Number 10, December 1991 - International Permafrost Association

NEWS FROM MEMBER COUNTRIESARGENTINAThe International Geological Correlation Programme,Project No. 297, "Geocryology of the Americas," willhave its fourth meeting together with the VI InternationalConference on Permafrost, 5-9 July 1993, inBeijing, China. The aims of the project are clearlydefined as: i) to identify present and past geocryogenicprocesses, ii) to correlate them across the Americasand the world, iii) to identify areas of future applicationsand nature conservation, and iv) to stimulatetraining in geocryology. Dates for submission of abstracts,papers and registrations are the same as for thePermafrost Conference. For more information contactthe organizer of the meeting in China: Cui Zhijiu,University of Qeijing, China; or Project 297 leaderArturo E.Corte, P.O. Box 330,5500 Mendoza, Argentina,Telex: 55438 CYTME AR; Fax: 54-61-380370.Report by Arturo E. CorteCANADACold Regions Division, Canadian GeotechnicalSociety: The 44th Annual Meeting of the CanadianGeotechnical Society was held in Calgary, 29 Septemberto 2 October 1991. As usual, the Cold RegionsDivision sponsored a session on Cold Regions Engineering,in which eight papers were presented. Thepapers dealt with the distribution of saline permafrostin the N.W.T., the performance of frost heave andfreeze-thaw tests in the laboratory, the dynamic responseof piles in frozen soils, the performance ofgrouts for piles in permafrost, arctic offshore explorationstructures, penetration testing for arctic soils, andthe measurement of pore water pressures in freezingand thawing soils. In addition to this paper session,J.F. (Denck) Nixon, of Esso Resources Canada, Ltd.,gave the R.M. Hardy Keynote Address on the topic of"Frost Heave Prediction." In his address, Nixon presentedan overview of recent developments in thetheory and practice of frost heave modeling.The Geotechnical Society now includes a fifth Division,the Environmental Engineering Division, whichhas aroused considerable interest. This Division alsosponsored a session at the recent conference, with 13papers scheduled.At the business meeting of the Cold Regions Division,concern was expressed about the low level of permafrostresearch activity in Canada. This reflects, in largemeasure, the current low level of petroleum and mineralexploration and development activities inCanada's arctic regions.The 45th Canadian Geotechnical Conference, to beheld in Toronto, 26-28 October 1992, will include twosessions sponsored by the Cold Regions Division: oneon Permafrost Terrain and the other on the NorthWarning System (see Calendar).Awards: The 1991 Roger J.E. Brown Award, whichwas established in 1986 to honor the memory of the renownedCanadian permafrost scientist, was awarded toDr. Don Hayley of EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd.,Edmonton, for his services to permafrost engineeringand science in Canada. Don Hayley was the foundingpresident of the Cold Regions Division, CanadianGeotechnical Society. He is also former chairman ofthe Canadian Permafrost Subcommittee (now disbanded),and is currently a member of the Canadian NationalC~mmittee for the IPA.Dr. Branko Ladanyi, of hole Polytechnique, Universit6de Montrkal, was awarded the 1991 Elbert F. RiceMemorial Lectureship of the School of Engineering,University of Alaska, and the Technical Council onCold Regions Engineering, American Society of CivilEngineers. The award was given to Branko Ladanyi "inrecognition of his long-standing contribution to coldregions engineering."Permafrost Research at the Geological Survey ofCanada: The Geological Survey of Canada comprisesone of the largest groups in Canada of scientists (asdistinct from engineers) and technicians devoted primarilyto permafrost research. Most of the work is carriedout within the Terrain Dynamics Subdivision. TerrainSciences Division, based in Ottawa. Other perma-Frozen Ground