Date

Session Announcement and Call for Papers
State and Fate of Frozen Ground: Changes in Permafrost, Seasonally
Frozen Ground, and the Near-Surface Freeze/Thaw Cycle
American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting
10-14 December 2007
San Francisco, California

Abstract Submission Deadline: 6 September 2007

For further information, please go to:
http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm07/


Papers are invited for a special session on "State and Fate of Frozen
Ground: Changes in Permafrost, Seasonally Frozen Ground, and the
Near-Surface Freeze/Thaw Cycle" being convened at the American
Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting on 10-14 December 2007 in San
Francisco, California.

Session Description:
Frozen ground, comprised of permafrost, seasonally frozen ground, and
the near-surface freeze/thaw cycle, is the largest cryospheric variable
in terms of area extent. Recent decades have seen important changes in
the distribution and amount of frozen ground and future projections
indicate a potential for significant reductions. Degradation of frozen
ground, particularly in permafrost regions, has important consequences
for ecosystems, landscapes, and infrastructure, as well as the surface
energy and moisture balance, climate and hydrologic systems, carbon
budgets, and trace gas exchange. Session conveners solicit abstracts
that focus on past, present, and future changes to frozen ground and the
potential consequences and feedbacks of these changes on natural and
human systems. Any ongoing or planned International Polar Year
activities relating to frozen ground are also encouraged.

Important Note:
This special session does not appear on the AGU Fall Meeting website. To
participate, please submit an abstract to Session C01: "Cryosphere
General Contributions" (more information available at:
http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm07/?content=search&show=detail&sessid=624)
and forward the abstract details (authors, title, and abstract reference
number) to session convener Oliver Frauenfeld at the contact information
below.

Conveners:
Oliver W. Frauenfeld
CIRES/NSIDC, University of Colorado
E-mail: oliverf [at] colorado.edu

Andrew Balser
Toolik Field Station, University of Alaska Fairbanks
E-mail: Andrew.Balser [at] uaf.edu

Further information and abstract submission procedures are available at:
http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm07/