Recipient Organization
AMRICAN GEOPHYSIAL UNION
2000 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON,DC 20009
Performing Department
Meetings Department
Non Technical Summary
Water resources within the United States are under stress because of changing environmental conditions such as a warming climate, changes in the atmosphere, and changes in the nitrogen cycle. As a result of these changes our landscapes, which are the source of water, are changing as well. This AGU Chapman Conference will gather respected scientists as well as younger less established ones to explore the implications of land cover change to the water cycle. Outcomes of the meeting will be a synthesis report on the topic which we anticipate will result in new and useful insights into land management and water resources.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The purpose of this Chapman conference is to examine the ecohydrological feedbacks of landscape change along elevation gradients in semiarid regions. The ecohydrological changes taking place in these landscapes, across elevation and precipitation gradients will be examined. The conveners propose the seemingly simple guiding question to the conference participants, "Are there ecohydrological trends across precipitation gradients" and will then focus efforts on specifically contrasting the ecohydrology of spatially contiguous precipitation gradients (e.g., elevation gradients) with conceptually organized precipitation gradients (e.g., semiarid vs. more humid systems). The goal of the conference is to help scientists from different disciplinary backgrounds and land managers better understand and address the substantial changes occurring in semiarid landscapes. The conveners expect 100 people will attend the conference with about 20-25% being students and young scientists. This audience will be of particular interest to land managers and scientists grappling with rapid landscape change in semiarid regions of the western United States. The conference topics will be of interest to the international community as well, given the importance of semiarid regions worldwide.
Project Methods
The UDSA support of this AGU Chapman Conference will be used primarily for travel support of a few invited speakers and the meeting conveners. In addition, small amounts will go towards meeting logistics as needed (field trip, meeting meals (food only), tour buses). The American Geophysical Union (AGU) will administer the funds. The AGU is the primary organizer and sponsor of this conference. AGU will accept full financial responsibility for the conference to include dispensing funds to qualified applicants that apply for travel support and collect appropriate documentation after the conference such as receipts and meeting reports. Those requiring travel support will submit a travel grant application. Applicants are also required to submit meeting presentations. The meeting conveners will evaluate the scientific merit of the meeting presentation. AGU staff will determine the amount of travel awards based on the number of qualified applicants recommended by the conveners and the travel related costs.