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NSF PA/M 00-24 - December 13, 2000

NSF-Supported Research at American Geophysical Union (AGU) Conference

Several key sessions involving National Science Foundation (NSF) - supported research highlight the American Geophysical Union (AGU) conference in San Francisco, December 15-19, 2000. For more information on sessions and participants contact Cheryl Dybas at (703) 292-8070/cdybas@nsf.gov

BIOCOMPLEXITY IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Special Session: NG52A, 1:30 p.m., Friday, December 15, 2000, Moscone Center Room 130 "Geo and Bio Complexity I"

Poster Session: NG62A, 1:30 p.m., Saturday, December 16, 2000, Moscone Center Hall D "Geo and Bio Complexity II"

Biocomplexity arises due to dynamic interactions that occur between biological systems, including humans, and the physical environment. NSF's support in this area seeks interdisciplinary projects aimed at understanding the complex behavior observed in such systems. Most recently NSF is supporting research to directly explore nonlinearities, emergent phenomena or feedbacks within and between biological and environmental systems, and integration across multiple components or scales of time and space in order to better understand and predict dynamic behavior. This special session will include an overview of the scientific interests that have emerged, and a roundtable discussion with some of NSF's grantees talking about research issues arising in this new area.

Conveners: Marge Cavanaugh - Staff Associate for the Environment, Office of the Director, National Science Foundation; Margaret Leinen - Assistant Director for Geosciences, National Science Foundation; Patricia Glibert - Horn Point Laboratory - Cambridge, MD; Donald Turcotte - Cornell University; John Rundle - University of Colorado; William Klein - Boston University

GLOBAL AURORAL CURRENTS (PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM 112 MOSCONE CENTER)
Friday, December 15, 2000 at 10:00 a.m.
Magnetic field data from the Iridium satellite constellation provide the first ever continuous, global measurements of electrical currents that flow between space and Earth's upper atmosphere. These currents drive the aurora and deposit up to a Terra-watt of power in the polar regions. Researchers can now measure these currents continuously in both northern and southern hemispheres, even during magnetic storms when the effects of these currents extend to highly populated areas. This research, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, breaks new ground at the intersection of science, technology and business.

VOLCANOLOGY IN 2010 (PRESS CONFERENCE, ROOM 112, MOSCONE CENTER)
Friday, December 15, 2000 at 12:15 p.m.
The study of volcanoes, one of the most dangerous sciences, is undergoing rapid change and will be quite different ten years from now. Panelists will discuss some of the technical advances now being developed, such as remote sensing and radar measurement of volcano deformation. Other approaches covered in the presentation include changes in K-12 education, federal interagency cooperation, and information technology.

CLIMATIC IMPACTS OF VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS (PRESS CONFERENCE, ROOM 112, MOSCONE CENTER)
Friday, December 15 at 3 p.m.
Large scale volcanic eruptions may be the Earth's most likely natural global catastrophe, due to their inevitability and effect on climate. This session looks at the likelihood of worldwide loss of growing seasons following eruptions, improvements in detecting eruptions, and a major new effort to create models that describe the effect of eruptions on the atmosphere.

 
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