introduction to IGAC's APARE activity

BIBLE experiment

research at Cape D'Aguilar.
Hong Kong

PEACAMPOT campaigns

downloadable PDF version of IGACtivities, Issue No. 20.

IGACtivities homepage

IGAC homepage

of the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry Project G

A Note from the IGAC Chair: Guy Brasseur Integration and Synthesis: The "Aspen Meeting" Over the last year, a number of members of the atmospheric chemistry community have been busy preparing chapters of the IGAC integration and synthesis report. This document, which will be published as part of the IGBP Book Series, will address two general, but important questions. First, what has the scientific community learned over the last 10-15 years regarding the chemistry of the atmosphere and its relations with the biosphere? And second, what are the remaining important questions that must be addressed in the future? Three main topics will be reviewed in relation to the first question: (1) interactions between the atmosphere and the terrestrial and marine biosphere, (2) the photochemistry of the troposphere, and (3) atmospheric aerosols. Advances in instrumentation and models will also be reported. Answering the second question will provide an opportunity for the community to express what should be the major scientific priorities for the decade ahead. Preparation of this part of the document is being led by the Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution of IAMAS, one of the parent organizations of IGAC. Preliminary chapter texts are currently under "friendly" review by a few experts in the respective fields. Extensive discussion of revised texts will occur during a gathering of 100-120 scientists on 27 April through 2 May 2000 at the Aspen Institute in Aspen, Colorado (USA). During this meeting an executive summary will be drafted and the basis for the report chapter on future scientific priorities will be developed. Several program managers specializing in atmosphere chemistry and related disciplines are being invited to participate. This integration and synthesis is an important milestone for IGAC because it will summarize 10-15 years of very active research. But more importantly, it will endeavor to relate this research to the broader context of global change science, thus contributing to the synthesis effort being undertaken by IGBP, IGAC's other parent organization. Finally, it will help to establish the basis for new and challenging scientific directions for our community. The Aspen meeting is open to the entire community. If you wish to attend, please let us know by contacting Ms. Harriet Barker (Fax: (+1-303) 497-8770), who is coordinating its planning. In closing, I would like to thank the many scientists who have contributed to the integration and synthesis report thus far, and especially the lead authors of all the chapters. Hopefully, this very demanding exercise will be useful to the entire community as well as to decision makers in government and industry who rely very often on scientific expertise to make important societal choices and political decisions. More and more, issues related to air quality, global and regional pollution, and climate and global change will be on the political agenda.