AMOS Sydney Centre: Polar Regions - Impacts of Climate Change

December 11, 2008

Public Seminar for the International Polar Year

7-9pm, Thursday 11 December
SciTech Library
Level 1, Jane Foss Russell Building (G02)
University of Sydney
Flyer

Assoc. Prof. Sharon Robinson – University of Wollongong
The impact of climate change on the polar ecosystem

Antarctic plants already grow under some of the harshest conditions on the planet, but will climate change make it better or worse?  How are they coping with increased UV-B radiation as a result of the ozone hole, increased wind speeds and changing temperatures? Sharon’s work conducted in the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica over the past 12 years shows how Antarctic plant communities are responding to climate change.

Sharon has visited the Antarctic continent 5 times and sub Antarctic Macquarie Island once. She is a recognized leader in Antarctic climate change research, a subject editor for the top international journal, Global Change Biology and custodian of the only Antarctic State of the Environment Indicator for continental vegetation.

Assoc. Prof. Ian Goodwin – Macquarie University
Climate Change and its impact on the Antarctic Ice Sheet and Oceans

Ian has 25 years experience working in Antarctica as a glaciologist, glacial geologist and climatologist, including 9 field seasons and an overwintering expedition in Wilkes Land. Ian is an international leader in high-resolution climate change research, and on climate change impacts on Antarctica and the Pacific Ocean islands and coasts. Ian studies earth system archives using ice cores, corals and sediments; earth system processes using the sedimentary record and the instrumental record; regional climate change; and, the modelling, and prediction of hydrological and coastal change.

Don’t miss this opportunity to attend this free public seminar which will include a small photo exhibition and light refreshments to be hosted at the University of Sydney SciTech library.