Number 10, December 1991 - International Permafrost Association

International Permafrost AssociationThe International Permafrost Association was founded in 1983 and has as its objectives fostering the disseminationof knowledge concerning permafrost and promoting cooperation among persons and national or international organizationsengaged in scientific investigations and engineering work on permafrost. Membership is through adheringnational organizations. IPA is governed by a Council consisting of representatives from 18 countries having interestsin some aspects of theoretical, basic and applied frozen ground research (includes permafrost, seasonal frost, artificialfreezing and periglacial phenomena). Working Groups organize and coordinate research activities. IPA became anAffiliated Organization of the International Union of Geological Sciences in July 1989. The Association's primaryresponsibility is the convening of the international permafrost conferences. The first conference was held in the U.S.in 1963; the second in Yakutsk, Siberia, 1973; the third in Edmonton, Canada, 1978; the fourth in Fairbanks, Alaska,1983; and the fifth in Trondheim, Norway, 1988. The sixth conference is planned for China in 1993. Field excursionsare an integral part of each Conference, and are organized by the host country.Off~cee of the International Permafrost AssociationPresidentDr. T.L. PCwCDepartment of GeologyArizona State UniversityTempe, AZ 85287- 1404USATel: (602) 965-2883Telex: 156-1085 ASA UTFax: (602) 965-8 102Vice PresidentDr. V.P. MelnikovScientific Council on Earth CryologyUSSR Academy of SciencesFersman Street, 1 1173 12 MoscowUSSRTel: (095) 124 54 22Telex: 41 1 700(2 18 1) PermafrostFax: 292 65 1 l(2 18 1) PermafrostVice-PresidentProfessor Cheng GuodongLanzhou Institute of Glaciologyand GeocryologyAcademia SinicaLanzhouChinaTel: 26726-385Telex: 72008 IGCAS CNFax: 86-93 1-485241Adhering Member CountriesSecretary GeneralDr. J. Ross MackayDepartment of Geography#2 17 1984 West MallUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC V6T 122CanadaTel: (604) 822-2257 or 2663Fax: (604) 822-6150ArgentinaBelgiumCanadaChina, People's RepublicDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyItalyJapanNetherlandsNorwayPolandSwedenSwitzerlandUnited KingdomUSAUSSRCover Photograph:Northeastern slope of Pi; AIbono (3100 m a.s.1.) from Piz Noir (upper Engodin. Swiss Alps): o I-km-long rock glacier is creeping down to 2300m o.s.1. in the Volley "Suvretto do S. Murezzan. " Its front has crossed the river Ova do Suvretto and its orogrophic right lateral slope wos affectedby recent debrisjlows. The image illustrates the neighborhood and interrelotion of three most typical phenomena in Alpine permafrost areas:debris cones, permfrost creep and debrisjlows. Photograph token by W. Hoeberli, 6 September 1990.