Session Announcement and Call for Papers
Biogeochemistry in Polar Environments
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/?content=search&show=detail&sessid=81
Papers are invited for Session B05: "Biogeochemistry in Polar
Environments" being convened at the American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Fall Meeting on 10-14 December 2007 in San Francisco, California.
Session Description:
The polar regions are unique in many ways, containing ecosystems that
are subject to extended periods of annual light and dark cycles as well
as extreme temperatures. These environments have proven to be much more
dynamic than expected, given the cold, dark conditions for significant
periods of time. Polar ecosystems, though extreme, can serve as ideal
systems to study the relationship between the microbial world, geology,
and chemistry because of limited direct human impacts and the lower
complexity of trophic structure. In fact, 14 percent of our planet is
polar, yet little is known about it. As the climate continues to change,
polar regions are affected quickly and dramatically, with potential
feedbacks to the rest of the globe. Understanding polar biogeochemical
cycles is essential for better prediction of impacts of increased
temperatures and other climate change effects. Polar biogeochemical
research reveals the workings of unique ecosystems, documents a baseline
of material transformation for more "complex" temperate regions, and
highlights ecosystem functions sensitive to climate change.
Session conveners propose to bring together an array of researchers
investigating biogeochemical processes and cycling in marine,
terrestrial, atmospheric, and freshwater polar environments, as well as
those that cross over these systems. Studies investigating a range of
biogeochemistry from trace metals to nutrient cycling are encouraged,
with special emphasis on studies integrating field, lab, molecular,
and/or computational techniques.
Conveners:
Jenny Baeseman
Kent State University
E-mail: jbaesema [at] kent.edu
Lydia Zeglin
University of New Mexico
E-mail: lzeglin [at] unm.edu
Michael Gooseff
Pennsylvania State University
E-mail: mgooseff [at] mines.edu
Further information and abstract submission procedures are available at:
http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm07/