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 National Science
Foundation Award #0604401 |
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The First Asian Conference on Permafrost. |
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| Investigator(s): |
Tingjun Zhang (PI)
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| Sponsor: |
University of Colorado at Boulder, CO 80309 3034926221
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| Start Date/Expiration Date |
2006-05-01 to 2007-04-30 (amended 2006-04-05) |
| Awarded Amount to Date: |
$31,800 |
| Abstract: ABSTRACT
Intellectual Merit: Permafrost in Asian mountain regions, especially on the Qinghai-Tibetan
Plateau, is extremely sensitive to environmental change since the majority of permafrost is
within several degrees below the freezing point. Global and regional climate models predict that
mean annual air temperature on the Tibetan Plateau will increase 2 to 3oC by the mid of the 21st
century. Construction of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Railroad, the biggest project in permafrost
region since the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline in the 1970s, and future railroad operations will have
impacts on surficial processes and permafrost environments. Climatic warming and railroad
construction will accelerate the thawing and degrading of permafrost over the region. Permafrost
scientists and engineers are now facing these new challenges on the response of permafrost to
rapidly changing environments. The 1st Asian Conference on Permafrost will bring scientists,
engineers, policy makers together, especially young scientists and graduate students, (i) to
enhance communication within the national and international scientific community on the
achievements and progress of the Asian permafrost studies in the past few decades (ii) to identify
and recommend critical areas that need further study in the next decade, and (iii) expand the
international collaborations on permafrost studies over this Asian mountainous region of China,
Kazakhstan, Mongolia and southern Russia.
Broader Impacts: Conference themes addressed include: Permafrost engineering, properties of
frozen soils, model development, and their applications; Permafrost hazards and periglacial
environments in mountain/plateau regions; Climatic and environmental and cryospheric changes;
Permafrost hydrology and cold regions water resources and land use; and Monitoring, mapping
and modeling of mountain and high-elevation permafrost. These topics relate to consequences of
a warming Earth and the many societal issues in the high latitude and high mountain regions of
planet Earth. The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) report in 2004 renewed concerns
that enhanced thawing or degradation of permafrost has had major impacts on infrastructure and
local communities. The outcome of the conference will contribute to the bipolar environmental
and engineering knowledge and to the assessment of recent changes in the landmass and
terrestrial ecosystems. Experience gained by young researchers will contribute to their academic
and professional development. |
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| NSF Org: |
EAR - Division of Earth Sciences |
| Award Number: |
0604401 |
| Award Instrument: |
Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Michael A. Ellis
EAR Division of Earth Sciences
GEO Directorate for Geosciences
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| NSF Program(s): |
ANTARCTIC GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS, GEOGRAPHY AND REGIONAL SCIENCE, GEOMECHANICS & GEOTECHNIC SYST, GEOMORPHOLOGY & LAND USE DYNAM, INTERNATIONAL PLAN & WORKSHOPS |
| Field Application(s): |
Other nsf.applications NEC |
| Program Reference Code(s): |
EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC PROGRAM, 5978
MONGOLIA, 1068
UNASSIGNED, 0000
US CHINA COOP IN BASIC SCIENCE, 9200 |
| Program Element Code(s): |
5112
GEOGRAPHY AND REGIONAL SCIENCE, 1352
GEOMECHANICS & GEOTECHNIC SYST, 1634
GEOMORPHOLOGY & LAND USE DYNAM, 7458
INTERNATIONAL PLAN & WORKSHOPS, 7299 |
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