Date

Special Session at 2004 Joint Assembly
CO2: Sea Ice and its Interactions with the Climate System
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Canadian Geophysical Union (CGU)

Montreal, Canada
17-21 May 2004

Online Abstract Submission Deadline:
Thursday, 19 February 2004

For further information, please go to:

http://submissions6.agu.org/sm04/search/search_detail.asp?sessid=3

OVERVIEW
The 2004 Joint Assembly, a partnership between the Canadian Geophysical
Union (CGU), American Geophysical Union (AGU), Society of Exploration
Geophysicists (SEG), and the Environmental and Engineering Geophysical
Society (EEGS), is being held in Montreal, Canada. The Program Committee is
developing a Union-wide science program in the traditional AGU form and
spirit. In addition, sessions related to the uses or applications of the
geophysical sciences will be provided.

SESSION DESCRIPTION
Sea ice lies at the interface between the ocean and atmosphere. It
modulates interactions between these two components of the earth system
and modifies their response to climatic perturbations. Feedbacks
involving sea ice are thought to be particularly important in amplifying
greenhouse-gas-induced warming at high latitudes, and in determining
global climate sensitivity. The processes at work in these feedbacks
involve subtle changes in ice surface characteristics (such as snow
cover, melt ponds, and surface albedo), changes in cloudiness, storage
and exchange of heat and moisture, and transport within and between
ocean basins. Observations, process studies, and model experiments
continue to provide insight into these complex interactions, their role
in the physical climate system, and their connection to chemical and
biological processes at high latitudes.

The goals of this session will be:
- To highlight recent work on sea ice and climate interactions,
especially on the larger scale
- To transfer insights obtained from field studies to those involved in
representing sea-ice processes in climate models
- To clarify the role of sea ice in climate feedbacks under various
scenarios of future change

Sponsor: Cryosphere

CoSponsors:
Atmospheric Sciences
Ocean Sciences
Global Environmental Change

CONVENERS:
Gregory M. Flato
Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis
Meteorological Service of Canada
P.O. Box 1700 Unviersity of Victoria
Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2
CANADA
250/363-8233
greg.flato [at] ec.gc.ca

John E. Walsh
IARC-Frontier
University of Alaska
930 Koyukuk Drive P.O. Box 757335
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7335
USA
907/474-2677.
jwalsh [at] iarc.uaf.edu

Online Abstract Submission Deadline:
Thursday, 19 February 2004

For further information, please go to:
http://submissions6.agu.org/sm04/search/search_detail.asp?sessid=3