Date

To express interest or request further information in advance of the
next announcement for this symposium, please contact any one of the
following:

Jody Deming, Committee Chair
jdeming [at] u.washington.edu

Louis Fortier, Symposium Co-Convener
louis.fortier [at] bio.ulaval.ca

Martin Fortier, Symposium Secretariat
Coordinator-International North Water Polynya Study (NOW)
GIROQ, Pavillon Vachon, Université Laval
Ste-Foy, Quebec G1K 7P4 Canada
Phone: 418/656-3207
Fax: 418/656-2339
martin.fortier [at] giroq.ulaval.ca


FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT

2001 International Polynya Symposium
"Polynyas in changing polar seas"
Université Laval (www.ulaval.ca)
Quebec City, Canada
9-13 September 2001

OBJECTIVE
In the current context of global change, polynyas have received much
recent attention as possible early indicators of the effects of warming
at the poles. Interdisciplinary studies of the last decade, including
those of the Laptev Sea, Mertz Glacier, North Water, Northeast Water,
Ross Sea, and Terra Nova Bay polynyas, have resulted in unprecedented
data sets that allow us to examine critical links and feedbacks between
meteorology, ocean physics and chemistry, geological processes, and the
ecosystems that develop uniquely in these recurrent open-water regions.
The objective of this international symposium is to bring together
researchers from all polynya projects and both poles to facilitate the
exchange of information and refinement of our understanding of the
significance of polynyas on both local and global scales.

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM
The program will include invited keynote speakers to open each daily
session, followed by contributed and other invited talks and a healthy
dose of poster sessions after the talks. A detailed format and list of
invited speakers will be provided in the next circular, which will also
announce the symposium web site, abstract submission date (anticipated
March 2001), and additional registration and meeting details. Selection
of Quebec City as the conference site promises reasonable fees and
lodging costs, either within walking distance from the site or within
the scenic Old City, a 15-minute shuttle ride away
(http://www.telegraphe.com/introen.html).

The Symposium is being organized by a scientific steering committee,
appointed by the International Arctic Polynya Program (IAPP) and
representing six countries, a wide diversity of research disciplines,
and interests in both Arctic and Antarctic seas. Please contact the
committee chair, Jody Deming (jdeming [at] u.washington.edu), symposium
co-convener, Louis Fortier (louis.fortier [at] bio.ulaval.ca), or symposium
secretariat, Martin Fortier (martin.fortier [at] giroq.ulaval.ca), to express
interest or request further information in advance of the next
announcement.