Cryospheric Changes and Influences

—Cryospheric Issues in Regional Sustainable Development

August 12--14, 2010

  Lijiang, China

 

(First Circular, April 2009)

 

SPONSORED BY

Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) /World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)

International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS)/ International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG)

State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences (SKLCS), CAREERI, CAS

 

 

CO-SPONSORED BY

International Conference Center in Lijiang, Yunnan Province, China

 

 

ORGANIZED BY

Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research (CAREERI), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)

Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research (ITP), CAS

Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences (CAMS)

Gansu Provincial Meteorological Academy (GSMA)

China National Committee of CliC and IACS (CNC-CliC and IACS)

 

 

BOUT THE JOINT CONFERENCE

The Joint International conference on Cryospheric Changes and Influences—Cryospheric Issues in Regional Sustainable Development will be held in Lijiang, China during August 12-14, 2010. The aim of the conference is to promote our understandingon changes in all components of the cryosphere and their interdependence and causes, our current capabilities to model and assess these changes, and mitigation and adaptability strategy for the changing global climate and cryosphere.

To fulfill the aim, the conference strives to enhance and co-ordinate efforts in monitoring the cryosphere, to model and understand the cryosphere’s role in the climate system, to assess changes in the cryosphere as indicators of climate change, to quantify the frangibility of cryosphere and the influences of cryospheric changes on hydrometeorology, society and economy (such as agriculture, tourism, etc.) in regional sustainable development, to discuss adaptive countermeasures on cryospheric changes,tofacilitate the data collection of cryospheric systems through standardized measurements, and to provide an international platform for discussions and publications of results arising from research activities as mentioned above.

We extends an invitation to those scientists, managers, students as well as representatives of governments, media and funding organizations, who are interested in cryoshperic sciences, from across the world to attend the conference which offers a great opportunity for extensive discussion and cooperation.

Lijiang namedfollowing its position at the middle reach of the beautiful Jinsha River, and is the main region inhabited by Naxi Group with their splendid Dongba Culture. Lijiang has the best preserved ancient town in China - the Old Town which has been listed in the World Cultural Heritages by UNESCO in 1997. The Old Town was built in the late Song dynasty and the early Yuan dynasty, and continues to maintain the original flavor of the local lifestyle, the typical groups of buildings and the profound cultural heritage of the region. "The city depends on water for existence and water comes along with the city" has become one of the main features of the old town. Around Lijiang, there are a number of splendid natural beauty spots that will certainly astonish people, such as, Yulong Snow Mountain. Locating between 10004'-10016' E and 2703'-2740' N, Mt. Yulong (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain) is the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Consisting of 13 peaks, among which Shanzidou is the highest one with an altitude of 5600m. Looking from Lijiang Old Town in the south, the snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in the clouds, hence, the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Mt. Yulong is a sanctuary for rare animals and wild plants, and now is a famous scenic spot for sightseeing, mountaineering, skiing, exploration, scientific research and taking holiday.

 

MAIN TOPICS

The conference focuses on cryospheric changes and influences on the regional sustainable development. It includes the following topics:

1.  Cryospheric distribution and changes (including glacier, ice caps and ice sheets, permafrost, frozen ground, snowfall snow cover, sea ice, lake ice and river ice);

2.  Cold region hydrology and water resources;

3.  Regional cryosphere-atmosphere-hydrology-ecology interactions;

4.  Cryospheric disasters;

5.  Influences of Cryospheric changes on regional development;

6.  Frangibility and adaptability of cryosphere;

7.  Mitigation and adaptive countermeasures on cryospheric changes.