Number 20, December 1996 - International Permafrost Association

FROZEN GROUNDFifth Chinese Conference on Glaciology and GeocryoiogyPermafrost in KazakstanFrom Gmuna!, the News Bulletin of the InternationalPermafrost Association, is publishedsemi-annually. The IPA is a non-governmentalassociation of national organizations representing22 countries or groups of countries. Thesuccess of the bulletin depends upon the willingnessof IPA participants to supply informationfor publication. Submission deadlines are1 May and 1 November. Please ensure that workinggroup and member country reports are submittedin good time for publication. News itemsare also very welcome from any IPA participantor others, as are interesting photographs for thecover (please hrnish high quality glossy prints).To submit news items or photos please contactthe appropriate individual listed on page 13, orthe Secretary General.Permafrost in MongoliaHigh Arctic Field Meeting and SymposiumPermafrost Data WorkshopsNew IGU Periglacid CommissionChapman Conference on Rock GlaciersU.S. Committee for IPAInternational Conference on Cold Regions EngineeringFrom Groundis compiled by Jerry Brown withthe assistance of ~lan~e~inbottom of the EditorialCommittee. Production is courtesy of theCold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory,Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. Copiesof Frown Ground are available in Canadafrom Alan Heginbottom, Geological Survey ofCanada, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa KIA OE8;in Russia from the Consolidated Scientific Councilon Earth Cryology, VavilovStr. 3016,117982Moscow; in the United States from Jerry Brown,P.O. Box 7, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543-0007; and elsewhere from Council members.

This issue reports on the activities of several working groupsand on recent meetings. The regular sections Nmsfiom Membmand Reports of Working Groups will appear in the June1997 issue.More than 150 participants were present at the openingceremony held at the Yih Scientific Palace, Lanzhou University,18-22 August 1996. Introductory comments were madeby Cheng Guodong, acting both in his capacity as Directorof the Lanzhou Institute of Glaciology and Geocryologyand as conference chairman. He was followed by representativesof the Chinese Geographical Society, Gansu Province,and the Tibet Highway Department. The foreign guestswere Hugh French and Stu Harris (Canada), NikolaiRomanovskii (Russia), Max Brewer (United States), and D.Tumurbaatar (Mongolia).Zhu Yuanlin, the General Secretary for the conference,was aided by numerous individuals from LIGG and LanzhouUniversity. The language of the conference was Chinese,but simultaneous English translation was available to theforeign participants.The conference was well organized, with an openingreception on the evening of 17 August, a banquet on the20th, and closing ceremonies on the 22nd. Most lectureswere conducted in the main auditorium, a modern, well-equipped theater capable of holding over 250 people. Duringthe four days, more than 100 oral presentations were given,the vast majority in 13 plenary sessions:Cryosphere and global changeCold regions engineeringCold regions hydrologyProperties of snow, ice and frozen soil (4 sessions)Cryosphere, global change, cold regions damage andenvironment (3 sessions)Cold regions engineering and hydrology in arid and coldareas (3 sessions)A conference proceedings volume of 803 pages, in Chinese,was made available to all participants. All papers haveEnglish language abstracts and five are in English. A second,post-conference volume (volume 2) will contain oral presentationsnot published in the first volume. The titles constitutea useful overview of the state of Chinese permafrost science. Inaddition to an emphasis on glaciological topics, the list is convincingevidence of widespread activity in permafrost scienceand engineering on the part of government agencies, researchorganizations and universities. A new permafrost map of theQinghai-Xizang region, scale 1:3,000,000, was presented.(See Publications for ordering information.)Of particular interest to Frozen Ground readers is therange of permafrost problems encountered in China. Emphasisis upon frost heave, ice segregation, and hydrologicalstudies and modeling, together with applied and theoreticalstudies on railways, canals, tunnels, linings and geotextiles,foundation design, wells, and pipelines. Problems associatedwith rapid economic growth in areas of either seasonal orParticipants at the 5th Chinese Conference on Gkaciobgy and Geocyology, Lanzbou, 18-22 Augwt 1776.Frozen Ground

perennial frost in the last 10 to 20 years in China are nowassuming greater importance. At the same time, Chinesescientists are increasingly aware of the Russian and NorthAmerican permafrost literature and the remedial and mitigationmeasures which are possible, but which have not yetbeen widely adopted in China. These circumstances wereexplicitly recognized by many speakers. It is refreshing tosee such vigorous activity in permafrost research in a countrywhere an appreciation of permafrost problems will playsuch an important role in improving the economic andsocial well-being of its people.Also of interest is the question of global change andpermafrost. This was specifically the theme of the openingplenary session entitled Cryosphere and Global Change, inwhich there were three keynote presentations: impact ofcryosphere variation on the environment (Cheng Guodong),glacier fluctuation (Tang Maocang), and effect of cryospherein climate change (Li Peiji). More specific information isprovided in several of the papers in the proceedings volume.For example, Li Shuxun reported that if the air temperatureon the Tibet Plateau increases at a rate of 0.04°C/yr, the extentof permafrost will initially reduce by approximately 30%.In another paper, Yao Tandong, Shi Yafeng and Yang Zhihongconcluded that all the ice cores obtained from westernChina, without exception, indicate climate warming duringthe 20th century, and especially since the 1950s. Severalpapers dealt with other aspects of permafrost and global(climate) change. One reported on CH4 and C02 emissionson the Tibet Plateau, and several others on hydrologicaland glacier responses to climate change.A third component of the conference was a concern forenvironmental issues in permafrost regions, or regions ofdeep seasonal frost, and the initiation of studies involvingsatellite remote sensing (e.g. Analysis of Snow Cover on theTibet Plateau, by Li Zhen, Sun Wenxin and Zeng Qunzhu,and GIs techniques applied to permafrost data as illustratedby a poster display.The large number of papers and oral presentations bymembers of the Lanzhou Institute of Glaciology and Geocryologyreflects its overwhelming importance in such studiesin China. However, the impressive hcilities of Lanzhou University,with a student population in excess of 20,000, andthe participation of academics, scientists and engineers fromagencies and universities outside of Lanzhou (e-g. PekingUniversity; Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai;Deqing Oilfield Construction Design and Research Institute,Heilongjiang) indicate that permafrost research is widespreadthoughout China.A number of papers were concerned with snow hydrology,especially in Tibet, in glacierized basins, and from KingGeorge Island, Antarctica. But it seems likely that the greateststrength of current Chinese permafrost research lies inits theoretical studies of physical and mechanical properties.By contrast, relatively few studies described actual fielddata, site investigations or case studies, even. from Tibet.One is left with the distinct impression that this is a weaknessof current Chinese permafrost research. The impressivefield investigations of permafrost conditions in northeastChina and on the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau ofthe 1960s and 1970s apparently have not been continuedat that level of activity, even though LIGG has had a Qinghai-XizangPlateau Research Station at Golmud since theearly 1990s.In listening to the papers one recognizes a need for additionalmodern field instrumentation. Limited financial resources,and a preference for modern analytical and testingfacilities, may be the underlying causes of this .perceivedimbalance. What are required, as is true for most othercountries, are a number of long-term field data sets of eitherpermafrost conditions or engineering performance, inthis case from the Tibet Plateau and along the Qinghai-Xizang Highway.Cheng Guodong and Zhu Yuanlin are to be congratulatedfor organizing such a successful conference. Future conferenceswould benefit from more emphasis upon field studies,site investigation, and performance monitoring, as wellas field excursions.Submitted by Hugh M. FrenchPERMAFROST IN KAZAKSTANImmediately following the conference in Lanzhou, membersof the IPA Executive Committee (Brown, French andRomanovskii) accompanied by Stu Harris met in Almaty,Kazakstan, 21-30 August 1996. The visit was arrangedjointly by the Institute of Geography, Kazakstan Academyof Sciences, and the International Center of Geoecology of.Mountain Countries and Arid Regions (ICGM). Its purposewas observation of permafrost and seasonal frost conditionsin the nearby mountains and evaluation of the potential forfuture research. Previous issues of Frozen Ground havereported on permafrost activities in Kazakstan; the publicationsof A.P. Gorbunov and associates are well-known.Prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, permafrostresearch and facilities in Kazakstan were directly under theSiberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences in Yakutsk.Following independence, the Institute of Geography of theKazakstan Academy of Sciences became the host organizationfor programs in permafrost, snow cover, glaciers, mudflowsand avalanches, but with close operational ties forFrozen Ground

permafrost studies with the Yakutsk Permafrost Institute.The ICGM was established in 1996 as a nongovernmental,nonprofit scientific organization. It was founded jointly bythe Kazakstan Institute of Geography, the RAS Institute ofGeography in Moscow, and the Permafrost Institute, SiberianBranch, RAS. Support for the ICGM is provided byboth Russia and Kazakstan as well as grants from internationalorganzations such as INTAAS and UNESCO. Igor V.Seversky is Director of the Institute of Geography andICGM. The center consists of three laboratories: Geocryology,Glaciology, and Snow Cover and Avalanches. Thereare four mountain field stations near Almaty at elevationsof 3500 meters ASL (glaciology), 2300 m (water resources),and 2500 and 3050 m (geocryology and geoecology). TheAlpine Geocryology Laboratory was founded in 1976 basedon the work of the geocryological stations dating back to1972. The former head of the Laboratory, Aldar Gorbunov,was succeeded by Eduard V. Seversky.We visited the Alpine Laboratory for Geocryology, wenton a three-day field excursion led by Igor and Eduard Seversky,A.P. Gorbunov, Sergei Titkov and Sergei Marchenko,and paid a visit to the President of the Kazakstan Academyof Sciences and Ministry of Science. The main objectives ofthe Alpine Laboratory have been the study of present-dayfrozen ground phenomena in the mountains of Central Asiaand Kazakstan (Altai, Saur-Tarbagatai, Tien Shan, Pamirs)as well as the paleogeocryology of the mountains and adjacentplains. Investigations and publications include the composition,structure, thermal regime and evolution of seasonaland perennial frozen ground, distribution of frozen groundand periglacial phenomena, and mapping of permafrost andperiglacial features at various scales. Over 25 years of temperatureand snow cover data have been obtained at numeroussites.During our several-day field excursions we hiked to theterminus of the Morenny rock glacier (3040 m), located1 km from the famous Gorodetsky rock glacier, and droveup to Zhusalykezen Pass (3336 m), the location of the geocryologyresearch station. At this location we observed widespreadthermokarst development as a result of constructionactivities on the ice-rich permafrost. Other field sites visitedillustrated seasonal frost mounds, deep borehole instrumentation,the development of permafrost in rock talus, waterbalance study of rock-filled lysimeters, and influence of snowcover, slope and vegetation on the formation and maintenanceof permafrost.Perhaps the most widely published studies have been onrock glaciers. Based on a recent report by Sergei Titkov, atotal of 1034 rock glaciers have been recorded in the twoparallel mountain ranges of the Northern Tien Shan from45'30' to 43'30'N and 76' to 79OW. Based on morphologicalfeatures 851 of these cover 90.28 km2 and are consideredactive. The best-studied rock glaciers are found in thecentral part of the northern slope of the Zailiyskiy Alatau inthe basins of the Bolshaya and Malaya Almatinka rivers.Based on observations at the Gorodetsky rock glacier over71 years, the mean displacement of the central scarp was63 m, or 0.93 m/yr. The maximum velocity of the surfacemovement reached 1.3 to 1.5 m/yr in the middle part ofthe rock glacier about 150-200 m from the front. This differencebetween rates of movement of surface and frontresults in formation on the surface of transverse ridges andfurrows as well as lobes up to 8 m high. The photograph onthe cover illustrates similar morphology. Movement of rockglaciers is in part the result of changes in the seasonal andlong-term plastic properties of frozen ground caused byseasonal and long-term fluctuations. According to resultsfrom the Gorodetsky rock glacier, two-thirds of the displacementof the frontal lobe occurs from July to October.Most rock glaciers of the Northern Tien Shan demonstratean average rate of surface movement of about 0.5 to 2.5 m/yr.However, rapid or catastrophic movement may occur, asillustrated by Burkuttyy rock glacier, which increased from4.9 m/yr during the period 1969-1979 to 13-14 mlyr in theperiod 1979-1984. This resulted from a downslope increaseof the bed angle from 13-1 5 degrees to 35-38 degrees.During the IPA visit, mechanisms were discussed foraccess to Alpine Laboratory data through the Global GeocryologicalDatabase. Agreement was reached to provide metadatadescriptions for representative data sets and to hrnishseveral digital examples of the data. Several descriptions submittedto the GGD include: permafrost temperatures and activelayer properties in Zhusalykezen Pass (3336 m); active layerand borehole temperatures (30 and 600 m depths) in theKumtor River Valley (3300 to 4200 m); and seasonallyfrozen ground temperatures to 320 cm depth from 1600 to3350 m. In addition, a description of data on rock glaciersand their locations is in preparation. A map of rock glaciersof the central northern Tien Shan has been compiled at1:200,000. The general regularities of the lower limits ofrock glaciers and sporadic permafrost zones as well as thedistribution of different types of rock glaciers are shown.We visited the Kazakstan Academy of Sciences and metwith its President and Minister of Science, Vladimir Shkolnik.We concluded that it is essential for the permafrostinvestigations in Kazakstan to continue, and that we collectivelypromote international collaboration and access to thelong-term data and observations. Following the visit, IPAletters of endorsement for the ICGM were sent to the SiberianBranch of the RAS and President Shkolnik.Frozen Ground

The ICGM permanent buildings and facilities at the fieldsites and the long-term observations offer unique opportunitiesto develop international collaborative research with colleaguesin Almaty. The field camps can also be used for shortexcursions and field courses in mountain geoecology. For additionalinformation contact Igor V. Seversky, Institute of Geography,ICGM, Pushkin st. 99, Almaty, 48010, Kazakstan. Fax:7327 61 8 102; E-mail: ingeo@kawnail.asdc.kz.Submitted by Jerry BrownPERMAFROST IN MONGOLIAMongolian permafrost science has developed since 1950.The Institute of Geography and Geocryology of the MongolianAcademy of Sciences was created in 1962. Permafrostdistribution has been studied by Mongolian geocryologistsfor the last 34 years. Monographs and papers havebeen published, including Permafrost of Mongolia (N. Lonjid,1969), Basic Features of Permafrost in Mongolia (N.Sharkhuu, 1975), Seasonal Freezing and Thawing ofGrounds in Mongolia (D. Tumurbaatar, 1975), GeocryologicalConditions of Mongolia (V.F. Gravis et al., 1974),and Permafrost in the Kangai and Khubsugul MountainRegion (D. Lubsandavga). Permafrost maps compiledinclude a geocryological map of Mongolia on a scale of1 : 1,500,000 based on results of the Mongolian and Russianexpedition of 1971, and a permafrost engineering geologicalmap of the Selenge River basin on a scale of 1:500,000by N. Sharkhuu (1982).The main task of our future permafrost research is tostudy in detail regional regularities of permafrost distributionand development and to provide forecast assessment ofpermafrost conditions in connection with climate changeand management. In order to carry out this task, close contactand collaboration with foreign geocryologists is required,especially those from China, North America, Europe, Russiaand Kazakstan.It is necessary to compile a permafrost map of the Asiancontinent. This work should be organized by the InternationalPermafrost Association and Mongolian geocryologistswould participate.Submitted by D. TumurbaatarHIGH ARCTIC FIELD MEETINGAND SYMPOSIUMTen participants from seven countries attended this meetingfrom 7-16 July 1996 on Ellesmere, Cornwallis andAxel Heiberg Islands in the Canadian Arctic. It was organizedby Toni Lewkowin (University of Ottawa) and spon-sored by the IPA Working Group on Periglacial Processesand Environments and the IGU Commission on Frost ActionEnvironments. Logistical support and accommodationwere provided by the Polar Continental Shelf Project (NaturalResources Canada), Department of National Defence,and the Atmospheric Environment Service (EnvironmentCanada). Four days were spent on Ellesmere Island, in theEureka area, at Hot Weather Creek and in the SawtoothRange. Travel was by helicopter and on foot.Landforms and deposits observed included epigeneticice wedges, segregated ice developed in poorly lithified bedrock,ice-wedge polygons, earth hummocks, detachmentslides, debris flows, slushflows, niveo-aeolian deposits andcold-based glaciers. The effects of solifluction were observedat a site where a Rudberg column was excavated after 5 yearsof movement and at an experimental site where the effectsof climate change were being physically modeled. Anotheractive research project concerned the effects of detachmentsliding on rates of slopewash erosion using a series of runoffplots.Eight presentations were given at the symposium atEureka. These discussed chemical and physical weatheringin periglacial areas, landsliding on permafrost terrain, icewedge and sand wedge casts, and periglacial conditions insouthern Germany and the UK during the last glaciation.The planned visit to Expedition Fiord on Axel HeibergIsland was canceled because the landing strip was underwater. An alternate site on the eastern coast at 80°45'N wasvisited (the farthest north point on the trip) and ice-pushfatures examined. In the Resolute area on Cornwallis Island,Kathy Young (York University) showed sites where she isexamining wetland nutrient flows over permafrost. LinkWashburn (University of Washington) described his workon solifluction and patterned ground.Considering that this was a particularly cool summer inthe Queen Elizabeth Islands, the group was fortunate toexperience generally good weather and to be able to seevirtually all that was planned.Submitted by Antoni LewkowiczPERMAFROST DATA WORKSHOPSTwo meetings were organized by the IPA Data and InformationWorking Group and held at the World DataCenter A for Glaciology, Boulder, Colorado, on 15-16 Julyand 12-1 3 December 1996. In July a small working group(R.G. Barry, J. Branson, J. Brown, C. Hanson and A.J.Heginbottom) reviewed the status of the Global GeocryologicalDatabase (GGD), and plans were initiated for preparationof a CD-ROM on permafrost to be distributed at the JuneFrozen Ground

1998 permafrost conference. The two-day workshop in Decemberfocused on North American data sets for the GGD, thestrategy and content for the CD, and the proposed dataworkshop and presentations at Yellowknife.Participants in the December meeting included membersof the IPA working groups on Data and Information(Roger Barry, Mike Clark), Global Change (Al Taylor, OlegAnisimov), Terminology (Robert van Everdingen), andCryosols (Charles Tarnocai) and representatives of the ExecutiveCommittee (Nikolai Romanovskii, Jerry Brown).Other participants were John Andrews, Martha Andrews,Patrick Black, Gary Clow, Lee Ann Gerhart, Claire Hanson,Ray Kreig, Mike Metz, Jay Moore, Ron Paeaold, DavidPalacios, Vladimir Romanovsky, Charles Slaughter, AnnBrennan Thomas, D.A. (Skip) Walker, Jesse Walker, RonWeaver, and Tingjun Zhang.The CD, tentatively called Circumpolar Active-LayerPermafrost System (CAPS), will consist of two major parts:an information-based section and a subset of the GGD. Itwill provide permafrost information and data to supportmonitoring, mapping and modeling for cold regions scientistsand engineers. The CD is to include facilities to searchdata sets and to have a simple GIs to allow for geographicalsearching.The information section will include: 1) A cumulativeliterature bibliography through 1996 based on the five-yearbibliographies issued covering 1978-1 992.2) The Russianmap bibliography of over 650 entries indexed to the1:500,000 Russian map sheets. An effort is underway toinclude other non-Russian maps. 3) The glossary of permafrostand ground ice terms consisting of some 400 terms in11 languages. Definitions in English and perhaps one otherlanguage will be included. 4) The digital version of the IPANorthern Hemisphere map of permafrost and ground iceconditions, including a data set on permafrost thicknessderived from boreholes.The data segment of the CD will contain selected datasets based on the previously established GGD priorities (seeFrozen Ground No. 18, p. 12-1 3): active layer and soilthermal regimes, and shallow and deep borehole temperatures.We visualize a major use of these data as calibrationand/or validation for thermal models and GCMs in supportof various global change research programs and of the IPCCprocess. Major North American data sets identified for inclusionon the CD are the USGS borehole and near-surfacestations at Alaskan and Antarctic sites; CRREL-, NSF- andUSDA-supported long-term projects in Alaska; and selectedgeothermal and soil climate sites in Canada under the auspicesof the GSC and Agriculture Canada. Considerablediscussion was devoted to organizing detailed metadatadescriptions for each site and borehole. Suggested standardsare being developed and will be included on the CD.The goal is to include at least one substantial and representativedata set from each IPA member; a number of countrieswill have multiple data sets. A letter was sent in September1996 to all members requesting nominations of relevantdata for both the GGD and CD-ROM. In addition to theUnited States and Canada, relevant sites and data fromChina, Greenland, Kazakstan, Norway, Russia, and Swedenhave been identified to date for CAPS, as have datafrom mountainous regions in the survey conducted by theMountain Permafrost WG. By early 1997 we expect to havea detailed list of data sets identified. Accessioning and formattingthe data will be a major task.It is proposed to continue the process of identifying datafor inclusion on the CD via mail and at several meetings inEurope and Russia later in spring 1997. All accessions andformatting of information and data would be essentiallycompleted by the end of 1997, or very early in 1998. Theoverall GGD process will continue as an overarching activity,with CAPS being one of its early or Phase I products.As previously agreed, there will be a data workshop organizedby Mike Clark at the Seventh International Conferenceon Permafrost. Topics are proposed to include statusof data acquisition and management, programs for yieldinglong-term monitoring data, examples of modeling activitiesusing GGD sources, and examples of mapping projects illustratedas posters. An associated publication for the session isunder consideration.Another topic at the December workshop was a discussionof a GGD strategy by Nikolai Romanovskii on behalf of hisRussian colleagues. The strategy proposes the main tasksfor GGD: permafrost response to climate change, mappingto establish permafrost diversity, monitoring of processes,and gathering and dissemination of information includinga who's who of permafrost experts. The strategy recognizesthat data availability and use differ among countries andthat large amounts are still considered proprietary or in factsecret and not available. Public domain data should be thefocus of GGD.Submitted by Roger Barry, Jerry Brown,Mike Clark and Claire HansonNEW IGU PERIGLACIAL COMMISSIONIn 1996, the International Geographical Union (IGU)Commission on Frost Action Environments came to theend of its 8-year term. The commission, under the leadershipof Jean-Pierre Lautridou, had been very active, with atleast one scientific meeting each year. Based on almost 50years of continuing interest in periglacial phenomena, aFrozen Ground

new commission, Climatic Change and Periglacial Environments,was approved during the IGU Congress in The Haguein August.During the IGU Congress the Commission on FrostAction Environments organized a one-day session, EnvironmentalChange Under Periglacial Climatic Conditions, anda half-day joint session, Geomorphology and EnvironmentalChange, with the IGU Commission on GeomorphologicalResponse to Environmental Change (GERTEC). In a plenarysession a state-of-the-art report on present periglacialand frost action research was presented by JefVandenberghe.The new commission held its first meeting during theIGU conference. Future activities will stress more explicitlythe effects of climate on the processes and landforms inperiglacial regions and provide a focus for research on thesignificance of climate in present-day periglacial processesand the application of such research to the past record. Theexisting link with the IPA through its Working Group onPeriglacial Processes and Environments was formalized in asigned agreement between IGU and IPA. Cooperation withthe IPA Working Group on Global Change and Permafrostwill also be pursued.Forthcoming activities of the new commission includecosponsoring the April 1997 Pushchino symposium, CryogenicProcesses and Phenomena, participating in the pre-IAG Congress excursion Mountain Permafrost and SlopeStability in the Periglacial Belt of the Alps, participating inthe 1998 permafrost conference, organizing a meetinglexcursionin Poland and eastern Germany in 1999, and participatingin the 1999 INQUA Congress.Membership of the new commission is J. Vandenberghe(The Netherlands), Chairman, Dr. C. Harris (U.K.), Secretary,B. Francou (France), K. Hall (Canada), L. King (Germany),A. Lewkowicz (Canada), N. Matsuoka (Japan), N.Romanovskii (Russia), C. Thorn (U.S.A.), D. Trombotto(Argentina), and Cui Zhijiu (China).Submitted by Jef VandenbergheCHAPMAN CONFERENCEROCK GLACIERSThe American Geophysical Union Chapman Conferenceon the geomorphic and climatic significance of rock glacierswas held at the Northwest College Field Station, AbsarokaMountains, near Cody, Wyoming, 23-28 August 1996.The 34 participants were from the United States (27), Italy(2), Northern Ireland (2), Scotland (I), Spain (1) and Switzerland(1). The four sessions consisted of 19 reports withabstracts covering the following topics: models of rock gla-cier formation, Galena Creek rock glacier, paleoclimate,and dynamics. There were two one-day field trips to nearbyGalena Creek rock glacier, complemented by a guidebookprepared by Noel Potter. A summary report of the conferencewill appear in the AGU newsletter Eos. A special edition ofGeografika Annaler is planned. The conveners were DouglasH. Clark (Indiana UniversityIPurdue University atIndianapolis), Eric J. Steig (University of Colorado), NoelPotter, Jr. (Dickinson College), and Alan. R. Gillespie (Universityof Washington).U.S. COMMITTEE FOR IPAThe newly appointed U.S. Committee for the IPA metin Denver, Colorado, on 14 December 1996. Members areBernard Hallet, Chair, Roger Barry, Jerry Brown, DavidEsch, Larry Hinzman, Chris Mckay, Michael Metz, RupertTart, and Ted Vinson. The open meeting of the committeewas attended by participants of the preceding Boulder dataworkshop (see page 6). Don Hayley, Chair of the CanadianOrganizing Committee for the Seventh International Conferenceon Permafrost, presented a detailed report on theplanning for the conference. Mike Clark, GeoData Institute,U.K., presented plans for the 1998 data workshop in Yellowknife.Other topics discussed included changes in the IPAconstitution, U.S. input to working group activities andthe GGD, and improved coordination of national and internationalpermafrost activities.INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCECOLD REGIONS ENGINEERINGThe Technical Council on Cold Regions Engineering ofthe American Society of Civil Engineers sponsored its eighthinternational specialty conference at the University ofAlaskaFairbanks, 13-16 Aupt. The theme was The Cold RegionsInfrastructure: An International Imperative for the 21stCentury. A total of 226 registrants participated. The prepublishedproceedings and the technical sessions featured80 technical papers on a wide-ranging variety of civil engineeringtopics (buildings, utilities, transportation systems,materials, and environmental and geotechnical considerations).In addition, TCCRE's Design and ConstructionCommittee introduced its new 10-chapter monograph,Road and Airjekh in Cold Regions. In the two days precedingthe conference, 66 engineers participated in three shortcourses on Thermo-Syphons for Cold Regions, Restorationof House Foundations on Permafrost Terrain, and RiverIce Engineering. (See page 10 for information on acquiringthese publications.)Submitted by Jon E. Zufelt8 Frozen Ground

IPERMAFROST ANDPERIGLACIALPROCESSES- - -r --~-.-.- .-. S F ---- -r:;y- *, -7-E- .- & --%&------bes 7T-,-. - - ----John Wileymand Sons Ltd.,mpublishers of Pem2uf;ost and PeriglacialProcesses, has agreed to offer reduced individual subscriptionrates of $50.00 (U.S.) to those individuals who candemonstrate a professional interest in permafrost and otherforms of frozen ground. Recipients of Frozen Ground andparticipants in the international permafrost and related periglacialconferences can qualify for this reduced subscriptionrate. Those interested in obtaining more information shouldcontact: Subscriptions Department, John Wiley and Sons Ltd.,, Bafins Lane, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 IUD, England.Pmfiost Monitoring and Detection of Climate Change, M.W.Smith and D. RiseboroughMemrement Interual and the Accurate Assessment of GroundTemperature Trendr, D.W. Riseborough and M.M. BurgessDeep-Seated Creep of Massive Ground Ice, Tuktoyaktuk,N. W: T., S.R. Dallimore, P.A. Egginton, F.M. Nixon, B.Ladanyi and A. ForieroPhysical Modelling of Cryogenic Mass Wasting (Solifluction):A Review and Further Strategzes, C. HarrisPapers:Origin ofRock Glaciers: Observationsfiom Mellemjord, DiskoIsland, Central West Greenland, 0 . HumlumThe Occurrence of a Holocene Rock Glacier on Mount Kenya:Some Observations and Comments, S.W. GrabSand Wedge and Ventifact Paleoenvironmental Indicators inNorthwest Saskatchewan, Canada, 11 ka to 9.9 ka B.P.,T.G. FisherFormation of Miniature Sorted Patterns by Shallow GroundFreezing - A Field Ejcperiment, C.K. BallantyneIIIFrozenVolume 7, Issue No. 3 uuly-September 1996)Climatic and Ecological Controls on Ice Segregation andThermokarst: The Case History of a Permafiost Plateau inNorthern Quebec, M. Allard, S. Caron and Y. BtginCryptogamic Soil Bud in the Equatorial Andes of Venezuela,F.L. PerezI*cLIating of ~ ra~~ed Gases in Massive Ground Ice, WesternCanadian Arctic, B.J. Moorman, F.A. Michel and A.WilsonModelling and Verification of the Permafiost Distribution inthe Bernese Alps (Western Switzerland), M. ImhofShort CommunicationsRadiocarbon Dating by High-sensitivity Liquid ScintillationCounting of Wood From the Fox Permafiost Tunnel NearFairbanks, Alaska, A. Long and T.L. PhdResults of Chemical Testingfor Various Types of Water andIce, Yamal Peninsula, Russia, M.O. LeibmanMonitoring the Evolution of Pmafi-ost in the Zen Shan,A.P. GorbunovVolume 7, Issue No. 4 (October-December 1996)Selected papers from Proceedings of IPA-Sponsored Workshop,'Frozen Ground. Current UndentandingandAbilityto Monitor Change, '"9-1 0 December 1995, Hanover, N. H.Preface, A.G. LewkowiczClimatic Warming and the Degradation of Pemzafiost, V.J.LunardiniGroundJOURNAL OF GLACIOLOGY AND GEOCRYOIDGYSelected Frozen Ground TitlesVolume 17, No. 4 (December 1995)Tensile Strength of Frozen Saturated Loess, Shen Zhongyan,Peng Wanwei and Liu YongzhiThe Analogic Conditions of Simulation Test of Frozen Soil,Wang Tingdong, Zhao Xishu and Wu Ziwang et al.Experimental Studies of Fracture Toughness KIC for FrozenSoil, Li Hongsheng, Zhang Xiaopeng and Zhu Yuanlinet al.Creep Failure Characteristics ofFrozen Sand Under Two-StepStress, Sheng Yu, Wu Ziwang and Miao Lina et al.Torsion-Shear Strengths of Frozen Soil Under DgqT?rent TestMethod, Peng Wanwei, Zhang Changqing and ZhangJianmingPermafi-ost Change and Stability of Qinghai- Tibet Highway,Wu Qingbai and Tong ChangjiangPresent and Development Tendency on Sinking Methodc ofArttjiciallly Frozen Soik Ma QinyongBook ReviewMechanisms of Frost Heaving and Salt Expansion of SoihVolume 18, No. 1 (March 1996)A Study on Freezing Point of Wet Clay Under Loading, Li Yi,Cui Guangxin and Lu Henglin

The Deformation Characteristics and Calculation of FrozenClay Shaftwalk, Wang RenheStrength Charactmitics of Frozen Soil Under Loading andUnloading, I.E. Guryanov and Ma WeiA Review of the E&t of Degradation of Glaciers and Permaposton Railways, Liu TieliangMeasures Against Frost Damage of Hydraulic Structure inXinjiang, Guo DefaVolume 18, No. 2 Uune 1996)Dzference ofPermafiost Degeneration in the East ofthe TibetanPlateau, Zhu Linnan, Wu Ziwang and Zang Enmu et al.High Resolution Record of Malan Loess in the Longxi LoessPlateau and Rapid Climate Changes During the Last Gkaciation,Chen Fahu, Ma Yuzhen and Li JijumResponse of Cryosphere to Climatic Warming Since 1980 Overthe Northern Hemisphere, Ding YongjianA Progressive Yield Criteria on Creep of Frozen Soil, WangZhenggui, Ma Wei and Sheng Yu et al.The Uniaxial Compressive Strength of Frozen Saturated SiltUnder Vibrating Load, Shen Zhongyan and Zhang JiayiA Multi-Factor Study of Salt Ejcpansion of Sulphate Salty Soil,Gao Jiangping, Wu Jiahui and Deng Yuosheng et al.Application of Scanning Electronic Microscope in Study of Geoyo&,Wang Jiacheng, Zhang Xuezhen and Wang Yujiecold regionsrscienceand technologypublished b Elsevier Science B.V.Selected Frozen Ground TitlesVolume 24, No. 2 (May 1996) vElectrical Freezing Potentials Measured in a Pingo Growingin the Western Canadian Arctic, V.R. Parameswaran andJ.R. MackayApplication ofFoam Insulation for Remediation of DegradedPermafrost, V.N. Feklistov and N.L. RusakovVolume 24, No. 3 (July 1996)2-0 Frost Action Modeling Using the Segregation Potential ofSoils, J.-M. Konrad and M. ShenOTHER PUBLICATIONSThe PmglacialEnvironment, SecondEdition, French, H.M.(1996). 376 p., including 170 illustrations and 85 photographs,and new chapters on cryogenic weathering, appliedgeomorphology, landscape evolution, and global warming.Available from Addison Wesley Longman cawlhe.orders@awl.co.uk>; f 22.99Disturbance and Recovery in Arctic Lank An EcologicalPerspective, Crawford, R.M.M., editor (1 997). Kluwer AcademicPublishers, Dordrecht, the Netherlands, 590 p.Results of NATO workshop held in Rovaniemi, Finland,September 1995, and includes a paper on IPA recommendationsfor monitoring, mapping, synthesis, modeling,data management and coordination by J. Brown.Proceedings of the Fzjih Chinese Conference on Glaciologyand Geocryology (vol. l), Gansu Culture Press, and limitedquantities are available from Zhu Yuanlin, Lanzhou Instituteof Glaciology and Geocryology, Academia Sinica, Lanzhou730000, Gansu Province, China, cliggplan@ns.lzb.ac.cn>; US$20.00. The new permafrost map of the Qinghai-Xizangregion, scale 1 :3,000,000, also is available (US $10.00).Climate Change 1995: Impacts, Ahptations and Mitigationof Climate ChangCcienftfi-TechnicaLAnaLyses, R.T.Watson, MC. Zinyowera and R.H. Moss, Editors. Includeschapter on cryosphere and sections on permafrost contributedby IPA authors (see Frozen GroundNo. 15, p. 16-26).Available from Cambridge University Press, Dept. PJL, 40West 20th Street, New York, NY 100 1 1-42 1 1. Fax: 2 12691 3239. US $95.00 (hardcover), US $35.95 (paperback).Cold Regions Engineering Proceedings of the 8th ZnternationalConference on Cold Regions Engineering, edited byRobert F. Carlson, 955 p. Available from ASCE, Book Orders,PO Box 831, Somerset, NJ 08875-0831 (1 800 548ASCE). The price is US $80.00, or US $60.00 for ASCEmembers. The associated monograph Rod andAi$eLds inCold Regions, edited by Ted Vinson, is US $35.00, or US$26.25 for ASCE members.Arctic and Alpine ResearchArctic Soils and Permajost special issue in memory of Kaye R.Everett edited by Marilyn D. Walker and Kathleen A. Salzberg,Arctic andAlpine Research, vol. 28, no. 3, August 1996,154 p.; available for sale as a single issue or as part of an annualsubscription. Single copy: Library $27, Individuals and students$1 8. Direct orders and inquiries to Arctic and AlpineResearch, Campus Box 450, University of Colorado, Boulder,Colorado 80309-0450. Tel: 303 492 3765. Fax: 303 4926388. E-mail Kathleen Salzberg csalzberg@spot.colorado.edu>10 Frozen Ground

Resolution of IPA Council, 5 August 1995In order to involve maximum engineering and scientific participationin the international permafrost conferences held once&ery five years, all members and working groups are urged toencourage societies and professional organizations to coordinatethe scheduling of their meetings, workshops and fieldtrips within the 12-month period prior to and following thepermafrost conferences. Following the June 1998 conferencein Yellowknife, Canada, the next conference is provisionally\ scheduled for summer 2003 in Europe.1997ISGF-97 and FROST '9715-17 April 1997, Lulel, SwedenContact: Sven G.O. Knutsson, Lulei University of Technology, S-95 187 Lulei, SwedenTel: 46 920 913 32; Fax: 46 920 720 75sven.knutssun@anl.luth.sehttp:llwww.luth.se/depts/anl/frost97/8th ITEX Workshop19-22 April 1997, London, United KingdomContact: Phil Wookey, Department of Geography, Royal Halloway,University of London, Eghan, Surrey TW20 OEX, United KingdomTel: 44 1784 443571; Fax: 44 1784 472836p.wookey@rhbnc.ac.ukInternational Conference of Problems of the Earth Cryosphere21-25 April 1997Contact: Vladimir P. Melnikov, Consolidated Scientific Council onEarth Cryology, Box 1230 Earth Cryosphere Institute, Russian Academyof Sciences, 625000 Tyumen, RussiaTel: 7 345 225 1 153; Fax: 7 345 222 3380emelnikov@glas.apc.orgISCORD '97 International Symposium on Cold RegionsDevelopment410 May 1997, Anchorage, Alaska, USAContact: Chairman of the Organizing Committee, The NorthernForum, 4 101 University Drive, APU Garr-Gottstein Center,Suite 221, Anchorage, Alaska 99508, USATel: 907 561 3280; Fax: 907 561 6645iscord97@ccmail.orst.eduhttp:Ilwww.orst.edu/-vinson/iscord.htmlISOPE-97: 7th International Symposium on Offshore andPolar Engineering25-30 May 1997, Honolulu, Hawaii, USAContact: Jin S. Chung, ISOPE, P.O. Box 1107, Golden, Colorado80402-1 107, USATel: 1 303 273 3673; Fax: 1 303 420 3760International Symposium on Snow and Avalanches26-30 May 1997, Charnonix Mont Blanc, FranceContact: Secretary General, International Glaciological Society,Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 IER, United KingdomTel: 44 1223 355974; Fax: 44 1223 33654310075 1.1667@compuserve.com1AMAP International Symposium on Environmental Pollutionof the Arctic and The Third International Conference onEnvironmental Radioactivity in the Arctic1-5 June 1997, Tromse, NorwayContact: AMAP Secretariat, P.O. Box 55, N-1345 asteris, NorwayTel: 47 67 16 25 64; Fax: 47 67 14 54 44International Symposium on Physics, Chemistry, and Ecology ofSeasonally Frozen Soils10-12 June 1997, Fairbanks, Alaska, USAContact for meetings: Brenton SharratTel: 1 320 589 341 1; Fax: 1 320 589 3787bsharrat@mail.mrsars.usda.govContact for logistics: Conferences and Special Events, Universityof Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, USATel: 1 907 474 7800; Fax: 1 907 474 5592fyci@aurora.alaska.eduhttp://www.nstl.gov/frozen/SeminarNCrorkshop: Contaminants in Freezing Ground1415 July 1997, Cambridge, United KingdomContact: W. Gareth Rees, Scott Polar Research Institute, LensfieldRoad, Cambridge, CB2 IER, United KingdomInternational Symposium on Antarctica and Global Change1418 July 1997, Hobart, AustraliaContact: Secretary General, International Glaciological Society,Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 IER, United KingdomTel: 44 1223 355974; Fax: 44 1223 33654310075 1.1667@compuserve.comCryopedology '97: Second International Conference on CryogenicSoils-Ecology, Genesis and Classification5-8 August 1997, Syktyvkar, RussiaContact: Galena Mazhitova or Elena Lapteva, Institute of Biology, KomiCenter, Communisticheskaya 28, 167610 Syktyvkar, Komi Republic,RussiaTel: 7 8212 425240 (or 425715); Fax: 7 8212 420163galena@biology.komitex.mI lth Northern Research Basins Symposium and Workshop18-22 August 1997, Fairbanks, Alaska, USAContact: Douglas L. Kane, Water Research Center, University ofAlaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, USATel: 1 907 474 7808; Fax: 1 907 474 7979ffdlk@aurora.alaska.edu4th International Conference on Geomorphologyand IPA Executive Committee Meeting (31 August)28 August-3 September 1997, Bologna, ItalyContact: 4th International Conference on Geomorphology, PlanningCongress, Via Crociali 2, 140138 Bologna, ItalyTel: 39 51 302980; Fax: 39 51 309477michele.galantino@planning.inet,itPeriglacial Workshop: Periglacial Processes and Environments16-17 December 1997, Cardi& United KingdomContact: Dr. Charles Harris, Department of Earth Sciences, Universityof Wales Cardiff, P.O. Box 914, Cardiff CFl 3YE, United Kingdomharrisc@cardiff.ac.ukfSee IPA Web site for updates on meetings:http://www.geodata.soton.ac.uWipaFrozen Ground

ISOPE-98: 8th International Offshore and Polar EngineeringConference24-29 May 1998, Montreal, CanadaContact: Jin S. Chung, ISOPE, P.O. Box 1107, Golden, Colorado80402-1 107. USATel: 1 303 273 3673; Fax: 1 303 420 37605th International Symposium on Mining in the Arctic14-17 June, Yellowknife, N.W.T., CanadaContact: Symposium Secretariat, Canadian Institute of Mining,Metallurgy and Petroleum, Xerox Tower, 1210-3400 de MaisomeuveBoulevard West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3Z 3B8Tel: 1 514 939 2710; Fax: 1 514 939 27147th International Conference on Permafrost andIPA Council Meeting23-27 June 1998, Yellowknife, N.W.T., CanadaContact: J.A. Heginbottom, Geological Survey of Canada,601 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A OE8, CanadaTel: 1 613 992 7813; Fax: 1 613 992 2468permafrost.conference@gsc.nrcan.gc.ca16th World Soil Congress20-26 August 1998, Montpellier, FranceContact: Agropolis-Avenue, Agropolis-34394, Montpellier, Cedex 5,FranceTel: 33 6704 7538; Fax: 33 6704 7549Additional Information for ForcInternational Conference on Problems of the Earth Cryosphere,21-25 April 1997Convened by the Consolidated Scientific Council on Earth Cryology,the IPA, the Russian National Committee for Geologists, and the 1GUCommission on Climatic Change and Periglacial Environments. The mainresearch results will be discussed within the framework of the following1) Periglacial processes on the shelf and land of the Arctic coasts,2) Reliability of geotechnical systems in the cryolithozone, 3) Microbiologyof permafrost: Life at negative temperatures, 4) Cryogenic processesand phenomena, conditions of their formation, paleogeographic information,5) Physical-chemical mechanics of frozen ground, 6) Roundtable: Geoinformation systems, digital maps and databases in geocryology,and 7) Annual meeting of the Consolidated Scientific Council on EarthCryology. Accommodation and meals US $60/per day (est.). RegistrationUS $150 before 31 January or US $200 later to: E.S.Melnikov, AccountNo: 181070980 in INCOMBANK, Branch Prospect Mira, S.W.I.F.T.INCORUM, Moscow, Russia via Bank of New York, No: 890-0056-096, or Republic National Bank of New York, No: 608 205 893. Forofficial visa invitation send full name, the passport number and date ofissue, date of birth, arrival and departure dates. Non-Russian inquiries toEvgeny Melnikov. Fax: 7 095 135 6582, orCryopedology '97,5-8 August 1997Preliminary scientific program includes genesis, geography, dassifcauon,ecology, monitoring and databases for cryosols. Field excursions indudeone-day local visit around Sykryvkar and three-day trip to Vorkuta from 9-11 August. Abstract deadline was 31 December. For visa send photocopyof foreign passport to organizers. Registration is US $250; Vorkuta tripabout US $300 with payment by 1 March 1997. Third announcement willmailed in early May 1997 with official invitation to those who paid fixs.Contact o&izen~for method of payment. Send registration request toGalena Mazhitova, Fax: 7 82 12 420 163, International Conference on Snow Hydrology: The Integration ofPhysical, Chemical and Biological Systems5-9 October 1998, Hanover, New Hampshire, USAContact: J. Hardy, USACRREL, 72 Lyme Road, Hanover, NewHampshire 03755-1290 USAFax: 1 603 646 4397jhardy@crrel.usace.army.mil17th Polar Library ColloquyFall 1998, Reykjavik, IcelandContact: Eirikur Einarsson, Marine Research Institute, P.O. Box 1390,12 1 Reykjavik, IcelandTel: 354 552 0240; Fax: 354 562 3790eirikur@hafro.is1999International Union for Quaternary Research XV InternationalCongress3-1 1 August 1999Contact: Conference Secretariat, Conference Africa, P.O. Box 1722,Parklands, 2 12 1, Johannesburg, South AfricaTel: 27 11 447 8143; Fax: 27 11 447 8144cafrica@iafrica.comling IPA Co-Convened Meetings4th International Conference on Geomorphology, 22-28 August 1997Pre-conference field excursion and symposium, Mountain Permafrostand Slope Stability in the Periglacial Belt of the Alps and one-day papersession on Mountain Permafrost Monitoring and Mapping. Organizedby Wilfried Haeberli and Francesco Dramis.Periglacial Workshop: Periglacial Processes and Environments,16-17 December 1997Convened by the IPA, British National Committee for QuaternaryResearch Association, Cryostratigraphy Research Group. Meeting willinclude papers and discussions on (1) cryogenic processes and cryostratigraphy,(2) process monitoring and modelling, and (3) cold room studiesof modelling slope processes, rock glacier dynamics and soft sedimentdeformation at Caen cold room and Cardiff Geotechnical CentrifugeCentre. Abstract deadline 1 September 1997.7th International Conference on Permafrost, 23-27 June 1998See inside back cover.16th World Soil Congress, 20-26 August 1998Svm~osium , . 39, . Crvosols , and Their relations hi^ to Global ClimateChange. Topics include cryosols and their changes, including changes insources and sinks of greenhouse gases; the understanding of permafrostaffectedpedologic systems; and new developments in land use and management.The symposium will comprise a three-and-one-half-hour oralsession, OHO half-day poster sessions, and two half-day oral sessions. Proposalsfor papers should be a one-page summary (2500 characters) submittedto the Congress organizers by 1 May 1997 in English, French, Germanor Spanish with English title. Send copies to co-convenors David Gilichinsky(Fax: 7 096 7 790532, ) or Brigitte VanVliet-Lanoe (Fax: 3399 286100; ).12 Frozen Ground

InstituteEXECUTIVE COMMITTEEPresident Vice President Vice President Secretary GeneralProf. Cheng Guodong, Director Dr. Hugh M. French Prof. Nikolai N. Romanovskii Dr. Jeny BrownLanzhou Institute of Glaciology Dean of Science Geocryology Department P.O. Box 7and Geocryology University of Ottawa Faculty of Geology Woods Hole, MassachusettsChinese Academy of Sciences P.O. Box 450 Stn A Moscow State University 02543-0007Lanzhou, 730 000 Ottawa, Ontario KIN 6N5 119899 Moscow USAChina Canada Russia Tel: 1508 457 4982Tel: 86 931 882 6725 Tel: 1613 562 5985 Tel: 7 095 939 1937 (office) Fax: 1508 457 1548Fax: 86 931888 5241 Fax: 1613 562 5193 Tel: 7 095 1332668 (home) jenybrown@igc.apc.orgTelex: 72008 IGGAS CN hfrench@science.uottawa.ca Fax: 7 095 932 8889gdcheng@ns.lzb.ac.cnmmanovsky @glas.apc.orgMEMBERS/NATIONAL CONTACTSArgentina Finland Mongolia SpainDr. Arturo E. Come Dr. Matti Sepp?ika Dr. D. Tumurbaatar Dr. David E. PalaciosGeocriologia Physical Geo raphy Laboratory Institute of Geography and De artamento A.G.R. yIANIGLA-CRICYT-CONICET University o?~elsinki Geocryology geografia FisicaBajada del Cerro sln P.O. Box 9 Mon olian Academy of Sciences Universidad ComplutenseCasilla de Correo 330 FIN-00014 Helsinki lanka at or 210620 28040 Madrid5500 Mendoza Finland Mongolia SpainTel: 358 0 1911Tel: 976 1 322739 Tel: 34 1394 5955%;% 28 7029Fax: 358 0 191 8670 Fax: 976 1326172 Fax: 34 1 394 5963Fax: 54 61 28 7370davidp@eucmax.sim.ucm.escricyr@planet.losandes.com.ar France NetherlandsDr. Jaime Aguirre-Puente Dr. Jef Vandenberghe SwedenBelgium Centre de Ghmor hologie Faculty of Earth Sciences Dr. H. Jonas hermanDr. Albert Pissart CNRS (URA 1694 Vrije Universiteit Ministry of AgricultureUniversite de Liege 24, rue des Tilleuls De Boelelaan 1085 SCAFE-Land Husbandry BranchGComorphologie et Geologie F-14000 Caen NL-1081 HV Amsterdam P.O. Box 502 91du Quaternaire France The Netherlands Lusaka, Zambia7, Place du 20 Aodt Tel: 33 31 45 5708' Tel: 31 20 444 7368 TellFax: 7 260 1 2923974000 Liege Fax: 33 31 45 5757 Fax: 31 20 646 2457 jonas.akerman@natgeo.lu.seBelgium vanj@geo.vu.nl agrisys@zamnet.zmTel: 32 41 66 5257GermanyFax: 32 41 66 5722 Dr. Lorenz King Norway Switzerlandalbert.pissart@physun.geo.ulg.ac.be Geogryhis!hes Dr. Kaare Flaate Dr. Daniel Vonder MiihllJustus ~eb~g Unlversltat Norwe ian Directorate of VAWlGlaciologyCanada 35394 Giessen Pubic Roads ETH Federal Institute ofMr. Don Hayley Germany P.O. Box 8142 DEP TechnologyEBA Engineering Consultants Ltd. Tel: 49 641 99 36205 N-0033 Oslo Gloriastrasse 37/3914535 118th Avenue Fax: 49 641 99 36219 Norway CH-8092 ZurichEdmonton, Alberta T5L 2M7 lorenz.king@geo.uni-giessen.de Tel: 47 22 073 900 SwitzerlandCanadaFax: 47 22 073 444 Tel: 41 1632 41 13Tel: 1403451 2121I ~ YFax: 41 1632 11 92Fax: 1 403 454 5688 Dr. Francesco DramisPoland vdmuehll@vaw.baum.ethz.chhayley@eba.ca Dipartimento di Scienze Dr. Kazimierz PekalaGeologiche Department of Geomorphology United KingdomChina Tern Universira Maria-Curie Sklodowska Univ Dr. Charles HarrisProfessor Zhu Yuanlin Via Osteinse 169 Akademicka 19 Department of GeologyLanzhou Institute of Glaciology 00154 Rome 20-033 Lublin University of Walesand Geoc ology Italy Poland PO Box 914Chinese ~ c a x of m Sciences ~Tel: 39 657 37 2877 Tel: 48 81 37 5915 Cardiff, CFI 3YE 'Lanzhou, 730 000 Fax: 39 657 37 2827 Fax: 48 81 37 5102 United KingdomChina dramis@uniroma3.it pekala@golem.umcs.lublin.pl Tel: 44 1222 874830Tel: 86 931 884 1490Fax: 44 1222 874326Fax: 86 931 888 524.1JapanRussiaharrisc@cardiff.ac.ukTelex: 72008 IGGAS CNDr. Masami FukudaDr. Vladimir P. Melnikovliggplan@ns.lzb.ac.cn .. of Low Temperature.Consolidated Scientific Council on United States of America~Science Earth Cryology Dr. Bernard HalletDenmark Hokkaido University Box 1230 Earth Cryosphere Institute Quaternary Research CenterMr. Sven Bertelsen N 19 W8 Sapporo 060 Russian Academy of Sciences University of WashingtonDanish Society for Arctic Japan 625000 Tyumen Box 351360Technology Fax: 81 11 7067142 Russia Seattle, Washington 98195-1360NN&R A/S masami.fukuda@lt.hines.hokudai.ac.jp Tel: 7 345 225 1153 USASortemoswe' 2Fax: 7 345 222 3380 Tel: 1206 685 2409DK-3450 AheredKazaksfanroot@ikz.tyumen.su Fax: 1206 543 3836DenmarkDr. Aldar P. Gorbunovhallet@u.washington.eduTel: 45 48 140066 Institute of Geography Southern AfricaFax: 45 48 14 0033 Kazakstan Academy of Sciences Dr. Ian Meikle'ohnPushkin St. 99Department ol~eo~ra~h~Almaty 480 100University of PretoriaKazakstan0002 PretoriaTel: 7 3272 321363South AfricaFax: 7 3272 618102 Tel: 27 12420 2881ingeo@kazmail.asdc.kz Fax: 27 12420 3248kim@scientia.up.ac.zaFrozen Ground

STANDING COMMITTEESFinance CommitteeCbairAdvisory Committee on Working GroupsChairEditorial CommitteeChirMr. O.J. Ferrians, Jr. Dr. C.W. Love11 Dr. Elisabeth SchmittUS Geological Survey School of Civil Engineering Geogra hisches Institut4200 University Drive Purdue University Justus iebig UniversitatAnchorage, Alaska 99508 West Lafayette. Indiana 47907 35394 GiessenUSA USA GermanyTel: 1907 786 7427 Tel: 1317 494 5034 Fax: 49 641 702 8211Fax: 1907 786 7401 Fax: 1317 494 1364lovellc@ecn.purdue.eduWORKING GROUPSData and InformationChair: Dr. Roger BarryMountain PermafrostChair: Dr. Wilfried HaeberliSecrerury: Dr. Chien Lu PingPalmer Research CenterWorld Data Center A: Glaciology Department of Geography University of AlaskaCampus Box 449Un~versity of Zurich533 E FireweedUniversity of Colorado Winterthurerstrasse 190 Palmer, Alaska 99645Boulder, Colorado 80309-0449 CH-8057 Zurich USAUSA Switzerland Tel: 1907 746 9462Tel: 1303492 5171 Tel: 41 1257 5120 Fax: 1907 746 2677Fax: 1303492 2468 Fax: 41 1 362 5227 pfclp@uaa.alaska.edurbarty@kryos.colorado.eduhaeberli@geo.unizh.chFoundationsSecretary: Mr. J.A. H 'nbottom Secretmy: Dr. Francesco Dramis Chair: Mr. James W. RooneyGeological Survey of %ads Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche R&M Consultants601 Booth Sweet Tern Universita 9101 Vanguard DriveOttawa, Ontario KIA OE8 Via Osteinse 169 Anchorage, Alaska 99507Canada 00154 Rome USATel: 1613992 7813 Italy Tel: 1907 522 1707Fax: 1613 992 2468 Tel: 39 657 37 2877 Fax: 1907 522 3403heginbonom@gsc.~can.gc.ca Fax: 39 657 37 2827 jrooney@rmconsult.comdmis@unimmd.itTerminologySecretary: Dr. Kaare FlaateChair: Dr. Robert 0. van Everdingen Periglacid Processes and Norwegian Directorate of Public Roads2712 Chalice Road NW Enwronments P.O. Box 8142 DEPCalgary, Alberta T2L 1C8 Chair: Dr. Antoni G. Lcwkowia N 0033 OsloCanada Department of Geography NorwayTel: 1 403 289 6823Un~versity of Ottawa Tel: 47 22 073 900Fax: 1403 282 4609 P.O. Box 450 Stn A Fax: 47 22 073 444ervan@acs.ucalgary.caOttawa, Ontario KIN 6N5CanadaSeasonal Freexing and ThawingSrcreq: Dr. V acheslav Konishchev Tel: 1613 562 5704 of Permafrost AreasGeography ~acuTty Fax: 1613 562 5145 Chair: Dr. hind PhukanMmw State University alewkowi@acadvml .uottawa.ca Phukan Consulting Engineers and119899 Moscow Associates, Inc.Rlissia Srmrury: Dr. Charles Harris 2702 Gambell St.Tel: 7 095 939 3673 Department of Geology Anchorage, Alaska 99503University of WalesUSAGlobal Ch e and PermafrostP.O. Box 914 Tel: 1907 272 7111Chair: Dr. F3erick E. NelsonCardiff CFl 3YE Fax: 1907 277 3177Department of Geography and Planning United Kingdomarvindl96O@wow.comState University of New York at Albany Tel: 44 1222874830Albany, New York 12222Fax: 44 1222 874326Srcretaty: Dr. Branko LadanyiUSA harrisc@cardilT.ac.uk DCpt de GCnie CivilTel: 1 518 442 4469,4770ble PolytechniqueFax: 1 518442 4867 cryosols CP 6079 Succ Afnelson@cnsvax.albany.edu Chair: Dr. David A. Gilichinsky MontrA, P.Q. H3C 3A7Institute of Soil Science and PhotosynthesisCanadaSemta Mr. Alan E. TaylorRussian Academy of Sciences Tel: 1 514 340 48042312 d?i1 Road124292 PushchinoFax: 1 514 340 5841Sidney, British Columbia V8L 2C4Moscow Regionbranko.ladanyi@mail.p1~tl.~aCanadaRussiaTel: 1604 656 0690Tel: 7 096 7 732604altaylor@kcorp.comFax: 7 096 7 790532gilichin@mp.serpukhov.suINDIVIDUALS(from countries for which no adhering bodies exist)Rein VaikmLPea E. UrdeaInstitute of GeologyUniversiratea TimisoaraEstonian Academy of Sciences Catedra De Geografie7 Estonia Ave. Str. Pestalozzi Nr 16EE-0 105, Tallinn1900 TimisoaraEstoniaRomaniaFax: 7 0142 44 41 89 Fax: 40 056 190377vaikmae@gaia.gi.ee 40 506 190333Frozen Ground

CIRCUMPOLAR ACTIVE LAYER MONITORING (CALM)The active layer monitoring program is now formallydesignated CALM, and is closely &liated with the InternationalTundra Experiment (ITEX), the International PermafrostAssociation (IPA), and several IPA working groups.These active layer measurements are important indicatorsof landscape variability and provide documentation of interannualand decadal fluctuations. They can serve as a basisfor intersite comparison of ecosystem structure and functionand serve to validate site, regional - and GCM models.At present, CALM consists mainly of sites where themaximum active layer thickness is measured by physicalprobing on grids ranging in size from 10 meters to 1000meters or single point data obtained by probing or readingpermanently installed frost tubes. These sites include severalcoastal to inland transects in northern North America andan east to west array of sites across Eurasia. For many ofthese and other sites, data from soil temperature recordersand, in some cases, shallow borehole temperatures are included.The map shows the locations of the sites (several wereinactive in 1996 due to funding constraints and programchanges). Additional existing sites in the mid-latitude mountainsand Antarctica are being identified and will be addedto the network in 1997. The CALM network of sites canprovide ground truth for the GTOS-GCOS program andIGBP high-latitude transects. We are using the IPA NewsBulletin Frozen Ground and the IPA Web site to disseminatethese data to participants and interested readers. Datawill be archived in the IPA Global Geocryological Database(GGD).CALM network; site information and thaw data appear on page 16. Individuals responsible for datacollection are: [l] Greg Henry; [2] Larry Bliss, Warren Gold; [3] Mark Nixon, Al Taylor; [4] CharlesTarnocai, Sheila Kroetsch, David Kroetsch; [5] Hanne Christiansen; [6] Michael Gottfried, GeorgGrabherr, Karl Reiter; [7] Galena Mazhitova; [8] Nataly Moskalenko, V. Dubrovin, Evgeny Melnikov;[g] Marina Leibman; [lo] Martin Sommerkorn; [ll] Julia Boike; [12] Vladimir Ostroumov;[13] Anatoly Kotov; [14] Volodya Razzhivin; [15] Jonas aerman; [I61 Jerry Brown, Ken Hinkel,Larry Hinzman, Fritz Nelson, Pat Webber; [17] Tom Osterkamp, Vlad Romanovsky; [18] GeorgeKling, Gus Shaver, Jim Laundre; [19] Les Viereck.Frozen Ground

MapSiteCALM THAW MEASUREMENTS/ate summer (m)LocationCanadaC1 Alexandria Fiord [l] 79'54'N, 75'54'WC2 Truelove Lowland, Devon Island [2] 75'33'N, 84'40WC3 North Head [3] 69'43'N, 134'27'WC4 Taglu [31 69"22'N, 134'57WC5 Lousy Point [3] 69'13'N, 134'17WC6 Parsons Lake [4] 68'58'N, 133'33'WC7 Reindeer Depot [3] 68'41tN, 134'08'WC8 Rengleng River [3] 67"45'N, 134O05WC9 Mountain River [3] 65"401N, 128'50WC 10 Pump Station [4] 65'17'N; 126'53WCl 1 Norman Wells [3] 65'12'N, 126'28'WC12 Great Bear River [4] 64'55'N; 125'35'WC13 Ochre River [3] 63'28'N, 123'04'WC 14 Willowlake River [3] 62'42'N, 123'04'WC15 Fort Simpson [3] 61°53'N, 121°36WGreenlandG1 Zackenberg [5] 74'28'N, 20°30'WRussiaR1 Franz Josef Land [6] 81 '04'N, 56'1 8'ER2 Ayach-Yakha, Vorkuta [7] 67'35'N, 64'1 1'ER3 Maare Sale, Yamal Peninsula [8] 69"43'N, 66'45'ER4 Parisento, Gydan Peninsula [8] 70°07'N, 75'35'ER5 Vaskiny Dachy, Yamal Peninsula [9] 70°17'N, 68'54'ER6 Labaz Lake, Taimyr [ 101 72'23'N, 99'30'ER7 Levinson Lessing Lake, Taimyr [l 11 74"32'N, 98'36'ER8 Bolshoy Olyer Lake, Kolyma [12] 69"28'N, 156'18'ER9 Cape Rogozhny, Chukotka [13] 64'49'N, 176'50'ER10 Upper Kargoplgyno River, Chukotka [13] 64"05'N, 177'04'ER11 Mt. Dionisy, Chukotka [14] 64'34'N, 177'12'ESwedenISvalbardS1 Kapp Linne, Svalbard [15] 78'03'N, 13'37'ES2 Abisko area [15] 68'201N, 18'50'EUnited States (Alaska)U1 Barrow [16] 71°19'N, 156'36'WU2 Barrow, CRREL Plots [16] 71°19'N, 156'35151'U3 Atkasuk [16] 70°27'N, 157'24WU4 West Dock [17] 70°22'N, 148'33'WU5 West Dock [16] 70°22'N, 148'34'WU6 Deadhorse [17] 70°10'N, 148'28'WU7 Betty Pingo [16] 70°17'N, 148'52'WU8 Franklin Bluff [l7] 69'4 l'N, 148'43WU9 Happy Valley [I71 69"10'N, 148'50WU10 Happy Valley [16] 69'06'N, 148'30WU11 ImnavaitCreek[16] 68'30'N, 149'30WU12 Toolik [16] 68"37'N, 149'36WU13 Toolik LTER [18] 68"37'N, 149'36WU14 Galbraith Lake (171 68"29'N, 149O30WU15 Chandalar Shelf [17] 68'04'N, 149'35WUl6 Old Man [17] 66'27'N, 150°37'WU 17 Wickersham Dome [ 191 65"16'N, 148'03'WU 18 Bonanza Creek LTER [ 191 64'45'N, 148'00'WU19 Pearl Creek [19] 64'54'N, 147'48'WGrid sizeData compiled by Jerry Brown; dashed line indicates no data for char year; P - single I point probe; T - frost tube(s).(m) 1771 1772 1993 1774 I975 I976100010100010010001001000100100100010001000Transect10030100TransectTransectT---41 46 4549 50 -63 71 66

7th International Conferenceon Permafrost23-27 June 1998Copies of the First Circular may be obtained from the Conference Secretary, at this address:7th International Conference on Permafrost Tel: +1 (613) 992 7813 Fax: +1 (613) 992 2468J.A. Heginbottom, Geological Survey of CanadaE-mail: permafrost.conference@gsc.nrcan.gc.ca601 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/gsc/permaf~e.html (English)Canada K1A OE8http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/gsc/permaf-f.html (French)Call for PapersYou are hereby invited to submit original papers on themes of the conference:Mining in permafrostGlobal climate change and permafrostInfrastructure design for permafrost regionsSoils and ecology of permafrost regionsConstruction techniques in permafrostRemote sensing, GIs, and geophysics applied toHydrology, hydrogeology and waste managementpermafrostin permafrost regionsEngineering geology of arctic coastsSouthern hemisphere, Pleistocene, and planetary permafrostPapers on traditional topics in permafrost science and permafrost engineering also will be welcomed.The language of the conference is English and no translation will be available. Prospective authors must first submit anabstract of their proposed paper in English. Conference participants will be limited to one oral presentation as sole orsenior author and one poster presentation as sole or senior author. Participants may be the second or subsequent authorof as many papers or posters as they wish. Anyone may submit an abstract to and attend the conference, regardless ofnationality.THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS IS 1 MAY 1997Abstracts must include the title of the paper, the name(s) of the author(s) and contact address(es), whether the paper isintended for oral or poster presentation, and text of sufficient length to permit review and selection. Generally text of250 words (one page double-spaced) will be adequate. Hard-copy abstracts may include figures or tables. E-mailedabstracts should comprise text only. Abstracts which do not lead to a published paper will not appear in the Proceedingsvolume. The organizers will endeavor to respect the preferences of the authors as to the form of their presentation. Dueto the limited number of concurrent oral sessions, however, this may not always be possible.Please send your abstract to arrive before 1 May 1997 to:Dr. A. Lewkowicz, 7th International Conference on Permafrost,Department of Geography, University of Ottawa, P.O. Box 450, Station A, Ottawa, Canada KIN 6N5Alternatively, you may submit your abstract by the same deadline by e-mail to: alewkowi@uottawa.caDeadlines / Schedule1997 April - Release of Second Circular, to include 1997 December 1 - Papers to be returned to authorsdetails of registration, cost estimates, sub-with reviewers' comments, and instructionsmission of papers for review, field excursions,and deadlines for preparation of camera-readyspecial travel, accommodation or dietarycopy (28 February 1998), or for resubmissionarrangements, social program, medical insur- for second review (15 January 1998).ance, etc.1998 February 28 - Closing date for receipt of1997 May 1 - Closing Date for Receipt of camera-ready papersAbstracts1998 June 11-22 - Pre-conference field excursions1997 September 1 - Closing Date for Receipt of 1998 June 23-27 - THE CONFERENCEPapers1998 June 28-July 5 - Post-conference excursions