Rough Outline of RiOMar 2004 Rationale and Format - DOC

							   RiOMar 2004 Workshop Agenda with Science Questions and Issues
  Overarching Question:
  What are the linkages between major river systems and global climate
  change?
         How do major river systems respond to global change?
         How do these responses, in turn, affect global climate?


Session 1 (Tuesday, 16 November; Noon – 4 PM) All Assembled

  (a) Introduction [McKee]
       RiOMar Rationale
       Workshop Goal
           To establish the foundation for a written Science Plan and subsequent submissions of
              primary RiOMar proposals and coordinate-proposals with other programs/initiatives
       Expected Workshop Products
           Published workshop document, which summarizes the recommendations that result
              from the six workshop sessions (written during the workshop; edited shortly
              afterwards)
           Outline of a RiOMar Science Plan

  Session 1 Question: What future global changes are anticipated / predicted
  (natural and human-influenced) that will impact major river systems?
        ---magnitude and direction of changes

  (b) Overview talks
         Vivek Arora (Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis)
          The Effects of Climate Change and Variability on the Atmospheric and
         the Land Surface Hydrological Cycles

         Michel Meybeck (SISYPHE, Universite de Paris 6)
         Multiple Filters in Land to Ocean Fluxes: from Holocene to Anthropocene

  (c) Open Discussion

Session 2 (Tuesday, 16 November ; 4-6 PM) Parallel Breakout Groups (3)

  Session 2 Question: What are the important processes affected by global change,
  and the corresponding system responses, that should be examined?

  Guiding framework:
   Utilize a ―Whole System‖ framework made up of sub-environments from steep uplands to
    benthic margin environments.


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   Consider particles, associated particulate constituents; water and associated dissolved and
    colloidal constituents (see ―bio-relevant materials‖ in RiOMar 2001 document section 1.4)
   Begin with ―Key Processes‖ sections of Ch. 2, 3 and 4 in RiOMar 2001 (See summary below)
    and modify / refine as needed.
   Prioritize list
   Consider changes in processes and fluxes—will ―signal‖ flux to the ocean be amplified,
    modulated or damped within each sub-environment?
   Downstream effects—how do changes in one sub-environment affect the adjacent sub-
    environment downstream?
   What is the response time for various processes and sub-environments?


Session 3 (Wednesday, 17 November; 8:30-10:15 AM) Parallel Breakout Groups (3)

  Session 3 Question: What are the most promising / innovative measurement and
  modeling techniques and methods that can be utilized to examine the important
  processes and evaluate responses to global change?

  Guiding framework:
   These should specifically address the temporal and spatial scales of the important processes
    and responses identified.
   Particular emphasis should be given to techniques that bridge between sub-environments
   Should also consider ways in which ―net effects‖ anticipated for coastal ocean and global
    feedbacks can be assessed
      Predictive models and development of new models to integrate whole river-system
         processes.
      Bedded sediments as a record of global change ―net effects‖


Session 4 (Wednesday, 17 November; 10:30 – Noon) All Assembled
  Breakout group reports Session 2 and 3 (compare lists and priorities) followed by open
  discussion by whole group and consensus conclusions.


  Afternoon open for informal discussions, writing session reports and meeting of
  Session 5 panelists

  Session 5 Panelists meet to draft research frameworks and a suggested list of most important
  river-system types to examine---used to stimulate thoughts and discussion in Session 5.
   Begin with suggestions from RiOMar 2001 (see summary below) and modify / refine as
     needed.
             o General Approach (Extensive vs. Intensive)
             o Specific Systems



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Session 5 (Wednesday, 17 November; 4:30 - 6:00 PM) All Assembled

  Question: What is the best approach to examining the linkages between major
  river systems and global climate change?

  Presentation of panel's suggestions regarding research strategy--- followed by comments from
  participants in the whole assembly and subsequent discussions.
              o Suggested typology framework(s) for characterizing and examining major rivers
                  systems.
              o Specific suggestions (prioritized) for major river systems to be examined

  Guiding framework:
   Base discussion on framework(s) proposed by the Session 5 Panel



Session 6 (Thursday, 18 November; 8:30 – 11:30 AM) All Assembled

  Question: What are the next steps towards formulating a Science Plan and
  having funded research projects to address RiOMar 2004 issues?

   Summarize Session 5 consensus (Research Approach)
   Discussion of ongoing and/or anticipated programs that focus on specific major rivers
    systems (potential for synergy with RiOMar)
   Directed open discussion regarding next steps toward Science Plan
   Wrap Up (where from here?)




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                       RiOMar 2004 Workshop Schedule

Monday (15 Nov)
      Participants arrive in New Orleans; Check into Hampton Inn St. Charles
      Ice Breaker ( 7 PM) at The Columns

Tuesday (16 Nov)
    Bus departs Hotel at 8:30; Arrives at Solomon Center ~ 10 AM
    Lunch at Solomon Center at 11 AM
Session 1 (Noon – 4 PM)
Session 2 (4-6 PM)
    Dinner: BBQ on site ~ 6:30

Wednesday (17 Nov)
    Breakfast at 7:30 on site
Session 3 (8:30-10:15 AM)
Session 4 (10:30 – Noon)
    Lunch @ Noon
    Early afternoon: participants are free for informal discussions, session summaries and
       meeting of Session 5 panelists
Session 5 (4:30 - 6:00 PM)
    Bus Leaves @ 6:15 for Dinner at Dakota Restaurant (continued discussion over dinner)

Thursday (18 Nov)
    Breakfast at 7:30
Session 6 (8:30 – 11:30)
    Lunch @ 11:30 AM
    Bus Leaves @ 12:30 PM ; Arrive in New Orleans ~ 2:30 PM
    Participants check into hotel (Hampton) or shuttle to airport.




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Appendices
Excepts from RiOMar 2001 Document (see www.tulane.edu/~riomar/workshop.htm)……



Key Processes Identified (important to the fate of bio-relevant
materials) in RiOMar 2001
(see sections 2.2, 3.2 and 4.2 in RiOMar 2001 document for more detail)

    Weathering/erosion
    River Channel processes (transport and transformation)
    Storage (alluvial, colluvial and floodplains)
    Plume processes
        o Aggregation/coagulation/settling
        o Transport
        o Primary production
        o Grazing
        o Microbial and photochemical transformations
    Benthic processes
        o Deposition
        o Resuspension
        o Diagenesis and flux across sediment/water interface
        o Burial
    Export across margin
    Anthropogenic effects


1.6 Approaches for Future RiOMar Research
A two-pronged approach is suggested to address global carbon cycle issues within a RiOMar
initiative. These are: (1) an intensive approach focusing on North America and (2) an extensive
approach that targets representative RiOMar environments globally. The relative timing of
research related to each approach depends on co-ordination with research in other Carbon Cycle
Science Plan (CCSP) initiatives and interactions with other international efforts (e.g., MARGINS
program, International JGOFS program) so as to optimize financial resources and scientific
yield.

(I) Intensive Approach
As recommended in the CCSP, an initial phase should focus on a continental/regional scale—
North America. The Northern Hemisphere (and the United States, specifically) has been
implicated as a significant site for terrestrial CO 2 uptake and storage (Schimel et al., 2000 and


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references within). The Mississippi River and its RiOMar environment is one logical candidate
for an intensive study examining the connections between the terrestrial and oceanic carbon
sinks of North America. The Mississippi River is one of the world’s 10 largest rivers (7 th in
water and sediment discharge and 2 nd in drainage basin size). Its drainage basin covers
approximately 40% of the conterminous U.S. and parts of Canada. Over 65% of the total
suspended matter and dissolved solids transported from the conterminous U.S. to the ocean is
carried by the Mississippi. In addition, smaller rivers in North America, and their associated
RiOMar environments should be considered for study. Research on a spectrum of river sizes
will be needed so that insights from specific research sites can be scaled appropriately when
extrapolating to a global scale.

(II) Extensive Approach
This approach would examine key carbon cycle processes in a few selected global RiOMar
environments (other top 25 largest rivers and a spectrum of smaller river systems). Other rivers
would be chosen based on several factors (latitude, lithology, drainage and receiving basin types,
size). As with the North American rivers, a selection / prioritization of rivers should result from
discussion during early planning stages that involve appropriate members of the community.
A partial (but certainly not all-inclusive) list of possible candidates is:
    Papua New Guinea—several large rivers (ex., Fly) originating within a common drainage
    basin but discharging into very different types of RiOMar environments (this would benefit
    synergistically if coordinated with proposed work in this region under the NSF-MG&G
    MARGINS program )
    MacKenzie and Yukon—high latitude; the dominant sources of particulate material to high
    latitude ocean environments.
    Yangtze and Ganges-Brahamaputra—Himalayan source, but contrasting RiOMar
    environmental conditions such as climate (temperate vs. subtropical) and margin type (broad
    shelf vs. intersecting canyon). The Yangtze River RiOMar environment is an International
    JGOFS site and a prominent focus for future studies.
   Amazon, Orinoco or Zaire as tropical RiOMar environments

A combination of these two approaches promises to yield new and significant insights for an
important area of global carbon cycle research.




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