-forming metals via the dimethsulfoxide reductase group of Mo-bearing enzymes. Recently, W-bearing enzymes have also been identified from a number of thermophilic and methanogenic archaea as well as some bacteria. Microbes that fix carbon using energy derived by oxidizing As(V) to As(III), and others that respire using As(V) as a terminal electron acceptor have been identified from a number of environments. Microbes that can respire using oxidized Se, Te, Cr, and V species have also been recognized in the environment as have microbes that oxidize Se and Sb species. Consequently, understanding both the geochemistry and geomicrobiology of these oxyanion-forming metals and metalloids is critical to unraveling their biogeochemical cycles in the environment. We seek contributions that target and link novel geochemical and geomicrobiological techniques towards enhancing the understanding of these important elements in the environment. In particular, studies involving molecular level exploration using high-energy X-ray spectroscopic techniques and genetic/enzymatic markers as well as metal/metalloid speciation, environmental characterization, biogeochemical modeling, and biomineralization are encouraged.
Conveners: Karen Johannesson, Tulane Unniversity, 6823 Saint Charles Avenue Dept. Earth and Environmental Sciences 101 Blessey Hall, New Orleans, LA 70118 USA, Tel: 504-862-3193, email: kjohanne@tulane.edu, and Saugata Datta, Kansas State University, Dept. of Geology 108 Thompson Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506 USA, Tel: 785-532-6724, email: datta.saugata@gmail.com

B29 Linking Land Use and Land Management to Models of the Earth System
Global climate models have included progressively more complex representations of the land surface, hoping to improve the simulated biogeophysics (e.g., atmosphere-land-ocean energy-mass-momentum transfers) and biogeochemistry (e.g., carbon and nitrogen cycles, dust and biogenic emissions). With increasing complexity we begin to refer to such coupled systems as Earth System Models (ESMs). Groups developing ESMs cannot neglect the human footprint on the landscape in simulations of historical and future climates. Traditionally we have represented this footprint with a vegetation category mimicking crop behavior, sometimes even using grassland or savannah as a proxy for managed ecosystems. Most efforts have yet to incorporate more explicit representations of land management such as crop type, planting, harvesting, tillage, fertilization, and irrigation, particularly because global scale datasets of these factors have lagged behind vegetation mapping. This is beginning to change, so we increasingly look to models that will predict the biogeophysical and biogeochemical effects not only of natural but now also human-managed land cover. Along these lines, this session will address the following issues: - Land use (e.g. crop) and land management (e.g. irrigation) model development for ESM applications - Land use and land management datasets for ESM applications - Land use and land management interactions with climate
Conveners: Samuel Levis, National Center for Atmospheric Research, , , USA, email: slevis@ucar.edu, and Christopher Kucharik, University of Wisconsin-Madison, , , USA, email: kucharik@wisc.edu

B30 Divalent Cation (Mg, Ca, Sr) Isotope Fractionation
The three divalent cations Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca) as well as Strontium (Sr) and their isotope systems (δ25/26Mg, δ44/42/40Ca, δ88/86Sr) are known to be major parts of the biogeochemical cycles on Earth interfering with long term climate change, continental weathering and biomineralization processes in the oceans and on land. Recent progress in analytical and instrumental techniques now allow detailed studies of divalent cation isotope fractionation and to establish time series in almost all proxy archives. For this session we invite contributions on all aspects of divalent cation isotope fractionation and their application for the reconstruction of Earth system history, on biomineralization processes and on climate change. In particular, contributions on the technical aspects for the measurement of divalent cation isotope fractionation are highly welcome.
Conveners: Anton Eisenhauer, Leibniz-Institute of Marine Sciences, Wischhofstr. 1-3, Kiel, 24148 DEU, Tel: +49-431-600-2282, Fax: +49-431-6002928, email: aeisenhauer@ifm-geomar.de, and Florian Böhm, Leibniz-Institute of Marine Sciences, Wischhofstr. 1-3, Kiel, 24148 DEU, Tel: +49-431-600-2104, Fax: +49-431-6002928, email: fboehm@ifm-geomar.de, and Meibom Anders, Museum National d''''Histoire Naturelle, Laboratoire d''''Etude de la Matiere Extraterrestre 61, Rue Buffon, Paris, 75005 FRA, Tel: +33-1-40-793543, email: meibom@mnhn.fr

B31 Black Carbon in the Environment
It has only recently been realized that pyrogenic carbon, or black carbon (BC), can make up a significant fraction of the organic carbon in soils and sediments. As such, BC is an important but poorly understood portion of the global carbon cycle that serves as a carbon sink and oxygen source over geological time-scales. Further, BC, or biochar, may be an important ingredient for soil fertility, controls the fate of organic contaminants, and is commonly used to reconstruct fire-frequency and human occupation records. This session will highlight recent advances in the quantification, characterization and biogeochemical cycling of BC found in the environment as well as studies that seek to utilize BC in paleoenvironmental reconstructions and soil amelioration.
Conveners: Andrew R. Zimmerman, Univ. of Florida, Dept. of Geological Sciences, 241 Williamson Hall , Gainesville, FL 32611 USA, Tel: 352-392-0070, Fax: 352-392-9294, email: azimmer@ufl.edu, and Ralph R. Mead, UNCW, Dept of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403 USA, Tel: 910-962-2447, email: meadr@uncw.edu, and Patrick Louchouarn, Texas A&M University, Oceanography and Marine Sciences 5007 Ave. U , Galveston, TX 77551 USA, Tel: 409-740-4710, Fax: 409-740-4787, email: loup@tamug.edu

B32 Linking Geochemistry, Geology, and Microbiology in Hydrothermal Systems
Hydrothermal features require truly interdisciplinary research approaches to understand linkages among the geochemistry, geology, and microbiology of these unique systems. This session will host presentations that are focused on collaborative investigations of terrestrial and marine hydrothermal features around the world with the goal of understanding the factors that drive geochemistry and community composition. We are especially interested in studies that synthesize large, diverse datasets that relate ecologic, molecular, and geochemical data.
Conveners: Cristina Takacs-Vesbach, University of New Mexico, Dept. of Biology MSC03 2020 1UNM , Albuquerque, NM 87131 USA, Tel: 505-277-3418, Fax: 505-277-0304, email: cvesbach@unm.edu, and W.C. Pat Shanks, US Geological Survey, 973 Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225 USA, Tel: 303-236-2497, email: pshanks@usgs.gov

B33 Mercury Cycling in Ecosystems: Importance of Hot Spots and Hot Moments
Research on the mercury (Hg) cycle has identified wetlands and riparian areas as hot spots for methylation, and high-flow events as hot moments for transport of Hg and methyl Hg (MeHg), yet the connection between hot spots and hot moments is not well appreciated. Within wetlands, the interface with upland areas favors both the accumulation and methylation of Hg. Additionally, differences in wetland topography, hydrologic flow paths, sulfate availability, and other factors can favor some wetland areas as greater Hg and MeHg sources than others. Hot spots of Hg storage and methylation do not necessarily correspond to the dominant sources of Hg species to aquatic ecosystems. Such factors as flushing frequency by snowmelt and large storms, fluctuating water tables, hydraulic conductivity of soils, and upward hydrologic gradients through peaty wetland soils all can potentially merge hot spots with hot moments of Hg and MeHg transport to surface waters. In this session, we seek contributions from studies that have addressed these hot spot/hot moment ideas as a means of improving our conceptual models of the link between the terrestrial and aquatic cycles of Hg.
Conveners: Douglas A. Burns, U.S. Geological Survey, 425 Jordan Rd., Troy, NY 12180 USA, Tel: 518-285-5662, email: daburns@usgs.gov, and James B. Shanley, U.S. Geological Survey, , Montpelier, VT 05602 USA, Tel: 802-828-4466, email: jshanley@usgs.gov

B34 Methane: Toward Accurate Estimates of Fluxes Over Regional Scales
Methane has a global warming potential of 72 over a 20 year time horizon; it, therefore, is a promising greenhouse gas to target for short-term relief in the growth of radiative forcing. Our understanding of the global methane budget is probably sufficient to develop reasonable emission mitigation strategies, but our ability to estimate fluxes over regional scales is not sufficient to verify emission reductions reported under climate treaties or emissions trading schemes. Better estimates of fluxes will require a better understanding of the processes that emit methane, and a model system that integrates a variety of data streams, including atmospheric observations and process model outputs, to estimate fluxes at high spatial and temporal resolution. This session will build on previous sessions organized by the NCEAS-sponsored (National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis) methane working group. We invite contributions on methane biogeochemical cycling covering all spatial scales that deal with in situ observations of CH4 abundance and isotopic composition, remotely-sensed observations of CH4 abundance and land cover, field studies that relate fluxes to climate and other ecological parameters, process models, emissions inventories, and inversion models. The major goals of this session are to promote a synthesis of approaches to estimating regional CH4 flux estimates and to assess the current potential of assimilation methods for reducing uncertainties in the global methane budget.
Conveners: Chris Butenhoff, Portland State University, , , USA, email: cbuten@pdx.edu, and Ed Dlugokencky, NOAA ESRL, , , USA, email: ed.dlugokencky@noaa.gov, and Qianlai Zhuang, Purdue University, , , USA, email: qzhuang@purdue.edu, and Xiaozhen Xiong, NOAA NESDIS, , , USA, email: Xiaozhen.Xiong@noaa.gov

B35 Advances of Remote Sensing in Terrestrial Biodiversity Research
A key problem that ecologists and evolutionary biologist have strived to understand is the abundance and distribution of the biota. In this age of drastic and rapid rates of species extinctions, such knowledge has become an essential component for management and conservation. The synoptic view provided by earth-imaging sensors constitutes an important source of information on biodiversity at broad scales. The traditional approach to using these data has involved the classification of discrete land cover types which are then related to species distributions. A critical limitation of this approach is that many important dynamics are obscured as the variance is lost within arbitrary land cover classes. In recent years, novel analytical techniques have been developed that more fully exploit the spatial, spectral and temporal information content of remotely sensed imagery in order to quantify a broader range of ecosystem services, including biodiversity. This session features advances in the synoptic assessment of biodiversity at different spatial and temporal scales, using sensors carried on aerial and satellite platforms. The session will provide the initial steps towards a multi-disciplinary collaboration for establishing a synthesis on the synoptic assessment and management of biodiversity. We request presentations on applications of remote sensing techniques to biodiversity research, including the development of methodologies for assessment, monitoring, and modeling, as well as their implications for management and conservation.
Conveners: Andres Vina, Michigan State University, 1405 S. Harrison Road Suite 115 Manly Miles Bldg. , East Lansing, MI 48823-5243 USA, Tel: 517-432-5078, email: vina@msu.edu, and Mao-Ning Tuanmu, Michigan State University, 1405 S. Harrison Road Suite 115 Manly Miles Bldg. East Lansing, MI 48823-5243, East Lansing, MI 48823-5243 USA, Tel: 517-432-5025, email: tuanmuma@msu.edu

B36 The Role of Climate, Carbon and Limiting Nutrient Cycles and Human Activities in Terrestrial Ecosystems
Assessment of simulations to date with coupled carbon cycle-climate models show that carbon cycle feedbacks to climate change could significantly alter the rate of atmospheric CO2 concentration increase and climate change over the next hundred years. Nevertheless, the terrestrial carbon cycle is not only directly altered by increasing atmospheric CO2 and climate change; it is also indirectly altered by feedbacks from potentially limiting nutrient cycle (e.g., N and P) perturbations induced by changes in CO2 concentration and climate. Moreover, C cycle and other nutrient cycles and climate change, and the link between them are altered due to different natural and anthropogenic disturbance agents. The focus of this session will be the integrated understanding of climate, carbon and nutrient cycles and human activities (i.e., land cover and land use change) feedbacks in terrestrial ecosystems.
Conveners: Elizabeth Holland, National Center for Atmospheric Research, , , USA, email: eholland@ucar.edu, and Atul Jain, University of Illinois, , Urbana, IL USA, email: jain1@uiuc.edu

B37 Isotope Tracers of Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions: Advances in Measurements, Theory and Analysis
Improving the mechanistic understanding of ecosystem biogeochemistry and plant-soil-atmosphere exchange of important greenhouse gases such a carbon dioxide and water is crucial for predicting and detecting future climate changes and vegetation feedbacks. Isotope tracers are important tools in this effort. Recent developments in auto-flask sampling, field deployable mass spectrometers and optical spectrometers greatly increase the temporal frequency with which interactions and exchange processes can be investigated. This presents exciting opportunities to apply micrometeorological and chamber methods for advancing our understanding of the temporal dynamics of isotope signals and post-photosynthetic fractionations within plants and in the soil. This session is open to all contributions that apply isotopes in biosphere-atmosphere exchange and ecosystem biogeochemistry, such as measurement and modeling of isotope discrimination, measuring end-members used in flux partitioning, linking above and below ground processes, soil process studies, and regional and global atmospheric budgets.
Conveners: Kevin P. Tu, University of California - Berkeley, Dept Integrative Biology, Valley Life Science Building, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA, email: kevintu@berkeley.edu, and Lisa R. Welp, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, ESC 300 , New Haven, CT 06511 USA, email: lisa.welp@yale.edu, and Alexander Knohl, ETH Zurich, Institute of Plant Sciences Universitatstr., Zurich, LFW C38 CHE, email: alexander.knohl@ipw.agrl.ethz.ch

B38 Human Health-Related Consequences of Modifying the Environment
Many studies have been conducted on evaluation of the ecological impacts of environmental change and little attention has been paid to the effects of ecological changes on human health because human health effects are too subtle and indirect to be detected. Any change in environmental systems has the potential to impact humans regionally and perhaps globally. For example, some water development projects have negatively impacted public health through the creation of habitat for disease vectors such as mosquitoes and snails in many countries. It is, hence, conceivable that any changes to water quality, air quality, land use and other environmental systems can impact human health either negatively or positively. Epidemiological studies in conjunction with analyses of environmental changes would be able to delineate subtle but important impacts on human health caused by global climate and environmental changes. This session invites authors who are working on the effects of changes in environments on human health related issues.
Conveners: Motomu Ibaraki, The Ohio State University, School of Earth Sciences 125 South Oval Mall, Columbus, OH 43210 USA, Tel: 614-292-7528, Fax: 614-292-7688, email: ibaraki.1@osu.edu, and Satoshi Takizawa, University of Tokyo, Department of Urban Engineering 7-3-1 Hongo, Bnukyo-ku , Tokyo, Tky 113-8656 JPN, Tel: +81-3-5841-6241, Fax: +81-3-5841-8532, email: takizawa@env.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp

B39 The Bio-atmospheric N Cycle: N Emissions, Transformations, Deposition, and Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystem Impacts
Biogenic and anthropogenic emissions of reactive nitrogen (Nr) are transported and chemically transformed in the atmosphere and deposited on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, altering the structure and function of those systems and potentially degrading environmental quality. Estimating atmospheric N exchange, including emissions and deposition, and evaluating ecosystem responses require a diverse array of measurements and models that link processes at multiple scales. We seek presentations on physical, chemical, biological, and anthropogenic processes that drive local, regional and global nitrogen exchange, resultant impacts on ecosystem structure, function, carbon uptake, nitrogen export, biodiversity, and the ultimate fate of deposited Nr. We especially welcome presentations reagarding policy implications and responses.
Conveners: Stuart Weiss, Creekside Center for Earth Observation, 27 Bishop Lane, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA, email: stu@creeksidescience.com, and Paul Rich, Creekside Center for Earth Observation, , , USA, email: paul@creeksidescience.com

B40 Interpretation of Vegetation Biophysical Processes Using Xylem Sap Flux Data and Remote Sensing Techniques
This session will focus on 1) local and regional-scale remote sensing of biophysical processes quantifiable with ground-based measurements of vegetation sap flux, and 2) hydrological and biogeochemical modeling that incorporates remote sensing and sap flux data. Contributions are welcome on mapping and characterization of vegetation biophysical dynamics, seasonal dynamics, and interannual processes. Moisture flux towers currently provide the most-often-used ground-based method by which remote sensing-based evapotranspiration (ET) estimates are scaled or validated. However, flux towers measure combined soil evaporation and vegetation transpiration, and are subject to several sources of error. Methods incorporating direct measurement of vegetation sap flux offer some advantages for providing ground data for use in scaling. These methods allow quantification of plant water use, which is often a primary research interest; they are independent measurements that can serve as a check on flux tower-based estimates; they provide detailed information on stomatal conductance and controls on transpiration at hourly, daily and longer time steps. However, they generally undersample stand-level processes, hence methods are needed to scale from branch or trunk to whole plants and then to plots large enough to serve as remote sensing targets. This session will bring together experts in sap flux measurements and remote sensing to attempt a synthesis of methods.
Conveners: Pamela Nagler, USGS, Sonoran Desert Research Station, Tuscon, AZ 85721 USA, Tel: 520-626-1472, email: pnagler@usgs.gov, and Kyle McDonald, Jet Propulsion Lab, California Institute of Technology, , Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, Tel: 818-354-3263, email: kyle.mcdonald@jpl.nasa.gov

B41 The World Is Not Flat: Isotopic Tools for Understanding Mountainous Terrain
Mountains cover twenty percent of the earth’s surface, including much of the western United States. They contain many of the world’s most productive ecosystems and provide essential ecosystem services (e.g., as “water towers” to lower-lying, urban areas). However, we have a very poor understanding of ecological processes in mountainous areas, especially as they relate to climate. The reasons for this are two-fold. First, ecological processes differ distinctly in mountainous terrain compared with “flat ground." These differences result partly from downslope movement of sediments and partly from rapid gravitational drainage of water and cold air. Second, many of the large-scale integration tools available for ecosystem studies, including especially flux measurements, are difficult to employ in complex terrain. It is sobering to consider that sites selected for the entire Ameriflux network, and more recently for NEON core sites, have been biased deliberately in favor of flat terrain. What else can we use as integrative measurements of ecosystem function in the mountains? Stable isotope measurements can integrate over space and time. For example, isotopic composition of stream water provides information on hydrologic processes over entire watersheds. In addition, the isotopic composition of dissolved ions in the water provides new opportunities to assess biogeochemical cycles upslope. Recent studies have demonstrated that a similar approach may be applied to nocturnal cold-air drainage systems, focusing on the carbon isotope composition of respired CO2 collected from the upslope airshed. These integrative measurements provide new opportunities to parameterize and test simulation models in the absence of eddy-flux data. This session welcomes contributions that discuss isotopic tools for the analysis of ecosystem processes in mountainous terrain.
Conveners: John David Marshall, University of Idaho, Department of Forest Resources University of Idaho , Moscow, ID 83844-1133 USA, Tel: 208-885-6695, Fax: 208-885-6564, email: jdm@uidaho.edu, and Barbara Bond, Oregon State University, Department of Forest Science Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA, Tel: 541-737-6110, Fax: 541-737-1393, email: Barbara.Bond@orst.edu, and Kathleen Kavanagh, University of Idaho, Department of Forest Resources University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-1133 USA, Tel: 208-885-2552, Fax: 208-885-6564, email: katyk@uidaho.edu

B42 Elements and Evolution
Living things are comprised of a non-random selection of major biogenic elements (C, H, O, N, O and S) and trace metals (e.g., Fe, Cu, Ni, Mo and V). The abundances of these elements in the oceans, and their chemical forms, have changed dramatically through time, particularly in response to the progressive oxygenation of the oceans and atmosphere. The evolutionary consequences of the intersection between biochemistry and Earth history are likely to be profound, but at present are only dimly discerned. A key obstacle to progress is that researchers informed about the evolution of Earth’s surface chemistry rarely overlap with those concerned with the elemental requirements of microbes. This session seeks to bring together researchers studying the element requirements of organisms from multiple perspectives, ranging from molecular biology to ecology to those studying changes in element availability and associated environmental conditions across multiple timescales.
Conveners: Ariel Anbar, Arizona State University, , Tempe, AZ 85287 USA, Tel: 480 965-0767, email: anbar@asu.edu, and Kurt Konhauser, University of Alberta, , Edmonton, CAN, email: kurtk@ualberta.ca, and Felisa Wolfe-Simon, Harvard University, , , USA, email: wolfe@eps.harvard.edu

B43 The Carbon Cycle: From Genomes to Global Biogeochemistry
Predicting and responding to global climate change scenarios will require new levels of insight into the biogeochemical cycling of carbon and carbon cycle interactions with other key elemental cycles in the earth’s marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It is critical to develop a more mechanistic understanding of biological carbon transformations in order to accurately predict the processes that mediate biogeochemical cycling and how they may be affected by and respond to shifting environmental parameters. Such insights are required to understand potential impacts of climate change, provide more refined biogeochemical process and rate data for global climate models, and assess potential strategies to enhance biosequestration of carbon in ecosystems. Advances in the fields of genomics and systems biology are providing new insights into functional properties of plant and microbial communities at increasingly high levels of resolution, but many challenges remain in regards to linking genomics to ecophysiology and, ultimately, to ecosystem level biogeochemical processes. To meet these challenges, a new generation of scientific inquiry is emerging which draws on the expertise of molecular biologists, ecologists, biogeochemists, and modelers and integrates information and knowledge across broad levels of biological organization. The purpose of this session is to provide examples and discuss integrative approaches to research on biogeochemical cycling and to identify new methodologies and technologies linking genomics to community structure and function and, eventually, to ecosystem processes.
Conveners: Mary Firestone, University of California, Berkeley, 135 Mulford Hall University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA, email: MFirestone@lbl.gov, and Jim Fredrickson, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352 USA, email: Jim.Fredrickson@pnl.gov, and Scott Elliott, Los Alamos National Laboratory, COSIM (Climate Ocean Sea Ice Modeling) Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos, NM 87505 USA, email: sme@lanl.gov, and Joseph Graber, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Biological & Environmental Research, SC-23 U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Avenue., S.W. , Washington, DC 20585-1290 USA, Tel: 301-903-1239, Fax: 301-903-5051, email: joseph.graber@science.doe.gov

B44 Impacts of Global Change on Carbon and Nutrient Cycling in Wetlands
Wetlands are important global sinks of carbon (C), sources of methane and nitrous oxide to the atmosphere, and dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen to surface waters. Altered temperature and hydrology through climate change and increased nutrient deposition from industrialization and fertilization potentially disrupt C cycling in these ecosystems. Predicting the consequences is challenging because of differential responses of primary production, organic matter decomposition, and microbial communities involved in the decomposition of organic matter. The session invites contributions investigating how environmental change, including increased nutrient input, affects C and nutrient cycling in wetland ecosystems. Contributions may address effects of environmental change on (I) C budgets and major processes in carbon cycling, (II) changes in vegetation and microbial dynamics, and (III) biogeochemical processes. Of particular interest are disturbances such as freezing and thawing, drought and flooding, and N and S deposition. The conveners’ aim for an integration of field, laboratory and modelling approaches in this session, and to identify changes in elemental cycling across scales.
Conveners: Christian Blodau, University of Bayreuth, Universitaetsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, 95440 DEU, Tel: 49 921 552223, Fax: 49 921 552049, email: christian.blodau@uni-bayreuth.de, and Yangping Xing, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, 95440 DEU, Tel: 49 921 553500, Fax: 49 921 552049, email: yangping.xing@uni-bayreuth.de, and Dimitre Dikov Dimitrov, University of Bayreuth, Universitaetstrasse 30, Bayreuth, 95445 DEU, Tel: 49 921 552221, Fax: 49 921 552049, email: dimitre@ualberta.ca

B45 Fires in the Earth System
Fires are an important part of the ecology of terrestrial ecosystems, as well as being perturbed by climate change and human activities. Fires impact and interact with terrestrial biogeochemistry by modifying plants, surface albedos and releasing nutrients. Fires emit carbon, aerosols, reactive chemicals, green house gases and nutrients into the atmosphere. These emissions, modify clouds, radiation, climate and downwind biogeochemistry. In this session we explore the multi-discplinary interactions of fires with terrestrial and ocean biogeochemistry, as well as the interactions with climate and clouds. Paleoclimate and satellite observations of fire and fire impacts provide important verficiation data for fire models currently being included in earth system models. As fire interactions are likely to influence the trajectory of carbon dioxide and climate, these interactions are important to understand for future climate projections.
Conveners: Natalie Mahowald, Cornell/NCAR, , , USA, email: nmm63@cornell.edu, and James T. Randerson, UCI, , , USA, email: jranders@uci.edu, and Peter Hess, Cornell/NCAR, , , USA, email: hess@ucar.edu

B46 Carbon Flux and the North Atlantic Bloom- Early Results from a New Measurement Program
Net CO2 uptake in the Atlantic Ocean north of 50ºN accounts for about 25% of the global total. The biological pump, most importantly the spring bloom, drives this uptake. Previous studies have shown the importance of small temporal and spatial scales, i.e. ecosystem patchiness, during the bloom, but have had limited success in resolving these scales. A new measurement program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation as part of the Carbon and Water in Earth System program, employed a mix of extended-endurance autonomous platforms (floats and gliders), complemented by process-oriented ship-supported sampling, to resolve these small scales through an entire bloom cycle. This observing system characterized vertical and horizontal mixing rates and key carbon system components and rates following water parcels in the mixed layer. This session focuses on early results from the extensive suite of collaborative North Atlantic Bloom efforts, but also encourages submissions detailing results from other spring bloom studies.
Conveners: Craig M. Lee, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, 1013 NE 40th St, Seattle, WA 98105-6698 USA, Tel: +1-206-685-7656, email: craig@apl.washington.edu, and Eric A. D'Asaro, ASpplied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, , , USA, email: dasaro@apl.washington.edu, and Mary Jane Perry, University of Maine, , , USA, email: perrymj@maine.edu, and Katja Fennel, Dalhousie University, , , CAN, email: Katja.Fennel@dal.ca

B47 Recent Advances in Microbial Oceanography
Microbes dominate our planet, especially our oceans. By nature a highly interdisciplinary field, Microbial Oceanography seeks to develop a comprehensive understanding of the role of microorganisms in the structure and function of marine ecosystems. In recognition of the overwhelming importance of microbial processes, an unprecedented amount of federal and private funding has been allocated to microbial oceanographic research recently, and this intense focus on microbial oceanography will continue well into the next decade. This session focuses on recent advances in this rapidly growing field of study. We particularly welcome presentations on the following themes: • microbial biodiversity • metabolism and C-N-P-energy flow • remote and continuous sensing • modeling microbial processes: simulation and prediction • integration of research and education: preparing the next generation of microbial oceanographers
Conveners: Barbara C. Bruno, C-MORE/University of Hawaii, , , USA, email: barb@hawaii.edu, and Paul Kemp, C-MORE/University of Hawaii, , , USA, email: paulkemp@hawaii.edu

B48 Microbiology and Biogeochemistry of the Sea Surface Microlayer
This session will to bring together colleagues engaged in studying all aspects of the microbiology and biogeochemistry of the sea surface microlayer and to discuss related findings and ideas, including new data from ongoing and recently completed studies. All contributions related to sea surface microlayer microbiology and biogeochemistry are encouraged, including new observations, more detailed data synthesis and interpretation, and advances in methodology.
Conveners: Robert Charles Upstill-Goddard, Newcastle University, School of Marine Science and Technology, Ridley Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU GBR, Tel: +44 (0) 191 222 5065, Fax: +44 191 222 7891, email: rob.goddard@ncl.ac.uk, and Elizabeth Baggs, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive , Aberdeen, AB24 3UU GBR, Tel: +44 (0)1224 272691, Fax: +44 (0)1224 272703, email: e.baggs@abdn.ac.uk

B49 Enhanced Carbon Sequestration in the Biosphere: New Science and Comprehensive Analyses
The sequestration of carbon by the biosphere is an important but complex component of global climate variability. From the perspective of climate change mitigation, there may be significant potential to enhance carbon sequestration in terrestrial vegetation, soils, and the ocean through carbon-oriented management strategies. Globally, our understanding of natural carbon dynamics is incomplete; ecosystem change may have multiple, sometimes offsetting effects on climate (for example, the trade-off between enhanced carbon uptake and reduced albedo that accompanies reforestation). Management plans that include land use modification or artificial fertilization of land or sea carry an added set of concerns including those related to environmental protection or competing uses of scarce resources. These concerns must be weighed against their contribution to climate change mitigation. This session invites contributions including those reporting 1) fundamental physical, chemical, biological, and genetic mechanisms that are relevant to sequestration strategies, 2) the potential to enhance carbon sequestration in the terrestrial or ocean biosphere through management practices and associated environmental consequences , and 3) economic perspectives and cost-benefit trade-offs. We encourage research presentations that emphasize both positive and negative elements of proposed sequestration initiatives.
Conveners: Ning Zeng, University of Maryland, , , USA, email: zeng@umd.edu, and Vanessa Bailey, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, , , USA, email: vanessa.bailey@pnl.gov, and Ken Caldeira, Carnegie Institution/Stanford University, , , USA, email: kcaldeira@stanford.edu, and Johannes Lehmann, Cornell University, , , USA, email: cl273@cornell.edu, and Ben Zaitchik, NASA/GSFC, , , USA, email: benjamin.f.zaitchik@nasa.gov, and Stan D. Wullschleger, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, , , USA, email: wullschlegsd@ornl.gov

B50 Sagan Lecture
Sagan Lecture for Biogeosciences and Planetary Sciences.
Conveners: William H. Schlesinger, The Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545 USA, Tel: +1-845-677-5343, email: schlesingerw@ecostudies.org

Biogeosciences also presents jointly with the following Special Sessions:
GC05 Climate Change Impacts: Estimating Probabilities and Risks
GC02 Land-Atmosphere-Cryosphere Interactions in Northern Eurasia
P06 Focus on Enceladus
PP08 The State of the Ocean Carbonate System and the Concentration of Atmospheric CO2 in the Past
IN10 Data Fusion: Issues, Barriers and Approaches
GC12 Climate Change Impacts on Regional-Scale Hydrology and Implications for Sustainability of Agricultural and Natural Ecosystems
GC13 Regional-Scale Forcing of Climate
IN12 Strategies for Improved Marine and Synergistic Data Access and Interoperability
PP10 The Meaning Changes of the Carbon Isotope Values in the Sedimentary Record
PP07 Mesozoic–Early Cenozoic Geochemical Records of Paleoclimatic and Paleoceanographic Variability
H56 Water Quality of Hydrologic Systems
H58 The Critical Role of Long-term Watershed and Ecosystem Experimental Networks in Advancing Science
A15 Oceanic Sources and Sinks of Trace Gases
GC16 Environmental Change on the Tibetan Plateau
A25 Space Observations of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide: Retrieval, Validation, Modeling, and Assimilation
H47 Spatio-temporal Patterns of Hydrological Processes in Forest Ecosystems
C19 Snow - Vegetation Interactions
PP13 Evolution of the Marine Nitrogen Cycle Through Time
P12 Organic and Inorganic Microbial Biosignatures
OS26 Coupled Land-Ocean Biogeochemical Cycling in the Gulf of Mexico
GC23 Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Needs in California: New Science – Growing Challenges
ED03 IPY: Science and Outreach In Polar Partnership
A37 A Micro-scale, GIS-Based Modeling Emission Inventory System in Support of Micro-scale Chemical Transport Modeling
PP23 The Potential of Isotopic and Elemental Composition of Tree-Rings in Climatic and Environmental Reconstruction
OS32 Ocean Acidification: Impacts From the Coast to Open Ocean Based Upon Laboratory Studies, Proxy Data and Instrumental Records
ED14 Teacher Professional Development Programs Promoting Authentic Scientific Research in the Classroom
GC20 Earth System Science and Education in an Anthropogenic Biosphere
V02 Innovations in Isotope Mass Spectrometry and Isotope Metrology in Geochemistry
PP12 Ocean Anoxia - Climate, Ecosystem and Sedimentary Feedbacks Through Time
PP15 Radiocarbon Evidence for Past Changes in the Global Carbon Cycle and Ocean Circulation
PP22 Chemical and Isotopic Composition of Carbonate Skeletons: Seasonal Environmental and Climate Records
C06 Polar Regions: Local Change, Global Impacts and Future Challenges - Outcomes of the International Polar Year 2007-2008
PP11 The Role of Coccolithophores on a Changing Planet
IN07 Making Earth Science Data Records
IN03 Emerging Cyberinfrastructure for Geosciences
IN14 Advancing Digital Watersheds and Virtual Environmental Observatories
H57 Sources, Transport, and Cycling of Nutrients in Aquatic Systems
A44 Possible Links Among Vegetation, Aerosols and Climate
A29 Linking Past and Present Hydrological Cycles to Climate with Water Vapor and Precipitation Isotopes
OS04 CLIVAR/GODAE: The ECCO State Estimates
V25 New Insights on the Formation and Evolution of Fast-Spreading Ocean Crust from IODP Site 1256, Pito and Hess Deeps, and Active Ridges
H09 Timescales and Feedbacks in Ecogeomorphology
H64 Ecosystem Resilience to Changing Climate Patterns: The Role of Hydrology
H72 Linking Isotope Geochemistry to Environmental and Forensic Science: Analytical Approaches, Novel Applications, Policy Implications
IN04 Rich Collaboration Environments for Geosciences
PP29 Novel Insights in Historical Geobiology
PP18 Past Changes in the Biological Pump: Integrating Theory with Observations
OS21 Advances in Operational Oceanography and Scientific Drilling
OS30 Carbon Storage in the Ocean
IN08 Provenance Management for Large Scale Scientific Datasets
IN24 Open Source Remote Sensing for Environmental Mapping and Analysis
IN16 Challenges for Earth Science Software Reuse
MR05 Life Under Pressure: Chemistry of Extreme Conditions
V16 Oceanic Spreading Centers and Volcanic Rift Systems: Tracking Fluxes and the Interplay Between Processes from Mantle to Microbe
H03 Advances in Land Data Assimilation Systems and Estimation of Large-Scale Surface Turbulent Fluxes
IN15 Emerging Multi-core Computing Technology in Earth and Space Sciences
IN02 Visualizing Scientific Data Using KML and Virtual Globes
IN11 Environmental Sensor Networks: Real World Examples
V08 Early Earth Evolution: Geodynamics, Geochemistry, Geobiology
H11 Historic Hydrologic Synthesis: Quantifying the Past to Understand the Future
H18 Deciphering the Role of Surface and Subsurface Processes on Solute Dynamics at the Catchment Scale
H71 Arsenic and Other Metals as Contaminants in Hydrologic Systems
H79 Microbiological Quality of Urban Water Systems: What Matters and How to Measure it
IN06 The Science of Coupling with the Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF)
H24 Hydrologic Controls On Ecosystem Function
OS05 Influences of Atmospheric Deposition of Nutrients, Trace Elements, and Isotopes on Ocean Biogeochemistry.
OS19 Iron Distribution and Speciation in the Oceans
V12 Nature and Role of Colloids and Nanoparticles in the Environment
ED05 Defining, Communicating and Protecting Authentic Science in Education, the Public and the Media: New and Expanding Roles for Scientists and Science Societies?
OS34 Research Experiences of Undergraduates in Ocean Sciences
C29 International Collaboration to Build Understanding of Climate Change in Polar Regions
H05 Optimality Principles for Understanding Hydrological, Biological, and Geomorphological Patterns and Processes
PA05 Responding to Changes in Global Biogeochemical Cycles: Using Assessments to Guide Policies
PA02 Increasing the Societal Impact of Geophysics

Cryosphere

C01 Cryosphere: General Contributions
This session provides the opportunity for contributions that fall within the broad spectrum of Cryosphere.
Conveners: Danny Marks, USDA-ARS Northwest Watershed Research Center, 800 Park Blvd, Suite 105, Boise, ID USA, email: ars.danny@gmail.com

C02 Cenozoic Antarctic Glacial History
Antarctica has supported major ice sheets since the Early Cenozoic. Variations in the size and extent of these ice sheets resulted in major variations in global climate, sea-level, and atmospheric/ocean circulation. Yet, there is a paucity of Cenozoic Antarctic outcrops and difficult access to stratigraphic records has limited understanding of the timing and scale of dynamic and stable behaviour of the ice sheets. During the last two decades, studies of long sedimentary sequences drilled in and around Antarctica (e.g., ODP Legs, SHALDRIL, CRP, CIROS, ANDRILL) have led to significant advances in the understanding of the evolution of the Cenozoic climate, oceanography, and biota of the Antarctic continent and the Southern Ocean. This session is designed to investigate the many orders and scales of variation of Antarctica ice sheets, climate and paleobiota from Antarctic and Subantarctic records, deep sea drilling, continental margin drilling and seismic investigations. The session is a contribution to the Antarctic Climate Evolution (ACE) program, whose goal is to integrate geological data within climate and ice sheet models.
Conveners: Fabio Florindo, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, , , ITA, email: florindo@ingv.it, and David Harwood, Dept. of Geosciences, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, , , USA, email: dharwood1@unl.edu, and Tim Naish, University of Wellington, , , NZL, email: t.naish@gns.cri.nz, and Ross Powell, Northern Illinois University, , , USA, email: ross@geol.niu.edu, and Richard Levy, Dept. of Geosciences, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, , , USA, email: rlevy2@unl.edu

C03 Subglacial Processes and Environments
This session will examine the evidence for dynamical changes in subglacial processes and environments that are driven by internal and external factors within the glacier-climate system, including temperature, mass balance, subglacial hydrology, sea level, sediment supply etc. Evidence for the dynamics of past and present ice sheets and glaciers is derived mainly from spatial and temporal patterns in subglacial hydrological and sedimentary processes. A greater understanding of these processes has implications for evaluating the role of different forcing factors, and modelling glacier dynamics, including ice streams and outburst floods.
Conveners: Jasper Knight, University of Exeter, Department of Geography University of Exeter Cornwall Campus, Penryn, TR10 9EZ GBR, email: j.knight@exeter.ac.uk, and Mandy Munro-Stasiuk, Kent State University, Department of Geography Kent State University , Kent, OH 44242 USA, Tel: 330-672-3225, Fax: 330-672-4304, email: mmunrost@kent.edu

C04 Snow and Ice Impurities as Climate Forcing Agents and Records
Industrial and biomass burning emissions and dust storms from low- and mid-latitudes deposit to mid- and high-latitude snow and ice. Additional deposits come from peri-glacial outflow and debris. Trace snow and ice impurities can have significant climate impacts because surface darkening triggers snow metamorphism and snow/ice-albedo feedback processes that amplify their climate change efficacy (surface temperature response per unit forcing). This session is devoted to laboratory and field measurements and numerical experiments that characterize the effects of impurities on snow/ice reflectance, structure, seasonality, and thereby on hydrology and climate. The session gives attendees an opportunity to critically examine whether, how, and by how much snow and ice impurities alter hydrology and climate. Interested researchers from the modeling, laboratory, field measurement, and remote sensing communities are invited for presentations on the measurement, attribution, and consequences of snow/ice impurities in Earth's past, present, and future climates. Relevant studies include, and are not limited to, those that 1. improve theories of and constraints on impurity-induced darkening; 2. attribute snow/ice impurities as climate records vs. forcing agents; 3. identify effects on snowpack composition, structure, or seasonality; 4. predict effects of intentional or inadvertent snow/ice darkening; 5. intercompare effects of surface darkening and other polar forcings; 6. identify and predict effects of impurities on snowmelt runoff and sublimation/evaporation rates.
Conveners: Charles Zender, University of California, Irvine, Department of Earth System Science 3228 Croul Hall , Irvine, CA 92697-3100 USA, Tel: (949) 824-2987, Fax: (949) 824-3874, email: zender@uci.edu, and Thomas Painter, University of Utah, , Salt Lake City, UT 84112 USA, email: painter@geog.utah.edu, and Joseph R. McConnell, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512 USA, Tel: 775-673-7348, Fax: 775-673-7363, email: jmcconn@dri.edu, and Mark Flanner, National Center for Atmospheric Research, , Boulder, CO 80302 USA, email: mflanner@ucar.edu, and Jing Ming, Beijing Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, 46 Zhongguancun Nandajie, Beijing, 100081 CHN, email: mingjing@mail.iggcas.ac.cn

C05 Remote Sensing of the Cryosphere
Remote sensing represents an efficient tool for monitoring and mapping the cryosphere over large areas where, otherwise, it would be difficult if not impossible. This session will bring together recent advances in remote sensing of components of the cryosphere such as frozen soil, snow, sea ice, ice sheets, etc. including results from recent field experiments, development and improvement of models, evaluation/development of techniques for the retrieval of geophysical parameters, data assimilation and data fusion. Contributions regarding remote sensing of cryosphere are kindly invited and strongly encouraged.
Conveners: Thomas Painter, University of Utah, , , USA, email: painter@geog.utah.edu, and Marco Tedesco, CUNY - NASA - UMBC, , , USA, email: mtedesco@sci.ccny.cuny.edu

C06 Polar Regions: Local Change, Global Impacts and Future Challenges - Outcomes of the International Polar Year 2007-2008
The Polar Regions are indisputably vital components of the Earth System and sensitive indicators of change. Many polar environments are changing faster than anywhere else on the planet and faster than at any time in the past. There are therefore clearly lessons to be learnt from these events that can be applied elsewhere. These changes are having profound impacts on the environment, ecosystems, and humans, both locally and globally. Despite the importance of these events, the reality is that both our level of understanding of various key polar processes and ability to accurately model them remains limited. In addition the scale of research required to address these issues is often necessarily international, whereas science funding often has to follow national priorities. Given the pressing need to understand both the processes of change in the Polar Regions and their wider implications for the planet, the launch of the International Polar Year 2007-2008 programme in March 2007 has been timely, relevant and necessary. The scientific outcomes of the Polar Year as fieldwork finishes in early 2009, coupled with the emerging IPY legacy of more capable circum-polar observational networks, increased polar infrastructure and greater international cooperation should provide a powerful platform to address globally relevant research in the changing polar environments. This session will be open to the diversity of IPY science but we hope to include presentations on the current status and challenges associated with four globally relevant IPY topics: coupling of polar processes and atmospheric composition with regional and global change; ocean circulation: polar forcing and responses: ice sheet stability and future sea level rise, and the resilience and response of polar organisms and ecosystems to environmental change.
Conveners: Marco Tedesco, CUNY - NASA - UMBC, , , USA, email: mtedesco@umbc.edu, and David Carlson, IPY International Programme Office, Cambridge, UK, Cambridge, GBR, email: ipy.djc@gmail.com, and J. Cynan Ellis-Evans, British Antarctic Survey, , Cambridge, GBR, email: jcel@bas.ac.uk

C07 Snow Stratigraphy and Microstructure
The microstructure and stratigraphy of snow has a strong effect on remote sensing measurements, avalanche forecasting, radiation models, snowpack simulation, and routing of meltwater during the spring. Measurements have shown that physical properties of snow often exhibit large spatial variability over short length scales, and this high-frequency variation influences interpretations of the snowpack in the context of remote sensing observations, slope stability, and snow hydrology. Typically measurements of stratigraphy and microstructure are available at only a few locations, due to the time consuming nature of current standard techniques, and this information is used to estimate properties over large areas, often with very large uncertainty. This session will highlight new state-of-the-art techniques for quantitatively measuring microstructure and stratigraphy, modeling and remote sensing studies which show the importance of having detailed measurements of physical properties of snow, and studies focused on spatial variations in snowpack properties.
Conveners: Hans-Peter Marshall, Boise State University and INSTAAR, University of CO, 30 Lewis Mountain Lane, Durango, CO 81301 USA, Tel: 303-859-3106, email: marshalh@colorado.edu, and Martin Schneebeli, Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research, , , CHE, email: schneebeli@slf.ch

C08 Improving Global Snow Observations and Models
Large-scale observations and models of snow are needed for many hydrological and climate applications. Passive and active microwave instruments are used to determine snow properties such as depth and water equivalent on a range of scales. Long-term satellite measurements have resulted in a 30-year record suitable for climatology studies. The sensitivity of the widely-used empirical retrieval method to factors such as grain size and vegetation cover is not well quantified globally. In addition, small-scale heterogeneity and layering of the snowpack may give rise to retrieval errors that are dependent on scale (spaceborne, airborne, field measurement). Contributions are invited that cover all aspects of snow and vegetation microwave interaction, large-scale models and assimilation, and physically-based retrieval methods. This could include: improvement of forward microwave emission models and inverse modelling, microwave interaction between snow and vegetation, assessment of global snow products derived from microwave measurements, assimilation of these data to improve regional models, retrieval and model error analysis, algorithm development and validation.
Conveners: Ian Davenport, ESSC, University of Reading, 3 Earley Gate Harry Pitt Building Whiteknights , Reading, RG6 6AL GBR, Tel: +441183787762, email: ijd@mail.nerc-essc.ac.uk, and Robert Gurney, ESSC, University of Reading, 3 Earley Gate Harry Pitt Building Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AL GBR, Tel: +441183788741, email: rjg@mail.nerc-essc.ac.uk, and Debbie Putt, ESSC, University of Reading, 3 Earley Gate Harry Pitt Building Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AL GBR, Tel: +441183785216, email: djp@mail.nerc-essc.ac.uk, and Melody Sandells, ESSC, University of Reading, 3 Earley Gate Harry Pitt Building Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AL GBR, Tel: +441183785214, email: mjs@mail.nerc-essc.ac.uk

C09 Large Scale Cryosphere – Climate Connectivity
High-latitude regions are recognized as being critically sensitive to anthropogenic climate change, and are also subject to large scale climate phenomena such as the northern and southern annular modes. The cryosphere is a dominant but highly variable feature in these regions, and exists in numerous forms including snow cover, ice sheets, permafrost and sea ice. Therefore components of the cryosphere can be expected to interact with climate variability and change, either as a passive responder to climate, as an instigator of climate perturbations, or through feedback mechanisms that affect both facets of the polar environment. Moreover, this cryosphere – climate connectivity is not constrained to high latitudes, but can also occur in snow-covered mid-latitudes and hence potentially affect the global climate system. This session brings cryospheric, atmospheric, hydrologic and climate scientists together to share recent advances in our current understanding of this connectivity. Investigations are solicited involving all components of the cryosphere, and both climate variability and change. Studies that target large, regional – continental scales are particularly encouraged.
Conveners: Gavin Gong, Columbia University, , , USA, email: gg2138@columbia.edu, and Allan Frei, Hunter College, , , USA, email: afrei@hunter.cuny.edu, and Judah Cohen, Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc, , , USA, email: jcohen@aer.com

C10 Remote Sensing of Changes in Terrestrial Permafrost
Permafrost covers about one fourth of the Earth’s land surface and is an important component of the cryosphere. Permafrost dynamics during periods of global change, i.e. warming periods, are increasingly recognized as an important factor in biogeochemical cycling, topographic and hydrological change, and in engineering and infrastructure development. Remote sensing of permafrost and permafrost landscapes is a young discipline with some hurdles to overcome: in contrast with ice sheets and glaciers, permafrost is a subsurface feature of the cryosphere solely defined by the temperature of the ground. Spaceborne and airborne remote sensing of permafrost has been primarily restricted to the interpretation of surficial properties to indirectly derive subsurface permafrost characteristics. However, the sometimes rapid dynamics of permafrost during climate warming or after surface disturbance can be monitored directly with a broad variety of remote sensing techniques. Of highest interest for the permafrost and climate change research community are quantitative analyses of change, matter and energy fluxes, and the physical properties of permafrost. Often, modeling and intensive ground truthing is involved to support these remote sensing studies. For this session we invite abstracts that deal with remote sensing of permafrost-related features, properties, and dynamics. This includes, but is not limited to, the quantitative remote sensing of permafrost dynamics due to thermal abrasion of coasts and inland shores, thermokarst subsidence, thermo-erosion, frost heave and thaw subsidence, thaw slumping, solifluction, and rock glacier movement; the derivation of surface and sub-surface properties like active layer temperatures, soil moisture and ground ice contents; the establishment of quantitative relationships between surface features and processes (vegetation, soils, wild fires, human-induced disturbances) and subsurface permafrost state and dynamics; the use of remotely sensed data in numerical modeling of permafrost; and the use of remote sensing in detecting and dealing with permafrost-related changes imposed on infrastructure and development in the Arctic and mountainous areas.
Conveners: Guido Grosse, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 903 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775 USA, Tel: 907-474-7548, email: ffgg1@uaf.edu, and Hugues Lantuit, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research Potsdam, , Potsdam, DEU, email: Hugues.Lantuit@awi.de, and Paul Overduin, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research Potsdam, , Potsdam, DEU, email: Paul.Overduin@awi.de, and Vladimir E. Romanovsky, University of Alaska Fairbanks, , Fairbanks, USA, email: ffver@uaf.edu

C11 Environmental Impacts of a Shrinking Arctic Sea Ice Cover
Arctic sea ice extent at the end of the summer melt season has declined sharply over the period of satellite observations and is projected to disappear entirely as concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases continue to rise. The record low ice extent of September 2007 served as an exclamation point on the downward trend and further raised concern that the Arctic may be on the verge of rapid transition to a seasonal ice cover. While the factors forcing this trend have and will continue to be widely studied, less attention has been paid to the environmental impacts of current and future sea ice loss. Continued loss of the ice cover may result in strong rises in atmospheric temperature and water vapor content, not just at and near the surface, but extending through a considerable depth of the troposphere. Changes in humidity and the boundary layer structure are likely to alter cloud conditions, a key determinant of the surface energy balance. Through atmospheric transports, warming will likely extend well beyond areas of ice loss, potentially influencing Arctic land areas, glaciers, ice caps and the Greenland ice sheet. Extensive open water areas will promote increased wave action and coastal erosion. Ice loss may in turn have impacts on patterns of atmospheric circulation and precipitation not just within the Arctic, but potentially extending into middle latitudes. While evidence is growing that some of these effects are already occurring, they are likely to grow in coming decades. This session will address emerging and projected environmental impacts of Arctic sea ice loss through both observational and modeling studies.
Conveners: Julienne C. Stroeve, NSIDC, CIRES, CU, UCB 449, Boulder, CO 80309-0449 USA, Tel: 303-492-3584, email: stroeve@kryos.colorado.edu, and Mark Serreze, NSIDC, CIRES, CU, UCB 449, Boulder, CO 80309-0449 USA, Tel: 303-492-2963, email: serreze@kryos.colorado.edu

C12 Recent Advances in Monitoring, Measuring, and Modeling Snow Processes
The storage and modulated release of water from seasonal snowpacks are major components of hydrologic systems in many parts of the world, particularly in mountainous and boreal areas. In these regions, the seasonal snowcover is a critical component of the annual water cycle, controlling soil moisture, soil temperature, streamflow, and the development and stability of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Many snow-dominated regions may be strongly affected by climatic warming in the near future, therefore advances in snow science are essential to understand concomitant impacts on related systems. This session will bring together operational, experimental and modeling experts to address a broad range of topics that are important to understanding this important resource. The session is scheduled for an entire day to facilitate interactions between snow science and related researchers. We are soliciting poster presentations on all aspects of monitoring, measuring, and modeling snow processes, with emphasis on the following specific topics: • Investigations on the physical properties of snow • Catchment-scale studies on snowpack patterns and dynamics • Interactions between snowcover, soil, and biotic processes • The role of long-term hydrologic observatories in advancing snow science • Scaling strategies to link microscale properties to macroscale processes • Snowcover modeling in vegetated and complex terrain • Remote sensing of snowcover properties and extent • Snow measurement and monitoring techniques and instruments • Impacts of climate warming and projected changes on water resources
Conveners: Danny Marks, USDA-ARS Northwest Watershed Research Center, , , USA, email: ars.danny@gmail.com, and Adam Winstral, USDA-ARS Northwest Watershed Research Center, , , USA, email: adam.winstral@ars.usda.gov, and John Pomeroy, University of Saskatchewan, , , CAN, email: john.pomeroy@usask.ca, and David Garen, USDA-NRCS National Water and Climate Center, , , USA, email: david.garen@por.usda.gov

C13 Cryospheric Climate Data Records
The generation of cryospheric climate data records (CDRs) is a critical step in providing the necessary information for scientists, decision-makers, and stakeholders to make adaptive choices that could improve the nation’s resiliency to environmental change and variability, maintain our economic vitality, and improve the safety and comfort of U.S. citizens. This session will bring together recent efforts in the development of CDRs over Arctic and Antarctic ocean, ice, and terrestrial surfaces, including snow cover, sea and land ice, melt onset, surface temperature, sea surface temperature, etc. Contributions are encouraged covering the full spectrum of CDR development and use, including initial formulation of algorithms, validation of CDRs, and use of CDRs for scientific inquiry.
Conveners: Sheldon Drobot, University of Colorado, , , USA, email: drobot@colorado.edu, and Dave Robinson, Rutgers University, , , USA, email: drobins@rci.rutgers.edu

C14 Climate Change and Mountain Snowpacks: Observations, Future Projections, and Potential Impacts
Current analyses of climate change impacts show rising temperatures resulting in diminished snowpacks, leading to hydrologic, ecological, economic, and other impacts. This session will focus on observations of snow water equivalent, snow depth, and snowpack dynamics from ground based, airborne, and space borne sensors; snowpack and streamflow reconstructions from tree ring chronologies; modeled simulations of mountain snowpack dynamics; and potential impacts of changing snowpack on water resources and mountain ecosystems as well as potential economic impacts on ski areas and other components of mountain economies.
Conveners: Anne Nolin, Oregon State University, Department of Geosciences Wilkinson 104, Corvallis, OR 97331-5506 USA, Tel: 541-737-8051, email: nolina@science.oregonstate.edu, and Jessica Lundquist, University of Washington, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Seattle, WA 98195-2700 USA, Tel: 206-685-7594, email: jdlund@u.washington.edu, and Philip Mote, University of Washington, JISAO/CSES, Climate Impacts Group, Seattle, WA 98195 USA, Tel: 206-616-5346, email: mote@u.washington.edu

C15 Inverse Problems in Glaciology
Glaciology is rich in ill-posed problems due to the fact that glaciological processes relating the information that we seek to the measurements that we can make, are often imperfect filters. For example, data to infer the current state of flow within an ice mass can often be collected only at the surface, and observations to infer past ice flow, ice thickness or climate forcing can be carried out only at present time. Critically important parameters can therefore often be inferred only with the use of inverse methods. Such parameters include temperature fields and flow parameters, as well as basal boundary conditions and climate history. For this special session we invite contributions that emphasize the use of geophysical inverse methods in glaciological problems. We encourage the presentation of novel techniques as well as applications of existing techniques on glaciers and ice sheets.
Conveners: Martin Truffer, University of Alaska Fairbanks, , Fairbanks, AK 99775-7320 USA, email: truffer@gi.alaska.edu, and Edwin D. Waddington, University of Washington, , Seattle, WA USA, email: edw@ess.washington.edu

C16 Repeat Glacier Photography: Ice Dynamics and Climate Sensitivity
Repeat photography offers a powerful tool to document and quantify glacier dynamics and change. Terrestrial photogrammetry is being used to quantify dynamics at limited areas near glacier fronts at higher temporal and/or spatial resolution than typical of satellite or aircraft remote sensing. Photographs spanning decades are of growing importance to glacier behavior reconstruction. This session invites quantitative repeat photographic studies over any time span, including time-lapse photos and a combination with repeated airborne and satellite imagery. we encourage investigation of links between glacier dynamics and atmospheric or ocean climate forcing.
Conveners: Jason Box, Byrd Polar Research Center, , , USA, email: box.11@osu.edu, and W. Tad Pfeffer, University of Colorado at Boulder, , , USA, email: pfeffer@tintin.colorado.edu, and Jacek Jania, University of Silesia, , , POL, email: jjania@us.edu.pl

C17 Ice Sheet Hydrology and Dynamics
The extent to which fluctuations in basal and surface hydrology affect ice sheets is a topic of widespread and recent concern; changes in the flow of the Greenland Ice Sheet correlate with changes in its surface hydrology, melting at the Antarctic Peninsula has factored in the disintegration of ice shelf sections, and exchanges of water between lakes at the base of the Antarctic Ice Sheet could modulate mass losses through episodic drainage and lubrication. Although relationships between the hydrology and flow of mountain glaciers have been studied for much of the past century, attention has only recently turned to ice sheets and so a detailed understanding is still lacking. This session will explore the nature of affect hydrology has on ice sheet dynamics by collating the results of field experiments, satellite observations, and numerical modelling Contributions from each of these areas are encouraged.
Conveners: Andrew Shepherd, Unviersity of Edinburgh, , , GBR, email: andrew.shepherd@ed.ac.uk, and Roderik Van de Wal, Utrecht University, , , NLD, email: r.s.w.vandewal@uu.nl, and Andreas Vieli, University of Durham, , , GBR, email: andreas.vieli@durham.ac.uk

C18 Mass Balance of Polar Ice Sheets: Trends and Uncertainties
The mass balance of the ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are changing significantly in response to climate. While new techniques have considerably improved the determination of ice sheet mass balance in the last decade, significant uncertainties remain and are being resolved. This sessions seeks to bring together results from different research groups to assess progress in reducing these uncertainties. We seek papers on the latest advances in the determination of ice sheet mass balance from changes in gravity, elevation, thickness, ice flow, ice melt, snow accumulation in Greenland and Antarctica, floating and grounded ice using ground, air and space-borne measurements combined with regional numerical models. Comparisons between different techniques, thorough assessments of errors, and determinations of long-term trends are particularly welcome.
Conveners: Eric Rignot, University of California Irvine, Croul Hall, Irvine, ca 92697 USA, Tel: 949 824 3739, email: erignot@uci.edu, and Reginald Muskett, Geophysical Institute, 903 Koyukuk Dr. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7240 USA, Tel: 907 474-2440, email: rmuskett@iarc.uaf.edu

C19 Snow - Vegetation Interactions
The storage and modulated release of water from seasonal snowpacks are major components of hydrologic systems in many parts of the world, particularly in vegetated mountainous and boreal areas. Vegetation affects snowcover accumulation and ablation processes and patterns, and snowcover likewise affects ecological processes that strongly control patterns of vegetation. Presentations are solicited that deal with all aspects of interactions between vegetation and seasonal snowpacks. Presentations are encouraged that focus on the impact of canopies on snowcover energetics, relationships between canopy structure and snowpack variability, measurement and modeling techniques for vegetated areas, effects of climatic variability and change on coupled snow-vegetation systems, and impacts of snowpack dynamics on ecological processes and patterns.
Conveners: Timothy Link, Dept of Forest Resources, Univ of Idaho, , Moscow, ID 83844-1133 USA, Tel: 208-885-9465, email: tlink@uidaho.edu, and Ken Tape, Inst of Arctic Bio, Univ of Alaska Fairbanks, , Fairbanks, AK 99775 USA, Tel: (907)374-9000, email: fnkdt@uaf.edu

C20 Retreating Glaciers, Stable Glaciers, and Advancing Glaciers: Why the Difference?
Remote sensing and field observations have documented widespread retreat, thinning, stagnation, and disintegration of glaciers and the edges of ice sheets; this is the dominant trend, generally reflecting negative mass balances, occurring almost globally. The global trend is attributable to a combination of recovery from the Little Ice Age or equivalent regional climatic conditions favoring glacial advance, and (2) the past century of global warming. However, there are also contrasting behaviors, including areas of glacier and ice sheet thickening and advance and other areas of comparative stability. Dynamical instabilities and oscillations are inherent in some glaciers, ice shelves, and ice sheets; for others, the cause of glacial advances or thickening may be in the precipitation component of climate change. Repeat satellite imaging of glaciers and ice sheets has become increasingly important because of the accelerating rates of changes taking place in the terrestrial cryosphere. Fortunately, repeat images have become increasingly available due to an increase in the capabilities and number of Earth remote sensing satellites. This session seeks to fill in further parts of the global mosaic of glacier/ice sheet dynamics and to gain a better understanding of why there are contrasting behaviors. We solicit papers on relevant remote sensing observations and field data about glaciers and ice sheets, as well as numerical climate and glacier dynamical models linked to glacier observations.
Conveners: Jeffrey S. Kargel, University of Arizona, Harshbarger Building Department of Hydrology and Water Resources University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA, Tel: +1 (520) 780-7759, email: kargel@hwr.arizona.edu, and Roberto Furfaro, University of Arizona, Dept. of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA, Tel: +1 (520) 312-7440, email: robertof@email.arizona.edu, and Bruce Raup, National Snow and Ice Data Center, National Snow and Ice Data Center 449 UCB University of Colorado , Boulder, CO 80309-0449 USA, Tel: 303-492-8814, email: braup@nsidc.org, and Slawek Tulaczyk, UC Santa Cruz, Earth Sciences EMS Building A208 UC Santa Cruz 1156 High St., Santa Cruz, CA 95064 USA, Tel: +1 (831) 459-3074, email: tulaczyk@pmc.ucsc.edu

C21 Snow/Ice Chemistry: Impacts on Atmospheric and Hydrologic Systems
Lower atmospheric chemical species including contaminants, halogens, and nitrogen oxides exchange with snow and ice surfaces throughout the Polar winter. Many of the reactions influencing the deposition and fate of these species in the cryosphere are photochemical. Some species, like most trace metals, black carbon and sea salts, largely remain in the snow pack through the melt season and become part of surface runoff. However mercury and some organochlorine and bioaccumulative pollutants may undergo multiple episodes of deposition to and re-emission from the snow pack during the late winter and spring. Significant effort has been expended in field, laboratory and modeling studies, but the field of snow/ice/atmospheric interactions is still in its relative infancy. The fundamental photochemical mechanisms at play and the broader impacts of snow and ice chemistry on atmospheric and hydrologic cycles are only now being elucidated. This session will focus on the fate of atmospheric chemical compounds during and following snow melt. This includes watershed studies, surface water, snow pack runoff and long term records of chemical compounds in snow, ice, lake and tundra cores. Submissions from field, laboratory and modeling studies that can provide additional insight into the specific mechanisms responsible for snow/ice chemistry; the impact of such chemistry on local and/or regional atmospheric and hydrologic processes; and the incorporation of snow/ice chemistry into regional and global models are encouraged.
Conveners: Amanda M. Grannas, Villanova University, Dept. of Chemistry, Mendel Hall 800 Lancaster Ave. , Villanova, PA 19085 USA, Tel: 6105194881, email: amanda.grannas@villanova.edu, and Thomas A. Douglas, U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, , Fairbanks, AK USA, Tel: 9073619555, email: Thomas.A.Douglas@usace.army.mil

C22 Isotopic and Geochemical Insights Into Weathering Fluxes and Processes in Glacial Environments
Many studies have dealt with weathering fluxes and processes in temperate and tropical climates, but little is known about glacial environments. As Arctic rivers are important sources of freshwater as well as organic and inorganic nutrients to the Arctic Ocean, hydrogeochemical investigations of Arctic rivers are important to assess the impact of global change on the Arctic in general. In view of the importance of circumpolar zones for our understanding of ecosystems response to the global warming, detailed regional studies of trace elements and their isotopes in glacial environments are very timing. This session aims to present the latest advances in this field, with a focus on novel geochemical tracers of weathering fluxes and processes. In particular, a number of new isotopic (e.g. U-series, Pb, Nd, Os, Mg, Si, Ca, Fe, Zn) can be used to identify and quantify sources and sinks, rates of weathering and erosion processes and serve as proxies for important climate variables, environmental processes and human disturbance. We particularly encourage contributions that apply novel geochemical techniques, concepts or models for the study of glacial environments, whether they present modern or secular trends.
Conveners: Olivier Rouxel, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Rd., Woods Hole, MA02543 USA, email: orouxel@whoi.edu, and Francois Chabaux, University of Strasbourg, EOST-1 rue Blessig, Strasbourg, 67084 FRA, email: fchabaux@illite.u-strasbg.fr, and Oleg Pokrovsky, LMTG-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénée - Toulouse, 14 avenue Edouard Belin, Toulouse, 31400 FRA, email: oleg@lmtg.obs-mip.fr

C23 Satellite Geodesy of the Polar Oceans
New satellite geodetic techniques and observations are providing unprecedented views of the polar oceans, their ice cover as well as the topography and tectonic fabric of the seafloor below. Satellite altimeter measurements of ice and snow elevation from radar and laser systems, such as Envisat and ICESat are providing wide area, continuous, information on ice thickness changes. Satellite measurements of sea surface topography and gravity for example from GRACE offer the potential for significant advances in our understanding of the Polar Oceans, particularly when combined with in-situ observations. Marine gravity fields from satellite altimetry as well as satellite and surface gravimetry are also providing new maps of the tectonic structure and bathymetry of the poorly mapped polar oceans. The current satellite capabilities will be significantly enhanced in the near future with the launch of new missions such as GOCE, CryoSat-2 and IceSat-2. We welcome contributions on all aspects of satellite geodesy of the polar oceans with emphasis on applications of these data to science problems in the areas of oceanography, the marine cryosphere and tectonics.
Conveners: Seymour Laxon, University College London, Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling Pearson Building Gower St. , London, WC1E 6BT GBR, Tel: +442076793932, email: swl@cpom.ucl.ac.uk, and Ron Kwok, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, ca 91109 USA, Tel: 818 354-5614, email: ron.kwok@jpl.nasa.gov, and David McAdoo, NOAA, E/RA31, SSMC1, Room 5402 1335 East-West Highway , Silver Spring, md 20910 USA, Tel: 301 713-2857, email: Dave.McAdoo@noaa.gov, and Andy Shepherd, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Earth Observatory Geography Building Drummond Street, Edinburgh, GBR, Tel: +44 (0) 131 651 4345, email: Andrew.Shepherd@ed.ac.uk

C24 Antarctic Ice Shelves: Observations and Modelling
Most of the ice mass lost from the Antarctic continent occurs in ice shelf processes, through basal melting, surface melting and iceberg calving. Since they are in contact with both the ocean and the atmosphere, ice shelves are more responsive to climate change than the rest of the ice sheet. They play a supporting role for ice streams and outlet glaciers as well, i.e. they influence the speed at which these glaciers flow, and reductions in their extent or mass can lead to an increased flux of ice off the continent. While several ice shelves of the Antarctic Peninsula have undergone collapse over the past two decades, no significant changes have yet been observed on the large ice shelves (Ross, Filchner-Ronne, Amery). Continuous observations of ice shelf parameters over long time periods are desired to gain insight into the physics of these shelves and to monitor their change. Ongoing development of numerical models, based on these observations, will eventually allow for a predictive capability of ice shelf evolution. With this session we aim to bring together the current status of these monitoring and modeling efforts, and address the following questions: i) How do processes of ice-ocean interaction, including basal melt, marine ice accretion, grounding line migration, and iceberg calving, affect the mass balance and stability of ice shelves? ii) What is the distribution and variability of fresh water input to the oceans from ice shelf and iceberg melting, groundwater at the grounding line, and what role does this have on ocean circulation (e.g., maintenance of global thermohaline circulation)? This session aims to bring together glaciologists, oceanographers and remote sensing specialists who study the Antarctic ice shelves. We anticipate contributions from satellite remote sensing, fieldwork and modelling; syntheses of any of any these approaches are particularly welcome.
Conveners: David Holland, New York University, , , USA, email: holland@cims.nyu.edu, and Helen Amanda Fricker, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, , , CA USA, email: hafricker@gmail.com, and Andrew Shepherd, University of Edinburgh, , , GBR, email: andrew.shepherd@ed.ac.uk

C25 Glaciers and Human Vulnerability in Changing Mountain Environments
This integrative session focuses on glaciers as a way of exploring the human and physical dimensions of climate change in mountain environments. Mountain glaciers exist at the interface between atmospheric, lithospheric and hydrologic systems. Ongoing changes in these systems have important implications for livelihoods, grazing patterns, agricultural practices, regional water supplies, erosion, landscape evolution, and biogeography. In addition, the most recent period of glacial recession poses significant challenges to human vulnerability and adaptive change. In this session we will engage in interdisciplinary discussions of recent glacier recession in mountain environments. We seek contributions related to all aspects of glaciers and society in changing mountain environments, from theoretical or applied perspectives.
Conveners: Jeffrey Bury, University of California, Santa Cruz, Department of Environmental Studies University of California, Santa Cruz Room 428, Interdisciplinary Sciences Building 1156 High Street , Santa Cruz, CA 95064 USA, Tel: 831-459-3685, Fax: 831-459-4015, email: jbury@ucsc.edu, and Bryan Mark, Byrd Polar Center, Department of Geography The Ohio State University 1036 Derby Hall, 154 N Oval Mall , Columbus, OH 43210 USA, Tel: 614-247-6180, Fax: 614-292-6213, email: mark.9@osu.edu

C26 Climate Change in the High Latitude Southern Hemisphere
Climate trends over the late 20th through the early 21st century in the Southern Hemisphere high latitudes have been highly heterogeneous, combining a large region in east Antarctic with little or no observed change, and a region in the west Antarctic with one of the largest observed trends globally. This session will present the current level of knowledge regarding the observed changes in the atmosphere, ocean and cryosphere and their suggested forcing mechanisms in this region.
Conveners: Marilyn Raphael, UCLA, 1255 Bunche Hall, , Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA, Tel: 310-2064590, Fax: 310-206-5976, email: raphael@geog.ucla.edu, and Will Hobbs, UCLA, 1255 Bunche Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA, email: whobbs@ucla.edu

C27 High-Resolution Bathymetric Images of Glaciated and Formerly Glaciated High-Latitude Margins
The morphology of high-latitude continental shelves contains several features that are genetically related to ice-sheet flow during and since the last glacial maximum. At present, the coverage of high-resolution multibeam and sidescan bathymetric images is growing but it is still dwarfed by the large number of shallow-penetration cores on the continental shelves. From merging these two datasets, a clearer picture of ice-sheet dynamics is emerging. Since these features are not ice-covered, they represent the best opportunity to gain perspective on the modern grounding-zone and its dynamics. These relicts, their near-surface sedimentology and reflection geometries help constrain the locations of streaming versus non-streaming ice and hence the locations of features that might be useful to establish the ice-sheet chronology as well as constraints on the ice-surface elevation at the margins and interiors. We invite poster and oral presentations which highlight how both large and small-scale bathymetric features and high-resolution subsurface images on the Arctic and Antarctic continental margins might be used to document step-wise changes in the footprint of grounded ice associated with the diachronous ice-sheet retreat underway since the last glacial maximum.
Conveners: Philip John Bart, Louisiana State University, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Baton Rouge, La 70803 USA, Tel: 225 578 3109, Fax: 225 578 2302, email: pbart@lsu.edu, and John B. Anderson, Rice University, Department of Earth Sciences, Houston, Tx 77250 USA, Tel: 713 348 4884, Fax: 713 348 4800, email: johna@esci.rice.edu, and Jonathan M. Tomkin, University of Illinois, School of Earth, Society, and Environment 428 Natural History Bldg. 1301 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801 USA, Tel: 217 244 2928, Fax: 217 244 6323, email: tomkin@illinois.edu

C28 Rapid Arctic Environmental Change
The extent of Arctic perennial sea ice was reduced by another million km2 between winters 2007 and 2008 with seasonal ice occupying the North Pole region in mid-winter for the first time in the observational record. There were major warm temperature anomalies in the central Arctic in fall 2007 and accelerated ice drift along the Transpolar Drift Stream in spring and summer 2007. Many impellent science issues remain: Is the summer ice extent more influenced by initial conditions or by summer forcing? What is the relative role of dynamics, thermodynamics, and feedbacks in Arctic ice reduction? Will the current change continue, accelerate, or decelerate? Has Arctic change crossed into a new state or can it be reversed? What are the regional and global impacts? Fortunately, the International Polar Year program has been ongoing with international research efforts providing new and crucial results on Arctic change and its impacts. In this regard, this session calls for presentations on 2007-2008 Arctic change, the historical context of recent change, predictions of change, and impacts of Arctic change on ocean, land, and atmosphere.
Conveners: Son V. Nghiem, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 300-235, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, Tel: 818-354-2982, Fax: 818-393-3077, email: Son.V.Nghiem@jpl.nasa.gov, and James E. Overland, NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98115 USA, Tel: 206-526-6795, email: James.E.Overland@noaa.gov, and James Morison, Polar Science Center, APL-UW, 1013 NE 40th St Box 355640, Seattle, WA 98105 USA, Tel: 206-543-1394, Fax: 206-616-3142, email: morison@apl.washington.edu, and John Walsh, International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska, 930 Koyukuk Drive P.O. Box 757340, Fairbanks, AK 99775 USA, Tel: 907-474-2677, email: jwalsh@iarc.uaf.edu

C29 International Collaboration to Build Understanding of Climate Change in Polar Regions
We review the state of the art in current and planned international projects investigating climatic and wider environmental changes in polar regions. This reflects the very widely documented range of environmental changes that have occurred in polar terrestrial and marine regions over the past 10-100 years, and also those that are predicted for the next 100 years. Such changes include the areal coverage and mass balance of terrestrial ice and snow cover, vegetation and land-cover change, changes in hydrology (e.g. river flow and permafrost), ocean circulation and sea-ice dynamics, storm frequency and intensity, forest fires, human and ecological variations, and the possible causes of variation (natural climatic change/global warming). To what extent are these changes affected by recent and ongoing changes in climate, and how do they affect climate? Are ongoing climatic trends producing consequent impacts to ecosystems, social structures, geomorphology or other physical or biological processes? How will understanding be improved through observations and modelling? In many respects, the Arctic and Antarctic respond as systems, as physical, biological and social structures display a complicated interdependence. In order to build our understanding of the relationships and feedbacks among processes, it is important to take stock of current key national and international research efforts, as such stocktaking will help further synergise and stimulate future polar science research. This session therefore aims to bring together a wide range of international researchers, including some of the leading workers, to discuss this pressing issue.
Conveners: Edward Hanna, University of Sheffield, Winter Street Department of Geography University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN GBR, Tel: 00(44) 114 222 7965, Fax: 00(44) 114 279 7912, email: ehanna@sheffield.ac.uk, and Larry Hinzman, International Arctic Research Center, P.O. Box 757340 930 Koyukuk Drive, 423 Akasofu Building Fairbanks Alaska 99775-7340, Fairbanks, AK Alaska 997 USA, Tel: 1 907-474-7331, Fax: 1 907-474-5662, email: ffldh@uaf.edu

C30 Arctic2k - Assessment of Arctic Climate Records of the Last Two Millennia and their Relevance for Future Warming
Summer sea ice retreat over the Arctic Basin has accelerated to record levels and a complete loss of the warm season polar sea ice cover appears possible in the not too distant future. Climate models used for future climate change studies generally do not reproduce the magnitude of this observed change. Because the anthropogenic climate change effect comes superposed on natural climate variability, it is very hard to accurately quantify their individual contributions. But the discrepancies between observed and simulated change (even in ensembles) raises questions if our understanding of the sensitivity of the high latitude feedbacks is good enough. This session explores what paleo records can inform the climate change community about the sensitivity of the Arctic climate in pre-industrial times. Through detailed reconstructions of past changes, various paleoclimate archives provide insight into the question of how polar amplification over the past 1-2 millennia has affected this environment and how these natural variations compare with the current trends. We encourage contributions from the full range of high-resolution (annual to multi-decadal) proxy archives, terrestrial as well as marine, to assess and elucidate the timing and variability of arctic climate change during the last two millennia. Central questions include: a) Was the 20th century warming of the Arctic unprecedented in the last 2000 yr? b) What is the multi-decade to century scale variability in arctic climate? c) What portion of the Arctic-wide and regional temperature changes during the last 2000 yr is explained by changes in solar irradiance and volcanic activity, and what portion is related to internal adjustments of the climate system?
Conveners: Nalan Koc, Norwegian Polar Institute, Polar Environmental Centre, Tromso, 9296 NOR, Tel: +47 77750654, email: Nalan.Koc@npolar.no, and Caspar Ammann, National Center for Atmospheric Research, , Boulder, CO USA, email: ammann@ucar.edu, and Darrell Kaufman, Northern Arizona University, , , USA, email: Darrell.kaufman@nau.edu, and Pierre Francus, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, , Québec, CAN, email: pfrancus@ete.inrs.ca

C31 Observational and Model Advances to Resolve the Rapid Arctic Ice Melting Problem
The Arctic ice is melting at rates much larger than the 2007 IPCC climate model predictions. The potential for an ice-free Arctic in our lifetime, and the abrupt climate impacts it could trigger, underscores the urgency of the problem. In addition to global radiative forcing by anthropogenic greenhouse gases the Arctic is also exposed to forcing by regional pollution. The warming of the Arctic by regional ozone and by aerosols and their effects on snowfall, ice and cloud properties is potentially significant but ill constrained. Furthermore, natural variability in the dynamics of the Arctic atmosphere and ocean is key to its radiation and heat budget. Arctic forcing can trigger non-linear feedbacks in the climate system, which need quantification. Our session will address the following questions: Is anthropogenic activity or natural variability the culprit for Arctic ice melt? Or Are both of these conspiring to make the Arctic more vulnerable? Has rapid decadal Arctic melt occurred in the last century? How well can we predict the observed Arctic ice melting? Would potential shipping across an open Northwest passage in the future exacerbate the problem? What energy/pollution policy could slow the pace of melting? We will try to resolve these questions by focusing on integrated modeling, observational and laboratory studies that are improving our ability to understand the pace of Arctic ice melting. We invite researchers to present results from recent concerted field campaigns as part of the International Polar Year (2007-2008) activity, long term monitoring of Arctic ice trends from satellite and in situ records, laboratory process level studies advances in cloud, snow and climate modeling. The session will create an interdisciplinary forum to advance Arctic climate science, the most pressing near term climate issue confronting us today.
Conveners: Manvendra K. Dubey, LANL, MS D462 EES, Los Alamos, NM 87545 USA, Tel: 5056653128, email: dubey@lanl.gov, and Julienne Stroeve, CIRES, NSDIC, , Boulder, CO USA, email: stroeve@kryos.colorado.edu, and Jennifer Kay, NCAR, , Boulder, CO USA, email: jenkay@ucar.edu, and Drew Shindell, NASA GISS, , New York, NY USA, email: Drew.T.Shindell@nasa.gov

C32 The International Polar Year
The Polar Regions are indisputably vital components of the Earth System and sensitive indicators of change. Many polar environments change faster than anywhere else on the planet and perhaps faster than at any time in the past. Given the pressing need to understand both the processes of change in the Polar Regions and their wider implications for the planet, the launch of the International Polar Year 2007-2008 programme in March 2007 has been timely, relevant and necessary. This session will be introduced by the Union session U02, which will be an overview of the broad IPY program, including its objectives, design, preliminary results and achievements. Many of these achievements represent new standards of international and interdisciplinary cooperation and new models for public engagement that bode well for all of science. This session will present the scientific details of the IPY program, and will be linked to IPY activities in science, data and outreach described throughout the Fall Meeting
Conveners: Marco Tedesco, CUNY / NASA / UMBC, 138th St. and Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031 USA, Tel: 212-650-5188, email: mtedesco@umbc.edu, and David Carlson, IPY International Programme Office, , , GBR, email: ipy.djc@gmail.com, and J. Cynan Ellis-Evans, British Antarctic Survey, , , GBR, email: jcel@bas.ac.uk

C33 Observing, Understanding, Predicting and Responding to Pan-Arctic Environmental Change and Rapid Arctic Ice Retreat Problems
It is recognized that the Arctic system is currently undergoing unprecedented change whose impacts can be severe but whose drivers and rates remain ill quantified. This is an amplified response to global change and expresses itself in the physical, biogeochemical, ecological and human domains. For example, the Arctic ice is melting at rates much faster than the IPCC-2007 climate model predictions. The potential for an ice-free Arctic in our lifetime, and the abrupt Pan-Arctic and global impacts it would trigger, underscores the urgency of the problem. Rapid response from the scientific community is required to determine the rate of change, to understand its causes and for future projection, as well as for design of response strategies, including mitigation and adaptation. This session covers topics dealing with observing, understanding, and responding to Arctic Environmental Change across physical, biogeochemical, and human domains and will presents results from the existing integrated Arctic Environmental Change programs and field campaigns. Presentations should address policy relevant questions such as: Is anthropogenic activity or natural variability the driving the rapid Arctic melting? Or Are both of these conspiring to make the Arctic more vulnerable? Has Arctic melting occurred in the past? How does this inform policy to adapt to and respond to impacts? How well can we predict the rate of future Arctic change? What energy, exploration, shipping and air quality policies will help slow (or exacerbate) the pace of the Arctic ice retreat? Contributions with emphasis on the integration of individual observing system components into an integrated network, observing system design, utilization of data from the Arctic Observing System in synthesis/modeling studies, results from synthesis/modeling studies of Arctic System changes, and results from the International Polar Year campaigns obtained so far are especially encouraged. The session will create an interdisciplinary forum to advance Arctic climate science, the most pressing climate issue confronting us today. The session is preceded by a Union session (U23) that will provide a broad overview of these issues and the existing integrated Arctic Environmental Change programs and field campaigns.
Conveners: Jean-Claude Gascard, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), , , FRA, email: Gascard@locean-ipsl.upmc.fr, and Christian Haas, University of Alberta, , , CAN, email: chaas@ualberta.ca, and Drew Shindell, NASA GISS, , New York, NY USA, Tel: 2126785605, email: drew.t.shindell@nasa.gov, and Jennifer Kay, NCAR, , Boulder, CO USA, Tel: 6072275145, email: jenkay@ucar.edu

C34 Nye Lecture
Nye Lecture for Cryosphere
Conveners: Jason Box, The Ohio State University and Byrd Polar Research Center, , , USA, email: box.11@osu.edu

Cryosphere also presents jointly with the following Special Sessions:
GC02 Land-Atmosphere-Cryosphere Interactions in Northern Eurasia
P06 Focus on Enceladus
G08 Recent Advances in Observation and Modelling of Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA)
IN10 Data Fusion: Issues, Barriers and Approaches
OS20 The Formation, Evolution, and Impact of Mode Waters
GC16 Environmental Change on the Tibetan Plateau
MR04 Planetary Ices - Cryo-mineralogy and Cryo-petrology
IN05 Frontiers in Advanced Information Systems and Earth Observation Technology
G17 Understanding Geosphere and Cryosphere Processes Using Spaceborne Measurements of Deformation, Altimetry, and Topography
ED14 Teacher Professional Development Programs Promoting Authentic Scientific Research in the Classroom
IN20 Sustained, Interoperable Data Systems for Observing Networks—Building the IPY Legacy for Earth System Science.
PP27 Short-Term Climate Variability in the Context of Long-Term Paleoclimatic Change
IN07 Making Earth Science Data Records
ED01 Education and Human Resources: General Contributions
GC15 Late Holocene High-Resolution Sea-Level Records: A Context for Future Sea-Level Change
OS21 Advances in Operational Oceanography and Scientific Drilling
IN08 Provenance Management for Large Scale Scientific Datasets
IN24 Open Source Remote Sensing for Environmental Mapping and Analysis
IN16 Challenges for Earth Science Software Reuse
H03 Advances in Land Data Assimilation Systems and Estimation of Large-Scale Surface Turbulent Fluxes
IN02 Visualizing Scientific Data Using KML and Virtual Globes
IN11 Environmental Sensor Networks: Real World Examples
IN06 The Science of Coupling with the Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF)
NS03 Geophysical Characterization of Flow in Dual Porosity Media: From Fractures to Karst and Glaciers
PP14 North Atlantic Freshwater Forcing: History, Consequences, and Implications for Future Climate Change
PP25 Progress in Quaternary Geochronology in Polar Regions
V40 International Polar Year: Antarctica Geological and Geophysical Research

Earth and Space Science Informatics

IN01 Earth and Space Science Informatics: General Contributions
This session provides the opportunity for contributions that fall within the broad spectrum of Earth and Space Science Informatics.
Conveners: Peter Fox, HAO/ESSL/NCAR, , Boulder, CO 80307 USA, Tel: (303) 497-1511, Fax: (303) 497-1589, email: pfox@ucar.edu, and Robin Pfister, NASA/GSFC, , , USA, email: robin.g.pfister@nasa.gov, and Glenn Prescott, University of Kansas, , , USA, email: prescott@ku.edu

IN02 Visualizing Scientific Data Using KML and Virtual Globes
Since NASA World Wind (2004) and Google Earth (2005) brought the concept of a "Virtual Globe" into the general public’s consciousness, our concept of to how view the planet we live on has permanently changed. Similar to the way the internet changed the way we store, access and sort information, Virtual Globes are reshaping our perspective on how best to visualize geospatial data. Party of this evolution has been emergence of Keyhole MarkUp Language (KML) as the preferred code for adding and controlling content in these technologies. Now recognized by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) as an international standard, KML is now increasingly supported by a range of platforms, including Google Earth, NASA World Wind, ESRI ArcGIS Explorer and Microsoft’s Virtual Earth and EarthBrowser. The Virtual Globes at AGU session seeks to provide a forum for users to exchange ideas, promote concepts and demonstrate innovations using KML and/or globe and other geobrowser technologies. We also welcome participation from the wider 3D visualization scientific user community. Our intent is to bring together scientists, educators, developers and any individuals interested in promoting the use of these technologies for better scientific understanding, policy management and applications, public outreach and education about our "real" world.
Conveners: John E. Bailey, University of Alaska Fairbanks, ARSC 909 Koyukuk Dr, Fairbanks, AK 99775 USA, Tel: 907-474-6504, email: jbailey@gi.alaska.edu, and Michael Weiss-Malik, Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA, email: michaelwm@google.com, and Jonathan Dehn, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute 903 Koyukuk Dr, Fairbanks, AK 99775 USA, email: jdehn@gi.alaska.edu, and Dina Venezky, U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road MS 910, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA, email: dvenezky@usgs.gov

IN03 Emerging Cyberinfrastructure for Geosciences
Based on the present demand for computing support for geoscience research endeavors, the underlying cyberinfrastructure (CI) is both maturing and evolving. As in www.cyberobservatories.net, we use the term to mean the set of reliable, well-specified, and interoperable connections of electronic hardware and software that allows people to discover, learn, teach, collaborate, disseminate, access, and preserve knowledge in their domain. Cyberinfrastructure includes technology – including a spectrum including instruments all the way to the networks used and software tools used for analysis and manipulation. CI also includes the social infrastructure used to support interpersonal collaboration among all team members with diverse backgrounds and discipline training. It is the use of cyberinfrastructure by teams needing to analyze and integrate data that brings CI into the world of informatics. This session seeks broad contributions on emerging CI in support of all areas of geosciences particularly those that highlight areas where needs are only partially or not being met.
Conveners: Peter Fox, HAO/ESSL/NCAR, , Boulder, CO 80307 USA, Tel: 303 497-1511, Fax: 303 497-1589, email: pfox@ucar.edu, and Deborah McGuinness, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, , , USA, email: dlm@cs.rpi.edu

IN04 Rich Collaboration Environments for Geosciences
A significant challenge to facilitating collaborations in informatics and cyberinfrastructure projects is the availability of suitable collaboration environments. While there has been an explosion and even proliferation of tools and greater provisioning of interactive user-contributed web-based content, it is still true that collaboration systems and related software are far from robust and complete. Typically tools are selected for a focused set of requirements. Additionally evolution and adaptability requirements are often an unmet challenge. As a result, many groups are still experimenting and switching tools and technologies frequently; causing disruption for the ongoing collaborations. Collaborative work in knowledge rich environments today seems to be hampered by insufficient consideration of human machine interaction. Existing middleware is often not much more than 'glue' for different technical components. One possible future need is collaborative upperware which provides the matching of communication and cognition as the fundamental dimensions of collaboration. The challenges require new methods and concepts of collaborative working with the inherent communication processes and cognitive structures. This session solicits contributions from a broad spectrum of those involved in collaboration: the end-users, the project managers, and the developers. We specifically invite contributions for innovative solutions to difficult collaboration environment challenges, both technical and social/ organizational. We also welcome requirements specifications with the supporting use cases.
Conveners: Peter Fox, HAO/ESSL/NCAR, , Boulder, CO 80307 USA, Tel: 303 497-1511, Fax: 303 497-1589, email: pfox@ucar.edu, and Deborah McGuinness, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, , , USA, email: dlm@cs.rpi.edu

IN05 Frontiers in Advanced Information Systems and Earth Observation Technology
Many promising remote sensing technologies and systems of space-based observations will be bringing scientific data and observations to Earth scientists in the next 5 to 10 years. These include instruments such as passive and active microwave and optical sensors for measuring geophysical parameters of the atmosphere, the seas and the land masses. Also, advanced information systems will be storing, processing and transmitting data collected from spaced based sensors so that massive amounts of data will be available for scientists to analyze and include in their models. This session, which is hosted by the NASA Earth Science Technology Office, solicits papers relating to these technologies that support earth science observations and information systems.
Conveners: Glenn Prescott, NASA Earth Science Technology Office, Goddard Space Flight Center Code 407 - Bldg 22, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, Tel: 301-286-9170, email: prescott@nasa.gov, and Mariann Albjerg, NASA Earth Science Technology Office, Goddard Space Flight Center Code 407 - Bldg 22, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, Tel: 301-286-9114, email: Mariann.Albjerg-1@nasa.gov

IN06 The Science of Coupling with the Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF)
In order to address new challenges in Earth and space system science, it has become necessary to couple together modeling components developed by diverse, often geographically distributed sets of specialists. The Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF), initiated in 2002 and now funded and managed by a multi-agency consortium, has become an interface standard at NASA, NOAA, the Department of Defense and other organizations for combining components that are connected via high-performance data transformations. Modelers are using ESMF to create multi-component applications that simulate the weather, the ionosphere and solar wind, the coastal ocean environment and storm surges, ocean biogeochemistry, and many other natural processes. This session is focused on the science that is emerging from the use of ESMF. It will encourage an exchange of ideas on how this infrastructure can enable new scientific exploration, and on how new science questions are guiding the future development of ESMF.
Conveners: Cecelia DeLuca, NCAR, 1850 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder, CO 80302 USA, Tel: 303-497-1828, Fax: 303-497-1814, email: cdeluca@ucar.edu, and V. Balaji, Princeton University, 201 Forrestal Road, Princeton, NJ 08540-6649 USA, Tel: 1-609-452-6516, email: V.Balaji@noaa.gov, and Chris Hill, MIT, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139 USA, Tel: 617-253-6430, email: cnh@plume.mit.edu

IN07 Making Earth Science Data Records
U.S. federal agencies and international partners now have a long history of collecting data from spaceborne instruments as well as a rich set of in situ data that are highly relevant to the modeling of long-term phenomena in the Earth System. Climate change modeling is a particular case in point. While similar measurements may be made from multiple instruments over time, it is essential to build long time series of consistently calibrated, computed and validated data. NASA refers to such long time series records as Earth System Data Records (ESDRs), which includes the concept of Climate Data Records (CDRs). NASA has sponsored a Program called Making Earth System Data Records for Use in Research Environments (MEaSUREs). The purpose of this program is to generate ESDRs deemed important by the Earth science research community in several disciplines such as land processes, ocean biology, atmospheric composition, hydrology, solid Earth and cryosphere. The program emphasizes generation of ESDRs using community accepted algorithms and making the ESDRs, and their key production source code for validation purposes, publicly available with an open data policy. This session provides an interdisciplinary forum for exchange of ideas on generation of ESDRs from either the MEaSUREs Program or any similar activities being conducted outside NASA's sponsorship. Of particular interest in addition to the scientific significance of the ESDRs will be processes to: achieve algorithm maturity, obtain community consensus on algorithms, generate and reprocess products, ensure product availability and encourage usage.
Conveners: Hampapuram (Rama) K. Ramapriyan, NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 423 , Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, Tel: 301-614-5356, Fax: 301-614-5267, email: rama.ramapriyan@nasa.gov, and Martha Maiden, NASA, NASA HQ 3B74, Washington, DC 20546 USA, Tel: 202-358-1078, email: Martha.E.Maiden@nasa.gov, and Jared Entin, NASA Headquarters, , , USA, email: jentin@hq.nasa.gov, and Ramesh Kakar, NASA, , , USA, email: ramesh.k.kakar@nasa.gov

IN08 Provenance Management for Large Scale Scientific Datasets
Providing thorough provenance information, sufficient to guarantee that it is possible to understand and reproduce a data set adds to the credibility and usefulness of the entire measurement and processing effort. In some cases it may be an absolute requirement for effective use of the data. Tremendous volumes of data are being captured analyzed and archived from many projects. Data are transferred from organization to organization and value added transformation are made at multiple stages. Large scale datasets can consist of thousands to millions of files and tens to hundreds of algorithms and algorithm versions. Unless a thorough set of provenance information is created even the scientists who produced a data set often do not remember exactly how it was made. Subsequent users find it difficult to obtain the information and impossible to be sure that they know exactly what the data set represents. The problem becomes even more difficult when considering long term or climate data sets that should be useful even when all of the original producers are gone. There is a growing body of research and knowledge about methods for managing provenance throughout the process of producing scientific data sets. This session will explore current methods and "best practices" for providing adequate provenance for the types of data sets in use in the Earth and Space Science communities. It will also provide a venue for identifying missing elements and needed changes in the production, archival and distribution communities for such data.
Conveners: Curt Tilmes, NASA GSFC, Code 614.5 , Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, Tel: +1 301-614-5534, email: Curt.Tilmes@nasa.gov, and Albert J. Fleig, PITA Analytic Sciences, , , USA, email: Albert.J.Fleig@nasa.gov

IN09 EarthScope and CyberInfrastructure
A robust cyberinfrastructure is required for EarthScope to achieve its potential. The EarthScope and Cyberinfrastructure session at the AGU provides a forum for discussion of the cyberinfrastructure(CI) needs, requirements, and objectives of EarthScope-based science and education applications. It also provides a forum for discussion of extant capabilities and efforts in related geoinformatics and CI communities, such as CUAHSI HIS, OOI, etc., and their potential use in supporting EarthScope applications. In addition to information technology issues surrounding data flow from EarthScope facilities, a strong cyberinfrastructure effort is needed to insure ease of access to these data, EarthScope data products, software tools, and workflows for data analysis, integration, modeling, and interpretation. EarthScope cyberinfrastructure must ensure that data are presented to a broad user community in a user-friendly manner. To this end, the EarthScope Data Portal is under development and scheduled for general availability by October 2008. EarthScope CI must also promote the integration of a wide range of geoscience data into databases useable by the EarthScope community; identify and promote the use of databases that complement EarthScope data and products; coordinate with other existing and emerging geoscience cyberinfrastructure efforts; and, coordinate with the cyberinfrastructure efforts of Federal and state agencies as well as international groups.
Conveners: Chaitan Baru, University of California, San Diego, , , USA, email: baru@sdsc.edu, and G. Randy Keller, University of Oklahoma, School of Geology and Geophysics 100 E. Boyd, Norman, OK 73019 USA, Tel: 405-325-6697, email: grkeller@ou.edu, and Ramon Arrowsmith, Arizona State University, , , USA, email: ramon.arrowsmith@asu.edu, and Tim Ahern, IRIS, , , USA, email: tim@iris.edu, and Charles Meertens, UNAVCO, , , USA, email: meertens@unavco.org

IN10 Data Fusion: Issues, Barriers and Approaches
It is increasingly urgent and possible to merge disparate data sources and models for multidisciplinary study. Key drivers motivating this direction of research include the need to improve situational awareness, preparedness and response to natural and manmade disasters, global climate change, and a wide range of other societal and environmental contexts. However, cultural and institutional issues can impede our ability to apply the rapidly improving technology available. We welcome submissions describing multidisciplinary settings in which integrative data analysis has been achieved, the barriers to cooperation and coordination found, and specific approaches which overcame these barriers.
Conveners: David Arctur, Open Geospatial Consortium, 329 S Commons Ford Rd, Austin, TX 78733-4006 USA, Tel: 1-512-771-1434, Fax: 1-815-642-8336, email: darctur@opengeospatial.org, and Peter Fox, HAO/ESSL/NCAR, , Boulder, CO 80307 USA, Tel: (303) 497-1511, Fax: (303) 497-1589, email: pfox@ucar.edu

IN11 Environmental Sensor Networks: Real World Examples
Environmental Sensor Networks are a new way of monitoring the environment. They comprise large scale autonomous sensor nodes which are placed in the environment and automatically record real-time data, which is then transmitted to a data server. There the data can be integrated with other data sets (i.e. satellite images, GIS, processes models). By using the latest tehnologies, sensor networks show promise for improving spatial and temporal coverage in harsh environments such as the Arctic and Antarctic, volcanoes, oceans and severe storms. These networks are used both to understand environmental processes and/or act as intelligent hazard warning systems. There are many different contributions to this research and we are particularly inviting submissions on: a) sensor node design - theory and practice b) radio telemetry and networking c) using cyberinfrastructure, GRID and Semantic web technologies: including for data management, control and event detection. This conference provides a chance for Earth and Space System Scientists to exchange ideas with sensor network and system designers, to share the successes and problems of constructing working Environmental Sensor Networks for a range of environments.
Conveners: Kirk Martinez, School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Highfield , Southampton, SO17 1BJ GBR, Tel: +44 2380 594491, email: km@ecs.soton.ac.uk, and Jane Karen Hart, School of Geography, University of Southampton, , Southampton, SO17 1BJ GBR, Tel: +44 2380 594615, email: jhart@soton.ac.uk, and James G. Bellingham, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, 7700 Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing, Monterey, CA 95039-9644 USA, Tel: 831-775-1731, email: Bellingham, James

IN12 Strategies for Improved Marine and Synergistic Data Access and Interoperability
Mindful of the growing number of ecological research data systems, data management efforts and underlying ontologies, this special session will focus on solutions to, and strategies for, accessing marine and synergistic data across multiple collections, platforms, systems, and standards. The effective integration of data retrieved from distributed sources depends upon negotiated arrangements of science domain concepts, metadata frameworks, and community engagement. We will hear about successful interactions of these components, managing field data in all its complexity, as well as lessons learned from strategies gone awry. This session represents an opportunity for the marine and related data management communities to draw together our diverse data management experiences and appreciate and learn from our collective research efforts and associated community developments.
Conveners: Cyndy Chandler, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MS 43, Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA, Tel: 508-289-2765, email: cchandler@whoi.edu, and Karen Baker, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Integrative Oceanography Division, SIO University of California at San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0218 USA, email: kbaker@ucsd.edu, and John Graybeal, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, 7700 Sandholdt Road , Moss Landing, CA 95039 USA, email: graybeal@mbari.org

IN13 Information Technology Infusion - Successful Strategies
In 2003 NASA established the Earth Science Data Systems Working Groups to provide an interactive forum to advance the use of Earth science remote sensing data. Technology Infusion was identified as a strategic component of future NASA data systems. The group created a vision of the NASA information system capabilities anticipated for the coming decade and tackled the barriers and solutions to infusing new technology to achieve the vision. Information technology has a significant impact throughout the life cycle of remote sensing systems, from sensor data processing to multi-sensor data production to data assimilation. To ignore changing technology is costly, so proactively planning for infusion and adaptation is a strategic necessity. This session seeks technology infusion experiences from both within and beyond NASA sponsored activities, and how the corresponding lessons learned can benefit present and future efforts. Examples of problems and solutions to technology infusion in remote sensing data systems are desired, specifically those dealing with data processing, system interoperability and service oriented architectures.
Conveners: Karen Moe, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, Tel: 301-286-2978, email: karen.moe@nasa.gov, and Karl Benedict, U of New Mexico, EDAC MSC 01 1110 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87109 USA, Tel: 505-277-3611 x234, email: kbene@edac.unm.edu, and Chris Lynnes, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 2071 USA, Tel: 301-614-5185, email: chris.lynnes@nasa.gov, and Matt Heavner, Univ of Alaska Southeast, 11120 Glacier Highway, Juneau, AK 99801 USA, Tel: 907-796-6403, email: heavner@uas.alaska.edu

IN14 Advancing Digital Watersheds and Virtual Environmental Observatories
The abstract concept of digital watersheds and virtual environmental observatories (VEO) as a means of integrating and interacting with heterogeneous data sources from sensors, satellites, models and other user-generated contents (such as citizen-science-generated observation data) is gaining significant traction and there are a wide range of tools being called digital watersheds or VEO. In addition, potentially many applications can benefit from a successful digital watershed and VEO. Examples include flood simulation and visualization, drought monitoring, water quality (nutrients and pollutants) monitoring, study of biological species concentrations and movements, OGC sensor web enablement-compliant applications, near-real-time decision support and collaboration, semantically-enhanced streaming data management, virtual sensors and virtual actuators for command-and-control of sensor networks, and human-nature coupled system study etc. Such diversified applications present both challenges and opportunities to further develop the digital watershed concepts and associated technologies. This session will bring interdisciplinary experts from both academia and industry to present the latest in digital watershed developments and to discuss the research and development needed to realize the full potential of the digital watershed concepts.
Conveners: Yong Liu, NCSA, University of Illinois, 1205 W Clark St., Urbana, IL 61801 USA, email: yongliu@ncsa.uiuc.edu, and Marian V. Muste, IIHR, The University of Iowa, 300 South Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA, email: marian-muste@uiowa.edu, and Ilya Zaslavsky, SDSC, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA, email: zaslavsk@sdsc.edu, and David Arctur, Open Geospatial Consortium, 329 S Commons Ford Rd, Austin, TX 78733 USA, Tel: 512-771-1434, Fax: 815-642-8336, email: darctur@opengeospatial.org

IN15 Emerging Multi-core Computing Technology in Earth and Space Sciences
Recent trends in computer microprocessor development have shifted from increasing performance of individual cores to multi– and many–cores, meaning that Earth and space science applications must exploit orders of magnitude more parallelism to reach petascale computing and beyond. Higher-resolutions and more sophisticated treatment of physical processes make models even more computationally intensive. Moreover, the drastic increase of data collected by various instruments requires a significant increase in computing power for data processing and analysis. Therefore, it is crucial for the Earth and space sciences community to evaluate the impacts of this shift on computationally intensive modeling and data processing applications and to develop appropriate solutions. It is known that the computing power of conventional processors is limited by memory bandwidth. Adding more cores to the processors intensifies the problem. Recently, new unconventional architectures have emerged in the commodity processor arena: IBM’s Cell Broadband Engine System (or simply Cell) and NVIDIA’s Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). Intel and AMD are also developing such processors. It has been demonstrated that the physics components of climate and weather models such as radiation and precipitation could reap significant performance improvements from both Cell and GPU processors [1,2]. Furthermore, processing of space data has realized tremendous acceleration gains with GPUs [3]. However, these emerging processors may require significant investment in terms of porting to multi- and many-core processors to exploit the promised potential performance. Adapting highly scalable computing algorithms will be needed to effectively utilize the computing power of those multi- and many-core processors if the number of cores per chip doubles every two years according to the new Moore’s law as some predict. The goal of this session is to discuss the issues concerning the impacts of multi- and many-core processors, bringing together those developers of application algorithms and experts in utilizing multi- and multi-core processors. [1] J. Michalakes, M. Vachharajani, “GPU Acceleration of Numerical Weather Prediction,” Proceedings of the Workshop on Large Scale Parallel Processing, IPDPS, Miami, April 14-18. 2008 Also http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/wrf/WG2/michalakes_lspp.pdf . [2] S.J. Zhou, D. Duffy, T. Clune, M. Suarez, S. Williams, M. Halem, “Impacts of the IBM Cell Processor on Supporting Climate Models,” International Supercomputing Conference, Dresden, Germany, June 17-20, 2008 [3] P. Messmer, B. Granger, D. Karipides, “GPU Computing in IDL,” AstroGPU 2007, Workshop on General Purpose Computation on Graphics Processing Units in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ, USA, 2007
Conveners: Shujia Zhou, NASA GSFC/Northrop Grumman Corporation, Code 610.3, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, Tel: 301-286-8227, email: shujia.zhou@nasa.gov, and John Michalakes, NCAR, 3450 Mitchell Lane, Boulder, CO 80301 USA, Tel: (303) 497 8199, email: michalak@ucar.edu, and Peter Messmer, Tech-X Corporation, 5621 Arapahoe Ave., Suite A, Boulder, CO 80303 USA, Tel: (303) 473 9286, email: messmer@txcorp.com, and Milton Halem, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Dep''t., 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 USA, Tel: (410) 455 2862, email: halem@umbc.edu

IN16 Challenges for Earth Science Software Reuse
This session will cover a variety of topics within the area of software reuse, focusing on its application within the Earth science domain and the challenges involved with reuse. Contributions from unsuccessful as well as successful reuse efforts are encouraged. Topics may include, but are not limited to: web services, challenges faced when reusing assets, how to overcome "not invented here" syndrome, lessons learned through reuse experiences, preparing and packaging assets for reuse, documenting for reuse, maturity of assets in terms of reusability, creation of reusable assets, modification of reusable assets for reuse in a new system or environment, distribution of reusable assets, methods for increasing systematic reuse, reuse of assets from other domains, case studies of reuse experiences, incentives for encouraging/practicing reuse, education and public outreach, tools and mechanisms that support and enable reuse.
Conveners: Robert E. Wolfe, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Mailstop 614.5, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, email: Robert.E.Wolfe@nasa.gov, and Robert R. Downs, Columbia University, Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964 USA, email: rdowns@ciesin.columbia.edu

IN17 Earth and Space Science Applications of GigaPan Imagery
Gigapixel panoramic (GigaPan) imagery captures highly detailed photographic information that can be viewed in a way that preserves a high degree of detail through a wide range of zoom (magnification). Recent developments in robotics technology, image processing, and web-delivery have made the creation, viewing, and annotation of GigaPan imagery far more accessible to scientists and the general public than was previously possible. Examples of GigaPan imagery can be found at Gigapan.org. The GigaPan session at AGU seeks to bring together scientists and technologists who are pioneering the application of GigaPan imagery in the Earth and space sciences to share their experiences and results, as well as to introduce additional scientists and educators to the capabilities and possible scientific and educational applications of GigaPan technology.
Conveners: Ronald C. Schott, Fort Hays State University, FHSU Geosciences 600 Park Street, Hays, KS 67601 USA, Tel: 785-628-5348, Fax: 785-628-4096, email: rschott@fhsu.edu, and Randy Sargent, Carnegie Mellon University & NASA/Ames Research Center, Building 23, Moffett Field, CA 94035 USA, Tel: 866-401-WEST, email: Randy.Sargent@west.cmu.edu

IN18 Complex, Interdisciplinary Ontologies and Automated Semantic Web Data Integration for Hydrology and Earth System Science
Two projects, the NSF-sponsored CUAHSI and, secondly, the NASA-sponsored WaterNet, are attempting to construct new semantic web data integration and ontological tools that will automate data retrieval to advance hydrological science (CUAHSI) and help create an integrating framework for the Integrated Earth Observation System and GEOSS (WaterNet). The session will provide a forum for overviews of new techniques, both within a GIS-framework and a Land Surface Modeling-framework, that will be useful for other Earth Sciences.
Conveners: Will Pozzi, Center for Research in Environment and Water, 4041 Powder Mill Road, Suite 302, Calverton, MD 20012 USA, Tel: 240-247-1448, email: wpozzi@iges.org, and Michael Piasecki, Drexel Univ., , , USA, email: michael.piasecki@drexel.edu

IN19 From Data to Synthesis: Next-Generation Science Applications
The research community has made great strides in assembling and publicizing a living compilation of scientific data. As we continue to move toward greater interoperability and improved data access and visualization, the final and most difficult challenge is building tools that enable quantitative analyses and lead to new scientific insight. We seek to highlight efforts underway in numerous multi-disciplinary research communities (e.g. Ridge 2000, MARGINS, IODP, EarthScope, OOI, IPY, OCB, GLOBEC) that aim to meet this challenge. As many of these large-scale research initiatives move toward synthesis and integration phases, there is a particular need for tools that are powerful, flexible, and broadly useful across disciplines. We encourage contributions that describe existing tools and science applications, lessons learned, and directions for future development.
Conveners: Vicki Lynn Ferrini, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO), Columbia University, 61 Route 9W , Palisades, NY 10964 USA, Tel: 845-365-8339, email: ferrini@ldeo.columbia.edu, and Tim Ahern, Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), IRIS Data Management Center 1408 NE 45 St., Suite 201 , Seattle, WA 98105 USA, Tel: 206-547-0393, email: tim@iris.washington.edu, and Stephen Miller, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), UCSD, 312 Ritter Hall, Mail Code 0220 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093 USA, Tel: 858-534-1898, email: spmiller@ucsd.edu, and Cyndy Chandler, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), WHOI Mailstop 43 , Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA, Tel: 508-289 2765, email: cchandler@whoi.edu, and Jamus Collier, Integrated Ocean Drilling Program-Management Intl. (IODP-MI), Hokkaido University CRIS Bldg. Room 05-103 Kita 21-jyo, Nishi 10-chome (N21 W10) Kita-ku , Sapporo, 001-0021 JPN, Tel: +81 11 738 1072, email: jcollier@iodp-mi-sapporo.org

IN20 Sustained, Interoperable Data Systems for Observing Networks—Building the IPY Legacy for Earth System Science.
“The International Polar Year aims to exploit the intellectual resources and science assets of nations worldwide to make major advances in polar knowledge and understanding, while leaving a legacy of new or enhanced observational systems, facilities and infrastructure.” (International Council for Science. 2004. A Framework for the International Polar Year 2007-2008) Investigators have responded to the goal of the IPY Planning Group to “make major advances in polar knowledge and understanding” and national and international organizations pursue efforts to sustain new and improved observational systems. Substantial new initiatives include the Sustained Arctic Observing Network (SAON) and the Pan-Antarctic Observing System (PAntOS). These initiatives extend and link existing and other planned networks such as the Arctic Observing Network (AON), the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS), the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P), the Circumarctic Environmental Observatories Network (CEON), and others. Meanwhile, other national and international initiatives seek to coordinate and sustain environmental observing networks beyond the polar regions. The National Science Foundation explores a new “Federation of Environmental Observing Networks,” while the Intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations creates a Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS). Two core issues emerge in developing and interlinking these observing networks: 1. How can the research community sustain the increase in observational capability and ensure the data are preserved for long-term access and use? 2. How can data and metadata be shared across the various networks in interoperable frameworks supporting interdisciplinary, system science? In this session we seek presentations that describe the status of observation systems and their associated data systems and presentations that describe recommended approaches or lessons learned on data management and interoperable data and metadata sharing in existing networks. In addition, discussion of cost models and the networks of human interaction necessary to sustain observational data systems are encouraged. We particularly emphasize examples of interdisciplinary support. While we focus on polar observing systems, this is a global challenge, and we seek knowledge and experience from all Earth science domains.
Conveners: Taco de Bruin, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, , , NLD, email: bruin@nioz.nl, and Mark A. Parsons, National Snow and Ice Data Center/World Data Center for Glaciology, , , USA, email: parsonsm@nsidc.org

IN21 Building Interoperability Across the Geosciences
There are a number of critical stumbling blocks to overcome in creating the geoinformatics component of the Cyberinfrastructure for the Sciences. These challenges include: agreement on common standards, vocabularies, and protocols; engagement in a vast number of distributed data resources; practices for recognition of and respect of intellectual property; a simple data discovery system with distributed and integrated catalogues; mechanisms to encourage development of web sevice tools for analysis; and business models for continuing maintenance and evolution of information. This session will showcase the national and international initiatives and partnerships that are successfully overcoming these challenges and starting to achieve interoperability across geoscience domains. These efforts include organized systems and networks such as the Geosciences Information Network,OneGeology, GeoSciNet,and the National Geoinformatics System, as well as use of standards such as GeoSciML, WaterML, OGC and a number of others. Presentations will discuss progress to date, philosophies, and solutions to problems in informatics and building interoperability. Examples will include the kinds of dynamic and powerful science capabilities that can be realized.
Conveners: Linda Gundersen, U.S. Geological Survey, MS 911 National Center Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20194 USA, Tel: 703-648-6601, Fax: 703-648-, email: lgundersen@usgs.gov, and Lee Allison, Arizona Geological Survey, 416 West Congress Street, Tucson, AZ 85701 USA, Tel: 520-770-3500, email: Lee.allison@azgs.az.gov

IN22 Data and the Ethos of Science
Data are central to Earth and space science. Sharing data is necessary to ensure repeatability of results--a cornerstone of the scientific method. In addition, people increasingly repurpose data in ways unforeseen and unforeseeable by the original investigator or user community. This data sharing and reuse imply certain ethical obligations for both data producers and users. These obligations include ensuring that data are shared openly and preserved for future generations, that data authors receive fair attribution, that data are as accurate as possible, that uncertainty is well described, and that data are not used inappropriately. Further, “inappropriate use” may not be well defined. It is not simply a matter of inappropriate scientific application. For example, often there are privacy and economic concerns related to information about hazards and risk and increasingly detailed geospatial information. Issues of intellectual property arise with local and traditional knowledge, certain derived products, and commercially produced data. In this context, one would expect that the obligations surrounding data, data sharing, and data management would be deeply embedded in the beliefs, training, and aspirations of the science community--core tenets in the ethos of science. Yet data are sometimes hoarded not shared. Preservation is neglected. The actual data used in a study are rarely cited. Documentation on accuracy and uncertainty is often lacking, and data users are ill informed on appropriate use of data outside their discipline. Formal study of the ethical dimensions of data remains on the periphery. The Electronic Geophysical Year (eGY) recognizes the need to enhance the role of data, data management, and informatics in the ethos of Earth and space science. Publications by the International Council of Science, the World Summit of the Information Society, and others echo this sentiment. In this session, we solicit papers that explore the disconnect between professed ethics and actual practice, especially across diverse disciplines. What is lacking socially, politically, and technically to bring data into the core ethos of science? What are the root issues and how can they be addressed? What is the role of the academy in educating future scientists? We seek results of both formal investigations and practical experiences from both producers and users of data in exploring the ethical dimensions of data.
Conveners: Ruth Duerr, National Snow and Ice Data Center/World Data Center for Glaciology, , , USA, email: rduerr@nsidc.org, and Mark A. Parsons, National Snow and Ice Data Center/World Data Center for Glaciology, , , USA, email: parsonsm@nsidc.org

IN23 Uncertainty in Geophysical Data Interpretation: Implications and Developments
Geophysical risk analysis has been to a large extent under-emphasized for near surface applications either due to economic limitations or under-estimation of its significance. In the wake of pressing environmental and economical issues, it is of prime importance for the geophysical community to shed light onto great efforts by geophysicists to quantify uncertainties and to provide quality assurance to our communities at large. The uncertainty in near surface geophysical data interpretation has critical implications on resource exploration, data acquisition and modeling, and development endeavors. This session is for papers that propose consideration of new case studies, that highlight implications of uncertainties in near surface geophysical data interpretations and explain techniques of quantifying and understanding causes of uncertainty, which are very significant for future developments and essential for feasibility studies. We would also like to invite papers that report on advances in geophysical modeling towards understanding uncertainties in data interpretation and those that help avoid interpretation pitfalls. Recent utilization of advanced geostatistical techniques are also of interest in this session. We encourage authors to contribute to this important session and look forward for constructive discussions that pave the way for future research developments.
Conveners: Yevgeniy A. Kontar, Head, Geophysics Section, Illinois State Geological Survey, 615 East Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL 61820-6964 USA, Tel: 217-265-5438, Fax: 217-244-7004, email: kontar@isgs.uiuc.edu, and John H. McBride, Chair, Department of Geological Sciences, Brigham Young University, PO Box 24606 , Provo, UT 84602 USA, email: mcbseis@gmail.com, and Ramesh P. Singh, Professor, College of Science, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 5C3 , Fairfax, VA 22030-4444 USA, Tel: 703-993-9238, email: rsingh3@gmu.edu

IN24 Open Source Remote Sensing for Environmental Mapping and Analysis
Anthropogenic and natural pressures on ecosystems and environments threaten human and ecological health at many levels. Remote sensing analysis of aerial photography and satellite imagery provides views of the environment necessary for sound environmental stewardship. Unprecedented amounts of earth imagery are now available on our desktops through data portals and virtual earths, and many open source geographic information system (GIS) applications are available. However, there is a great need for free or low cost, easy to use remote sensing software tools to help non-geospatial-experts make better use of these image resources to enhance environmental mapping and analysis. The goal of this session is to highlight open source remote sensing tools and applications in environmental analysis. How are open source remote sensing tools being used in environmental analysis (e.g., land cover mapping; change detection; disaster recovery; habitat analysis; impervious surface mapping)? Are remote sensing mapping algorithms incorporated in virtual earths to expand their analytical capability? Can we develop easy to use open source decision support tools to help guide environmental decision making at the national, regional, local and citizen levels? How can we better harness the observations of citizens informed about their local environments in a geospatially-enabled manner?
Conveners: Drew Pilant, US Environmental Protection Agency, 109 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Pa, NC 27711 USA, Tel: 919 541 0648, email: pilant.drew@epa.gov, and Peter Fox, HAO/ESSL/NCAR, , , USA, email: pfox@ucar.edu

Earth and Space Science Informatics also presents jointly with the following Special Sessions:
H13 Understanding Hydrologic Modeling Error: Pathways Toward Improved Model Diagnosis, Correction and Practical Application
ED10 Promoting the Use of Cyberinfrastructure in the Classroom: Challenges and Success Stories
SA11 Heliophysics Research Using Virtual Observatories
G13 Ever Faster: Low-Latency Data Collection and Applications Across the Earth Sciences
ED19 Solid Earth Geovisualizations
A07 Aerosol Multi-sensor and Model Inter-comparison and Synergy
ED14 Teacher Professional Development Programs Promoting Authentic Scientific Research in the Classroom
ED18 IYA Dark Skies Awareness Programs, Citizen Science and You
G03 Extracting Signal in Geodetic Measurements
G06 Geodetic Imaging: Advances in Instrumentation and Methods
P14 Landed Measurements on Mars: Ground Truth for Orbital Data
PP24 Advancing Process Understanding in Proxy Climate Records
DI04 Technical Advances in Geodynamical Modeling
G10 The Future of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Their Impact on Geodetic, Geophysical and Environmental Applications
OS04 CLIVAR/GODAE: The ECCO State Estimates
OS14 Decadal Trends in the Ocean Carbon Cycle
OS28 Application of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Theory to Atmospheric and Oceanic Observations
OS03 Advances in Tsunami Research with Application to Forecasts and Warnings
OS21 Advances in Operational Oceanography and Scientific Drilling
H65 Integrated Modeling in Hydrology: Advances in Model Interoperability, Architectures, and Cyberinfrastructure
T18 Transforming the View of Cascadia Through Interpretation of Multidisciplinary Data Sets
NS02 Geoscientific Data for the Revitalization of Afghanistan
H61 Integration of Sensors, Models, and Computation: Multiscale/Multiprocess Strategy for Land-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interactions
NS05 Application of Joint Inverse Methods for Improved Characterization and Assessment of Ground-Water, Mineral, and Petroleum Resources
MR02 Computational Approaches and Applications in Earth Materials Studies
H15 Recent Innovations in Environmental Sensing, Cyberinfrastructure and Observatories

Education and Human Resources

ED01 Education and Human Resources: General Contributions
This session provides the opportunity for contributions that fall within the broad spectrum of Education and Human Resources.
Conveners: Susan Buhr, CIRES, , , USA, email: susan.buhr@colorado.edu

ED02 Space Physics Education and Connections to Science Education Standards
Solar and space physics education can meet with resistance among teachers, curriculum developers and program officials when it is unclear how these topics can be integrated into national and state STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education standards. These standards and related science literacy efforts are a vital tool for improving STEM education in the U.S. and will help to keep the U.S. workforce competitive in the global economy. The space physics community is in a unique position to provide novel curricular materials to meet these standards, but clear links must be made between space physics concepts and the basic science education objectives they support. This session, and its associated workshop, are intended to start a dialog in the space physics education community on this topic, synthesizing work already done in this area and identifying topics that need additional attention. Invited and contributed talks are encouraged to not only discuss their education and outreach programs, but also to link them to national science education standards such at the NRC report "National Science Education Standards" and AAAS Project 2061 Benchmarks, as well as individual state standards. Discussion about what constitutes "meeting" a particular standard and how that is evaluated are also encouraged.
Conveners: Nicholas Gross, Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Ave, Rm. 402, Boston, MA 02215 USA, Tel: 617-358-3245, Fax: 617-358-3242, email: gross@bu.edu, and Emily CoBabe-Ammann, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), , , USA, email: EcoBabe@lasp.colorado.edu, and Mark S. McCaffrey, University of Colorado- Boulder, , , USA, email: Mark.Mccaffrey@Colorado.EDU

ED03 IPY: Science and Outreach In Polar Partnership
The International Polar Year 2007-8 continues to lead the integration of outreach, education and communication into research projects. Scientists and educators within the polar community have been working together to develop and share effective methods of communicating the important role of Polar Regions in the global system. This session is an opportunity to celebrate and profile successful partnerships between IPY science and outreach, explore best-practices, and set recommendations for future collaborations. We welcome abstracts from all areas of polar science and outreach, especially those that used IPY as an opportunity to explore new collaborations, techniques, audiences, and technology. We are interested in approaches used for international to local activities, evaluation of these, and how these might be applied to a different context.
Conveners: Rhian Salmon, International Polar Year, International Programme Office BAS High Cross Madingley Rd, Cambridge, CB3 0ET GBR, Tel: +44 7711181509, email: ipy.ras@gmail.com, and Jenny Baeseman, Association of Polar Early Career Scientists, , Fairbanks, USA, email: baeseman@gmail.com, and Louise Huffman, ANDRILL, , , USA, email: lhuffman@andrill.org, and Nicola Munro, International Polar Year, , , GBR, email: ipy1@bas.ac.uk, and Elena B. Sparrow, University of Alaska Fairbanks/ IARC, 930 Koyukuk Drive P.O. Box 757340 , Fairbanks, AK 99775 USA, Tel: 1-907-474-7699, Fax: 1-907-474-1578, email: esparrow@iarc.uaf.edu

ED04 Bright STaRS: Bright Students Training as Research Scientists
Several science programs in the San Francisco Bay Area are aimed at encouraging talented high school-aged students to discover the Earth and Space Sciences through after school and summer programs that provide hands-on research opportunities in these fields. This invitation-only session will highlight recent student research activities associated with such programs including the East Bay Academy for Young Scientists at U.C. Berkeley-Lawrence Hall of Science, the SF-ROCKS Program, a partnership between San Francisco State University and the San Francisco Unified School District, and the Earth Sciences High School Intern Program at Stanford University. High school students involved in summer research programs at other locations are encouraged to contact the conveners and submit their research projects.
Conveners: Ines Cifuentes, AGU, 2000 Florida Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009 USA, Tel: 202-777-7508, Fax: 202-328-0566, email: icifuentes@agu.org, and Kevin Cuff, Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA, Tel: 510-642-7448, Fax: 510-642-1055, email: kcuff@berkeley.edu, and Jennifer Saltzman, School of Earth Sciences, Stanford University, Mitchell Building B53 397 Panama Mall, Stanford, CA 94305 USA, Tel: 650-725-2410, Fax: 650-725-6566, email: saltzman@stanford.edu, and Lisa White, Department of Geosciences, SFSU, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132 USA, Tel: 415-405-4211, Fax: 415-338-7705, email: lwhite@sfsu.edu

ED05 Defining, Communicating and Protecting Authentic Science in Education, the Public and the Media: New and Expanding Roles for Scientists and Science Societies?
Should North American Scientists and Science Societies consider expanded/new roles in Science Communication? A special session entitled Involving Authentic Environmental Change Science and Scientists in Education and the Media at the American Geophysical Union in December 2007 brought together a diverse group of education, science and science communication specialists to discuss why discourse outside of science societies is so often misinformed and distorted on environmental change issues that are clearly defined and described within the science community. Climate change was an issue most often referenced in the discussion – there is virtual unanimity and overwhelming evidence from the scientific community that the Earth is warming rapidly and humans are an important cause, but there is confusion in the media and the public, in part due to disinformation campaigns by greenhouse gas polluters and privately funded “Think Tanks.” The 2008 session will engage scientists and scientific societies to consider whether we continue with current paths for disseminating knowledge; or is there a need for innovation in the manner in which science informs and educates beyond the science community on important scientific issues? This session will explore directions, and ways and means for science to regain leadership and address misunderstanding and obfuscation of sound science. The session will address a number of issues including: (a) whether unified, proactive actions/programs are required by scientists and/or Science Societies, (b) if so, what actions/programs those may be; and (c) the ways and means to pursue those activities at any and all levels?
Conveners: James Michael Byrne, Lethbridge, , Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 CAN, Tel: 403 329 2002, Fax: 403 329 2016, email: byrne@uleth.ca, and Dan Fagre, USGS, , West Glacier, MT USA, email: dan_fagre@usgs.gov, and Stephen H Schneider, Stanford University, , Stanford, CA USA, email: shs@stanford.edu, and Alan Robock, Rutgers University, Department of Environmental Sciences 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 USA, Tel: 732-932-9800, x6222, Fax: 732--932-8644, email: robock@envsci.rutgers.edu

ED06 National Alliance for Broadening Participation of Native Americans in the Geosciences
This session will focus on a new alliance of science, education, and tribal leaders that is being formed for broadening participation of Native Americans in the geosciences. The purpose of the alliance will be to explore ideas for research on best practices and barriers to participation, and the alliance will be organized to foster new collaborations and partnerships.
Conveners: Diana M. Dalbotten, National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics, St. Anthony Falls Lab, Univ of MN 2 3rd Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA, Tel: 6126244608, Fax: 6126240066, email: dalbo001@umn.edu, and Rajul Pandya, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, SOARS and Community Building P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000 USA, Tel: 303-497-2650, email: pandya@ucar.edu

ED07 Earth System Science Education Alliance (ESSEA) Teacher Professional Development Program
This session focuses on one of NSF’s GeoTeach programs to enhance teacher geoscience content knowledge and teaching skills. ESSEA professional development program is providing in-depth geoscience content and teaching methods to pre- and in-service teachers. Sponsored by NSF, the network has expanded to nearly 40 institutions of higher learning committed to teacher Earth system science education. The program supports participating institutions with funding, training, and standards-aligned courses and resources for pre- and in-service teachers. As a result, teachers are prepared to teach Earth system science using inquiry-based classroom methods, geoscience data and tools.
Conveners: Robert Myers, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, 1600 Wilson Blvd, Ste 901, Arlington, VA 22209 USA, Tel: 623-792-5652, email: bob_myers@strategies.org, and Theresa Schwerin, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, 1600 Wilson Blvd. Ste 90, Arlington, VA 22209 USA, Tel: 703-312-0825, email: theresa_schwerin@strategies.org

ED08 Making Introductory-Level Science Courses Interesting and Relevant – Best Practices
Science education should help students develop thinking skills. Both the mathematics, technological and scientific skills and knowledge they acquire, and the manner in which their courses are presented, have a lasting influence on their intellectual growth. The U.S. currently ranks second in science literacy among the world’s developed countries, due in large part to college curricula that require non-majors to take introductory science courses. As such, these broad survey courses deserve more attention. Innovative and effective undergraduate teaching and learning both transforms the lives of our non-major students and serves as a promotional tool for attracting new majors. Do you have a unique method for linking the learning of new concepts to what students already know? How do you employ visualization technologies and personal response systems in your classroom? Have you developed techniques for promoting the learning of scientific concepts through the study of science as a process? Do you provide learners with the opportunity to engage in scientific questioning, gather evidence, formulate, justify and/or discard explanations, and evaluate alternatives? Share your insights with colleagues.
Conveners: Patricia Cooper, School of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology, 1680 East-West Rd., POST 802 , Honolulu, HI 96822 USA, Tel: 8089569513, Fax: 8089529152, email: pcooper@hawaii.edu

ED09 Teaching Introductory Geoscience in the 21st Century
Introductory geoscience courses are the main venue both for recruiting students into our majors and for educating a much broader audience about the Earth. Over the past few decades, our understanding of how people learn has improved dramatically. Likewise, the geosciences have expanded rapidly, and now cover a wide variety of research areas, tools, and techniques. It is critical, therefore, that our introductory courses incorporate our best practices from the educational research and give an up-to-date picture of the state of our science. Building on the 2008 Cutting Edge workshop “Teaching Introductory Geoscience in the 21st Century”, this session is intended to provide opportunities for the geoscience community to present research about instructional techniques that enhance student learning in introductory geoscience courses, including physical and historical geology, oceanography, atmospheric and climate science, global change, earth system science, natural hazards, and topical courses. Possible topics include successful innovations in instructional materials, laboratory and field exercises, courses, and curricula; research-based approaches to assessment; and successful methods for engaging new student audiences, among many others.
Conveners: Rachel Teasdale, California State University, Chico, Department of Geological & Environmental Sciences California State University, Chico , Chico, CA 95929-0205 USA, Tel: 5308985547, Fax: 5308985234, email: rteasdale@csuchico.edu, and Jennifer M. Wenner, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Department of Geology 800 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh, WI 54901-8649 USA, Tel: 9204247003, email: wenner@uwosh.edu, and Anne E. Egger, Stanford University, Department of Geological & Environmental Sciences 450 Serra Mall, Bldg 320, Stanford, CA 94305-2115 USA, Tel: 6507240984, email: annegger@stanford.edu

ED10 Promoting the Use of Cyberinfrastructure in the Classroom: Challenges and Success Stories
The development of resources that facilitate digital data acquisition, management and visualization (cyberinfrastructure) has provided new opportunities to enhance scientific inquiry in everyday undergraduate teaching and learning. Egalitarian access to data resources provides a level playing field for educational institutions to engage students in exploration and participation in the scientific process. However, online data resources are often geared toward domain research and present challenges to both non-specialist instructors and students in how to develop teaching modules and reach learning goals, respectively. This session invites papers that provide detailed examples of how online resources are applied in the undergraduate classroom and the range of success attained in the various endeavors.
Conveners: Karin A. Block, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964 USA, Tel: 845-365-8393, email: kblock@ldeo.columbia.edu, and Lehnert A. Kerstin, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964 USA, Tel: 845-365-8506, email: lehnert@ldeo.columbia.edu, and Jeffrey G. Ryan, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33620 USA, Tel: 813-974-1598, email: ryan@shell.cas.usf.edu

ED11 Climate Literacy and Communication Strategies
During the International Geophysical Year in 1958, the US National Academy of Sciences described in the pioneering science education publication "Planet Earth: Mystery with 100,000 Clues" that the natural greenhouse effect was being altered because "our industrial civilization has been pouring carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at a great rate" and that if it remained "it would have a marked warming effect on the earth's climate" and could "cause significant melting of the great icecaps and raise sea levels in time." Over the past fifty years, with few exceptions, science education has made little headway in effectively informing and educating students and citizens about the basics of the climate system in general and human impacts in particular. With the release of the Climate Literacy framework of essential principles and fundamental concepts, the formation of the Climate Literacy Network and numerous formal and informal education and information programs and campaigns, the tide may be turning. This session will examine the urgent need and current efforts to identify high quality education materials, best practices and effective information sharing and communication strategies related to climate variaiblity and change, looking at education and communication research relating to how people learn and make informed decisions including their prior knowledge, ideological filters, and misconceptions, examining deficit knowledge theory as it relates to climate related science, policy and advocacy. We encourage papers be submitted that focus on classroom pedagogical content knowledge curricula, free choice and community-based education programs, efforts to engage and inform underrepresented audiences, and other traditional and emerging communication mediums that relate to science-based climate, energy and/or sustainability topics.
Conveners: Mark S. McCaffrey, CIRES- CU Boulder, , , USA, email: mark.mccaffrey@colorado.edu, and Susan M. Buhr, CIRES- CU Boulder, , , USA, email: susan.buhr@colorado.edu, and Frank Niepold, NOAA, , , USA, email: frank.niepold@noaa.gov

ED12 Integrating Data and Technology in Education: Novel Ways to Promote Earth Science Literacy
The 21st century workforce uses new technologies to process, analyze and visualize geoscience data. Breaking news portrays human events, tomorrow's weather, and natural disasters on high resolution landscape images packaged for cable TV or web outlets. K-12 through college students use GPS and Google Earth for geocaches, science fair projects, campus navigation, and recreation. Educators, more than ever before, are required to combine real data with visualization technology to engage students in the disciplines of science. This session will showcase a wide range of new data, tools, and successful projects for geoscience education.
Conveners: Cathy L. Connor, University Alaska Southeast, 11120 Glacier Highway , Juneau, AK 99801 USA, Tel: 907 796 6293, Fax: 907 796 6406, email: cathy.connor@uas.alaska.edu, and Anupma Prakash, Goephysical Institute University Alaska Fairbanks, 903 Koyukuk Dr; PO Box 757320, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7320 USA, Tel: 907-4741897, Fax: 907-4747290, email: prakash@gi.alaska.edu

ED13 Space Physics Particle Multimedia Products for Education
The concept of how particles, both charged and neutral, behave in space is not an easy concept to convey to students. This includes everything from individual charged particles moving in magnetic fields to radiation effects in the Earth's magnetosphere to major plasma outbursts on the Sun and other stars. This session will highlight the movies, animations, and imagery available to educate students in these concepts. The intent is to understand what is presently available and provide a forum for what would be useful for the future. Participants are asked to bring laptops posters or whatever is necessary to display their products. Participants will, however, have to pay for internet access, if needed.
Conveners: James R. Thieman, NASA/GSFC, Code 690.1, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, Tel: 301-286-9790, Fax: 301-286-1771, email: james.r.thieman@nasa.gov, and Eric R. Christian, NASA Headquarters, Mail Suite 3V23, NASA Hq., Washington, DC 20546 USA, Tel: 202-358-1763, email: eric.r.christian@nasa.gov, and Beth Barbier, SP Systems Inc., Code 661, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, Tel: 301-286-7209, email: beth.barbier@nasa.gov

ED14 Teacher Professional Development Programs Promoting Authentic Scientific Research in the Classroom
This session will focus on scientists, educators, education researchers, evaluators and funding agency program officers providing K-12 teachers with authentic research experiences in science and engineering. Presentations should highlight best practices for the “Teacher Research Experience” (TRE) model. Presentations by those who design, facilitate, evaluate, and fund TRE programs are especially encouraged, as well as presentations by teachers and scientists who have participated in such programs. Suggested areas for presenters to address can include but are not limited to: • The enhanced transfer of knowledge from the teacher/researcher to the students through implementing a research program within the classroom • How these teacher professional development programs play an essential role in science education reform and teacher retention and renewal • Examples of effective programs and techniques for assessing TRE programs • The transformation of the educational environment into an authentic research center • How best to prepare teachers to become part of scientific research teams • The use of o Online learning in teacher professional development o Support systems for teacher researchers o Research community collaboration and o Program assessment and evaluation. • Examples of the value to the scientific community of involving teachers in research • Recommendations for designing and implementing research experiences that align with national, state, and/or local reform efforts in science education • The framework for conceptual learning in terms of the curricula and embedded research activities Presentations on new or ongoing successful models for long and short-term teacher research experiences are invited from the fields of space science, environmental science, atmospheric science, earth science, oceanography, etc. Scientist-teacher research teams are particularly encouraged to submit abstracts for the session. Printed and CD-based materials may be brought by participants to the session to be distributed to attendees.
Conveners: Constance E. Walker, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 N. Cherry Ave. , Tucson, AZ 85719 USA, Tel: 520-318-8535, Fax: 520-318-8451, email: cwalker@noao.edu, and Gail Scowcroft, University of Rhode Island, Office of Marine Programs Graduate School of Oceanography South Ferry Rd. , Narragansett, RI 02882 USA, Tel: 401-874-6486, email: gailscow@gso.uri.edu, and Steven K. Croft, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 N. Cherry Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719 USA, Tel: 520-318-8495, Fax: 520-318-8451, email: scroft@noao.edu, and Stephen M. Pompea, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 N. Cherry Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719 USA, Tel: 520-318-8285, Fax: 520-318-8451, email: spompea@noao.edu

ED15 The International Year of Astronomy 2009: Celebrating Galileo's Legacy of Observations of the Solar System and Beyond
In 2009 we celebrate the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first observations of the planets, sun, and astronomical objects through a telescope. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the United Nations have proclaimed 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) to spread awareness of astronomy’s contributions to society and culture, stimulate young people’s interest in science, portray astronomy as a global peaceful endeavor, and nourish a scientific outlook in society. Activities in the United States are being coordinated by the American Astronomical Society. As part of the IYA-US team, NASA views IYA as an opportunity to share its exciting discoveries in space astronomy and planetary science internationally. In an effort to encourage participation in this celebration and encourage the public to "Look Up" and "Discover the Universe", we invite related papers describing education and outreach programs and coordinating efforts planned for IYA, supporting resources that are suitable for use in this area, and opportunities for scientist participation.
Conveners: Leslie Lynne Lowes, NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory, MS 200-108 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, Tel: 818-393-7734, Fax: 818-393-6024, email: Leslie.L.Lowes@jpl.nasa.gov, and James R. Thieman, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Mailstop 690.1 , Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, Tel: 301-286-9790, Fax: 301-286-1771, email: james.r.thieman@nasa.gov

ED16 Innovations in the Classroom That Can Facilitate and Support Undergraduate Research in the Earth, Ocean, and Space Sciences
Advances in the instrumentation, tools, and data resources for research have led to new classroom approaches that help prepare students to participate in a range of research activities in the earth, ocean and space sciences. This session will highlight innovative classroom uses of research technologies, and new instructional approaches in introductory and upper-level earth, ocean, atmospheric and planetary science courses.
Conveners: Jeffrey G. Ryan, University of South Florida, Dept. Geology Univ. South Florida 4202 East Fowler Ave. SCA 528 , Tampa, FL 33620 USA, Tel: 813-974-1598, Fax: 813-974-2654, email: ryan@shell.cas.usf.edu, and Kirsten Nicolaysen, Whitman College, Department of Geology Whitman College , Walla Walla, WA 99362 USA, Tel: 509-527-4396, Fax: 509-527-5904, email: nicolakp@whitman.edu, and Kathleen Surpless, Trinity University, Department of Geosciences Trinity University One Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212 , San Antonio, TX 78212 USA, Tel: 210-999-7606, Fax: 210-999-7090, email: ksurpless@trinity.edu

ED17 Undergraduate Geoscience Programs: Defining and Assessing the Curriculum
Geoscience departments now offer a variety of BA and BS programs meeting a diversity of goals. This session will showcase the variety of curriculum models that have been developed and the assessments that are being used to measure their success.
Conveners: Cathryn A Manduca, Carleton College, 1 N College Street, Northfield, MN 55057 USA, Tel: 507 646 7096, email: cmanduca@carleton.edu, and R. Heather Macdonald, College of William and Mary, , , USA, email: rhmacd@wm.edu

ED18 IYA Dark Skies Awareness Programs, Citizen Science and You
The loss of a dark night sky as a natural resource is a growing concern. It impacts not only astronomical research, but also our environment in terms of ecology, health, safety, economics and energy conservation. For this reason, “Dark Skies Awareness” is a cornerstone project of the International Year of Astronomy (IYA). Its goal is to raise public awareness of the impact of artificial lighting on local environments by getting people involved in a variety of dark skies-related programs. As one means to reach this goal, the AGU session will immerse participants in hands-on, minds-on activities and resources. A focus will be on “star-hunting” programs like GLOBE at Night, but will also include presentations on a planetarium show, podcasting, social networking, a digital photography contest, the Good Neighbor Lighting Program, Earth Hour, National Dark Skies Week, a traveling exhibit, a video tutorial, Dark Skies Discovery Sites, Astronomy Nights in the (National) Parks, Sidewalk Astronomy, and a Quiet Skies program. The GLOBE at Night program has students and the general public, as citizen-scientists, take data on light pollution levels by comparing observations with stellar maps of limiting magnitudes toward the constellation, Orion. For more precise measurements, citizen-scientists can use digital sky brightness meters. Measurements are then compared with data from previous years, Earth at Night satellite data and population density data. Session participants could include scientists, educators, and education and public outreach professionals. Presenters will provide the “know-how” and the means for session participants to become community leaders in promoting Dark Skies programs like GLOBE at Night as public events at their home institutions. Participants will be able to jump-start their education programs through the use of well-developed instructional materials and kits that will be distributed as part of the workshop, as funding permits. For more information, visit http://astronomy2009.us/darkskies/ and http://www.darkskiesawareness.org/.
Conveners: Constance E. Walker, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 N. Cherry Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719 USA, Tel: 520-318-8535, Fax: 520-318-8451, email: cwalker@noao.edu, and Chuck Bueter, nightwise.org, 15893 Ashville Lane, Granger, IN 46530 USA, Tel: 574-271-3150, email: bueter@rad-inc.com, and Robert Sparks, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 N. Cherry Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719 USA, Tel: 520 318-8313, Fax: 520-318-8451, email: rsparks@noao.edu, and Stephen M. Pompea, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 N. Cherry Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719 USA, Tel: 520-318-8285, Fax: 520-318-8451, email: spompea@noao.edu

ED19 Solid Earth Geovisualizations
Large geological and geophysical datasets from EarthScope and other programs allow for unprecedented resolution of Earth's structure and dynamic processes. This session will highlight visualizations of these data in 3 and 4 dimensions and their applications in geoscience research, education and outreach. Geovisualizations offer tremendous resources for scientists to understand their data and modeling results in much finer detail and from new perspectives. Visualizations also have great potential as teaching and outreach tools providing access to exciting, cutting-edge research results and as a means to explain Earth’s dynamic processes to teachers, students, and the public. We invite contributions from scientists and educators who are developing and using innovative methods of visualizing data from seismology, geodesy, geodynamics, subsurface exploration and other fields investigating the solid Earth.
Conveners: Robert J. Lillie, Oregon State University, Department of Geosciences, 104 Wilkinson Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA, Tel: 541-737-1242, Fax: 541-929-7377, email: lillier@geo.oregonstate.edu, and Louise Kellogg, University of California, Davis, Department of Geology, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA, Tel: 530-752-3690, email: kellogg@geology.ucdavis.edu

ED20 Are You an Explorer? Using Adventure Learning as a Powerful Tool for Your Scientific Mission
Following his discovery of the Titanic, Marine Biologist Dr. Ballard pioneered the delivery of real-world science in the 5th – 8th grade classroom across the nation with his multi-million dollar program, the Jason Project. Today, hundreds if not thousands of scientists around the globe are involved with IPY and the vital element of its mission to ‘educate’ learners of all ages about the polar regions. But how about you, the ‘ordinary scientist?’ As a good citizen scientist often funded by public tax dollars we are asked to communicate and involve the wider K-12 community in our explorations. How do you go about this communication and education in a meaningful way that does not drain resources (be it money or maybe more importantly time and people power) and offers true substance beyond school visit(s) or ‘website’ features to showcase your findings? How do you share your explorations? Grab on to the word “explorations.” You are a scientist… thus you are an explorer. Consider your scientific explorations an adventure—a powerful tool to educate learners worldwide when delivered in an educational, collaborative and exciting context. In 1831 Darwin set out onboard the Beagle to survey the tip of South America. Imagine if Darwin had been online collaborating with students worldwide in an online learning environment anchored in natural and social science curriculum! Learners would not only have been taking part in an exciting journey into the land of unknown – they would have had the opportunity to take part, first hand, in the scientific process, and in the bigger picture of changing the course of science. Such is the excitement of adventure learning! Adventure learning (AL) (Doering, 2005; 2006; 2007) is a proven educational approach that anchored in curriculum and collaboration uses a hybrid online educational environment to connects students with ‘explorers in the field.’ Scientists, fellow experts, students and educators investigate real-world issues through the authentic learning experience presented in your research. The concept is proven with literally thousands of classrooms on six continents and across every state of the US. But, what is the future role of AL in the science community? What is AL bringing to the toolbox for you the scientist? How can scientists use AL for educational outreach? This session is an opportunity to profile the implementation of the principles of an AL program along with six-step process for designing and implementing mini-AL environments, as well as the challenges and rewards of using the AL framework. We invite abstracts that discuss the role of educational outreach within the science community while exploring the delivery of AL and the challenges involved in such an approach. These challenges and opportunities range from the curriculum development, technical issues and solutions, and methods of outreach utilized to maximize your AL program to its fullest extent in your research location, the education and scientific community, the media and to the broader audience.
Conveners: Aaron H. Doering, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Minnesota, 130D Peik Hall 159 Pillsbury Dr SE , Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA, Tel: 6126251073, email: adoering@umn.edu, and Mille Porsild, GoNorth!, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota 1313 5th St, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA, email: mporsild@polarhusky.com, and Robert Max Holmes, Woods Hole Research Center, 149 Woods Hole Road, Falmouth, MA 02540-1644 USA, email: rmholmes@whrc.org, and Paul L. Pregont, GoNorth!, University of Minnesota, 1313 5th St SE Suite 215A, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA, email: ppregont@polarhusky.com

ED21 Remote Sensing Education - Integrated Geospatial Education and Technology Training (iGETT) and CalGETT
These are initiatives to provide training in the area of remote sensing at the Community College Level both at the National Level and the State Level in California. Both initiatives are funded by National Science Foundation and The Industry Driven Regional Collaborative in California.
Conveners: Chris Cruz, West Valley College, 14000 Fruitvale Ave. , Saratoga, Ca 95070 USA, Tel: 408-741-2622, Fax: 408-741-2145, email: chris_cruz@westvalley.edu

ED22 Facilitating Literacy in Fundamental Earth System Concepts and Problems
The current focus by the media on fundamental problems related to the sustainability of human society serves as an important motivation for citizens to understand the complex processes in the Earth system that sustain our environment and deliver energy, food, water, and shelter to our population. It is imperative that the public, students, and teachers achieve a scientifically-based understanding of key concepts in the geosciences which they can draw upon to make sound decisions concerning issues related to our health, security, and economic well-being. From a pedagogical perspective, complex problem solving is an effective means of learning to think creatively and serves as an ideal avenue for achieving multidisciplinary literacy. Over the past several years a number of initiatives have developed or are developing literacy frameworks (Ocean Literacy, Climate Literacy, Atmospheric Science Literacy, Earth Science Literacy) to identify the key concepts and the "big ideas" that citizens should understand. This session will include invited and contributed presentations that highlight efforts to provide guidance to educators and policy makers on the critical knowledge in the geosciences needed by citizens. A dialog will be facilitated among scientists and educators regarding education programs, aimed at various audiences that present Earth system problems at global, regional, or local scales. In many cases, these problems disproportionately impact minority groups, and educators who serve these groups are encouraged to participate in this session. Scientists who have multidisciplinary applications of science affecting societal well-being and that should be articulated in educational forums and programs are also encouraged to participate to strengthen the overall dialog in communicating science to broad audiences.
Conveners: Roberta M. Johnson, UCAR Education and Outreach, , , USA, email: rmjohnsn@ucar.edu, and Susan Eriksson, UNAVCO, 6350 Nautilus Drive, Boulder, CO 80301-5554 USA, Tel: 303-381-7466, Fax: 303-381-7501, email: eriksson@unavco.org, and Rajul Pandya, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000 USA, Tel: 303-497-2650, email: pandya@ucar.edu, and Glenn Richard, Stony Brook University, Earth and Space Sciences Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2100 USA, Tel: 631-632-8336, Fax: 631-632-8140, email: Glenn.Richard@stonybrook.edu

Education and Human Resources also presents jointly with the following Special Sessions:
IN17 Earth and Space Science Applications of GigaPan Imagery
IN03 Emerging Cyberinfrastructure for Geosciences
IN14 Advancing Digital Watersheds and Virtual Environmental Observatories
IN04 Rich Collaboration Environments for Geosciences
IN08 Provenance Management for Large Scale Scientific Datasets
IN22 Data and the Ethos of Science
IN02 Visualizing Scientific Data Using KML and Virtual Globes
GC24 Progress and Challenges in Bridging the Gap Between Science and Decision Making
PA02 Increasing the Societal Impact of Geophysics

Geodesy

G01 Geodesy: General Contributions
This session provides the opportunity for contributions that fall within the broad spectrum of Geodesy.
Conveners: Pascal Willis, Institut Géographique National, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris Geophysique Spatiale et Planetalogie 4, place Jussieu, Paris, 75252 FRA, Tel: + 33 (0)1 57 27 84 81, Fax: +33 1 44 27 73 40, email: willis@ipgp.jussieu.fr, and Matt King, Newcastle University, School of Civil Engineering Cassie Building, Newcastle upon Thyme, NE1 7RU GBR, Tel: +44-191-222-7833, email: m.a.king@ncl.ac.uk

G02 Plate Motion and Its Relation to Deforming Zones
We seek geodetic and geologic studies on plate motion, microplate motion, and their relation to elements in the deforming zones between the plates—faults, slip, great earthquakes, and mountains and rifts generated by active deformation. Important questions relevant to this session include: What fraction of plate motion is being taken up by elastic strain that will be released in earthquakes? What fraction is being taken up by permanent strain that is becoming part of the geologic record? Are deforming belts better described by microplates or by a homogeneous medium? Do estimates of plate motion from magnetic anomalies, transform azimuths, and earthquake slip vectors differ significantly from those from geodetic techniques, such as GPS, VLBI, SLR, and DORIS?
Conveners: Donald F. Argus, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive , Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, Tel: (818) 354 3380, Fax: (818) 393 4965, email: Donald.F.Argus@jpl.nasa.gov, and Jeff T. Freymueller, University of Alaska, , Fairbanks, AK 99775-7320 USA, Tel: (907) 474-7286, Fax: (907) 474-7290, email: jeff.freymueller@gi.alaska.edu

G03 Extracting Signal in Geodetic Measurements
Geodetic observables always integrate signals coming from a variety of sources, from the Earth deepest interior to the highest layers of the atmosphere and above. For example, the measurement of tectonic deformation includes influences from polar motion, tides, atmosphere, glacial isostatic adjustment, erosion processes, monument instabilities, etc. As techniques mature, the dominant signal becomes less interesting, and the exciting science comes from the understanding and physical interpretation of the smaller, second order, contributions hidden close to, or even below, the noise level. This session is devoted to the solutions used by geodesists to isolate, emphasize, separate, analyze and extract the signals they are interested in and the results from different techniques for signal extraction.
Conveners: Olivier de Viron, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris/Université Paris 7, , , FRA, email: deviron@ipgp.jussieu.fr, and Michel Van Camp, Royal Observatory of Belgium, , , BEL, email: mvc@oma.be, and Simon Williams, Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory, , , GBR, email: sdwil@pol.ac.uk, and Juliet Biggs, University of Miami, , , USA, email: jbiggs@rsmas.miami.edu

G04 The Global Geodetic Observing System: Science and Instrumentation
The Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) provides measurements of the time varying gravity, rotation, and shape of the Earth using instruments located on the ground and in space. These measurements need to be accurate to better than a part per billion in order to advance our understanding of the underlying processes that are causing the Earth's rotation, gravity, and shape to change. The terrestrial and celestial reference frames within which the measurements are taken need to be at least an order of magnitude better than this in order to ensure that the measurements are not corrupted by errors in the reference frames. Mass transport in the global water cycle, sea level change, crustal deformation, and interplanetary spacecraft navigation are examples of particularly demanding applications of geodetic measurement systems. Designing the instrumentation and observing networks that are needed to provide geodetic measurements of the accuracy and stability required for these and other applications is an ongoing challenge for GGOS. This session will be a forum for discussing demanding scientific applications of global geodetic measurement systems and the instrumentation and networks that are needed to fulfill those demands.
Conveners: Richard Gross, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, Tel: 818 354-4010, Fax: 818 393-4965, email: Richard.Gross@jpl.nasa.gov, and Mike Pearlman, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA, Tel: 617 495-7481, Fax: 617 496-0121, email: mpearlman@cfa.harvard.edu, and Hans-Peter Plag, University of Nevada, , Reno, NV 89557 USA, Tel: 775 682-8779, Fax: 775 784-1709, email: hpplag@unr.edu, and Markus Rothacher, GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Telegrafenberg A17, Potsdam, D-14473 DEU, Tel: ++49-331-288-1101, Fax: ++49-331-288-1111, email: rothacher@gfz-potsdam.de

G05 Using a Gravimetric Geoid Model to Define and Access a Vertical Datum
The historic method of defining and accessing a vertical datum (leveling to passive benchmarks) can not be sustained to sufficient accuracy for current mapping initiatives in large regions or countries. This is especially true due to the vulnerability of benchmarks to human interference as well as a variety of unmonitored vertical motions. Additionally, the use of GNSS to achieve fast, accurate ellipsoid heights has driven a need to acquire orthometric heights with similar speed and accuracy which also can not be done with a poorly maintained and monitored vertical datum. One solution to this problem is to define the vertical datum through a gravimetric geoid model. This session deals with the challenges toward using a gravimetric geoid as the vertical datum for a country or large region. Topics of interest include (1) Data collection (2) Improvements to geoid modeling theory (3) Long-term monitoring of geoid changes and (4) Practical implications of transitioning to such a vertical datum.
Conveners: Dru A. Smith, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3 , Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA, Tel: 1-301-713-3222 x 144, Fax: 1-301-713-4175, email: dru.smith@noaa.gov, and Jianliang Huang, Natural Resources Canada, 615 Booth Street, Ottawa, ON K1A 0E9 CAN, Tel: 1-613-9471043, Fax: 1-613-9953215, email: jianhuan@NRCan.gc.ca

G06 Geodetic Imaging: Advances in Instrumentation and Methods
The spatial density with which airborne and ground-based sensors can range to the terrain has increased so dramatically over the last two decades that it is now appropriate to think in terms of “geodetic images,” rather than merely point samples for studying surface structure and change. Modern geodetic imaging sensors make it possible to collect high resolution (few meters down to sub-meter scales) topographic data over areas of hundreds to thousands of square kilometers, in time periods of hours to days. Ground-based measurements can add even more detail over smaller areas. The resulting “geodetic imaging” data is of sufficient resolution to allow the development and testing of theories pertaining to localized land surface processes. Geodetic imaging data is also increasingly being used for other applications, such as surface-water hydrology, landscape ecology, mapping of wildlife habitats, and forestry research and management. The focus of this session will be on geodetic imaging technologies, including airborne interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR, UAV-SAR), airborne laser swath mapping (lidar), and ground-based lidar. Of particular interest will be presentations concerning advances in the state-of-the-art of the instrumentation, operating procedures, processing, and filtering of observations to achieve the highest resolution and accuracy. Also of interest will be presentations focusing on the estimation of parameters from geodetic imaging data, and possible improvements to the information content that might be achieved by combining observations from different geodetic imaging sensors (particularly of different resolutions), and combining geodetic imaging data with other types of observations. Presentations reporting scientific results obtained using geodetic images will be welcome, but the emphasis should be on the geodetic aspects of the research as opposed to discoveries more appropriate for presentation in sessions organized under other disciplines.
Conveners: William E. Carter, University of Florida, Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering 365 Weil Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA, Tel: 3523925003, Fax: 3523925032, email: bcarter@ce.ufl.edu, and K. Clint Slatton, University of Florida, Department of Electrical and Computer Enginering 459 New Engineering Building, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA, Tel: 3523920634, email: slatton@ece.ufl.edu, and Yunling Lou, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109-8099 USA, Tel: 818-354-4321, email: yunling.lou@jpl.nasa.gov, and Scott Hensley, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109-8099 USA, Tel: 818-354-4321, email: Scott.Hensley@jpl.nasa.gov

G07 Earth's Reference Frame and Geophysical Interpretation
We seek studies on defining (in theory) and determining (in practice) Earth’s reference frame and their relation to the interpretation of natural phenomena. We welcome research on integrating different space techniques (including GPS, VLBI, SLR, DORIS, and GRACE) to determine Earth’s center, Earth’s spin axis and rate of spin, Earth’s scale, and how these parameters change with time. Scientists are improving the accuracy of GPS position–time series satellite and ground antenna phase center maps of time delay; we invite research on how this is strengthening GPS’s contribution to the reference frame. We would like abstracts on how fluctuation and change in the oceans, atmosphere, and ice sheets relate to Earth’s rotation and Earth’s so-called geocenter (the position of the mass center of solid Earth, atmosphere, and oceans relative to the center of solid Earth), and on how to distinguish geocenter oscillations from vertical oscillations of Earth’s surface. We seek research on how Earth’s center and scale relate to plate tectonics, Earth’s viscous response to the unloading of the late Pleistocene ice sheets, and Earth’s elastic response to recent ice mass changes. We also welcome studies on defining the reference frame of a plate interior for application to regional tectonics and interseismic strain accumulation.
Conveners: Donald F. Argus, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive , Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, Tel: (818) 354 3380, Fax: (818) 393 4965, email: Donald.F.Argus@jpl.nasa.gov, and Erricos C. Pavlis, Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology/Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Acad IV A 114E, Baltimore, MD 21250 USA, Tel: +1 410 455 5832, Fax: +1 410 455 5868, email: epavlis@umbc.edu, and Zuheir Altamimi, Institut Géographique National, Laboratoire de Recherche en Géodésie, 6 & 8 Avenue Blaise Pascal, Champs-sur-Marne, 77455 FRA, Tel: 33 1 64 15 32 55, Fax: 33 1 64 15 32 53, email: altamimi@ensg.ign.fr, and Xiaoping Wu, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, Tel: (818) 354 9366, Fax: (818) 393 4965, email: Xiaoping.Wu@jpl.nasa.gov

G08 Recent Advances in Observation and Modelling of Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA)
Glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) has recently received renewed attention since associated mass transportation is seen as a contaminating signal in Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) estimates of ice sheet mass balance. This session welcomes reports on advances in both the modelling of GIA, including earth and ice sheet models, and its measurement using geodetic and other techniques, including GRACE, GPS, DORIS, absolute gravity, sea-level indicators and geologic and geomorphologic approaches. A particular focus is on GIA processes under the major present-day ice sheets. Therefore, studies that explore present-day errors/uncertainties/deficiencies in GIA models in Antarctica and Greenland, as relevant to GRACE-based ice mass balance studies, will be of wide interest. Large-scale comparisons of the effects of GIA on satellite altimetry, GPS and GRACE data are particularly welcome. Applications of new GIA models - especially those that can deal with more realistic (full 3-D) earth structures and rheologies - to estimates of ice sheet mass balance are further encouraged.
Conveners: Bert Vermeersen, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1 , Delft, 2629HS NLD, email: L.L.A.Vermeersen@tudelft.nl, and Matt King, Newcastle University, School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences Cassie Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU GBR, email: m.a.king@ncl.ac.uk, and Erik Ivins, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, email: Erik.R.Ivins@jpl.nasa.gov

G09 High-Rate GPS Seismometer and Tsunami Remote Sensing
Real-time high-rate GPS data, high-dynamic-range broadband seismic stations, and numerical models have recently provided valuable insights to volcanic/seismic deformation and tsunami genesis, greatly improving rapid assessment of immediate crustal activities, tsunami threat, physical understanding, and identification of new data types for tsunami warning systems. This session will address current capabilities, progresses and future directions/challenges for effectively using high-rate GPS and seismic observations in monitoring volcanic/seismic activities (e.g. post-seismic stress transfer), and modeling tsunamis for early warnings. This session also welcomes submissions that combine high-rate GPS with GRACE, SAR and satellite altimetry data for monitoring, comparing and calibration, as well as propose new applications for these observations, and present future missions/challenges.
Conveners: Shuanggen Jin, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, , Daejeon, 305-348 KOR, Tel: 82-42-8653241, Fax: 82-42-8615610, email: sgjin@kasi.re.kr; sg.jin@yahoo.com, and Tony Y. Song, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA, , Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, email: Tony.Song@jpl.nasa.gov

G10 The Future of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Their Impact on Geodetic, Geophysical and Environmental Applications
The availability of modernized GPS and a revitalized GLONASS system offers a steadily increasing number of opportunities and challenges in the field of geosciences. Very soon the upcoming Galileo system will contribute with additional open signals. This session will address these opportunities starting from the GNSS systems status and performance point of view up to the level of future applications, such as atmosphere monitoring, altimetry from reflected signals, and GNSS time transfer. We further invite presentations dealing with innovative geodetic GNSS-positioning techniques such as high precision real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning, precise point positioning (PPP), and triple/multi-carrier ambiguity resolution (TCAR, MCAR). We also invite presentations on approaches that will, in the future, realize close to real-time delivery of geoscience results due, in part, to new GNSS data processing techniques. In addition, we encourage presentations on the contributions of international services (including, but not limited to, the International GNSS Service), organizations, and programs, which support the geosciences with GNSS data and derived products.
Conveners: Robert Weber, University of Technology, Vienna, , Vienna, A-1040 AUT, Tel: +4315880112865, Fax: +4315880112896, email: robert.weber@tuwien.ac.at, and Larry D. Hothem, US Geological Survey, 517 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20192 USA, Tel: 1-703-648-4663, email: Ldhothem@aim.com, and Richard B. Langley, University of New Brunswick, , Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3 CAN, Tel: 1 506 453-5142, Fax: +1 506 453-4943, email: lang@unb.ca

G11 GNSS/GPS Observation Systems and Their Utility in Climate and Meteorological Applications
From a Geodesist’s perspective, the neutral atmosphere remains a dominating error source in high precision science applications. From an atmospheric scientist’s perspective, geodetic observational systems provide a unique platform to study water vapor in the Earth’s atmosphere. The interface between these two disciplines creates an ideal opportunity for cross-discipline research and two-way collaboration of benefit to both communities. This session solicits input both from geodesists who are creating troposphere products and atmospheric scientists who are using these derived products to address questions related to both high precision geodesy and the global hydrological cycle. Suggestions of science and application questions of particular interest include: • What impact do GNSS tropospheric estimates have on Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) forecasts? • How has the IGS05 reference frame, and the associated change to absolute antenna phase centers, impacted GNSS estimates for climate monitoring? How important is the consistent reprocessing of historical GNSS data for climate studies? • How has the recent evolution in tropospheric mapping functions, including the Global Mapping Function (GMF), the Vienna Mapping Function (VMF), and other direct mapping algorithms impacted geodetic estimates of tropospheric parameters? • How are NWP systems being used to improve estimates of geodetic parameters? • What is the current state of the art in realtime and near-realtime applications of precipitable water vapor estimation for NWP applications? • How can GNSS troposphere estimates be used to improve climate monitoring and sample the Earth’s hydrological cycle? • How can GNSS estimates of tropospheric water vapor be used to validate, calibrate or otherwise complement alternative remotely sensed datasets (e.g. those derived from AIRS, MODIS, AMSR-E, InSar), particularly in relation to previously poorly monitored regions of the Earth? • What can we learn from GNSS measurements about the spatial and temporal variability in atmospheric water vapour on sub-daily to decadal timescales? • What are the future possibilities and / or requirements for GNSS as a climatic or meteorological tool (e.g. Tomography), as we move into the third decade of GNSS measurements?
Conveners: Junhong Wang, National Center for Atmospheric Research, 1850 Table Mesa Dr., Boulder, CO 80305 USA, email: junhong@ucar.edu, and Ian Thomas, Newcastle University, School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences Cassie Building, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU GBR, Tel: +44(0)191 2226739, email: Ian.thomas@ncl.ac.uk, and John Braun, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, 1850 Table Mesa Dr., Boulder, CO 80305 USA, Tel: 303.497.8018, Fax: 303.497.2610, email: braunj@ucar.edu

G12 Ground Based Geodetic Techniques and Science Applications
Ground-based geodesy is a rapidly expanding field. Because of their portability, relative ease of use, long acquisition ranges, and sub-cm spatial resolution, tools such as terrestrial laser scanners (TLS) and/or ground-based radars (GBR) promise to expand our detailed understanding of the fundamental processes that drive a broad range of spatial (3D) and temporal (4D) science applications. controlling deformation and topographic evolution. This special session invites contributions that discuss both the technical aspects of the technology and process-based geoscience studies using ground-based geodetic tools such as, but not limited to, TLS and GBR. What are the strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of the technologies? How is the technology being used to address static and/or dynamic scientific problems? We envision contributions from many disciplines such as geomorphology, structural geology, glaciology, hydrology, snow science, biological science, tectonic, and volcanology.
Conveners: Ben Brooks, SOEST, University of Hawaii, 1680 East-West Rd., Honolulu, HI 96822 USA, Tel: 808-956-7864, email: bbrooks@soest.hawaii.edu, and Gerald Bawden, USGS - Southwest Area, , , USA, email: gbawden@usgs.gov, and David Phillips, UNAVCO, , , USA, email: dap@unavco.org

G13 Ever Faster: Low-Latency Data Collection and Applications Across the Earth Sciences
Rapid access to data from a variety of geophysical instruments is increasingly important for a wide range of Earth science applications. These include earthquake early warning and rapid finite-fault earthquake source models; tsunami and volcano warning; flood warning and hydrologic modeling; improved short-term weather models; landslides, debris flows, and other problems in geomorphology; global environmental change monitoring; and space and atmospheric physics. As a result, it is increasingly common for terrestrial networks, and now even Earth observing satellite missions, to provide low-latency data products, despite significant technical challenges and restricted funding environments. We intend this session to bring together network and data managers, technologists, and researchers with an interest in low-latency data across the Earth sciences. We particularly welcome those presentations that define scientific needs or new solutions that can foster further growth in this exciting area.
Conveners: Greg Anderson, Swiss Seismological Service, ETH-Zurich, , , CHE, email: greg.anderson@sed.ethz.ch, and Sergio Barrientos, University of Chile, , , CHL, email: sbarrien@dgf.uchile.cl, and Gerald Bawden, US Geological Survey, , , USA, email: gbawden@usgs.gov, and Michael Jackson, UNAVCO, , , USA, email: jackson@unavco.org

G14 Hydro-geodesy: Space Geodetic Applications for Hydrology
Space-based geodetic techniques provide highly accurate measurements of the Earth’s solid and aquatic surfaces and their changes over time. Such measurements have revolutionized certain disciplines in solid-earth and ocean sciences and recently have begun to have an increasing impact in hydrology. Technologies such as Radar Altimetry, LIDAR and InSAR provide direct observations of surface water levels and their changes in rivers, lakes, and wetlands. InSAR and GPS also provide indirect observations of groundwater flow and storage by monitoring cm-level land subsidance above alluvial aquifer systems. Reflections from GPS are beginning to be used to infer soil moisture changes. The main advantages for utilizing space geodetic techniques for hydrological applications are: (1) obtaining very reliable data with low logistical difficulties, (2) ability to obtain data in remote regions, (3) low-cost observations, and (4) very high spatial resolution observations (only InSAR and LIDAR) that cannot be obtained by any terrestrial method. The space-based observations provide very valuable constraints for surface and groundwater flow models and for constraining important geophysical parameters, such as flow diffusivity or aquifer transmissivity. Beyond the scientific contributions, some space-based observations can be utilized for improved management of our shrinking water resources. In this session we solicit contributions that cover all aspects of obtaining, modeling and developing management applications of hydrological-related space-geodetic observations. We also would like to address the question “How can we bridge the gaps between remote sensing products and science requirements?” Contributions of airborne-base geodetic studies, i.e. LIDAR and SAR, with hydrological applications are also welcomed.
Conveners: Shimon Wdowinski, University of Miami, , , USA, email: shimonw@rsmas.miami.edu, and Kristine Larson, University of Colorado, , , USA, email: kristinem.larson@gmail.com, and Philippa Berry, De Montfort University, , , GBR, email: pamb@dmu.ac.uk, and Peter Bauer-Gottwein, Technical University of Denmark, , , DNK, email: pbg@env.dtu.dk

G15 Ionospheric Effects on GNSS Positioning and Navigation
This Session will focus on ionospheric effects on GNSS signals, as well as on current techniques to model, monitor, forecast and mitigate such effects, and in particular their importance and impact for end users, from safety critical to carrier phase based high accuracy applications such as RTK networks. We expect contributions relating to TEC monitoring and imaging techniques to describe the upper atmosphere plasma, as well as work in the area of mitigation of ionospheric perturbation phenomena such as Ionospheric scintillation, traveling ionospheric disturbances, steep TEC gradients, rapid TEC variations and TEC depletions. Studies on synergies between space weather and these ionospheric perturbations are also of relevance for this session. Existing or new models, services and receiver tracking technology to aid users in the face of the forthcoming solar maximum are of special interest. Contributions relating to user experience in this field are also encouraged. Presentations on studies related to high order ionosphere errors affecting high accuracy and real-time GNSS techniques, as well as their effects on reference frame for applications in geodetic positioning and navigation are also welcome.
Conveners: Marcio Aquino, University of Nottingham, , Nottingham, Not NG7 2RD GBR, Tel: 0044 115 9513878, email: marcio.aquino@nottingham.ac.uk, and Joao Galera Monico, Sao Paulo State University P. Prudente, , , BRA, email: galera@fct.unesp.br, and Eurico de Paule, National Institute for Space Research, , , BRA, email: eurico@dae.inpe.br

G16 GRACE and Gravity Missions - Interdisciplinary Science and Analysis Techniques
This session is intended to highlight recent science results from GRACE and other missions that do not fit easily into other focused sessions due to their multidisciplinary nature, and to highlight interesting and innovative analysis issues associated with GRACE and general gravity data. We also welcome any discussion of GOCE and GRACE/GOCE synergy or combination
Conveners: Michael M. Watkins, California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA, email: michael.watkins@jpl.nasa.gov, and R. Steven Nerem, CCAR/University of Colorado, Campus Box 431, Boulder, CO 80309 USA, email: nerem@colorado.edu, and Mark E. Tamisiea, Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory, , , GBR, email: mtam@pol.ac.uk

G17 Understanding Geosphere and Cryosphere Processes Using Spaceborne Measurements of Deformation, Altimetry, and Topography
Spaceborne measurements of deformation provide a synoptic view of solid earth and cryosphere processes, including earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, subsidence, ice sheet mass balance, and sea ice motions and thinning or thickening. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar and GPS data provide precise measurement of surface deformation, providing insight into crustal motions at depth and ice motions and velocities. Precise measurement of surface height and change complements the kinematic data by adding additional parameters such as sea ice freeboard, ice sheet thickness change, and large vertical changes that may result in decorrelation of the InSAR signal. Fusion of the kinematic and height data will improve our understanding of ice sheet flux and mass balance, post glacial rebound, sea ice interactions with the ocean and atmosphere, landslide extent, subsidence, and earthquake and volcanic processes. We solicit talks discussing results from existing InSAR, GPS, and altimetric data, and for understanding potential data fusion from future mission implementations such as DESDynI’s InSAR and Lidar, ICESat’s Lidar, and Tandem L-band InSAR.
Conveners: Andrea Donnellan, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Mail Stop 300-331 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109-8099 USA, Tel: 818-354-4737, Fax: 818-393-7298, email: andrea.donnellan@jpl.nasa.gov, and Irena Hajnsek, Microwaves and Radar Institute, German Aerospace Center, P.O. Box 1116, Wessling, 82234 DEU, Tel: 49-8153-28-2363, Fax: 49-8153-28-1135, email: Irena.Hajnsek@dlr.de, and Isabella Velicogna, Department of Earth System Science, UC Irvine, 3226 Croul Hall , Irvine, CA 92697-3100 USA, Tel: 949-824-5419, Fax: 949-824-3874, email: Isabella.Velicogna@gmail.com, and Rowena Lohman, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, Snee Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA, Tel: 607-255-6929, Fax: 607-254-4780, email: rolohman@gmail.com

G18 Geodetic-Quality GNSS Stations: Location, Equipment, and Monumentation
When interpreting GNSS site coordinates, geodesists and geophysists focus their efforts on minimizing GNSS signal distortions (noise, measurement error, and modeling error) while maximizing the precision and accuracy of calculated positions. Recent studies have advanced the characterization and removal of sources of noise and error in GNSS a priori models, thereby improving the physical models used when computing position from the observed signals and allowing refined analysis such as the IGS reprocessing effort that is currently underway. Yet we recognize that mitigating these signal distortion effects can be much more challenging than avoiding the problems in the first place. Thus an additional area that has begun getting attention is the more basic one of a site’s physical location, choice of monument type, and GNSS equipment (receiver, antenna, mount, radome, etc.). In the upcoming years, new GNSS systems are coming online and an increasing number of permanent geodetic GNSS sites are being installed (by both private and public institutions). At the same time some users are moving away from analyzing 24-hour long data sets to shorter ones, and are increasingly at the mercy of site-dependent errors. Thus, it is time for the geodetic community to renew discussion on choices of GNSS sites, equipment, and monuments to properly leverage data analysis advances at a time of GNSS network expansion and changes in analysis methods. We solicit papers on factors which affect the quality of geodetic GNSS sites and the data collected at these stations. Topics include but are not limited to site-dependent effects such as multipath (environmental and equipment), sky visibility, and radio interference; time-varying environmental effects (e.g. vegetation, rainfall, snow); and monument type, stability, and location. Papers which discuss the characterization and reduction of GNSS signal propagation errors in terms of site design and choice of equipment are especially encouraged.
Conveners: Giovanni Sella, National Geodetic Survey, 1315 E West Hwy, SSMC3-8716, Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA, Tel: 301-713-3198 x126, email: giovanni.sella@noaa.gov, and Andria Bilich, National Geodetic Survey, 325 Broadway St. E/GC2, Boulder, CO 80305 USA, Tel: 303-397-5095, email: andria.bilich@noaa.gov, and Emma Hill, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Space Geodesy Group 60 Garden Street, MS 42, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA, Tel: 617-495-7075, Fax: 617-495-7345, email: ehill@cfa.harvard.edu, and Chuck Meertens, UNAVCO, UNAVCO Facility Director 6350 Nautilus Drive , Boulder, CO 80301-5554 USA, Tel: 303-381-7465, email: chuckm@unavco.org

G19 Borehole Geodetic and Seismic Networks: Techniques and Results
As the Earthscope/PBO integrated borehole seismic and geodetic network nears completion and matures, new opportunities and challenges are presented for the solid earth sciences. Exciting new possibilities are evident: temporal and spatial resolution of slow slip events, scaling relationships between small and large earthquakes, and detection and modeling of deformation transients associated with seismic and magmatic processes are all improved through the integrated use of borehole and surface techniques. It is also evident that current modeling techniques may need to be broadened to take full advantage of these data along with those from surface networks. This session will discuss all aspects of such networks including data access, formats, analysis, calibration methods, research using borehole data, and comparative studies with similar networks in Japan (HiNET) and Taiwan. We welcome contributions on any of the above and related topics, especially those that integrate data from multiple instrument platforms.
Conveners: David Mencin, UNAVCO, 6350 Nautilus Dr., Boulder, CO 80301 USA, email: mencin@unavco.org, and Evelyn Roeloffs, USGS-CVO, , , USA, email: evelynr@usgs.gov, and Greg Beroza, Stanford University, , , USA, email: beroza@stanford.edu, and Roland Burgmann, UC Berkeley, , , USA, email: burgmann@seismo.berkeley.edu

G20 Coseismic and Postseismic Deformation From the M8.0 Sichuan, China Earthquake
Shaking from the 320 km long rupture of faults in the Longmenshan destroyed thousands of structures killing nearly 70,000 people and leaving more than 4.8 million homeless. Understanding the time variations in the crustal stresses associated with the co- and post-seismic deformation from this earthquake will be important for seismic hazard analysis in the region. This session will focus on the use of radar interferometry, GPS, satellite optical, and field mapping to measure and monitor the crustal deformation for this event. The rupture occurred in an area of extreme topography, moderate vegetation, and high rainfall which necessitate the use of longer wavelength L-band radar to retain phase coherence. The InSAR coverage from ALOS and Envisat is excellent but will require new multipass strip mode combination methods as well as pixel offset measurements and ScanSAR interferometry to understand the spatial and temporal variations in crustal deformation over such a large area. GPS measurements will be needed to monitor the regional variations in interseismic and postseismic deformation. The low rates of interseismic deformation measured by GPS contrast with the coseismic and expected postseismic strain. Models of postseismic deformation, driven by the co-seismic stress perturbation, will provide important information on hazards from future earthquakes and aftershocks.
Conveners: Masanobu Shimada, JAXA/EORC, , , JPN, email: shimada.masanobu@jaxa.jp, and Eric Fielding, JPL, , , USA, email: Eric.J.Fielding@jpl.nasa.gov, and David Sandwell, Scripps Inst. of Oceano., , , USA, email: dsandwell@ucsd.edu, and Linlin Ge, Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information, , , AUS, email: l.ge@unsw.edu.au

G21 Bowie Lecture
Bowie lecture for Geodesy
Conveners: Jim Davis, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, , , USA, email: jdavis@cfa.harvard.edu, and Pascal Willis, Institut Geographique National, Direction Technique 2, avenue Pasteur, Saint-Mande, 94160 FRA, email: willis@ipgp.jussieu.fr

Geodesy also presents jointly with the following Special Sessions:
S08 Rotational Motions in Seismology and Engineering: Progress in Instruments, Theory, Observations, and Applications
V27 “Failed” Magmatic Eruptions: When Unrest Leads to Quiescence
T26 Microplate Geodynamics
C23 Satellite Geodesy of the Polar Oceans
S17 Observations and Phenomenology of Non-Volcanic Earthquake Swarms
ED19 Solid Earth Geovisualizations
GP05 Realizing the Potential of Potential-Fields
IN07 Making Earth Science Data Records
IN09 EarthScope and CyberInfrastructure
T19 Tectonic Structure of the Middle East
T14 Earthquake Geology and Active Tectonics in South and East Asia
T28 Characterizing Recent Deformation Across Active Faults
S15 Seismological Investigations of the 2008/05/12 Ms8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake
DI13 Linking Earth's Deep Interior to the Surface: The Present Mantle
T03 Integrating the Effects of Exhumation, Erosion, and Tectonics Over Space and Time at Convergent Margins
T11 Deformation in the Shallow Part of Subduction Zones Based on Field Studies, Numerical Simulations, and Analogue Experiments
T23 Retro-Plate Deformation at Retreating and Advancing Subduction Zones
T24 Recent Advances in Understanding the Gulf of California – Salton Trough Plate Boundary System: Along Strike and Through Time
T17 Putting the M7.9 Sichuan Earthquake in Context – The Evolution of the Longmen Shan and Eastern Margin of Tibet
T29 Understanding Strike-Slip Fault Systems
S02 The M7.1 Messina, Italy, Earthquake and Tsunami of 28 December 1908: 100 Years of Research on an Important Destructive Earthquake
S04 Mechanics of Slow and Fast Slip in Active Faults
S09 Dynamic Rupturing of Earthquake at Various Scales
S06 Monitoring Temporal Changes of Earth's Properties with Seismic Waves
S13 Investigation and Public Awareness of Earthquake Hazard in Northern California
A53 The 2008 Eruptions of Okmok and Kasatochi Volcanoes, Alaska

Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism

GP01 Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism: General Contributions
This session provides the opportunity for contributions that fall within the broad spectrum of Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism.
Conveners: Kenneth P. Kodama, Lehigh University, , Bethlehem, PA 18015 USA, email: kpk0@lehigh.edu

GP02 Mapping the Internal Architecture of Igneous Systems: Applications of Geophysical and Structural Techniques
This session will focus on recent advances in the application of geophysical and structural techniques to visualise the geometry and internal architecture of igneous systems. We invite contributions that have made significant insights into the physical emplacement processes involved in the construction of igneous and volcanic bodies through the application of techniques including anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS), paleomagnetism, rock magnetism, 2D-3D seismic analysis, gravity-magnetic modelling, remote sensing or tectonic/structural analysis. We are particularly interested in how physical emplacement models can reveal links between igneous systems at various scales from the crustal plutonic-volcanic link to the sub volcanic plumbing of large igneous provinces and individual centres. The use of AMS as a fabric analysis technique is a notable example where very subtle igneous fabrics can be constrained, revealing information about magma flow, accommodation related deformation, source area recognition for extrusive deposits, and the pulsed nature of magma emplacement. This session should provide a common forum for structural geologists, geophysicists, volcanologists and igneous petrologists to discuss the issues related to the physical nature and evolution of igneous systems. It is hoped that through bringing together this diverse mix of geoscientists to discuss physical emplacement models of igneous rocks, there will be a greater appreciation of the importance of physical/structural techniques in understanding igneous systems.
Conveners: Michael S. Petronis, New Mexico Highlands University, Environmental Geology, Department of Natural Sciences, Las Vegas, NM 87701 USA, email: mspetro@nmhu.edu, and Carl Stevenson, University of Birmingham, School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Birmingham, B15 2TT GBR, email: c.t.stevenson@bham.ac.uk, and Travis Niabert, University of New Mexico, Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, Albuquerque, NM 87131 USA, email: tjn@unm.edu, and John Geissman, University of New Mexico, Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, Albuquerque, NM 87131 USA, email: jgeiss@unm.edu

GP03 Superchrons to Cryptochrons
Temporal fluctuations in the geomagnetic field provide a window into the behaviour of the Earth's deep interior. The rich spectrum involved spans timescales ranging from tens of millions of years down to centuries, or even less. Emerging data constrain the strength and stability of the dipole momentduring long periods (>107 years) devoid of polarity reversals, but the suggestion that an underlying connection exists between dipole moment and reversal frequency remains an open question. At time scales between 105 and 104 years, the occurrence of cryptochrons are revealed by 'micro-anomalies' in marine magnetic profiles, but debate continues as to whether these reflect fluctuations of the dipole moment or true polarity reversals. This session will provide a forum for the discussion of observations and computer simulations. Relevant observations include land-based sedimentary and volcanic sections, marine magnetic profiles, and oceanic sediments. Computer simulations include both geomagnetic field behaviour and geological processes at accreting margins.
Conveners: Michael Edwin Evans, University of Alberta, , Edmonton, CAN, email: evans@phys.ualberta.ca, and Cor Langereis, University of Utrecht, , Utrecht, NLD, email: langer@geo.uu.nl, and Valerian Bachtadse, LMU, , Munich, DEU, email: valerian@geophysik.uni-muenchen.de

GP04 Recent Progress in EM Studies of Crust and Mantle from Ground and Space
Both global and regional electromagnetic (EM) studies of the conducting Earth have advanced significantly over the past few years. This progress was driven by the new developments in the methods of processing, modelling and inversion of EM data, as well as by the increased accuracy, coverage and variety of the newly available data sets (e.g., magnetic measurements from Oersted, CHAMP, SAC-C satellites, transoceanic voltage observations, long period MT array measurements, etc.). We seek contributions illustrating the current state of knowledge and new opportunities in this field. Works related to three-dimensional (3-D) modelling and inversion are particularly welcome. We invite both theoretical developments and real-world examples, in which new modelling, inversion or data processing algorithms are applied to real EM data.
Conveners: Alexey Kuvshinov, Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, Schafmattstrasse 30, Zurich, 8093 CHE, Tel: 410446333619, email: kuvshinov@erdw.ethz.ch, and Anna Kelbert, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, 104 Ocean Admin Building , Corvallis, OR 97331-550 USA, Tel: 541-737-4113, email: anya@coas.oregonstate.edu

GP05 Realizing the Potential of Potential-Fields
Potential-fields, particularly gravity and magnetic fields, have long had an important role in studying the earth. In recent decades – in part driven by Thomas G. Hildenbrand – these methods have taken on new significance with the advent of greater computational power, improved collateral data sets, advanced instrumentation and observational platforms, theoretical advances, and better forms of illustrating results. Ongoing advances in inversion theory, 3-D analysis, data sets and their integration, and knowledge of physical properties are improving our understanding of the lithospheric architecture and processes. This session welcomes papers that show how theoretical and technological advances in potential-field geophysics are improving the application of gravity and magnetic methods to answering questions regarding earthquake science, hazard assessment, hydrology, energy and mineral resources, and the nature and geodynamics of the earth and other planets.
Conveners: Victoria Langenheim, U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road MS989, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA, Tel: 650-329-5313, email: zulanger@usgs.gov, and Victor Labson, U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25046 Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225 USA, Tel: 303-236-13, email: vlabson@usgs.gov, and William Hinze, Purdue University, 30 Brook Hollow Lane, West Lafayette, IN 47906 USA, Tel: 765-583-2530, email: wjh730@comcast.net

GP06 Testing Magnetic Proxies: Models, Experiments, Comparisons With Other Techniques
Rock-magnetic techniques can provide powerful proxies to reconstruct past environmental conditions but relatively few studies address the reliability of such reconstructions. For this session we invite contributions that critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of magnetic techniques or suggest ways to improve the quality and robustness of rock-magnetic reconstructions. Contributions could, for example, discuss the results of multidisciplinary studies, compare multiple sites, carefully characterize the magnetic signal of certain environmental processes or the tell-tale signals of potential disturbances. Contributions could also compare models and/or laboratory experiments with natural environments, which can include synthetic analogons, laboratory experiments on specific processes, e.g. oxidation, growth/dissolution, specific model testing on sections and/or sample collections from around the world.
Conveners: Christoph E. Geiss, Trinity College, 300 Summit St., Hartford, CT 06106 USA, Tel: (860) 297 4191, Fax: (860) 987 6239, email: christoph.geiss@trincoll.edu, and Beatriz Ortega, Universidad Nacional A. Mexico, Instituto de Geofisica Cd. Universitaria , Coyoacan, FDM 04510 MEX, Tel: 55-555-09305, Fax: 55-562-24232, email: bortega@geofisica.unam.mx, and Ramon Egli, Ludwig Maximilians Universitaet, Theresien Str. 41, Muenchen, 80333 DEU, email: ramon.egli@geophysik.uni-muenchen.de

GP07 Paleo-Geomagnetism From Marine and Continental Drilling
In many cases seafloor and continental drilling provides the best or even only opportunity to obtain a complete and continuous record of Earth’s history at a particular location or time. Here we seek contributions to our understanding of the geomagnetic field from paleomagnetic studies derived from oceanic and continental drilling experiments. Papers presenting new datasets, integration and synthesis of previously derived data sets, as well as statistical and/or other data assimilation efforts employed to characterize the geomagnetic field from drilling derived data over all timescales are welcome. We invite contributions on directional variability, estimates of field strength, rock magnetic properties controlling these estimates, records of excursions, polarity transitions and magnetic stratigraphy as obtained from oceanic (DSDP, ODP, IODP) and continental drilling of rocks and sediments.
Conveners: Emilio Herrero-Bervera, SOEST-HIGP University of Hawaii at Manoa, Paleomagnetics and Petrofabrics Laboratory 1680 East West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA, Tel: 808-956-6192, Fax: 808-956-3188, email: herrero@soest.hawaii.edu, and David Krasa, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JW GBR, Tel: 44-0-131-650-4838, Fax: 44-0-131-668-3184, email: david.krasa@ed.ac.uk, and Joseph Stoner, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State UIniversity, 104 COAS Admin Building, Corvallis, Ore 97331 USA, Tel: 541-737-9002, Fax: 541-737-3504, email: jstoner@coas.oregonstate.edu

GP08 Analog Modeling of Deep Planetary Interiors
Laboratory fluid dynamics and mineral physics experiments have long provided researchers with a means of investigating diverse and complex processes relevant to the dynamics and evolution of deep planetary interiors. This integrated, deep Earth session will provide an interdisciplinary forum in which recent laboratory studies from the geodynamics, planetary science and mineral physics communities are discussed and compared. In particular, we invite contributions related to core-mantle coupling; thermochemical and non-Newtonian mantle convection; flow in the outer core; inner core-outer core coupling; and the physical properties of the lowermost mantle and core.
Conveners: Jonathan Aurnou, UCLA, Earth and Space Sciences, 3806 Geology Bldg., UCLA , Los Angeles, CA 90095-1567 USA, Tel: 310.825.2054, Fax: 310.825.2779, email: aurnou@ucla.edu, and Mark Jellinek, UBC, Earth and Ocean Sciences, 6339 Stores Road, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 USA, Tel: 604.822.9338, Fax: 604.822.6088, email: mjellinek@eos.ubc.ca

GP09 Testing the Fidelity of the Field Records
The degree of uncertainty linked to our knowledge of the past geomagnetic field is frequently given by error bars derived from statistical treatments. Other sources of errors are linked to the signal itself which are delicate to determine. This session will be devoted to on-going research involving all possible sources of errors, technical advances and new techniques in studies of field behavior. We thus welcome contributions aimed at improving our knowledge of the magnetization processes, at reducing the uncertainties (particularly for data and models of paleosecular variation, records of absolute and relative paleointensity and reversal studies) as well as comparisons between multiple records of the same geomagnetic features.
Conveners: Jean-Pierre Michel Valet, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, 4, Place Jussieu, Paris, 75252 FRA, Tel: 33144273566, Fax: 33144277463, email: valet@ipgp.jussieu.fr, and Emilio Herrero-Bervera, Hawai`i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, 1680 East-West Road, POST 602, Honolulu, HI HI 96822 USA, Tel: (808) 956-6192, Fax: (808) 956-3188, email: herrero@soest.hawaii.edu, and Andrew Jackson, ETH Zurich, Institut fur Geophysik, Zurich, 8093 CHE, Tel: +41 44 633 73 49, email: andrew.jackson@erdw.ethz.ch

GP10 Magnetism of Shock in Impact Craters and Planetary Magnetic Anomalies – New Developments
This special session will provide a forum for presentation and discussion on recent developments in studies of impact craters, paleomagnetic record of shocked lithologies, impact related rock magnetic properties, magnetic anomalies of impact craters and magnetic field generation in impacts. Effects of impact related shock on magnetic properties and magnetizations have been long investigated. Recently, new data and observations in terrestrial impact structures and in other planetary bodies, including the Mars Global Surveyor mission, high resolution multi-disciplinary observations on terrestrial craters and laboratory experiments have increased interest on impact and shock effects. We welcome presentations on a wide range of aspects related to impact craters and lithologies, laboratory experiments on natural and artificial materials, theoretical studies, magnetic fields generated by impacts and magnetic anomalies on impact craters.
Conveners: Jaime Urrutia Fucugauchi, National University of Mexico, Instituto de Geofisica, UNAM Cd Universitaria Coyoacan, Mexico, 04510 MEX, Tel: 52-55-56224227, email: juf@geofisica.unam.mx, and Laurent Carporzen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, EAPS Department Massachusetts Institute of Technology 77 Massachusetts Avenue , Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 USA, Tel: +1 (617) 324-2829, email: lcarpo@mit.edu, and Jérôme Gattaceca, CNRS / University of Aix-Marseille, Geophysics and Planetology CEREGE, CNRS / University of Aix-Marseille BP 80, Cedex 4, Aix-en-Provence, 13545 FRA, Tel: +33 (0)4 42 97 15 08, Fax: +33 (0)4 42 97 15 95, email: gattacceca@cerege.fr, and Michael D Fuller, University of Hawai`i at Manoa, University of Hawai`i at Manoa Hawai`i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology 1618 East-West Road, POST Bldg., room 716A, Hawai`i , Honolulu, 96822 USA, Tel: (808) 956-4038, Fax: (808) 956-3188, email: mfuller@soest.hawaii.edu

GP11 Magnetic Properties and Behavior of Single Crystals and Their Inclusions
Understanding the magnetic properties of single crystals is necessary for the interpretation of rock magnetism and its ever growing applications to Geosciences. From paleomagnetism, paleointensity studies, planetary geology, deformation studies to environmental magnetism, all these disciplines critically rely on the knowledge of single crystal properties. Yet, for several decades applications have been developed faster than fundamental studies on minerals. Improvements in the sensitivity of instrumentation have permitted, in the last five years, significant progress on diamagnetic, paramagnetic and ferromagnetic minerals. At the same time, advances made at the microscopic scale have highlighted the role played by ferromagnetic inclusions in other minerals. The session will provide an opportunity to measure how much progress has been made and to define the outstanding challenges. The session will also be a showcase and forum for new methodologies and instrumentation.
Conveners: Fatima Martin Hernandez, Universidad Complu tense, Department of Geophysics Faculty of Physics, Madrid, ESP, email: fatima@fis.ucm.es, and Eric C. Ferre, Southern Illinois University, Department of Geology, Carbondale, IL 62901 USA, Tel: 618-453-7368, Fax: 618-453-7393, email: eferre@geo.siu.edu, and Joshua Feinberg, University of Minnesota, Department of Geology, Minneapolis, MN USA, email: feinberg@umn.edu

GP12 Fine Particle Rock-Magnetism
The major carriers of magnetic remanence in rocks are fine magnetic particles containing single domain (SD) or pseudo-single-domain (PSD) magnetic structures. The process by which they record the Earth's field is not fully understood when the particles are close enough to interact, or when they contain non-uniform magnetic structures. In recent years, however, a great deal of progress has been made in understanding these complex systems using new numerical or analytic models and new experimental observations. This session welcomes papers on all aspects of fine particle rock magnetism that demonstrate a new understanding of the fidelity of magnetic recording. This will include micromagnetic modeling of single particles and particle arrays, analytic models of magnetic behavior in fine particles, examining both field dependence and the role of thermal fluctuations over laboratory and geological time-scales. We also welcome papers on experimental studies of fine particle systems, for example, synthesis of magnetic minerals, advances in mineralogical characterization and quantification of magnetic stability.
Conveners: Wyn Williams, Edinburgh Univeristy, Grant Institute West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JW GBR, email: wyn.williams@ed.ac.uk, and Adrian Muxworthy, Imperial College, South Kensington Camupus , London, SW7 2AZ GBR, email: adrian.muxworthy@imperial.ac.uk, and Andrew Newell, North Carolina State University, Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Box 8208, Raleigh, NC 27695-8208 USA, Tel: 1-919-834-7998, email: andrew_newell@ncsu.edu, and Joshua Feinberg, University of Minnesota, Department of Geology, Minneapolis, MN USA, email: feinberg@umn.edu

GP13 Geomagnetic Field Modeling and Interpretation of Satellite, Observatory, Marine and Aeromagnetic Data
The LEO satellite missions CHAMP and Oersted continue to provide high-quality magnetic measurements at solar minimum conditions, resolving the geomagnetic field with unprecedented spatial and temporal accuracy. Exciting new opportunities arise from the upcoming Swarm mission and from combining satellite observations with observatory, marine and aeromagnetic data. We solicit contributions on new modeling approaches, as well as the analysis and interpretation of the data and models in terms of core dynamics, mantle conductivity, crustal magnetization, ocean induction, external current systems and related effects.
Conveners: Stefan Maus, NOAA, , , USA, email: stefan.maus@noaa.gov, and Roger Haagmans, ESA, , , USA, email: Roger.Haagmans@esa.int

GP14 Paleomagnetism Applied to Tectonics
Paleomagnetism has been a major and important tool for solving and elucidating tectonic problems in the geosciences. Paleomagnetic directions provide evidence for intracratonic vertical axis rotations, for terrane translation, for paleogeographic reconstructions, and for supercontinent assembly and dispersal. This session welcomes papers that demonstrate the important contributions paleomagnetism has made to understanding tectonics, both global and regional.
Conveners: Kenneth P. Kodama, Lehigh University, 31 Williams Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18015 USA, Tel: 610-758-3663, Fax: 610-758-3677, email: kpk0@lehigh.edu, and Jonathan M Glen, US Geological Survey, , Menlo Park, CA USA, email: jglen@usgs.gov

GP15 Bullard Lecture

Conveners: Cathy Constable, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, , , USA, email: cconstable@ucsd.edu

Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism also presents jointly with the following Special Sessions:
G02 Plate Motion and Its Relation to Deforming Zones
T15 Paleo- and Neotethyan Closure: Geological Consequences and Geodynamic and Paleoclimatological Inferences
T26 Microplate Geodynamics
ED14 Teacher Professional Development Programs Promoting Authentic Scientific Research in the Classroom
GC06 Deccan Volcanism, Chixculub Impact, Global Environmental Change, the KTB and Other Mass Extinctions
PP03 Loess 2.0 – Renaissance in the Study of the Terrestrial Dust Record
B45 Fires in the Earth System
IN03 Emerging Cyberinfrastructure for Geosciences
IN04 Rich Collaboration Environments for Geosciences
S12 Search for Large Earthquake Precursors from Space and Ground Observations
DI13 Linking Earth's Deep Interior to the Surface: The Present Mantle
IN08 Provenance Management for Large Scale Scientific Datasets
T18 Transforming the View of Cascadia Through Interpretation of Multidisciplinary Data Sets
DI06 The Ins and Outs of the Earth’s Core

Global Environmental Change

GC01 Global Environmental Change: General Contributions
This session provides the opportunity for contributions that fall within the broad spectrum of Global Environmental Change.
Conveners: Steven Lloyd, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, , , USA, email: steven.a.lloyd@nasa.gov, and Ana I. Prados, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology (JCET) NASA/GSFC, Code 610.2, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, Tel: 301-614-5494, email: Ana.I.Prados@nasa.gov

GC02 Land-Atmosphere-Cryosphere Interactions in Northern Eurasia
Northern Eurasia is undergoing significant changes associated with warming climate and with socio-economic changes during the entire 20th century. Climatic changes over this vast landmass interact and affect the rate of global change through atmosphere-terrestrial-cryosphere feedbacks and through strong biogeophysical and biogeochemical couplings. Current and future interactions and feedbacks to the global system of this carbon-rich, cold region component of the Earth system remain to a large extent unknown. There are still large uncertainties in model representation of both precipitation and underlying processes that drive the carbon, hydrology and energy cycles of the northern high latitudes. Model representation of snow, snow redistribution, permafrost, effects of lakes and wetlands are marginal, a problem that is compounded by large uncertainties in observations. Many of the global modeling groups are developing Earth system model components that represent processes specific to the high-latitudes, including organic soils, permafrost, wetlands, ice sheet dynamics and/or biogeography; however, there is no robust or rigorous methodology for testing and evaluating model implementation. We invite presentations on this topic, as well as presentations linking observations at the surface, remote sensing and modeling, essential for model validation. The Northern Eurasia Earth Science Partnership Initiative (NEESPI) is an interdisciplinary program of internationally-supported Earth systems and science research that addresses large-scale and long-term manifestations of climate and environmental change focusing on Northern Eurasia (http://neespi.org). The major NEESPI science question is: How do Northern Eurasia's terrestrial ecosystems dynamics interact with and alter the biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the Earth? We invite papers on all areas of NEESPI science, including biogeochemical cycles in Northern Eurasia, the surface energy budget and water cycle in Northern Eurasia, climate and terrestrial ecosystems interactions in Northern Eurasia (land cover and land use, atmospheric aerosols, soil, and, in particular, permafrost changes that affect and are being affected by climate and ecosystems changes), “human dimension” that includes, in addition to regional impact studies of environmental changes, the feedback studies of societal and land use changes on regional and global environment and climate, and tools to address the Northern Eurasia studies (paleoclimatic reconstructions, present and past field campaigns, remote sensing, and modeling).
Conveners: Pavel Groisman, UCAR Project Scientist at NOAA National Climatic Data Center, Federal Building 151 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 USA, Tel: +1 828 271-4347, Fax: +1 828 271-4328, email: pasha.groisman@noaa.gov, and Irina Sokolik, Georgia Institute for Technology, , Atlanta, GA USA, email: isokolik@eas.gatech.edu, and Vladimir Romanovsky, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, , Fairbanks, AK USA, email: ffver@uaf.edu, and Herman Henry Shugart, University of Virginia, , Charlottesville, VA 22904-4123 USA, email: hhs@virginia.edu

GC03 Urban Impact on the Weather, Climate, and Hydrology: Field Experiments, Modeling, Remote Sensing, and Societal Implications
Urbanization is a well-known manifestation of how human activities affect the natural climate system. Remote sensing measurements (in particular, urban surface temperature, albedo, emissivity, vegetation, precipitation, soil moisture, and others) have been used to understand the urban climate system. Hydrometeorological and climate modeling has vastly improved by implementing such remotely sensed data to characterize the heterogeneity of urban and non-urban landscapes. Field experiments are still critical for evaluating both model output and remotely sensed data. The study of urban-climate interactions is very effective when researchers use combined approaches of field experiments, modeling, and remote sensing. In 2003, an AGU union session was organized to stimulate knowledge exchange between scientists and stakeholders studying urban-weather-climate interactions from the aforementioned perspectives (Jin and Shepherd 2005; Shepherd and Jin 2004). This session will continue that dialogue and assess recent advances. This session also seeks to engage scientists and stakeholders that are concerned about the social, economic, and political implications of weather, climate, and hydrological variability caused by the urban environment. The 2008 AGU meeting is an appropriate time for the remote sensing, modeling, boundary layer, and societal impacts communities to gather on the issues below. Specifically, we welcome all presentations that address the following questions: 1. What have we learned about the urban heat island (UHI) and associated effects from observation and modeling perspectives? 2. How do anthropogenic aerosols affect surface radiative and cloud-rainfall microphysical processes? 3. What synergistic or individual role does urban land cover, morphology, and pollution play in convective processes? 4. How can field experiment and remotely sensed data improve hydrometeorological and climate modeling of the urban environment? 5. What is the current status of scaling urban modeling into regional and global climate model frameworks? 6. Beyond UHIs and cloud-rainfall issues, what other interesting climate variables are affected by urban environments (e.g. water cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle)? 7. What are the driving socioeconomic and policy concerns related to urban climate change? 8. What are effective practices for bridging the research and policy communities on these issues?
Conveners: Menglin S. Jin, San Jose State University, , Sa Jose, CA USA, email: jin@met.sjsu.edu, and Marshall J. Shepherd, University of Georgia, , , USA, email: marshgeo@uga.edu

GC04 Has Solar Variability Been the Dominant Forcing of Climate Change During the Industrial Era?
Variations of solar magnetic activity produce changes in solar luminosity, the solar wind and the interplanetary magnetic field, all of which can affect the Earth's climate in different ways. Variations of the total solar irradiance of the Earth on every timescale have been detected during three decades of satellite monitoring. Variations of the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field have been monitored by satellites for even longer. These observations, together with proxy data, have facilitated modeling an extension of the database of climatologically significant features of solar variability to the 19th century dawn of the industrial era. Phenomenological analysis of this database indicates a major and perhaps dominant role for solar variability in the climate changes known to have occurred during this period.
Conveners: Nicola Scafetta, Duke University, , Durham, NC 27708 USA, Tel: (919) 660-2643, email: ns2002@duke.edu, and Richard Willson, Columbia University, , Coronado, CA 92118 USA, Tel: 619-407-7716, email: rwillson@acrim.com

GC05 Climate Change Impacts: Estimating Probabilities and Risks
In the last few years the methodological development of probabilistic projections of climate change has seen an explosion of interest and contributions. The main motivation and most natural outlet for probabilistic projections of climate change is without doubt the use of that information in risk assessment of climate change impacts. From water resources to food security, from extreme weather damages to infrastructure adaptation, in most cases decision makers will be better served by a probability distribution of possible changes rather than a handful of alternative scenarios. How to use this information opens up an entirely different range of questions, and methodological challenges, however, which the community of impacts assessment is starting to reckon with. This session invites papers that examine the impacts of climate change in a probabilistic manner. We invite both perspectives on the theory and methodology of probabilistic impact assessments, as well as applications across a range of sectors, including water resources, agriculture, health, and energy.
Conveners: David Lobell, Stanford University, , , USA, email: dlobell@stanford.edu, and Claudia Tebaldi, Climate Central, , , USA, email: claudia.tebaldi@gmail.com

GC06 Deccan Volcanism, Chixculub Impact, Global Environmental Change, the KTB and Other Mass Extinctions
Since publication of the milestone paper by Alvarez et al in 1980, the Cretaceous – Tertiary boundary (KTB) mass extinction has generally been considered the result of the Chicxulub impact and its attending environmental effects. The main alternative hypothesis, Deccan volcanism, has been regarded with more skepticism. Both hypotheses required better resolved estimates of the timing, duration, volume, and gas production of either impact or lava eruptions with respect to the KTB. Considerable recent research effort has been directed toward understanding the nature of environmental changes that occurred immediately prior to, at, and after the KTB. This effort has relied in particular on new data and observations from the fields of paleontology, paleomagnetism and physical volcanology. Climate modeling is now bringing its own contributions. Accordingly, the body of scientific evidence, analytical techniques, and the understanding of key sections of the rock record in and around the Deccan and elsewhere in the world (both volcanic and sedimentary) are now sufficiently mature to allow renewed debate concerning the causes and origin of the KTB mass extinction. The question is no longer whether there was a single or multiple causes, but to determine the respective contributions of the two main causes, impacts and volcanism, to the overall extinction events through Earth’s history. This session will investigate how the roles of volcanism, meteorite impact(s), a combination of these, or alternative complex Earth system feedback mechanisms, might explain the documented phenomena at the KTB and other mass extinctions. The aim is to explore the forcing factors underlying environmental change and mass extinctions during the Late Maastrictian and across the KTB. Submissions are encouraged that evaluate the evidence for linkages between volcanism, meteorite impacts, or alternative Earth system processes, KTB stratigraphy and environmental effects. We also welcome contributions dealing with these factors at other mass extinction events that help form a more general frame of understanding. We strongly encourage participation from both the impact and volcanological research communities, as well as from isotope geochemists, geochronologists, palaeontologists, paleomagnetists, paleobotanists, palaeo-climate modelers and Earth systems scientists.
Conveners: Gerta Keller, Geosciences, Princeton University, Guyot Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544 USA, Tel: 609 258-4117, email: gkeller@princeton.edu, and Vincent Courtillot, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Université Paris 7 4 Place Jussieu, Paris cedex 05, 75252 FRA, Tel: 0033(0)14427-3908, email: courtil@ipgp.jussieu.fr, and Michael Widdowson, Department of Earth Sciences, The Open University, , Milton Keynes, UK MK7 6AA GBR, Tel: 01908 652986, email: m.widdowson@open.ac.uk, and Jaime Urrutia Fucugauchi, Instituto de Geofisica, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, CP 04510 MEX, Tel: 52 55-5622 4227, email: juf@geofisica.unam.mx

GC07 Regional Climate Modeling
Dynamical regional climate models (RCMs) have become widely used for studying climate processes on small scales and for downscaling global climate model (GCM) results to finer spatial resolution. We seek presentations for this session which will provide an overview of the current state of the art in dynamical RCMs and will discuss outstanding issues in the development and application of RCMs. Contributions are solicited on topics including but not limited to regional downscaling of climate change scenarios and seasonal predictions; RCM intercomparison projects; applications of RCM results in climate change impacts assessments; effects of numerical methods and physical parameterizations on RCM accuracy; sensitivity of RCM results to large-scale boundary data; skill of RCMs when applied to different regions; and coupling of RCMs with other earth system models.
Conveners: Raymond W. Arritt, Iowa State University, 3010 Agronomy Hall, Ames, IA 50011 USA, Tel: 5152949870, email: rwarritt@bruce.agron.iastate.edu, and Lai-Yung Ruby Leung, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352 USA, email: Ruby.Leung@pnl.gov

GC08 Dynamic and Thermodynamic Controls of the Global Water Cycle in the 20th and 21st Centuries
The goal of this session is to better understand changes and variability in the water cycle on large spatial and multidecadal time scales in models and observations. Increased availability of global hydrologic datasets has highlighted the uncertainties in and discrepancies between observed and GCM simulated changes in the global water cycle of the 20th century. In particular discrepancies in precipitation and evaporation are in contrast to the well-simulated temperature records of the 20th century. Improved observational data alone may not be sufficient to resolve these discrepancies. Rather it is critical that we work to obtain a more complete understanding of the different dynamic and thermodynamic factors that control water cycle changes, such as changes in the large-scale atmospheric circulation or in the atmospheric and surface energy budgets. Therefore modeling and observational papers that address the following broadly defined questions are solicited: What are the important forcings of changes in global-mean precipitation and evaporation during the 20th and 21st centuries? How do the global patterns of precipitation, evaporation and other hydrologic parameters change in the 20th and 21st centuries and what are the causes of these changes?
Conveners: Beate G. Liepert, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964 USA, email: liepert@ldeo.columbia.edu, and Michael Previdi, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964 USA, email: liepert@ldeo.columbia.edu, and Richard P. Allan, Environmental Systems Science Centre University of Reading, , , GBR, email: rpa@mail.nerc-essc.ac.uk

GC09 Complex Mountain Climates Create Complex Ecosystem Responses and Require Complex Management Strategies
Mountain ranges of western North America are by nature heterogeneous physical environments, defined by great topographic, altitudinal, and substrate variations. These qualities contribute to meteorological and climatic complexity that is increasingly recognized as distinct from lowland counterparts. In paleohistoric contexts as well as under current global change, mountain systems show unique responses to global as well as regional and local climate perturbations. Complex as mountain climate variabilities are, they create and catalyze equally or more complex responses in mountain landscape systems, including hydrologic, atmospheric, soil, and ecologic structure, composition, and functioning. Under the influence of even minor changes in climate, landscape elements can exhibit episodic, reversible, opposing, threshold, gradual, or non-equilibrium responses. Completing a triad of associations, complexities in climate change and landscape response require sophisticated, case-by-case strategic and tactical approaches to resource management. The relationships of climatic, landscape, and resource-management complexities in mountain systems are not yet well understood or characterized. To the contrary, many model projections and scenario exercises assume gradual and linear changes with directional shifts in management: e.g., warming temperatures are often assumed to translate directly into upward migration of species and a shift in management frameworks. While linear responses may (or may not) result in the long term, in the short (decadal) term, highly non-linear responses are likely to occur. In this session, we invite studies that investigate complexities in modern as well as paleohistoric mountain climates and landscapes, and/or that expand the toolbox of management strategies used to address mountain landscape management in the climate-change context.
Conveners: Lisa J. Graumlich, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, 325 Bioscience East, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA, Tel: 520-621-7257, email: lisag@cals.arizona.edu, and Henry F. Diaz, NOAA, Earth System Research Lab, 325 Broadway, Boulder, 80305 USA, Tel: 303-497-6649, email: henry.f.diaz@noaa.gov, and Michael D. Dettinger, USGS, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA, Tel: 858-822-1507, email: mddettin@usgs.gov, and Constance I. Millar, USDA Forest Service, Sierra Nevada Research Center, 800 Buchanan St., WAB, Albany, CA 94710 USA, Tel: 510-559-6435, email: cmillar@fs.fed.us

GC10 Air-Sea interactions and Their Impacts on Climate Changes
The interactions between the atmosphere and oceans play an important role in the earth’s climate change. In recent years the new observations have revealed the significant coupling between the marine atmospheric boundary layer and the sea surface temperature (SST), particularly in the areas with strong SST fronts. This ocean-atmosphere coupling involves two processes: SST modification of the dynamics and physical process in the atmospheric boundary layer and feedback of this modification on the ocean states including SST. Understanding the mechanisms of this coupling and its impacts on climate changes is full of challenges. It needs to combine multiple observations and high-resolution models. It also needs to review what we have known and to seek new concepts from new results. This session seeks presentations that will provide an overview of the current state of the art on modeling, observational, and theoretical studies. Contributions are solicited on topics including but not limited to: Observations of meso-scale SST and wind coupling, empirical relationships and their implementations in numerical models; Model studies to understand the coupling including both high resolution regional coupled models and GCM coupled models; The potential impacts of this interaction on climate changes over various time scales (from interannual to decadal or even longer) and spatial scales, e.g., coastal upwelling systems, ENSO, etc. We anticipate new strategies and possible collaborations for further research in this field.
Conveners: Xin Jin, Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering (JIFRESSE) / UCLA, , , USA, email: xjin@ucla.edu, and Xuebin Zhang, Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean / University of Washington, NOAA/PMEL 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115 USA, Tel: 206-526-4810, Fax: 206-526-6744, email: xbzhang@u.washington.edu

GC11 The Anthropocene: A New Epoch of Geological Time Caused by Humans
In 2000 the chemist Paul Crutzen suggested that we are now living in a new geological interval of time that is dominated by human activities. He termed this the Anthropocene. Since then the term (currently informal) has been widely quoted by a range of earth and environmental scientists, has attracted much public attention, and has been the focus of suggestions that it be formally incorporated into the Geological Time Scale. This session is aimed at examining the nature, scale and status of the Anthropocene as a potential new geological Epoch. Key themes to be addressed are the effects of anthropogenic influence on global change (e.g. sea level rise, ice sheet stability, ocean acidification, biodiversity, landscape modification) and how this will be reflected in a distinctive geological record. We also wish to compare the current degree and rate of environmental change, caused by anthropogenic processes, with some of the great environmental perturbations of the geological past. Can meaningful comparisons of this type be made, and can the scale and rate of past and current global change – biological, physical, chemical, be quantified? Would more precise definition and formalization of the term ‘Anthropocene’ serve a useful purpose for earth scientists? And how could this be defined: within a sedimentary sequence or ice core record; by choosing a date such as the year 1800 near the start of the Industrial Revolution; or perhaps 1815, the year of the great Tambora eruption that left a widespread stratigraphic marker? We seek submissions to this session from the earth sciences community, including those modeling earth climates of the past or future, those researching the effects of rapid global warming, and those interested in the definition of major geological time boundaries and their sedimentological, biological and chemical signature in the rock record.
Conveners: Jan Zalasiewicz, University of Leicester, University Road , Leicester, LE1 7RH GBR, Tel: +44(0)116 2523928, email: jaz1@le.ac.uk, and Mark Williams, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH GBR, Tel: +44(0)116 2523642, email: mri@le.ac.uk, and Alan Haywood, University of Leeds, , Leeds, LS2 9JT GBR, Tel: +44(0)113 3438657, email: a.haywood@see.leeds.ac.uk, and Andrew C. Kerr, Cardiff University, , Cardiff, CF10 3YE GBR, Tel: +44(0)2920 874578, email: kerra@cf.ac.uk

GC12 Climate Change Impacts on Regional-Scale Hydrology and Implications for Sustainability of Agricultural and Natural Ecosystems
Despite considerable progress in understanding climate change dynamics at global and continental scales, significant uncertainties remain in quantifying regional-scale impacts of these changes. Better understanding of regional-scale impacts of climate change is crucial for developing adaptive management strategies to mitigate potential impacts. This session aims to bring together case studies that evaluate climate change impacts on regional-scale hydrology, and resulting implications for the sustainability of agricultural and natural ecosystems. Examples include potential effects on water and chemical balances in surface and groundwater systems (e.g., changes in snow pack, surface water supply, groundwater recharge, nutrient cycling), and resulting effects on agricultural and natural ecosystems (e.g., effects on crop production and biodiversity). Focus is on integrated approaches that (i) consider downscaling of General Circulation Model (GCM) output, and (ii) evaluate resulting regional-scale impacts on physical and biological systems. Contributions that highlight linkages and feedbacks between systems (physical-biological, land-air-water) are particularly welcome.
Conveners: Gerrit Schoups, Delft University of Technology, , , NLD, email: g.h.w.schoups@tudelft.nl, and Jan Hopmans, University of California, Davis, , , USA, email: jwhopmans@ucdavis.edu, and Edwin Maurer, Santa Clara University, , , CA USA, email: emaurer@engr.scu.edu

GC13 Regional-Scale Forcing of Climate
Considerable effort has been devoted towards understanding and quantifying global climate forcings, including orbital variations, greenhouse gases, aerosols, and ice-albedo feedbacks. However, these studies often lack the fine-scale spatial and temporal detail needed to quantify the forcings that drive local and regional climate variability and change. Past research indicates that fine-scale processes such as land cover change and aerosol-cloud interactions can influence the surface energy balance, convective clouds, and precipitation, yet significant uncertainties in these regional forcings still exist. Short-lived atmospheric constituents also likely alter the local and regional scale climate, yet these are largely unexplored or poorly constrained. In this session, we will investigate regional climate forcings and feedbacks, including but not limited to: short-lived greenhouse gases and atmospheric aerosols, land cover change, biogeochemical feedbacks, and local and synoptic meteorological forcings. We encourage submissions that focus on regional forcings using measurement and/or modeling techniques.
Conveners: Allison L. Steiner, University of Michigan, Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences 2455 Hayward , Ann Arbor, Mi 48109-2143 USA, Tel: 734.764.5150, email: alsteiner@umich.edu, and Noah S. Diffenbaugh, Purdue University, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 550 Stadium Mall Dr , West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA, Tel: 765.494.3258, email: diffenbaugh@purdue.edu, and Athanasios Nenes, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences & Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering 311 Ferst Drive , Atlanta, GA 30332-0340 USA, Tel: 404.894.9225, email: nenes@eas.gatech.edu

GC14 *WITHDRAWN* - Climate Change Assessments for the United States: Outcomes and Next Steps
You may search here http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/index.php/Program/SessionSearch for another session within your area of interest.
Conveners: AGU HELP, AGU, , , USA, email: fm-help@agu.org

GC15 Late Holocene High-Resolution Sea-Level Records: A Context for Future Sea-Level Change
Understanding future cryosphere-ocean interactions and resulting sea-level change is one of the most critical challenges in global climate change research. However, both the rate and causes of 20th century sea-level rise have been controversial. Recent estimates from tide gauges indicate a value near two mm/yr. In contrast, estimates based on the processes mostly responsible for global sea-level rise – mass increase (from mountain glaciers and ice sheets) and volume increase (thermal expansion) – fall below this value. The rapidly increasing observational records of the present-day (annual to decadal) dynamics of ice sheets, glaciers, and sea-level change can only be fully understood within the context of longer (centennial to millennial) records that document, among others, glacio-isostatic adjustments and subtle sea-level – climate connections. This session aims to bring together a multidisciplinary community of field scientists and modelers who focus their efforts on improving records of sea-level change during the past few centuries or millennia. This includes the application of new methodological advances that have led to considerably better resolution of such records than previously available.
Conveners: Benjamin P. Horton, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, 240 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA, Tel: (215) 573-5388, email: bphorton@sas.upenn.edu, and Antony J. Long, Department of Geography, Durham University, , Durham, DH1 3LE GBR, Tel: +44 191 334 1913, email: a.j.long@durham.ac.uk, and Glenn A. Milne, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Ottawa, , Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 CAN, Tel: (613) 562-5800, email: gamilne@uottawa.ca, and Torbjörn E. Törnqvist, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118-5698 USA, Tel: (504) 314-2221, email: tor@tulane.edu

GC16 Environmental Change on the Tibetan Plateau
The Tibetan Plateau is also one of the most sensitive areas responding to global climate change due to its extremely high altitude and the presence of permafrost and glaciers. The cryosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere of the plateau have been undergoing significant changes on the plateau. Owing to low human population densities, most changes on the plateau are driven by natural processes rather than direct human impacts, and therefore serve as an objective indicator of global change. The plateau provides a unique and comprehensive site for global change studies. We propose a session to address Tibetan environmental changes. We invite a wide spectrum of presentations to address climate change, permafrost degradation, glacier/snow/ice dynamics, lake dynamics, vegetation dynamics, land-cover/land-use changes, and their interactions on the Tibetan Plateau. The session will present recent advancements of both paleo and recent environmental changes on the plateau.
Conveners: Yongwei Sheng, UCLA Geography, 1255 Bunch Hall University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA, Tel: 310-825-1415, email: ysheng@geog.ucla.edu, and Tandong Yao, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, No.18, Shuangqing Rd., Beijing, 100085 CHN, Tel: 86-10-6284 9309, email: tdyao@itpcas.ac.cn

GC17 The Landsat Legacy in Understanding a Changing Earth
Landsat data have been acquired continuously over the global land surface since July 1972 creating an unprecedented comprehensive record of landscape dynamics. Plans to extend this record are being made by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey and efforts are underway to make the entire 36-year long Landsat archive available to researchers at no cost. The proposed session will explore the scientific advances made in understanding global land changes, the opportunities for significant new innovations associated with free access to millions of Landsat images, and the scientific and technical challenges ahead scientific uses of Landsat data. The specific topics may include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) extending the length, quality, and value of the Landsat record, including the Landsat Data Continuity Mission, access to the full Landsat global archive, improving image processing approaches, establishing consistency in the Landsat historical record, and future perspectives and opportunities; and (2) Landsat for global environmental monitoring, including water use and water management challenges, biogeochemical assessments, forest health evaluation, cryosphere changes, and global land cover changes. The session will include presentations by members of the U.S. Geological Survey and NASA Landsat Science Team, a group of 18 scientists that are national and international leaders in the topics identified above.
Conveners: Thomas Loveland, U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Resources Observation and Science EROS) Center 47914 252nd Street , Sioux Falls, SD 57198 USA, Tel: 605-594-6066, email: loveland@usgs.gov, and James Irons, NASA, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Code 613 / Laboratory for Atmospheres , Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA, Tel: (301) 614-6657, email: James.R.Irons@nasa.gov, and Curtis Woodcock, Boston University, Department of Geography 675 Commonwealth Avenue, 4th Floor , Boston, MA 02215 USA, Tel: 617-353-5746, email: curtis@bu.edu

GC18 Tropical Mountain Glaciers: Past and Present
The widespread, dramatic loss of tropical glaciers in South America, Asia, and Africa reflects major changes in tropical climate in response to anthropogenic greenhouse gases and has enormous implications for water resources. However, resolving the precise climate signals embodied by tropical glacier retreat is problematic due to the sensitivity of tropical glacier mass balance to precipitation, humidity, air temperature, and other climate variables. A variety of geological evidence, including lacustrine and marine sediments, dated glacial landforms, and ice cores, document substantial changes in tropical glacier extent and alpine climate in the past. Unraveling the history of tropical glaciers is thus enormously important to our understanding of their stability and climate sensitivity and will provide insight into their current and future status. This session seeks to bring together paleoclimatologists, glaciologists, and climatologists working to understand past and present variations in alpine tropical climate and tropical glaciers and their large-scale controls.
Conveners: Mark Abbott, University of Pittsburgh, Geology and Planetary Science 4107 O''Hara Street Room 200 SRCC Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 USA, Tel: 412-624-1408, email: mabbott1@pitt.edu, and James Russell, Brown University, Dept. of Geological Sciences BOX 1846, Providence, RI 02912 USA, Tel: 401-863-6330, email: James_Russell@Brown.edu, and Mathias Vuille, University at Albany, State University of New York, Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Science 1400 Washington Avenue , Albany, NY 12222 USA, Tel: 518-442-4472, email: mathias@atmos.albany.edu

GC19 SI-Traceable Climate Measurements From Space: Requirements, Methods, and Accuracies
The NRC Decadal Survey calls for long-term climate records, which are “of high accuracy, tested for systematic errors on-orbit, and tied to irrefutable standards such as those maintained in the U.S. by NIST.” The data sets that result will be considered "climate benchmarks" because their measurements can be traced to international standards and thus compared to independent future measurements. This session includes discussions of estimated radiometric sensitivities to climate change based on current climate models, measurement requirements for establishing climate benchmarks, and instrument and metrology concepts for obtaining radiometric climate measurements of the high absolute accuracies needed for future climate missions such as CLARREO. Presentations on climate data records or climate model sensitivities utilizing incoming solar irradiances, outgoing short- and long-wave radiation, or Global Navigation Satellite System radio occultation refractivity are solicited.
Conveners: David Young, NASA Langley Research Center, , , USA, email: David.F.Young@nasa.gov, and Gregory Kopp, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, , , USA, email: greg.kopp@lasp.colorado.edu, and John Dykema, Harvard University, , , USA, email: dykema@huarp.harvard.edu, and William Collins, UC Berkeley, , , USA, email: wdcollins@berkeley.edu

GC20 Earth System Science and Education in an Anthropogenic Biosphere
Humans have now irreversibly reshaped global patterns of ecosystem structure and functioning across most of the terrestrial biosphere. Yet many scientists and educators continue to represent biospheric patterns using biome classifications and other systems that either ignore humans altogether or that simplify human influence into a single dimension of human disturbance, impact or domination. Earth system science would benefit greatly by adopting a more robust model of the terrestrial biosphere that incorporates humans as essential shapers, caretakers and components of ecosystems within an anthropogenic biosphere. This symposium will describe the rich global diversity of anthropogenic ecosystem pattern and process and will describe current efforts to develop improved data, models and investigations of anthropogenic ecosystem processes and their changes at global and regional scales, toward the goal of encouraging scientists and educators to embrace human interaction with ecosystems as an essential and permanent part of the terrestrial biosphere.
Conveners: Navin Ramankutty, McGill University, , , CAN, email: navin.ramankutty@mcgill.ca, and Erle Ellis, University of Maryland - Baltimore County, , , USA, email: ece@umbc.edu

GC21 Climate Stabilization: Prospects, Trajectories and Uncertainties
Stabilizing anthropogenic climate change is one of the central challenges of the coming century. This session invites contributions on all facets of this challenge, from the technological and economic feasibility of emission reductions, to the integrated assessment of emissions trajectories for stabilization, to Earth system modeling studies of the climate response to stabilization scenarios. Contributions addressing current uncertainties surrounding sources and sinks of greenhouse gases and the climate system response to anthropogenic emissions and forcing are particularly encouraged.
Conveners: Damon Matthews, Concordia University, Department of Geography, Planning and Environment 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W. , Montreal, QC H3G1M8 CAN, Tel: (514) 848-2424 ext 2064, email: dmatthew@alcor.concordia.ca, and Kirsten Zickfeld, University of Victoria, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences PO Box 3055 STN CSC , Victoria, BC V8W3P6 CAN, Tel: (250) 472-4008, email: zickfeld@ocean.seos.uvic.ca

GC22 Communicating Climate Change: Eradicating Common Misconceptions in Climate Science in the Media and General Public
Global warming has become a household term and yet there are many prevailing misconceptions about fundamentals of ocean, atmosphere and climate sciences among the lay public and even science students. Science blogging is one effective way of public outreach, as is scientists interacting with the media. But how can we, as the geophysical sciences community, reach out to an even broader audience? What new strategies can we use to effectively correct common misconceptions about climate change? What are the lessons learned after decades of various outreach activities like blogging, popular science literature and organizing camps and other educational activities for pre-college students? What new strategies can we employ individually, as a community of scientists and/or in the classroom? All contributions are welcome relating to educating the public on climate change, detailing methods that worked or did not in public outreach, strategies for broader and more effective outreach activities, and innocuous-seeming misconceptions which may lead to misleading of the media and general public.
Conveners: Figen Mekik, Grand Valley State University, , , USA, email: mekikf@gvsu.edu

GC23 Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Needs in California: New Science – Growing Challenges
In 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-03-05, which laid the foundation for California’s ambitious greenhouse gas mitigation reduction efforts (now codified in Assembly Bill 32) and requests biannual updates on the latest climate change science, potential impacts, and assessment of the state’s efforts to manage its climate change risks through various adaptation options. In 2006, the first of these mandated scientific assessments (The Governor’s Scenarios Report) was released. Based on new scientific studies conducted in the interim, the next assessment, the “2008 Governor’s Scenarios Report” is currently in preparation. It has three principal goals: (1) to improve the assessment of climate changes for California and associated impacts on key physical and biological indicators; (2) to begin to translate these physical and biological impacts into sectoral economic impacts; and (3) to begin to develop and evaluate strategies for key sectors or regions for adapting to climate changes already underway. Contributors to this session will present some of this new research to the scientific community. Among the most exciting new insights are impacts assessments for the all-important water and agricultural sectors, coastal areas, public health and related air quality and environmental justice issues, the forestry and energy sectors. We anticipate a brief introductory paper explaining the context of this collective endeavor (presented by co-convener G. Franco), several scientific presentations highlighting the most interesting findings from the impacts analyses (authors to be selected/invited upon acceptance of session), and a concluding chapter on the resulting adaptation challenges and emerging efforts in adaptation planning in the state (presented by co-convener S. Moser).
Conveners: Guido Franco, California Energy Commission, PIER Research Program on Climate Change and California 1516 Ninth Street, MS-29 , Sacramento, CA 95814 USA, email: gfranco@energy.state.ca.us, and Susanne Moser, Susanne Moser Research & Consulting, 134 Shelter Lagoon Dr., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA, email: promundi@susannemoser.com

GC24 Progress and Challenges in Bridging the Gap Between Science and Decision Making
The connection between scientific research and findings, and applications to management and policy is of growing importance as decision makers face ever-increasing challenges related to growing populations, limited resources, and the prospects of anthropogenic climate change. A number of efforts have been directed at bridging the gap between science and decision making, some of which have been ongoing for almost a decade now. Results from these efforts indicate successful outcomes from many of these programs, though many challenges in making science relevant for decision-making still exist. In this session we will explore efforts to bring scientific knowledge into the decision-making realm, including: • What makes science translation programs effective? • Are there lessons to be learned from existing efforts that would provide a foundation for moving ahead in the translation of science to decision making? • What progress has been made in science for decision-making and management? • What are current best practices for evaluating whether we are meeting user needs, encouraging the use of new information, improving scientific literacy (relevance?) among decision-makers, and ultimately raising capacity/raising resilience/reducing vulnerability? The purpose of this session is to create a forum to learn about and discuss assessment and evaluation efforts concerning the applications of scientific information in decision making and planning. Both scientists and management professionals are invited to submit abstracts on work that concerns progress toward linking science with applications in the “real world.”
Conveners: Connie Woodhouse, University of Arizona, Department of Geography and Regional Development, Harvill 409, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA, email: conniew1@email.arizona.edu, and Jennifer Rice, University of Arizona, , , USA, email: jlrice@email.arizona.edu, and Andrea Ray, NOAA Earth Systems Research Laboratory, , , USA, email: Andrea.Ray@noaa.gov, and Dan Ferguson, University of Arizona, , , USA, email: dferg@email.arizona.edu

GC25 Adaptation Challenges for Water Resources in a Changing Climate: Lessons Learned in the Western United States
Historically hydrologic conditions in the Western United States have been highly variable both seasonally (wetter winters and drier summers) and from year to year. Managing these water resources for diverse needs has always required flexibility and adaptive approaches. This experience has served the Western U.S. well in adapting to the additional challenge of addressing potential climate change impacts on water resources. Water supply and flood management concerns include modified precipitation patterns and changes in snow levels and runoff patterns due to increased air temperatures. Sea level rise provides challenges for coastal erosion, salt water intrusion in both surface and ground waters, and increased stresses on levees in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Concurrent population, land use, policy, technology and economic changes add to the challenge in developing adaptation strategies for water resources. Furthermore, there are substantial differences in the nature and sensitivities to climate change over the region. For instance, climate projections have a strong consensus as to the direction of future temperature change (warmer), and the resulting shift in the seasonal patterns of runoff will pose challenges to reservoir operations in parts of the West (e.g., Pacific Northwest and California) where reservoir storage is small relative to the mean annual inflows. However, projected changes in precipitation, which control annual runoff, are less certain, and pose a different set of challenges for water management in the interior of the West (e.g., Colorado River basin), where reservoir operations are more sensitive to annual streamflows than to their seasonal distribution. This session will provide examples of scientific approaches and adaptation strategies for addressing uncertainties related to climate change and water resources relevant to the Western United States.
Conveners: Francis Chung, CA Dept. of Water Resources, Modeling Support Branch, Bay Delta-Office California Dept. of Water Resources 1416 Ninth St. room 252-6 , Sacramento, CA 95814 USA, Tel: 916-653-5924, email: chung@water.ca.gov, and Dan Cayan, Scripps Institution of Oceanography/U.S. Geological Survey, Climate Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD And Water Resources Division, US Geological Survey 201 Nierenberg Hall , La Jolla, CA 92093-0224 USA, Tel: (858) 534 4507, email: dcayan@ucsd.edu

Global Environmental Change also presents jointly with the following Special Sessions:
C02 Cenozoic Antarctic Glacial History
V03 Large Igneous Province Development and Environmental Impacts
C09 Large Scale Cryosphere – Climate Connectivity
PP08 The State of the Ocean Carbonate System and the Concentration of Atmospheric CO2 in the Past
IN10 Data Fusion: Issues, Barriers and Approaches
IN12 Strategies for Improved Marine and Synergistic Data Access and Interoperability
C14 Climate Change and Mountain Snowpacks: Observations, Future Projections, and Potential Impacts
B24 Data Assimilation in Biogeochemical Models
IN05 Frontiers in Advanced Information Systems and Earth Observation Technology
A25 Space Observations of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide: Retrieval, Validation, Modeling, and Assimilation
ED11 Climate Literacy and Communication Strategies
B29 Linking Land Use and Land Management to Models of the Earth System
H16 Evaporation and Water Transport Dynamics in the ABL
B36 The Role of Climate, Carbon and Limiting Nutrient Cycles and Human Activities in Terrestrial Ecosystems
G13 Ever Faster: Low-Latency Data Collection and Applications Across the Earth Sciences
H73 Advanced Approaches to Snow Modeling for Hydrologic Prediction
PP21 Interhemispheric Teleconnections and Quaternary Marine and Continental Climate Records
G16 GRACE and Gravity Missions - Interdisciplinary Science and Analysis Techniques
A11 ENSO and Global Change: The Past, Present, and Future
B27 Integrated Studies of Regional Carbon Exchange
C25 Glaciers and Human Vulnerability in Changing Mountain Environments
ED14 Teacher Professional Development Programs Promoting Authentic Scientific Research in the Classroom
ED18 IYA Dark Skies Awareness Programs, Citizen Science and You
IN20 Sustained, Interoperable Data Systems for Observing Networks—Building the IPY Legacy for Earth System Science.
PP03 Loess 2.0 – Renaissance in the Study of the Terrestrial Dust Record
C03 Subglacial Processes and Environments
PP02 Change in the Ocean Circulation - Are There Lessons from the Past
PP05 Transitioning Out of the Mid-Holocene Climate: An Evaluation of Land-Ocean Proxy Records and Model Simulations
PP15 Radiocarbon Evidence for Past Changes in the Global Carbon Cycle and Ocean Circulation
PP16 High to Ultra-High Resolution Sedimentary Records of Climate
PP22 Chemical and Isotopic Composition of Carbonate Skeletons: Seasonal Environmental and Climate Records
PP24 Advancing Process Understanding in Proxy Climate Records
PP26 Paleoclimate and Modern Perspectives of the Southern Hemisphere Westerlies and Polar Frontal Zone
C06 Polar Regions: Local Change, Global Impacts and Future Challenges - Outcomes of the International Polar Year 2007-2008
B45 Fires in the Earth System
PP11 The Role of Coccolithophores on a Changing Planet
IN07 Making Earth Science Data Records
IN03 Emerging Cyberinfrastructure for Geosciences
B49 Enhanced Carbon Sequestration in the Biosphere: New Science and Comprehensive Analyses
IN14 Advancing Digital Watersheds and Virtual Environmental Observatories
IN21 Building Interoperability Across the Geosciences
ED01 Education and Human Resources: General Contributions
A44 Possible Links Among Vegetation, Aerosols and Climate
A50 Arctic Chemistry and Climate
A13 Climate Change in the Coastal Zone: Observed Trends and Future Predictions
A30 The Role of Atmospheric Wind Measurements in Weather and Climate Forecasting
A29 Linking Past and Present Hydrological Cycles to Climate with Water Vapor and Precipitation Isotopes
A39 Diagnosing Climate Feedbacks and Climate Sensitivity
OS14 Decadal Trends in the Ocean Carbon Cycle
H64 Ecosystem Resilience to Changing Climate Patterns: The Role of Hydrology
H32 Spatial and Temporal Trends in Hydrometeorological Records as Indicators of Climate Variability and Change
H72 Linking Isotope Geochemistry to Environmental and Forensic Science: Analytical Approaches, Novel Applications, Policy Implications
PP29 Novel Insights in Historical Geobiology
PP06 Tracking the Last Glacial Cycle’s Indo-pacific Abrupt Climate Variability
PP18 Past Changes in the Biological Pump: Integrating Theory with Observations
OS21 Advances in Operational Oceanography and Scientific Drilling
IN08 Provenance Management for Large Scale Scientific Datasets
IN24 Open Source Remote Sensing for Environmental Mapping and Analysis
IN16 Challenges for Earth Science Software Reuse
IN15 Emerging Multi-core Computing Technology in Earth and Space Sciences
IN02 Visualizing Scientific Data Using KML and Virtual Globes
B07 Shifts in Phenology and Seasonality? Recent Evidence from Multiple Taxa, Ecoregions, and Models
B39 The Bio-atmospheric N Cycle: N Emissions, Transformations, Deposition, and Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystem Impacts
B41 The World Is Not Flat: Isotopic Tools for Understanding Mountainous Terrain
H11 Historic Hydrologic Synthesis: Quantifying the Past to Understand the Future
H75 Decision-Appropriate Modeling Throughout the Lifecycle of Restoration, and other, Environmental Projects
PP17 Green Sahara: Evidence From Climate Models and Proxy Records
A52 Bjerknes Lecture
PP14 North Atlantic Freshwater Forcing: History, Consequences, and Implications for Future Climate Change
A41 Inter-comparison Study of Global Emission Inventories in Support of Climate Change and Air Quality Interaction Modeling
A05 Long-Term Trends in the General Circulation of the Atmosphere: Observations, Simulations, Mechanisms, and Impacts
B13 Incorporating Process Level Measurements of N Cycling Into Global Scale Models of Terrestrial C Storage in Response to Climate Change
OS34 Research Experiences of Undergraduates in Ocean Sciences
C29 International Collaboration to Build Understanding of Climate Change in Polar Regions
C04 Snow and Ice Impurities as Climate Forcing Agents and Records
PA02 Increasing the Societal Impact of Geophysics

Hydrology

H01 Hydrology: General Contributions
This session provides the opportunity for contributions that fall within the broad spectrum of Hydrology.
Conveners: Tim Ginn, University of California, Davis, , , USA, email: trginn@ucdavis.edu, and Tissa Illangasekare, Colorado School of Mines, , , USA, Tel: +1-303-384-2126, email: tissa@mines.edu, and Tom Meixner, University of Arizona, , , USA, Tel: +1+520-626-1532, email: tmeixner@hwr.arizona.edu

H02 Use of Rain Gage-Radar (NEXRAD) Rainfall Data Relationships for Hydrologic Modeling and Water Resources Management: Emerging Issues, Concepts and Applications
The use of radar (NEXRAD) based rainfall data in conjunction with rain gage data for hydrologic modeling is under investigation in recent years. However, several issues related to radar rainfall data quality, understanding the rain gage–radar relationships, functional forms those capture these relationships, rain gage based radar data adjustments and uncertainty associated with both rain gage measurements and radar based rain measurements still need to be addressed. These issues are not only important from a hydrologic modeling perspective but also essential for real-time and short-term management of water resources systems. Paradigms that rely on a combination of traditional statistical and geo-statistical methods and emerging inductive modeling techniques are increasingly used to address these issues. This session will invite presentations that will focus on development of new methodologies for improvement of radar rainfall data and applications of emerging computational techniques and methods to deal with a variety of issues that relate to the use of radar rainfall data for hydrological modeling and water resources management.
Conveners: Chandra Pathak, South Florida Water Management District, Operations and Hydro Data Management Division 3301 Gun Club Road , West Palm Beach, FL 33406 USA, Tel: (561) 682-2567, email: cpathak@sfwmd.gov, and Ramesh S. V. Teegavarapu, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Civil Engineering, 777 Glades Road, Bldg # 36, 217, Boca Raton, FL 33431 USA, Tel: 561 477 5225, Fax: 561 477 0493, email: ramesh@civil.fau.edu, and Baxter E. Vieux, University of Oklahoma, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science Director, Center for Natural Hazards and Disaster Research 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Suite 3630 , Norman, OK 73072 USA, Tel: 405 325-3600, Fax: 405 325-4217, email: bvieux@ou.edu

H03 Advances in Land Data Assimilation Systems and Estimation of Large-Scale Surface Turbulent Fluxes
Land data assimilation systems merge land surface observations with estimates from land surface models (which may be coupled to atmospheric models or driven "off-line" with surface meteorological forcing data). Assimilated observations include (but are not limited to) remotely sensed or ground-based measurements of soil moisture, snow, land surface temperature, terrestrial water storage, water surface elevation, or surface turbulent fluxes. The latter are at the heart of land-atmosphere interactions and are of particular interest. Scintillometry is a novel remote sensing method that measures fluctuations in the intensity of electromagnetic radiation propagating along a path, from which the turbulent surface fluxes representative for an area of several square kilometers can be derived. Land data assimilation can improve estimates of land surface states and surface fluxes. Such estimates can then be used to initialize weather and seasonal climate forecasts, provide improved background information for atmospheric data assimilation, or support investigations into land surface processes that lead to enhanced understanding of terrestrial and atmospheric processes and interactions. The goal of this session is to report broadly on advances in development and applications of land data assimilation and in estimation of large-scale surface turbulent fluxes. Contributions may include studies that evaluate land data assimilation methods, assess the impact of land data assimilation on estimates of land surface and atmospheric states, or use land data assimilation to investigate associated predictability and forecasts. We particularly encourage contributions addressing the simultaneous assimilation of multiple observation types, as well as contributions related to current and planned hydrology satellite missions (such as those recommended by the National Research Council's 2007 Earth Science decadal survey , including SMAP, SWOT, and SCLP). Examples include Observing System Simulation Experiments or the development of satellite mission products that are based on land data assimilation. Moreover, contributions are encouraged that focus on the estimation of large-scale land surface fluxes, including new technical and theoretical developments such as scintillometry, flux measurements over different types of terrain, comparison of scintillometer data with other measurements, use of scintillometry for validation of model and satellite data, scaling aspects of surface turbulent fluxes, and operational aspects of scintillometer measurements for water and irrigation management. Contributions on other methods to determine area-averaged surface fluxes are also encouraged.
Conveners: Rolf Reichle, NASA/GSFC, , , USA, email: rolf.reichle@nasa.gov, and Michael Durand, Ohio State University, , , USA, email: durand.8@osu.edu, and Prasanna H. Gowda, USDA-ARS Conservation and Production Research Laboratory, P.O. Drawer 10, Bushland, TX 79012 USA, Tel: 806-356-5730, Fax: 806-356-5750, email: prasanna.gowda@ars.usda.gov, and Jan M. H. Hendrickx, New Mexico Tech, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, 801 LeRoy Place, MSEC 240, Socorro, NM 87801 USA, Tel: 505-838-5892, email: hendrick@nmt.edu

H04 Enhancing Hydrologic Predictions and Water Resources Sustainability through Interdisciplinary Synthesis
Hydrologic processes produce complex and multi-scale patterns that are difficult to reproduce with current predictive frameworks. As a result, there has been increased focus on interactions of geology, soils, drainage networks, vegetation, climate, and sometimes human activity to explain hydrologic system behavior. The next generation of models needs to integrate this new understanding of natural system behavior and is likely to place more emphasis on emergent patterns and pattern drivers due to humans. Therefore, development of new frameworks (i.e., a map of hydrologically functioning units) will require broad interdisciplinary synthesis, integrating perspectives and tools from hydrology, geomorphology, biogeochemistry, ecology, geography and other disciplines traditionally outside the hydrologic sciences. Such frameworks, including those that explicitly recognize human roles in hydrologic system dynamics, will enhance predictive accuracy when reconstructing and forecasting system behavior. A synthetic conceptual map of functional hydrologic units (soil pedons, stream reaches, hillslopes, catchments, aquifers, etc.) and their complex interactions will enhance hydrologic predictability and the ability to prescribe sustainable water resource management. This session encompasses four questions. First, what are the fundamental hydrologic, geomorphological, and biogeochemical patterns that we see emerge from hydrologic systems across various spatial and temporal scales, and what tools are used to identify those patterns? Second, how have we used or how can we use those patterns to predict spatial and temporal system dynamics? Third, can we distinguish basic human signals embedded within hydrologic system patterns and dynamics? Fourth, how can these predictive tools be applied to quantify water resource sustainability at multiple scales? This session will highlight research that addresses one or more of these questions with synthetic approaches.
Conveners: John L. Nieber, Universtiy of Minnesota, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering 1390 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108 USA, Tel: (612)-625-6724, Fax: (612)-624-3005, email: nieber@umn.edu, and Peter Troch, University of Arizona, John W. Harshbarger Building 1133 E James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA, Tel: 520-626-1277, F