Proceedings

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Citation: Committee of the University Consortium for GCCA. 2007. Seventh International Conference on Global Change: Connection to the Arctic (GCCA-7). International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks. 312 pp.

Introduction

The prospect of global climatic change has fueled the need to improve our understanding of many atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial processes. It has forced us to recognize the fact that most of these processes are interactive and that we must understand the linkages between them. Especially in the Arctic, many of these linkages have feedback effects, which can greatly magnify their total impact upon the climatic system or suppress the original input. The annual radiation balance in the Arctic yields a net loss in energy, which is compensated by energy advected from more temperate regions to the polar regions. Thus the Arctic serves as a sink for excess energy radiated on the equatorial regions. Anthropogenic climatic warming is expected to be greatest in the high latitudes, possibly three to four times the amount of mid-latitudes. The consequences of climatic warming in the high latitudes include longer snow and ice free periods, resulting in higher absorbance of incoming shortwave radiation effectively changing the annual surface energy budget and the global dynamics of energy redistribution. Ice and snow cover are critical parameters in understanding climatic dynamics and development of accurate simulation and measurement techniques of the cryosphere is a top priority. In order to improve our understanding of the role of the Arctic in the global energy and hydrologic budget, we must develop a more dynamic view of the terrestrial, aquatic, oceanic and atmospheric processes and their linkages. The International Polar Year (IPY) presents a special opportunity to combine and compare research activities throughout the Arctic to build a better understanding of the system processes, their interactions and feedback mechanisms. This meeting will highlight such IPY synthesis efforts.

Objectives

The Arctic affects the global climate through strong feedback processes in the system, consisting of the atmosphere, ocean, hydrosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, and tectonic activities. Six GCCA conferences have previously been held: Sendai in 2000, Sapporo in 2001, Fairbanks in 2002, Toyokawa in 2003, Tsukuba in 2004, and Tokyo in 2005. Through these conferences, crucial research topics were identified, partnerships developed, and integration of complementary research programs was initiated.

The GCCA conferences have been organized by the Consortium for GCCA in Japan and the International Arctic Research Center (IARC) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), in order to study Arctic climate change, global warming, and to predict the future changes. Fairbanks is an ideal location for the next conference, bringing together in an Arctic setting American, Japanese, and other international scientists for the purpose of formulating joint projects to advance our knowledge of the climate in the Arctic. The foci of this year's conference are (1) integration of our understanding of the role of the Arctic in the global climate change in order to strengthen the global connections of Arctic research over the next decade and (2) to facilitate and promote joint research projects between Japanese and US scientists for the specific target of the International Polar Year (IPY) to be held in 2007 to 2009.

Committee of the Consortium for GCCA

• Syun-Ichi Akasofu (IARC, USA), Chair
  
• Hiroshi Fukunishi (Tohoku Univ., Japan)
  
• Isao Murata (Tohoku Univ., Japan)
  
• Masami Fukuda (Hokkaido U., Japan)
  
• Hiroshi Tanaka (U. Tsukuba, Japan)
  
• Yutaka Matsumi (Nagoya Univ., Japan)
  
• Hiroshi Kanda (NIPR, Japan)
  
• Yojiro Matsuura (FFPRI, Japan)
  
• Minoru Kasahara (Hokkaido U, Japan)
  
• Shinichi Urano (Hokkaido Univ., Japan)
  
• Fumiaki Kimata (Nagoya Univ., Japan)
  
• Yasuhiro Murayama (NICT, Japan)
  
• Noriyuki Tanaka (Hokkaido Univ., Japan)
  
• Yoshinobu Harazono (Coll. of Ag., Japan)
  
• John Walsh (IARC/UAF, USA)
  
• Vladimir Romanovsky (GI/UAF, USA)
  
• F. Stuart Chapin (IAB/UAF, USA)
  
• Larry Hinzman (IARC/UAF, USA)

Local Organizing Committee for GCCA-7

• Larry Hinzman (University of Alaska Fairbanks), Chair
  
• John Walsh (University of Alaska Fairbanks), Secretary
  
• Craig Dorman (University of Alaska)
  
• F. Stuart Chapin (University of Alaska Fairbanks)
  
• Glenn Juday (University of Alaska Fairbanks)
  
• Terry Whitledge (University of Alaska Fairbanks)
  
• Vladimir Romanovsky (University of Alaska Fairbanks)
  
• Douglas Kane (University of Alaska Fairbanks)
  

International Organizing Committee for GCCA-7

• Atsumi Ohmura
• Charles Vörösmarty

Conference Venue

Princess Hotel
Fairbanks, Alaska
http://www.princesslodges.com/fairbanks_lodge.cfm

Secretariats

Larry Hinzman
International Arctic Research Center
University of Alaska Fairbanks
930 Koyukuk Drive, 203F IARC
P.O. Box 757340
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7340
Tel: 1 907-474-7331, Fax: 1 907-474-5662
http://www.iarc.uaf.edu/

Masami Fukuda
Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University
Sapporo, 060-0819 Japan
mfukuda@pop.lowtem.hokudai.ac.jp
Tel: +81-11-717-3403, Fax: +81-11-706-7142

Hiroshi L. Tanaka
Center for Computational Sciences, University of Tsukuba
Tsukuba, 305-8577 Japan
tanaka@ccs.tsukuba.ac.jp
Tel: +81-29-853-4502, Fax: +81-29-853-6879

Scientific Sessions

A. Special Sessions

Keynote Address

1. Atsumu Ohmura, Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science

International Polar Year

1. Mead Treadwell, U.S. Arctic Research Commission
2. Virgil 'Buck' Sharpton, Center for Research Services, University of Alaska Fairbanks
3. Takeshi Naganuma, School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University

Syun-Ichi Akasofu Honorarium

1. Takeo Yoshino, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
2. Roger Smith, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks

B. General Sessions

1. Atmospheric Circulation, Dynamics and Chemistry
   Conveners: Hiroshi L. Tanaka and John D. Walsh
2. Oceanic Circulation and Sea Ice
   Conveners: Sei-ichi Saito and Terry Whitledge
3. Middle Atmosphere and Space Weather
   Conveners: Yasuhio Murayama and TBA
4. Hydrology and Permafrost
   Convener: Masami Fukuda and Douglas L. Kane
5. Ice Sheets, Glaciers and Paleoclimate
   Convener: Martin Truffer
6. Arctic Ecosystem
   Conveners: F. Stuart Chapin and Yojiro Matsuura
7. Geodynamics and GPS
   Convener: M. Kasahara and Jeff Freymueller
8. Remote Sensing of Environmental Change
   Convener: Naoto Matsuura and Nettie La Belle-Hamer

Call for Papers

Participants wishing to present a paper/poster are requested to submit a tentative title and a short abstract with the Registration Form. (Deadline: December 1, 2006)

Proceedings (in English, up to four pages, camera-ready, including illustrations and references) stored in a PDF file should be sent to Larry Hinzman (lhinzman@iarc.uaf.edu) by January 10, 2007.

Posters

Posters can be a maximum size of 1.2 m high and 2.4 m wide (4' X 8'). Posters that are 1.2 m X 1.2 m are welcome, as we may then present two posters on one display board.

POSTER SESSION SCHEDULE

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2007

Poster setup 7:30 - 8:30 am
Poster sessions: Noon to 1:30 pm and 3:30 to 5:30 pm

• International Polar Year 2007-2008
• Atmospheric Circulation, Dynamics and Chemistry
• Ocean Circulation and Sea Ice
• Middle Atmosphere and Space Weather/Geodynamics
• Hydrology and Permafrost

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2007

Poster setup 8:00 - 9:00 am
Poster sessions: Noon to 1:30 pm and 3:30 - 4:30 pm

• Arctic System Model
• Ice Sheets, Glaciers and Paleoclimate
• Arctic Ecosystem and Fire Impacts
• Remote Sensing of Environmental Change

Registration

Please go to our registration page for details.

Travel and Accommodation

Please see links in the upper right menu. For questions, please contact:

Chris Lace
907-474-7413
clace@iarc.uaf.edu

IARC Home Page

Meeting Information

• Announcement
• Agenda (PDF)
• Register
• GCCA-7 Proceedings Format Instructions (PDF)

Travel Information

• Hotel
• Fairbanks Links
• Visiting IARC and UAF

Past GCCA Workshops

• GCCA-6
• GCCA-5
• GCCA-4
• GCCA-3
• GCCA-2