[DIALOGnews] DISCCRS News 3/9/2007
Ruth Ladderud
ladderra at whitman.edu
Thu Mar 8 22:38:26 CST 2007
DISCCRS News
3/9/2007
************************************
TABLE OF CONTENTS
RESOURCES and FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Call for IPY young climate researchers – World Climate Research
Programme website
http://wcrp.wmo.int/Special_IPY.html
(see RESOURCES 1 below)
FORUM
American Meteorological Society just launched a climate policy blog
www.climatepolicy.org
SCIENCE NEWS
Warm Winters Upset Rhythms of Maple Sugar - Warmer-than-usual winters
are stoking fears for the survival of New England’s maple forests.
New York Times (Registration Required)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/03/us/03maple.html?th&emc=th
Cloudy, With a Chance of Climate Change - The Op-Ed page asked four
writers from different corners of the globe to report on the erratic
weather they’ve been experiencing. Here are their dispatches. New
York Times (Registration Required)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/opinion/04intro.html?th&emc=th
U.S. Predicting Steady Increase for Emissions
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/03/science/03climate.html?
ref=science Or: http://tinyurl.com/2ddqjv
(see NEWS 1 below)
Polar exhibition tackles climate change
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=lifestyle%
20news&subclass=habitat&story_id=563271&category=environment
(see NEWS 2 below)
MEETINGS, SUMMER PROGRAMS, COURSES, INTERNSHIPS, OPPORTUNITIES
The Domestic Response to Global Climate Change: Federal, State, and
Litigation Initiatives - USF Law Review’s Spring Symposium -
Saturday, March 31, 2007 - University of San Francisco (USA)
www.usfca.edu/lawreview/symposium.html
(see SYMPOSIUM 1 below)
JOBS
Postdoc research - Glaciology, glacial geomorphology and
quaternary geology - University of Zurich (Switzerland)
(see JOB 1 below)
Ph.D. and post-doc - mineral aerosols/biogeochemistry/climate
interactions - Cornell University (USA)
(see JOB 2 below)
Post-doc - Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG) - Univ of Cape Town
(Rep of South Africa)
http://www.csag.uct.ac.za
(see JOB 3 below)
Postdoc position - Global Aerosol Modelling studies - Institute for
Research on Climate and Environment - Laboratoire des Science du
Climat et de l’Environnement - CEA-CNRS/IPSL - Gif-sur-Yvette, Paris,
(France)
(see JOB 4 below)
PhD Studentship (3 year) - Responses of marine macroalgae to a high
CO2 environment- Dept. of Biological Sciences – University of Essex –
Colchester (UK)
msteinke at essex.ac.uk - Dr. Michael Steinke (DIALOG III
participant) - For informal enquiries
(see JOB 5 below)
PostDoc - Storm Surge Modelling and Data Analysis - Climate and
Environmental Physics, Physics Institute - University of Bern
(Switzerland)
(see JOB 6 below)
***************************************************
Resources and Funding Opportunities
(RESOURCES 1) Call for IPY young climate researchers – World Climate
Research Programme website
http://wcrp.wmo.int/Special_IPY.html
Dear 'early-career' Colleague,
The World Climate Research Programme (http://wcrp.wmo.int) has
set up an 'IPY Special' to promote climate-related research in the
Arctic and Antarctic during the entire IPY period. This website
(http://wcrp.wmo.int/Special_IPY.html) is especially designed for
early career scientists to obtain valuable information on activities
and opportunities in international climate research and to provide an
effective outreach tool to them.
If you are a young climate researcher involved in IPY studies and
are seeking a strong international climate research partner, please
get in touch with us and contribute to the 'IPY Special' website by
providing short (regular) updates on the progress of your project,
photos/graphs, field work updates and/or a list of resulting
publications – whatever appears 'newsworthy' and easy-to-understand
to others. We count about 3000 page loads a day for our website and
reach about twice as many people through our quarterly electronic
newsletter (Ezine).
Be part of our large climate community- and share your IPY
research with others in your field! Please get in touch with us
through wcrp at wmo.int.
Best wishes,
The WCRP Team
***************************************************
Science News
(NEWS 1) U.S. Predicting Steady Increase for Emissions
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/03/science/03climate.html?
ref=science Or: http://tinyurl.com/2ddqjv
New York Times (Registration Required) - The Bush administration
estimates that emissions by the United States of gases that
contribute to global warming will grow nearly as fast through the
next decade as they did the previous decade, according to a long-
delayed report being completed for the United Nations.
The document, the United States Climate Action Report, emphasizes
that the projections show progress toward a goal Mr. Bush laid out in
a 2002 speech: that emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse
gases grow at a slower rate than the economy. Since that speech, he
has repeated his commitment to lessening "greenhouse gas intensity"
without imposing formal limits on the gases.
Kristen A. Hellmer, a spokeswoman for the White House on
environmental matters, said on Friday, "The Climate Action Report
will show that the president's portfolio of actions addressing
climate change and his unparalleled financial commitments are
working." But when shown the report, an assortment of experts on
climate trends and policy described the projected emissions as
unacceptable given the rising evidence of risks from unabated global
warming.
********************
(NEWS 2) Polar exhibition tackles climate change
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=lifestyle%
20news&subclass=habitat&story_id=563271&category=environment
CANBERRA - As International Polar Year was launched in Paris
last Friday, Questacon in Canberra launched Project IGLO or
International Action on Global Warming in the Asia-Pacific Region.
The project is an initiative of the Association of Science-
Technology Centres, an international body that represents 436 science
centres and museums in 43 countries and aims to raise awareness of
climate change and encourage individuals to take steps to address the
problem.
The project at Questacon will include an Antarctic photographic
display, polar-themed science shows, public events and the
coordination of a new website.
Questacon director Professor Graham Durant launched the project
to an audience of representatives from government departments and
agencies, diplomatic representation from Antarctic Treaty
Consultative and Non-Consultative parties and guests from across the
territory with an interest in the topic of climate change.
Professor Durant said the program at Questacon and similar
initiatives in science centres around the world would hopefully raise
awareness of the issues surrounding climate change and inspire
individuals to make a difference.
"Project IGLO is a project involving world science centres to
promote awareness of the science of climate change and to encourage
individuals to make some changes to their lifestyles that will help
reduce carbon dioxide emissions," he said. "There is a problem with
the build-up of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere and the
solution lies in a lot of people doing a little bit each. Science
centres connect with a lot of people around the world and so we can
encourage people to make a change."
He said there were about 500 science centres across the world
with the ability to connect with more than 1.4 billion people.
The new website to be launched is called climateXchange and will
provide a global view of climate change from local perspectives, with
the website gathering a cross-section of stories on climate change
from schools, youth groups and community members from around the world.
International Polar Year is a large scientific program focused on
the Antarctic and the Arctic from March 2007 to March 2009. It will
cover two full polar research seasons in the northern and southern
hemispheres and involve more than 200 projects and thousands of
scientists from more than 60 nations who will examine a range of
physical, biological and social research topics.
Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Malcom
Turnbull also recognised the importance of the launch of
International Polar Year.
"The International Polar Year, the largest international polar
research program for 50 years, could not be better timed, with global
climate a key issue around the world," he said yesterday. "Australia,
with a very strong program of Antarctic research, looks forward to
making a significant contribution to the International Polar Year
particularly through the large marine science research program that
will run through 2007-2008."
***************************************************
Meetings, Summer Programs, Courses, Internships, Opportunities
(SYMPOSIUM 1) The Domestic Response to Global Climate Change:
Federal, State, and Litigation Initiatives - USF Law Review’s Spring
Symposium - Saturday, March 31, 2007 - University of San Francisco (USA)
www.usfca.edu/lawreview/symposium.html
For those interested in US climate responses from legal and
policy perspectives...
In light of the United States' decision not to ratify the Kyoto
Protocol, multiple federal, state, and litigation initiatives have
emerged as the domestic response to global climate change. The
symposium will provide a forum for evaluating, from diverse
perspectives, how well these approaches will achieve a meaningful and
appropriate reduction in the United States' greenhouse gas
***************************************************
Jobs
Planktonnet: Great listserv for aquatic-science jobs
To subscribe to the list, send an empty email to:
planktonnet-subscribe at yahoogroups.com
Or, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/planktonnet/ and click on
'Join this group'
********************
(JOB 1) Postdoc research - Glaciology, glacial geomorphology and
quaternary geology - University of Zurich (Switzerland)
We offer a postdoctoral research position to explore factors and
processes involved with linearly concentrated erosion/incision by
subglacial meltwater as connected with the formation of deep channels
in glacially sculpt landscapes. Specifically, quantitative knowledge
must be built up from literature search, documentation of field
evidence and numerical modeling concerning effects of ice loading on
subglacial hydraulics, thermal fields and erosion beneath polythermal
ice caps and large piedmont glaciers under Ice Age conditions.
The successful candidate has a strong background in quantitative
glaciology/glacial geomorphology or quaternary geology. He or she is
expected to investigate the processes and governing factors driving
fluvial incision beneath large polythermal ice bodies at various
conditions of ice loads, thermal fields and water flux in the Alps
and the Alpine foreland. The planned interdisciplinary research
activity involves, during an initial stage, the compilation and
critical analysis of the available knowledge and understanding about
deep subglacial erosion. During the second stage, successful
candidates are expected to develop a better understanding of the
physical processes involved in subglacial erosion and to perform
numerical tests. He or she will develop an international network for
cooperated research in this topic.
The project funded by the Swiss National Cooperative for the
Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Nagra) is for a postdoctoral research
fellow during one year with the possibility for a second-year-extension.
Please contact Prof. Dr. Wilfried Haeberli (haeberli at geo.unizh.ch)
With kind regards
Perscheng Assef, Department of Geography / University Zurich-
Irchel, Winterthurerstrasse 190 / CH - 8057 Zurich, Tel.: +41/(0)
1/635 51 21 e-mail: assef at geo.unizh.ch
********************
(JOBS 2) Ph.D. and post-doc - mineral aerosols/biogeochemistry/
climate interactions - Cornell University (USA)
Multiple funded PhD and postdoctoral positions are available
focusing on understanding the exciting and quickly evolving area of
aerosol interactions with biogeochemistry and climate. Successful
applicants will work on projects with interdisciplinary interactions
that are relavant for predicting human impacts on biogeochemistry and
climate, and improved predictions of future climate. The work will
involve naturally and anthropogenically emitted desert dust aerosols,
and other aerosols carrying important micronutrients. In addition,
there is one position available in fire interactions with the carbon
cycle through atmospheric feedbacks of aerosols and chemistry. These
positions will start Fall, 2007 in Natalie Mahowald's group at
Cornell. PhD positions require undergraduate coursework in math and
physics and an interest in using models and data to understand earth
system interactions, while postdoctoral positions require a PhD in a
relevant area. The projects involve researchers at multiple
institutions and disciplines, and will have the possibility of travel
for collaborations and field work.
For more information on Dr. Mahowald's research, please see:
http://www.cgd.ucar.edu/tss/staff/mahowald.
Applicants for graduate study should apply for PhD program at
Cornell: http://www.eas.cornell.edu/ by March 20, 2007 for
preferential consideration. Applicants for postdoctoral positions
should send an email directly to Mahowald at ucar.edu.
*******************
(JOB 3) Post-doc - Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG) - Univ of
Cape Town (Rep of South Africa)
http://www.csag.uct.ac.za
Duration: 1-2 years, with possible extension.
tart date: As soon as available, preferably by mid-2007.
The Climate System Analysis Group is leading a flagship project
for the new South Africa Centre for High Performance Computing,
focused on climate modeling for seasonal forecasting. The CHPC is a
new supercomputing centre, the first in southern Africa, with an
initial capacity of a ~600 CPU cluster as well as SMP computing
capacity.
The project focuses on ensemble simulations with 2 Global Climate
Models (GCMs), and 2 Regional Climate Models (RCMs) to develop
probabilistic seasonal forecasts for southern Africa. This builds on
existing operational seasonal forecasting activities. We seek a post-
doc to join our expanding research team. You should have some
experience running a GCM or RCM, be literate in UNIX, and have a
working knowledge of C or Fortran. As part of the CSAG team you will
work on refining the research program, implementing ensemble
simulations, and undertaking research on methods for assessing
probabilistic forecasts from multi-model ensembles. Within the
project you will have scope to develop your own specific foci while
supporting the broader project objectives. The successful candidate
will also work with the graduate students engaged on the project.
CSAG is a leading climate research group in southern Africa,
active in applied modeling activities in climate change, seasonal
forecasting, and climate system processes. The group has a strong
emphasis on multi-disciplinary integration and in engaging with
stakeholders in the water, agricultural, and policy communities.
Applications should be submitted electronically, include a full
CV, a brief letter of interest, and the names and contact details for
three referees.
Closing Date: The position will remain open until a suitable
candidate is found. Successful candidates will be contacted within 3
weeks of receipt of your application.
To apply, or to enquire on any further details: Email:
barnard at csag.uct.ac.za, Ph: +27 21 650 2784
Relevant web links: CSAG: http://www.csag.uct.ac.za CHPC:
http://www.chpc.ac.za GFCSA: http://www.gfcsa.net
********************
(JOB 4) Postdoc position - Global Aerosol Modelling studies -
Institute for Research on Climate and Environment - Laboratoire des
Science du Climat et de l’Environnement - CEA-CNRS/IPSL - Gif-sur-
Yvette, Paris, (France)
A postdoc position is open to study feedback processes between
climate and aerosols and to help reducing current uncertainties in
aerosol radiative forcing. The work involves a reanalysis of the
evolution of the aerosol between 1980 and 2005. It also involves the
design, carry-through and analysis of snapshot and transient aerosol
climate runs with the IPSL coupled model and the evaluation of runs
from an ensemble of models. The analysis shall be based to an
important part on the incorporation of aerosol observations. The
candidate should be interested to explore and develop benchmark tests
for models for important aerosol properties such as aerosol size
distribution, hygroscopic growth, composition, temporal trends and
forcing parameters.
Our group takes an active part in joint international research on
the role of aerosol particles and air chemistry for climate change.
The major tool will be the interactive aerosol-chemistry module INCA,
coupled to the IPSL climate model. The position is opened up in the
framework of the new European Integrated project on Aerosol Cloud
Climate and Air Quality (EUCAARI) and the AeroCom initiative on
aerosol comparisons of models and data.
The position is open for a 2-4 year term. The position will be in
the Biogeochemical Cycles Modelling Group at the LSCE in Gif-sur-
Yvette, southwest of Paris. To obtain more information and apply,
please send electronically a CV to the head of the Biogeochemical
Cycles Modelling Group at the LSCE,
Dr. Michael Schulz (michael.schulz at cea.fr)
Further Project information:
EU-EUCAARI - http://www.atm.helsinki.fi/eucaari/
AeroCom - http://nansen.ipsl.jussieu.fr/AEROCOM/
INCA model - http://www-lsceinca.cea.fr/index_UK.htm
********************
(JOB 5) PhD Studentship (3 year) - Responses of marine macroalgae to
a high CO2 environment- Dept. of Biological Sciences – University of
Essex – Colchester (UK)
msteinke at essex.ac.uk - Dr. Michael Steinke (DIALOG III
participant) - For informal enquiries
Project Description: We study the ecophysiology of marine algae and
their role in microbial food webs. The oceans absorb CO2 and this
process results in a phenomenon called ‘ocean acidification’. Ocean
acidification affects the physiological performance of phytoplankton
including their ability to photosynthesise, calcify, and produce the
climate-relevant trace gas dimethyl sulphide (DMS). It is likely that
it will also be detrimental to the rate of calcification in marine
calcifying macroalgae. A reduction in calcification will have
important implications for global marine ecosystems including the
structure and functioning of subtropical coral reefs. Furthermore,
seaweeds are an important source of DMS along temperate coasts and
changes in DMS production may significantly affect atmospheric
processes.
You will establish laboratory cultures of calcifying macroalgae
and non-calcifying seaweeds. You will incubate these at various CO2
levels and quantify their physiological performance using gas
chromatography, and a combination of imaging and spectroscopic
techniques (chlorophyll-a fluorometry coupled to Laser-Induced
Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)).
During the project there may be opportunities to conduct
fieldwork at the Mediterranean island of Ischia or at one of our
coral reef fieldsites in Indonesia.
You will be an enthusiastic team player with strong scientific
interests and self-motivation. You will have at least a 2.1 honours
degree in biology, chemistry or a branch of environmental science.
Good numerical ability and some experience in chemical analysis are
an advantage. You will be trained in chemical analyses and biological
incubation experiments, while addressing a problem of global
significance. You will acquire some highly useful and transferable
skills such as: project planning, handling and visualization of data,
execution of fieldwork, effective collaboration, scientific writing,
and oral communication.
References: Raven J. et al. 2005. Ocean acidification due to
increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. The Royal Society, London.
1-60. - (Available at http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/document.asp?id=3249)
Subject areas: Marine Biology, Botany/Plant Science, Environ
Science/Ecology
Applicant background: BSc, better MSc degree or similar in
Biological Sciences or a branch of Environmental Sciences – best if
they’d know something about algae or biological calcification.
Funding: Available only for UK and EU citizens
Supervisors: Dr. Michael Steinke (DIALOG III participant), Dr.
Leanne Hepburn, Dr. Dave Suggett
Further information: University of Essex: http://www.essex.ac.uk/
Department of Biological Sciences: http://www.essex.ac.uk/bs/
Research Studentships and Application Materials: http://
www.essex.ac.uk/bs/pgrad/index.shtm
For informal enquiries please contact Dr. Michael Steinke
msteinke at essex.ac.uk
Closing date of applications: 12th March 2007
********************
(JOB 6) PostDoc - Storm Surge Modelling and Data Analysis - Climate
and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute - University of Bern
(Switzerland)
In the framework of the National Center of Competence in Research on
Climate (NCCR-Climate) the candidate will investigate storm surges
and their connection with large scale atmospheric patterns, as well
as possible changes in storm surge characteristics related to future
climate change. The focus is set on the European region. The results
from a surge model will be linked to a loss model in order to
estimate potential losses of the European property portfolio, which
are related to internal atmospheric variability and climate change.
The work will be done in close collaboration with the Swiss
Reinsurance Company.
Tasks: Setup and support of model simulations using a storm surge
model on a local Linux cluster and on supercomputing platforms.
Develop appropriate analysis tools to investigate changes in internal
variability and storm surge characteristics. Work with the Swiss Re
loss model and link climate model results to this model to estimate
potential losses in the European region.
Requirements: 1) PhD in physics, meteorology, or environmental
sciences. 2) Experience in publication of research results in peer-
reviewed journals. 3) A profound knowledge in storm surge models and
statistical and/or dynamical downscaling approaches are essential. 4)
Computer skills in some or all of FORTRAN, MATLAB, R/S-Plus, NCL, and
shell-programming on Unix and Linux platforms. 5) Experiences in
handling large data sets. 6) Fluency in English (written and spoken).
7) Strong motivation and ability to carry out research in an
interdisciplinary environment. 8) Interactive personality. 9) Strong
reporting skills.
Project place and start: Climate and Environmental Physics,
Physics Institute, University of Bern, Switzerland. Regular visits at
the Swiss Reinsurance Company, Zurich, Switzerland. As soon as possible.
Employment: The position will be funded for two years. The
employment and salary are subject to the conditions of the Swiss
National Science Foundation.
Application: The application documents contain your Curriculum
Vitae, copies of your PhD and your Diploma/Master marks/certificate
and thesis, as well as statement of interest (1 page). Please attach
three names of referees (including their addresses and emails). The
application must reach us no later than Thursday March 15th 2007.
Please send your detailed application to: Prof. Thomas Stocker or
Dr. Christoph Raible, Physics Institute, University of Bern,
Sidlerstrasse 5, 3012 Bern, Email: raible at climate.unibe.ch
**************************************************
This newsletter has been developed by C. Susan Weiler to distribute
information of potential interest to recent PhDs engaged in
interdisciplinary aquatic science or climate-change research, and to
build an international sense of community among recent grads. It
provides an international forum for the exchange of information and
opinions regarding research, professional and social issues. The
views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the
funding agencies or sponsoring societies. Dr. Weiler reserves the
right to edit or reject material submitted to the list.
Please submit announcements of interest to recent PhDs to
phd at whitman.edu. Send a short message in the body of an e-mail
message, and link to any appropriate websites. Do not send attachments.
Moving? Send address changes to dialog at whitman.edu or
disccrs at whitman.edu
**********
C. Susan Weiler, Ph.D.
Office for Earth System Studies Tel: 509-527-5948
Whitman College Fax: 509-527-5961
Walla Walla, WA 99362
weiler at whitman.edu
Programs for Recent PhDs http://aslo.org/phd.html
DISCCRS poster http://www.aslo.org/phd/disccrsposter.pdf
Workshop Report, Meeting the Needs of
Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Graduates in a
Changing Global Environment
http://marcus.whitman.edu/~weilercs/biocomplexity/
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