Five AGU Session Announcements

Dear Colleagues,

We hope the following forwarded announcements of AGU sessions will be of interest to you.

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G11: Plate Motion and Plate Boundaries

We seek geodetic and geologic studies on plate motion, microplate motion, and how they relate to elements in the deforming zones between the plates-faults, slip, great earthquakes, and mountains and rifts generated by active deformation. In addition to well-studied regions and plates, we specifically solicit abstracts that address plate motions and plate boundary deformation in the more remote areas of the world, where data are limited. Among the questions we seek answer are: How accurately can we measure plate motions today using geodesy? What is the impact of uncertainties in geocenter motion, or in models of GIA and other non-tectonic processes on the estimation of plate motions? What are the proper uncertainties in plate motion estimates, especially where data are sparse? What fraction of plate motion is being taken up on major faults, and what fraction is being taken up by distributed permanent strain that is becoming part of the geologic record? Are deforming belts better described by microplates or by a homogeneous medium? Do estimates of plate motion from magnetic anomalies, transform azimuths, and earthquake slip vectors differ significantly from those from GPS, VLBI, SLR, and DORIS?

Conveners:

Donald Argus
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA, USA 91109
818-354-3380
Donald.F.Argus@jpl.nasa.gov

Jeff Freymueller
University of Alaska, Fairbanks
USA
jeff.freymueller@gi.alaska.edu

Rui Manuel Fernandes
UBI, CGUL, IDL
Portugal
rmanuel@di.ubi.pt

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NG10: Complex Networks in Geosciences

The emerging theory of complex networks aims at characterizing the genesis, statistical or topological structure and evolution of processes that can be described by networks (graphs). Ideas, concepts and methods from the theory of complex network have shown to provide a novel and complementary approach to problems in such diverse disciplines as ecology, cell biology, epidemiology, social interactions and many others. There is increasing evidence that network theory can be beneficial for long-standing geosciences problems including but not limited to pattern formation, environmental dynamics, and prediction of extreme events in seismology, volcanology, hydrology, atmospheric and space sciences.

The goal of this session is to showcase the huge potential of complex network theory in geosciences and to solicit a wide range of papers concerned with network concepts and ideas across disciplines. Specifically, the session aims to bring together scientists from different fields to discuss and exchange knowledge about the current state of network approaches in their specific fields.

Conveners:

Joern Davidsen, University of Calgary, CANADA
Juergen Kurths, Potsdam-Institut fur Klimafolgenforschung e.V., GERMANY
Maya Paczuski, University of Calgary, CANADA
Ilya Zaliapin, University of Nevada, Reno, USA

http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm09/program/scientific_session_search.php?s...

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G14: Geodetic Studies of Strike-Slip Fault Systems: Results in Light of EarthScope

We seek your contributions to the forthcoming AGU Fall Meeting Geodesy session G14: "Geodetic Studies of Strike-Slip Fault Systems: Results in Light of EarthScope". The session is aimed at studies that use GPS, InSAR and other geodetic techniques to study and model the deformation caused by strike-slip faults at all stages of the earthquake cycle. We are interested in strike-slip faults worldwide; contributions that utilise data generated by the EarthScope project are particularly encouraged.

The full session description is included below. We look forward to reading your abstracts!

Ingrid Johanson
Berkeley Seismological Laboratory
ingrid@seismo.berkeley.edu

Gareth Funning
University of California, Riverside
gareth@ucr.edu

Jessica Murray-Moraleda
U.S. Geological Survey
jrmurray@usgs.gov

Full description:

The San Andreas fault (SAF) system is a complex network of faults exhibiting a variety of behaviors. With EarthScope's Plate Boundary Observatory and the imagery available through GeoEarthScope, we are in a better position than ever to study the SAF system and especially the contributions of its lower slip-rate members. Although EarthScope is based in the United States, its science goals have a global scope and will benefit from a global perspective. Accordingly, we seek to bring together results from geodetic studies of strike-slip fault systems worldwide.

The session will cover interseismic fault processes and deep fault structure and rheology in strike-slip fault systems, with an emphasis on how dense instrument networks or observation datasets (like EarthScope's) contribute to our understanding. This includes system-scale problems, such as fault interaction, and local-scale studies of slip processes on individual faults. EarthScope has also increased the availability of continuous GPS and strainmeter data, allowing for better characterization of the 4-D nature of fault systems. Studies of time-variable deformation and those making use of time series information from GPS, InSAR and/or strainmeters are encouraged.

Other topics of interest include: the role of aseismic slip in earthquake hazard, applications of strainmeter and creepmeter data to strike-slip deformation, methodologies for distinguishing long-wavelength tectonic signals from orbital errors in InSAR data, and coseismic and postseismic deformation within the context of long-term fault properties or the total earthquake cycle.

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NH22: Extreme Natural Hazards: Risk Assessment and Forecasting

Nature and society persistently generate extreme events --- abrupt overall changes, also known as disasters, catastrophes, critical phenomena shifts, etc. Examples include, but are not limited to, earthquakes, floods, heat waves, impact by near-Earth objects, landslides, meteorological storms, space weather storms, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. Such events are commonly recognized as one of the major threats to survival and sustainability of our civilization. As populations increase, human vulnerability to these extreme events is rapidly growing. This session welcomes abstracts submissions that focus on problems of quantifying natural hazards' impact on society and the environment, associated risk assessment and management, and forecasting of extreme events.

Conveners:
Ilya Zaliapin, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
Alik Ismail-Zadeh, Karlsruhe University, GERMANY
Bruce Malamud, King's College London, UK

http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm09/program/scientific_session_search.php?s...

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G24: Scientific Requirements for a Precise Global Geodetic Infrastructure

Sponsor:Geodesy
Convener:Jean-Bernard Minster
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD
9500 Gilman Drive, MS 0225
La Jolla, CA, USA 92093-0225
(858) 945-0693
jbminster@ucsd.edu

David A Feary
National Research Council
Board on Earth Sciences and Resources
500 Fifth St. NW
Washington, DC, USA 20055
(202) 334-3622
dfeary@nas.edu

Description: Over the past half-century, space-geodetic technologies have changed completely the way we look at the planet, not only in terms of exquisite details and accuracy, but also in terms of how the entire planet changes with time, even on "human" time scales. The remarkable achievements of Earth observing missions over the past two decades, and the success of future international missions described in the Decadal Survey depend both implicitly and explicitly on the continued availability and enhancement of a reliable and resilient global infrastructure for precise geodesy, and on ongoing advances in geodetic science that are linked to it. This allows us to deal with global scientific, technological and social issues such as climate change and natural hazards, but the impact of the global precise geodetic infrastructure also permeates our everyday lives. This session seeks papers that touch on the fundamental geodetic science associated with this infrastructure- from reference frame to time-dependent geoid, from tectonics to general relativity, and from navigation to global change. We will also welcome reviews that highlight how most Earth observing missions could not achieve their scientific goals without such global infrastructure (especially altimetric missions). Of great interest would be illustrations of how precise geodesy has successfully achieved the transition from arcane fundamental science and engineering to everyday applications, which most of us take for granted. Finally, forward-looking presentations describing ongoing scientific research, as well as future capabilities will be especially welcome.