******Indication of interest requested!******
Please respond by January 1, 1998
If you are interested in the following workshop and publication
opportunity, please let one of the two conveners (contact information
below) know.
Depending on the expression of interest and limited room at the Tarfala
Station, we may consider changing the location of the workshop.
*******
First Announcement
Workshop on Methods of Mass Balance Measurements and Modeling
Tarfala, Sweden
August 10-12, 1998
Glacier mass balance data has gained increased attention because of its
importance in detecting global climate change and its influence on
global sea levels, in addition to its importance to regional water
supplies and power generation. This resurgence in interest coincides
with declining funds for national programs to monitor glacier mass
balance. In light of the renewed interest in mass balance data, and
fiscal pressures on mass balance programs, the International Commission
on Snow and Ice is convening a workshop to address techniques of
measuring glacier mass balance and methods to model mass balance.
The specific goals of the workshop include: 1) Approaches to measuring
and modeling "problem" glaciers, including large glaciers (greater than
50 km2), debris covered glaciers, calving glaciers, highly crevassed
glaciers, and where ablation/accumulation periods do not normally
coincide with the summer and winter seasons; 2) alternative methods for
measuring mass balance including remote sensing, flux divergence, volume
change; 3) strategies for reduced field programs; and 4) analysis of
errors in all methods.
We intend to publish a workshop proceedings that we hope to be a
comprehensive summary of mass balance models and field methods in
current use. We hope that the proceedings will provide, in a single
volume, of source material on methods of mass balance measurements and
modeling to aid in initiating new mass balance programs and to improve
current programs. We recognize that all who may wish to attend may not
be able to come to Sweden, thus we intend to publish manuscripts from
individuals who can not attend the workshop to maximize the
comprehensive intent of the proceedings.
The site of the workshop is the Tarfala Research Station adjacent to
Storglaciaren, site of the longest continuous mass balance data set in
the world. The workshop will be held for 3 days on August 10-12, 1998
and limited to 25 participants, due limitations on the facilities at
Tarfala Station. The dates of the workshop precede the IGS Symposium on
17-20 August, which will be held in Kiruna, Sweden.
Costs of the workshop are roughly estimated to be,
Stockholm - Kiruna airplane: ~4000 SeK (roundtrip)
train (18hr): ~700 SeK (roundtrip)
Kiruna - Nikkaluokta bus fare: ~75 SeK (roundtrip)
Nikkaluokta - Tarfala helicopter: ~2200 SeK/flight each flight carries
5 people and bags
hiking 25 km free
OR
Nikkaluokta - Kebnekaise helicopter ~400 SeK/flight
hike 7 km
Food and lodging at Tarfala: ~350 SeK/day
Tarfala Station supplies - bedding, laundry facilities, and
meeting facilities
For more information, contact:
Andrew G. Fountain
Department of Geology
Portland State University
Portland, OR 97207-0751 USA
Email: fountaina [at] pdx.edu
Phone: +1-503-725-3024
Fax: +1-503-725-3025
or:
Peter Jansson
Department of Physical Geography
Stockholm University
S-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
Email: pete [at] natgeo.su.se
Phone: +46-8-16-48-15
Fax: +46-8-16-48-18