Cryospheric Change and its Influences
--Cryospheric Issues in Regional Sustainable Development

12 - 14 August, 2010
Lijiang, China

Sponsored by
Climate and Cryosphere (CliC)/World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)
International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS)/
International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG)
Cryosphere/International Geosphere and Biosphere Programme (IGBP)

Organized by
State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences (SKLCS), Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (CAREERI), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, CAREERI, CAS
Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environmental Change and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research (ITP), CAS
Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences (CAMS)
Gansu Meteorological Administration (GMA)
China National Committee of CliC and IACS (CNC-CliC and IACS)

General Information
The International conference on Cryospheric Change and its Influences --Cryospheric Issues in Regional Sustainable Development will be held in Lijiang, China during August 12-14, 2010. The aim of the conference is to promote our understanding on changes in all components of the cryosphere and their interdependence and causes, our current capabilities to model and assess these changes, and mitigation and adaptability strategy for the changing global climate and cryosphere.

To fulfill this aim, the conference strives to enhance and co-ordinate efforts in monitoring the cryosphere, to model and understand the cryosphere's role in the climate system, to assess changes in the cryosphere as indicators of climate change, to quantify the frangibility of cryosphere and the influences of cryospheric changes on hydrometeorology, society and economy (such as agriculture, tourism, etc.) in regional sustainable development, to discuss adaptive countermeasures on cryospheric changes, to facilitate the data collection of cryospheric systems through standardized measurements, and to provide an international platform for discussions and publications of results arising from research activities as mentioned above.

We extend an invitation to those scientists, managers, students as well as representatives of governments, media and funding organizations, who are interested in cryoshperic sciences, from across the world to attend the conference which offers a great opportunity for extensive discussion and cooperation.

Lijiang City was named after its position close to Lijiang River (old name of Jinsha River), and is a place inhabited by Naxi ethnic group with their splendid Dongba Culture. Lijiang has the best preserved ancient town in China - the Old Town which was listed among the World Cultural Heritages by UNESCO in 1997. Old Town was built in the late Song Dynasty and the early Yuan Dynasty, and continues to maintain the original flavor of the local lifestyle, the typical groups of buildings and the profound cultural heritage of the region. "The city depends on water for existence and water comes along with the city" has become one of the main features of the Old Town. Around Lijiang, there are a number of splendid natural beauty spots that will certainly astonish people, such as Mt. Yulong (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, 100 04'-100 16' E and 27 03'-27 40' N), where the southernmost glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere are located. Looking from Lijiang Old Town in the south, the snow-covered, fog-enshrouded mountain resembles a jade dragon resting in the clouds. Mt. Yulong is a sanctuary for rare animals and wild plants, and now is a famous scenic spot for sightseeing, mountaineering, skiing, exploration, scientific research and taking holiday.

Main theme and topics
The conference focuses on theme of cryospheric changes and influences on the regional sustainable development. It includes the following topics:
1. Changes in snow and ice;
2. Changes in permafrost and frozen ground;
3. Cold region hydrology and water resources;
4. Cryosphere and ecology;
5. Cryosphere and Climate;
6. Greenhouse gases and biogeochemical cycle in cryosphere;
7. Cryospheric disasters;
8. Influences of cryospheric changes on regional development;
9. Fragility of cryosphere and mitigation and adaptive counter- measures on cryospheric changes;
10. Remote sensing and data on cryosphere;
11. Climate and environment records in cryosphere;
12. Late Quaternary glaciation and lake evolution.