We would like to invite colleagues to participate in the AGU Chapman Conference on Examining Ecohydrological Feedbacks of Landscape Change along Elevation Gradients in Semiarid Regions, to be held in Sun Valley, Idaho, USA on October 5-9, 2009.
A special poster session will be organized focusing on “Quantifying biogeochemical “hot spots” and “hot moments” in drylands – a hydrological perspective”. The following is the session description. Across water-limited arid and semi-arid environments, it has been long recognized that pulsed water events strongly impact the biogeochemical cycling of various elements. For example, small rainfall events in drylands will promote “hot moments” of increased CO2 (the birch effect) and NOx production. In addition, the spatial heterogeneity of arid environments leads to "hot spot" locations (e.g., under the tree canopies, or in riparian zones) where reaction rates are disproportionately high relative to the surrounding matrix. The identification, quantification, and prediction of these “hot spots” and “hot moments” and their underlying hydrological drivers are crucial determinants of how drylands will respond to climate change. Furthermore, elevation and climate gradients provide a natural laboratory for exploring the manner by which these coupled biogeochemical and hydrological dynamics vary within and between dryland ecosystems. Therefore, we are seeking submissions that characterize, quantify, and predict biogeochemical hot spots and hot moments via essential hydrological phenomena across a wide range ecosystem types, and across numerous spatio-temporal scales. Specifically, we seek submissions that (1) characterize the quantitative effects of hydrological dynamics on biogeochemical processes, (2) explore the changing nature of these linkages across elevational/climate gradients, and (3) determine the advances in experimental, analytical, and numerical approaches necessary to explore coupled hydrological and biogeochemical processes in greater detail. Colleagues interested in these themes should contact Kelly Caylor ([email protected]) or Lixin Wang ([email protected]) for more information. We greatly appreciate it if you would help to disseminate this information to your students, postdocs and colleagues. Details of the meeting can be found at http://www.agu.org/meetings/chapman/2009/ecall/ . The deadline for submission of abstracts is July 9th, 2009. Sincerely, Lixin Wang and Kelly Caylor ********************************** Lixin Wang [email protected] E322 E-Quad Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Princeton University http://www.princeton.edu/~lixinw Office Tel: (609) 258-8308 **********************************
