Ice-Sheet Mass Balance and Sea Level (ISMASS) Workshop
The workshop will take place on 14 July 2012 at the Hilton Portland in Portland, Oregon, USA. It is supported by the ICSU Regional Offices to assure a wide participation of scientists from these regions.
The ISMASS 2012 Workshop is free to all registered participants. Please register through the workshop website http://www.climate-cryosphere.org/en/events/2012/ISMASS/Home.html where you will also find additional details on the workshop. For planning purposes, please register by 31 May.
A limited amount of travel support is available to attend the ISMASS 2012 Workshop.
Preference will be given to early career scientists and researchers from developing countries. Visit the website for details on how to apply (deadline 30 April).
Coordination support for the workshop and travel funding applications are provided by the
WCRP/SCAR/IASC Climate and the Cryosphere Project (CliC) and the Association of Polar
Early Career Scientists (APECS).
WORKSHOP AIMS:
1) To assess the current knowledge of the contribution of the Antarctic and Greenland Ice
Sheets to global and regional sea-level rise, taking into account ongoing and proposed
projects including the ESA/NASA-supported Ice Sheet Mass Balance Inter-Comparison
Exercise. The focus will be on quantifying the uncertainties, and understanding and
resolving the current discrepancies among the estimates from different observational and
modelling methods. New techniques will also be explored.
2) To analyze how model-based predictions of ice-sheet discharge contributions to sea-level
changes can be improved. The emphasis will be on identifying the main shortcomings of
the currently available models and suggesting improvements for the next generation of icesheet
models. Particular attention will be given to the interactions of ice sheets and shelves
with the oceans and the atmosphere.
3) To reach a consensus on the magnitude of the current contribution of ice-sheet surface
mass balance and discharge to sea-level change, and disseminate this knowledge not only
to other researchers, but to policymakers and the general public.
4) To analyze the feasibility of preparing updates of the estimates of the contribution of icesheet
discharge to sea-level rise between successive IPCC reports (e.g. every two years).
5) To study the regional distribution of sea-level rise and its impacts on coastal areas.
6) To determine how the renewed SCAR-IASC joint expert group on Ice Sheet Mass Balance
and Sea Level (ISMASS) should be organized to effectively meet the above objectives.
