Media Advisory – Antarctica Research Reveals Effects of Climate Change: International Polar Year Aaas Symposium Feb. 17

WHAT: The International Polar Year 2007-08 is an international platform to highlight Antarctic research and discuss the consequences of climate change. Recent research in Antarctica continues to reveal substantial and alarming alterations in ice, atmosphere, oceans and terrestrial ecosystems due to climate change. Although seemingly remote, Antarctica has long signaled changes that now are widely recognized as impacting people, ecosystems and economies around the world. A symposium highlighting International Polar Year will be held at this year’s American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

WHO: Colorado State University ecologist Diana Wall, a 16-year veteran of research in Antarctica, organized an AAAS Annual Meeting symposium on the International Polar Year. W. Berry Lyons from Ohio State University is the moderator. David H. Bromwich from Ohio State University and Robert Bindshadler from NASA will be presenters.

WHEN: 3:45 p.m.-5:15 p.m. Feb. 17.

WHERE: Parc Ballroom 3 in the Renaissance Parc 55 Hotel, 55 Cyril Magnin St., San Francisco, CA 94102

DETAILS: This symposium provides a brief historical background and an update of results based on various technologies from remote sensing studies to measures of soil carbon flux. The unprecedented magnitude and rates of change that are taking place and the complexity of the feedbacks occurring in land, ice, sea and atmosphere will be discussed. Other topics include how quickly the impacts of climate warming will be seen and its affect on biodiversity and ecosystems, new tools that gather data about the continent, response from various regions, and possible policy implications that will arise due to the climate changes.

-30-