David Wilkins
GEOMORPHLIST ARCHIVES - April 2003
April 3, 2003 Coastal Marsh/Estuarine Process Analyst wanted
4/6 One-yr position; Gustavus Adolphus College, MN, USA
4/6 3rd International Paleoflood Workshop
4/11 EXTENDED Abstract/Reg. Deadlines: Mexico City, 2003
4/11 GSA 2003 Session: Erosion, Exhumation, and Uplift
4/16 GSA 2003 Session: Deglacial record of Quaternary Ice Sheets
4/16 Erosional thresholds?
4/16 Geomorphlist issues
4/16 Funding for undergraduate fieldtrips?
4/17 Geomorphology Graduate Internships on Cyprus
4/17 one year position, University of Oregon; geographic techniques
4/20 Spam Opinions
4/22 Undergraduate Research opportunity; paleoenvironments
4/22 Effects of Fire Suppression upon Water Repellency in Soils
4/22 Useful software list?
4/23 Final call for papers RGS-IBG session EU WFD
4/23 Workshop on Modeling and Simulation of Geophysical Mass Flows; Ag 2003, Buffalo, NY
4/25 Alluvial Fans 2003 - latest news
4/25 New Dust datafiles are Online!

Date: April 3, 2003
From: Richard J Sablatura <r.sablatura@pwa-ltd.com>
Subject: Coastal Marsh/Estuarine Process Analyst wanted

To Whom It May Concern:

Attached is a job announcement for a Coastal Marsh and Estuarine Processes Analyst with Philip Williams & Associates, Ltd. in San Francisco, CA.

Please post/distribute/forward the job announcement as you feel is appropriate.  Thank you for your time and assistance. Best Regards, R. Sablatura

******************************************

COASTAL MARSH AND ESTUARINE PROCESSES ANALYST

Philip Williams & Associates, Ltd. (PWA) is seeking a hydraulic engineer or estuarine geomorphologist for consulting assignments on coastal marsh restoration planning and marsh/estuarine physical process studies. You will work in our San Francisco office with our interdisciplinary staff of hydrologists, engineers, geomorphologists, and hydrographers to develop planning and design recommendations based on analyses and understanding of physical processes. This position is entry-level with opportunities for significant advancement.

**NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE**

For a complete listing of all jobs currently available at PWA – please visit www.pwa-ltd.com


Date: 4/6
From: Mark Johnson [ mdj@gac.edu ]
Subject: One-yr position; Gustavus Adolphus College, MN, USA

Gustavus Adolphus College invites applications for a one-year visiting position of Instructor or Assistant Professor beginning September 1, 2003, in the Department of Geology.

Primary responsibility for the fall semester will be geomorphology, and one or two sections of introductory geology labs. Responsibilities for spring semester may include the introductory geology class and one other course in the candidate's expertise. The successful candidate is also expected to teach a course during our January Term.

We seek candidates who have completed their Ph.D., but will consider an ABD. Candidates should have a background in some combination of geomorphology, glacial geology, and/or groundwater geology.

To apply, send letter of application, curriculum vitae, statement of teaching philosophy, undergraduate and graduate transcripts (photocopies acceptable), and three letters of reference to:

Dr. James Welsh, Chair
Department of Geology
Gustavus Adolphus College
St. Peter, MN 56082-1498

www.gustavus.edu/oncampus/humanresources/index.cfm

Review of applications will begin on April 28, 2003, and continue until the position is filled. Address questions to Dr. James Welsh, 507-933-7335 or welsh@gustavus.edu.  Departmental website is located at: http://gustavus.edu/oncampus/academics/geology/index.html.

Gustavus Adolphus College is a coeducational, private, Lutheran (ELCA), residential, national liberal arts college of 2500 students. It is the policy and practice of the College to provide equal educational and employment opportunities for all. We specifically encourage applications from women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
--
Mark D. Johnson
Department of Geology
Gustavus Adolphus College
St. Peter, MN 56082
507 933 7442


Date: 4/6
From: Lisa Ely <ely@cwu.edu>
Subject: 3rd International Paleoflood Workshop

Floods, Floods & FLOODS!
Third International Paleoflood Workshop
Aug. 1 - 7, 2003
Hood River, Oregon, USA
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW AVAILABLE AT http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/meetings.htm.
--Early registration deadline: May 16, 2003 (reduction in regular and guest registration fees for technical sessions).
--Final registration deadline: June 13, 2003

The 3rd International Paleoflood Workshop will highlight new methods and results in the expanding field of Paleohydrology. The workshop will be held in Hood River, Oregon, in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Topics will focus in particular on the distinguishing characteristics of floods generated by different mechanisms, such as direct meteorological events, failure of natural dams or man-made structures, and glacial outburst floods. The 7-day workshop consists of:

  1. 2-day technical session of invited and submitted talks and posters
  2. Optional 2-day pre-meeting field trip examining Pleistocene Missoula Flood features and Holocene Columbia River flood deposits in the Columbia River Gorge
  3. Optional 3-day post-meeting raft trip on the Deschutes River, Oregon examining evidence of a variety of large Quaternary flood features.

NOTE: Space on the post-meeting raft trip on the Deschutes River is limited. Please register as soon as possible for this trip to reserve your spot.

The workshop is scheduled immediately after the 2003 INQUA conference in Reno, Nevada, so that participants can easily attend both. Van transportation between Reno and Hood River is available (see registration form). For additional information and registration instructions see the 3rd International Paleoflood Conference web site at http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/meetings.htm.
Please contact Lisa Ely ely@cwu.edu , Tel. (509) 963-2177; or Terri Garside tgarside@unr.edu , Tel. (775)784-6691, ext. 126 with any additional questions.

Meeting convenors: Lisa Ely, Central Washington University; Jim O'Connor, U.S. Geological Survey; and Kyle House, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology.
****************************************************************************
Dr. Lisa L. Ely
Associate Professor
Department of Geological Sciences
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7418
Tel: 509-963-2177
FAX: 509-963-2821
ely@cwu.edu


Date: 4/11
From: Irasema Alcantara <irasema@igiris.igeograf.unam.mx>
Subject: EXTENDED Abstract/Reg. Deadlines: Mexico City, 2003


Dear Colleagues,

Regional Geomorphology Conference "GEOMORPHIC HAZARDS: TOWARDS THE PREVENTION OF DISASTERS" (organised by the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG) and the Mexican Society of Geomorphology (SMG)),
Mexico City, October 27th to November 2nd, 2003.

I would like to inform you that the deadline for ABSTRACT SUBMISSION and EARLY REGISTRATION has been extended to APRIL 30, 2003.

Further details are available at:  http://www.smg.igeograf.unam.mx/

THE PROGRAMME INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SESSIONS:

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU IN MEXICO CITY IN OCTOBER!!!!

E-mail: IAGMEXICO2003@igiris.igeograf.unam.mx

Dr. Irasema Alcántara-Ayala
Geomorphology

Institute of Geography, UNAM
Department of Physical Geography
Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria
Coyoacan 04510, Mexico, D.F.
Tel: (5255) 56 22 43 99
(5255) 56 22 43 35 ext. 45 466
Fax: (5255) 56 16 21 45
E-mail: irasema@igiris.igeograf.unam.mx


Date: 4/11
From: Kurt Frankel <kfrankel@ess.ucla.edu>
Subject: GSA 2003 Session: Erosion, Exhumation, and Uplift

CALL FOR PAPERS GSA 2003: Seattle, WA

Topical Session 101: Erosion, Exhumation, and Uplift: Complex Interactions and Feedback Mechanisms Between Tectonics and Geomorphology

We are soliciting papers, in both oral and poster format, for a session that will focus on the interactions and feedback mechanisms between geomorphology and tectonics. This session aims to bring together knowledge from both the tectonics and geomorphology communities to gain a better understanding of the processes controlling landscape evolution.

Online abstract submission is available now at: http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2003AM/top/papers/index.cgi?sessionid=9732
Abstract submission deadline is July 15.

If you have questions, please contact Kurt Frankel ( kfrankel@ess.ucla.edu ) or Bernard Guest ( bguest@ess.ucla.edu ).

We look forward to seeing your contributions!
_____________________________________________________________________________
Kurt L. Frankel
Department of Earth and Space Sciences
University of California, Los Angeles
595 Charles Young Dr. East
3806 Geology Building
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1567

office phone: (310) 206-0650
fax: (310) 825-2779
kfrankel@ess.ucla.edu
http://www2.ess.ucla.edu/~kfrankel


Date: 4/16
From: Tracy Brennand <tbrennand@arts.sfu.ca>
Subject: GSA 2003 Session: Deglacial record of Quaternary Ice Sheets

CALL FOR PAPERS 2003 GSA ANNUAL MEETING IN SEATTLE, WA.

TOPICAL SESSION 110: ASSESSING THE DEGLACIAL RECORD OF QUATERNARY ICE SHEETS We are soliciting oral papers for a topical session focusing on the different styles, spatial patterns and chronologies of deglaciation as inferred from the geomorphic and sedimentary record of past ice sheets. We wish to generate discussion across disciplines (geomorphology, sedimentology, geoarcheology, geochronology, etc.) and explore records from a wide range of glacial environments (glaciofluvial, glaciolacustrine, subglacial, etc.) and ice sheets in order to better understand deglaciation. This session will be arranged around four themes:

  1. Landform-sediment records. Recent advances in the interpretation of glacial landforms are challenging our understanding of deglacial processes and styles. For example, some hummocky terrain may record subglacial erosion around glacial maximum rather than ice sheet stagnation during deglaciation. Similarly, some eskers may record regional ice sheet stagnation whereas others may record active ice retreat.
  2. Deglacial styles and patterns. How do the styles of deglaciation for Quaternary ice sheets vary in different topographic settings? What role(s) does bed topography play in controlling the pattern of deglaciation in mountainous terrain? Is deglaciation a passive process characterized by widespread ice stagnation or is it characterized by active retreat of a glacier margin?
  3. Chronology. The chronology of deglaciation is poorly constrained in some regions due to lack of exploration and the sparsity of organic material for radiocarbon dating. Innovative dating techniques and additional data are required to clarify the timing and rates of deglaciation.
  4. Causes of deglaciation. The relative role of external atmospheric changes (climate warming) and ice sheet instabilities (including meltwater events) requires exploration.

Four invited speakers will be giving keynote presentations on these themes. The speakers and their proposed topics are:

  1. Dr. John Stone, University of Washington: Style, chronology and causes of deglaciation in Antarctica
  2. Dr. John Shaw, University of Alberta: Outburst floods and the offshore sedimentary record of rapid deglaciation of the Laurentide Ice Sheet.
  3. Dr. Darren B. Sjogren, University of Calgary: Genesis of hummocky terrain in the southwest sector of the Laurentide Ice Sheet: Implications for deglacial chronologies.
  4. Dr. Timothy G. Fisher, University of Indiana-Northwest: Landform and sedimentary relationships of proglacial Lake Agassiz spillways.

Online abstract submission is now available through the GSA website at: http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2003AM/top/papers/index.cgi?sessionid=9715

Submission deadline is July 15, 2003.

Please consider joining us for this great session. You can direct questions to Jerome Lesemann ( jleseman@sfu.ca ) or Tracy Brennand ( tabrenna@sfu.ca ). See you in Seattle!

Tracy Brennand and Jerome Lesemann


Date: 4/16
From: Umberto Fracassi <fracassi@ingv.it>
Subject: Erosional thresholds?

Hi all -

To pose my question I need a brief info..

The issue:
We are looking at the geomorphic signature of a small intermontane basin in central Italy. Its quaternary cover is very thin (we have microtremors data) and is dominated by a vast array of major alluvial fans on the hanging-wall of a major extensional feature (to the N), while karst processes control the S boundary. The overall system was heavily smoothed away by linear erosion, capable of dissecting both deposits (mainly carbonate moraines) and pre-Q bedrock.  Two large erosive thresholds dominate the interior drainage, capturing and triggering the fan system. One sits on the E border of the basin, where the remnants of the thrustbelt give room to the exterior drainage controlling the outer foreslope. The other actually acts as an erosive corridor between the two portions of the basin, otherwise separated by a bedrock relief.

The question: Is there an analytical relationship between height of zero-level (T0, pre-erosional) and bottom (T1, end of linear erosion process) of two canyons produced by erosional thresholds in a basin which evidently experienced more than one depositional/erosive cycle? If so, would such a relationship be function of, say, the distance between the thresholds, the shift in relative height among the two T0's and T1's, etc..?

Any hint to a paper, algorithm, criticism etc are all very welcome... Thanks in advance and have a serene day,

Umberto
--

Umberto Fracassi
--------------------------------------------------------
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia
Via di Vigna Murata, 605
00143 Roma
Italy
Tel: +39-06-51860485
Fax: +39-06-5041181
Email: fracassi@ingv.it
WWW: http://www.ingv.it/paleo/fracassi/
--------------------------------------------------------


Date: 4/16
From: Bill Locke <wlocke@montana.edu>
Subject: Geomorphlist issues

A couple of list issues - one trivial, one meaningful:

Trivially - I typically delete the "please excuse cross-posting" line in most posts. Why waste bandwidth? If people want to subscribe to multiple lists they will get cross-posts! Please do me a favor and leave that line out of your future posts.

More importantly - a listmember commented today that they are sure the List Directory is being mined by spammers - I agree. I can think of several options to reduce this problem; please REPLY with your preference.

  1. Eliminate the on-line list directory entirely
  2. Maintain the directory on-line but remove e-mail addresses
  3. Maintain the e-mail directory off-line and send it as a list post at some intervals (6 months?) Note: that would give each of us a handy spam list of our very own!
  4. Maintain the directory on-line; include but don't hot-link e-mail addresses (some page miners probably select "mailto:" linked addresses, others may search for "@" in text)
  5. Maintain the directory on-line but modify hot-linked addresses (typically by inserting XXX in the address)
  6. Maintain the directory as is - the convenience is worth the spam

Please let me know which number above best reflects your preference or if you have any better ideas than the ones listed above.

Note: feel free to modify your information in the Directory - if you don't want information posted, just let me know!

Best wishes

Bill
************************************
William W. Locke, wlocke@montana.edu
Department of Earth Sciences
Montana State University - Bozeman
Bozeman, MT 59717-3480
GEOMORPHLIST: geomorph-l@listserv.montana.edu
http://www.homepage.montana.edu/~ueswl/geomorphlist/index.htm
*************************************


Date: 4/16
From: Evan Hart <ehart@tntech.edu>
Subject: Funding for undergraduate fieldtrips?

Hello,

I just returned from a great (although non-research related) field trip with 6 students to the Southwest United States. We would like to continue the tradition but are facing budget impoundments. Does anyone know of any outside sources for funding undergraduate field trips? Or grants that could be obtained specifically for field experiences? In our case we would only need ~$3000 per year to keep the trip going, depending on size of course.

Thanks for any leads,


Date: 4/17
From: Jay Noller <jay.noller@orst.edu>
Subject: Geomorphology Graduate Internships on Cyprus

GEOMORPHOLOGY INTERNSHIPS

The 2003 Troodos Archaeological and Environmental Survey Project (TAESP) invites applications from graduate students with field research experience in geomorphology, soil science and/or geoarchaeology. Job duties include detailed soil geomorphological study of field transects being surveyed by archaeologists, mapping and characterization of landscape, and data entry into ArcGIS database and analyses thereof. Interns must be able to work as part of a team effort toward a broad interdisciplinary research goal. Training in local geomorphological stratigraphy, which includes alluvial, archaeological and hill slope deposits, and terrestrial and anthropogenic landforms, will be conducted the first week, beginning July 2. The field schedule is 5.5 days/week and involves long, at times strenuous, days in the hot, dry sun of the northern Troodos Mountains, Cyprus.

Dates of fieldwork: 2 July to 9 August 2003.

Required: Graduate student (current or entering) in a program of geomorphology, pedology or closely related field.

Highly desirable: Experience in geomorphology or soil science fieldwork. Every reasonable effort will be made to fully cover roundtrip airfare to Cyprus. Maintenance costs (room and board) for Geomorphology Interns will be covered by the project.

TAESP is a working research program with strong emphasis on interdisciplinary training of graduate student. Student participants typically originate from 10-15 countries around the globe. Further information about TAESP is available on the project website: http://www.taesp.arts.gla.ac.uk/

DEADLINE for applications is 7 May 2003. Applications are to be emailed to Prof. Jay Noller (see below).

Please direct inquires about the TAESP Geomorphology Internship, including request for application, to:


Date: 4/17
From: Patricia F. McDowell <pmcd@OREGON.UOREGON.EDU>
Subject: one year position, University of Oregon; geographic techniques

EUGENE, OREGON 97403-1251. University of Oregon.

One-year Visiting Assistant Professor/Instructor position beginning September 16, 2003.

Teaching responsibilities include courses in geographic techniques and related fields, including introductory and advanced GIS and cartography.

Ph.D. required for appointment as Visiting Assistant Professor; ABD considered for rank of Visiting Instructor.

Send letter describing teaching interests and background, evidence of teaching effectiveness, curriculum vitae, and the names, addresses, and e-mail addresses of three referees.

Review of applications will begin May 1, 2003 and continue until position is filled. To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by that date.

EO/AA/ADA institution committed to cultural diversity.

Apply: W. Andrew Marcus, Search Committee Chair, Department of Geography, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1251; Phone: 541-346-5709; Fax: 541-346-2067; Internet: marcus@oregon.uoregon.edu .


Date: 4/20
From: Bill Locke <wlocke@montana.edu>
Subject: Spam Opinions

Thanks to all who responded (and for the kind words that accompanied your messages!). The results were:
For options 1 (remove directory entirely) to 6 (retain directory in present form)

1 2 3 4 5 6
8 18 21 20 20 19

Now that's what I call a lack of consensus! You have given me the power to do whatever I want. Thanks a lot for your suggestions as well - lots of good ideas! Accordingly, what I will do is as follows:

1) I will remove all of the e-mail addresses from the Directory, but retain the Directory otherwise in its present form. Unfortunately, anyone who found the posted directory could readily write a program to strip nonsense characters from the addresses.
2) I will send the list directory as a message every few months. It will be large enough to fill small mailboxes (but less than 200 kb). The first edition (tab-delimited) follows in a separate message.
3) Be aware that you can request a list of members at any time bya) sending a message to listserv@listserv.montana.edu FROM THE ADDRESS AT WHICH YOU ARE SUBSCRIBED.
b) The subject line can remain empty.
c) The message text should say [review geomorph-l] but without the brackets.
d) The remainder of the message could say [quit] or be empty; a signature block without [quit] will generate an error message.
e) I typically copy the response into Excel and use the "Text to columns" command to parse the list into three columns, which I can then sort by name or e-mail address.

I am sorry to sacrifice the functionality of just clicking and sending, but it is the nature of the electronic world in which we live. Obviously, those formerly linked e-mail addresses (like mine) will continue to generate spam indefinitely - sorry about that!

Bill


Date: 4/22
From: Julie Maxson <jmaxson@carleton.edu>
Subject: Undergraduate Research opportunity; paleoenvironments

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP IN DISTRIBUTING THIS INFORMATION. Application deadline is May 2, 2003.

Dear Colleagues, Please pass information about this undergraduate research experience along to any sophomores or juniors interested in sedimentology, fluvial geomorphology, or paleontology:

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR UNDERGRADUATES

RECONSTRUCTING RIVERS: Interpreting the Cretaceous Paleo-environment of the Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah

This program is an opportunity for undergraduate students, typically after their sophomore or junior years, to gain significant research experience that involves both field investigation and analog modeling of sedimentary systems. The project will include a one-week introduction to the study of fluvial systems and fluvial stratigraphy, five weeks in the field in northeast Utah and northwest Colorado, and two weeks in the laboratories at Gustavus Adolphus College (in St. Peter, Minnesota), and at the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory at the University of Minnesota (in Minneapolis, about a 75-minute commute from the Gustavus campus). The goal of the research is to understand the paleo-environments that are represented in the Early Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation, through careful observation and analysis of sedimentary structures, characteristic depositional sequences, and mineralogical composition. The Cedar Mountain Formation is primarily a clastic sequence, and previous study indicates that it was mostly deposited in a fluvial environment, although we also find evidence for shallow ponds and lakes that may have occupied floodplains. Until the late 1990's, the Cedar Mountain Formation was very poorly studied. Discovery of several critically important vertebrate paleontology sites within the Cedar Mountain Formation has motivated a strong interest toward understanding the environment in which it was deposited. Our research will focus on the physical and chemical sedimentology of the Cedar Mountain Formation, and it is important that participants understand that our research will not directly include any vertebrate paleontology. However, we will have ample opportunities to meet the paleontologists who work within the Cedar Mountain Formation, and to visit museums and active dinosaur quarries during our work. Application Information can be obtained at: http://www.gac.edu/oncampus/academics/geology/index.html


Date: 4/22
From: Kevin J Spelts <speltsk@onid.orst.edu>
Subject: Effects of Fire Suppression upon Water Repellency in Soils

Greetings:

I'm studying remote sensing of wildfire induced water repellency in soils (as posited by various workers, e.g., DeBano, Letey, Krammes, etc.) and subsequent effects upon affected basin hydrology and geomorphology (e.g., Wells). It has occurred to recently that perhaps changes in fire regime, such as effectuated by active fire suppression, may have caused a change in the creation, frequency of occurrence, and bandwidth of wildfire-induced water repellent strata. Although some studies suggest that fire-induced water-repellency is a short-lived phenomenon, some studies suggest just the opposite.

  1. My first question: Do water-repellent compounds and strata continue to migrate downward into the soil column either by active eluviation or gravitationally? It seems reasonable to suggest that this may be so if we posit that water-repellent compounds are not a transient phenomenon but persist over longer periods of time, e.g., > 30 years.
  2. My second question: Would accumulation of water repellent compounds (derived from many individual fires) over time "merge" into a relatively thick somewhat homogenous layer? If so, would this explain some of the relatively thick water repellent strata encountered in some Australian environments?

Any insight or direction you may have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Respectfully,


Date: 4/22
From: Thiago Morato de Carvalho <tmorato@pucrs.br>
Subject: Useful software list?

Hi all,

I have a propost, some times I need some software for make works in the university, is hard find specific softwares, I like about simulations, make models 3D and graphics. Have some software which could simulate environments conditions, but a simple software, like didactic for students?

I have a small list:

  1. Surfer - make grids for terrains; surface mapping system
  2. Gap Light Analyser: for LAI with pictures FishEye
  3. Vista Pro: Make environments with texture in 3d
  4. TerraPlain: Make environments with texture (very simple)
  5. Kyplot: like a Excel, but better for graphics
  6. seisvole and seiswave: education software for learn earthquakes
  7. HPlanet: show the satellites track and stars constellations
  8. Spring: software for SIG
  9. PhotoStic: make automatic mosaic with pictures and images
  10. http://www.niu.edu/landform/landsap.html:education site, geomorphological simulation
  11. TraceArt: convert BMP to vector file
  12. coord: calculator for coordinates

Please, if do you known programs for simulations, models 3D and others, send me a list with the names.

Big Regards


Date: 4/23
From: John Rowan <j.s.rowan@dundee.ac.uk>
Subject: Final call for papers RGS-IBG session EU WFD

Implementing the EU Water Framework Directive

Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers

The RGS-IBG International Annual Conference, London, 3-5th September 2003

FINAL CALL FOR PAPERS ­ submission deadline 7th May 2003

Implementing the EU Water Framework Directive will require fundamental restructuring of the legislative, institutional, regulatory and policy frameworks governing the management of fresh and coastal waters throughout Europe. Achieving the ecological status targets required by the Directive will, in turn, depend on the effective delivery of river basin management plans by 2015. Such plans need to reconcile conflicting water demands and uses (e.g. drinking water, irrigation, sewerage, power generation, recreation and amenity value) but at the same time enhance and protect the ecological status of European waters. Meantime, debate continues on the relative balance between regulation, economic incentives and education/best practice in delivering environmental improvements. Meeting this challenge will require innovative interdisciplinary research across the environmental and social sciences and law; improved technologies for collecting, modelling and sharing data; improved communication between scientists, legislators, policy makers and managers; and increased community and stakeholder involvement in river basin planning and management.

The RGS-IBG International Annual Conference is one of the largest annual geographical meetings in the world, and is the largest for geographers in the UK. For 2003 the overall conference theme is ‘Geography, Serving Society and the Environment’. Friday 5th September has two sessions dedicated to the EU WFD ­ comprising a plenary with invited keynote speakers and a follow-up open session of submitted contributions. This notice is the final call for papers for the latter and invites contributions examining the challenges of WFD implementation. In the spirit of the overall conference theme we hope the session will be truly interdisciplinary and attract contributions from the physical, biological and social sciences ­ inclusive of policy and management considerations. The meeting will be hosted by the RGS in Kensington Gore, London.

Authors are requested to submit a title and brief abstract (max. 200 words) by Wednesday 7th May to the session convenor at the email address below. Oral papers will last 15 minutes with 5 minutes for questions. Poster papers are also welcomed.

Dr John Rowan Environmental Systems Research Group, Department of Geography, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK DD1 4HN Email j.s.rowan@dundee.ac.uk; Tel: +44 (0)1382 344024


Date: 4/23
From: Chris S. Renschler <rensch@acsu.buffalo.edu>
Subject: Workshop on Modeling and Simulation of Geophysical Mass Flows; Ag 2003, Buffalo, NY

Workshop on Modeling and Simulation of Geophysical Mass Flows August 14 and 15, 2003 University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY14260

This workshop focuses on development of new strategies for hazard risk information management from avalanches and debris flows related to volcanoes. Key aspects to be addressed include: (1) development and use of realistic simulations of geophysical mass flows using better modeling of the physics and numerical schemes with higher resolution; (2) integrating data from several sources, including simulation results, remote sensing, and GIS data, and (3) development of decision support systems using new methodologies for communication of information through suitable visualization and collaborative technologies (4) quantification of errors due to uncertainty in input data and model parameters.

There will be model demonstrations in our supercomputing center http://www.ccr.buffalo.edu/  and in the NYSCEDII Visualization Center http://www.nyscedii.buffalo.edu/ . We are currently planning to make the workshop available on the ACCESS Grid ( http://www.accessgrid.org/ ) to allow for wider availability.

Everyone interested in these topics is welcome to participate, especially students. The University at Buffalo is located in western New York, only 30 minutes from Niagara Falls. National Science Foundation is sponsoring this workshop and there is no registration fee. Student papers selected for presentation will also have all local expenses covered. To register or to submit a paper for presentation please contact either:

Chris S. Renschler
University at Buffalo - The State University of New York
Department of Geography, 116 Wilkeson Quad
Buffalo, New York 14261, USA
Tel: +1-(716) 645-2722 ext. 23
Fax: +1-(716) 645-2329
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 12:30-13:30pm
Email: rensch@buffalo.edu
Home: www.geog.buffalo.edu/~rensch
Lab: http://lesam.geog.buffalo.edu/lesam/


Date: 4/25
From: Martin Stokes <M.Stokes@plymouth.ac.uk>
Subject: Alluvial Fans 2003 - latest news

This is just a reminder to all geomorphologists that there will be a conference on alluvial fans in Almeria, SE Spain from the 8th-13th June 2003 We have an excellent programme in place covering all aspects of alluvial fans including:
* intrinsic and extrinsic controls on the alluvial fan environment
* modelling
* interaction with adjacent environments
* geohazards and resources
We can still squeeze in a few more oral or poster presentations if anyone is interested, so contact us immediately through alluvialfans@plymouth.ac.uk . The post conference fieldtrips to the Pyrenees and Granada/Guadix Basins are full.
We still have a few places available on the Madrid Basin fieldtrip "Rift Margin Sedimentation - The Iberian Ranges"
Check out the web site ( http://alluvialfans.net ) for further details and costs. Please get in touch with me by Wednesday 30th April at the latest if you interested in attending this fieldtrip.
Dr Martin Stokes
Department of Geology
University of Plymouth


Date: 4/25
From: Marith Reheis <mreheis@usgs.gov>
Subject: New Dust datafiles are Online!

OFR-03-138: Dust Deposition in Nevada, California, and Utah, 1984-2002 http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/ofr-03-138/

Several studies during the last 20 years have monitored and sampled modern dust deposition in the arid southwestern United States. These studies were conducted to (1) determine dust inputs to soil genesis; (2) provide data on modern dust composition and deposition rates to a computer model relating soil carbonate to paleoclimate; (3) monitor amount and composition of dust being deflated from the dry bed of Owens Lake, California, and (4) determine dust deposition at stations that monitor weather and wind erosion to help predict the effects of global climate change. The purpose of this report is to make available an up-to-date set of physical and chemical laboratory data and dust deposition rates for all these sites. Contact me at mreheis@usgs.gov if you have questions. I'd also like to keep a running list of who is actually using and/or is interested in this data!

Cheers, Marith