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International Conference GLOBAL SOIL CHANGE: TIME-SCALES AND RATES OF PEDOGENIC PROCESSES (GSC-MEXICO-2005) With pre-and post-conference field trips Montecillo, Mexico, March 29-April 06, 2005 First AnnouncementThe understanding of the pedosphere needs deep theoretical and factual knowledge of laws governed by soils distribution in space and soil behaviour in time. But whereas in the field of soil-space problem we have the good theory and well developed soil maps and many data bases, - we have nothing similar in the field of soil behaviour in time. Still now our knowledge in this field is restricted by the range of scattered data, dissipated among very diverse subjects, untreated systematically in accordance with climate, parent material, biota and human-induced influences. Soil science as a whole, both in its basic core and in applied branches, needs urgently in well-developed theory and well-organized data bases describing soil systems behaviour in time. This problem is tightly linked with the more general issue of all biospheric systems changes in time and becomes one of the most urgent issue in any spatial and temporal scale. Soil changes in time, particularly the irreversible ones, can bring very drastic changes into the biosphere and human society in any scales. The pedosphere and biosphere accelerating changes in any space and time scales urgently demand from the earth and life sciences to increase their ability to understand and predict the possible results of these changes. That is why it seems very germane to call for the conference devoted to the complex problem of soil systems behaviour in time, including trends, time scales, rates and characteristic times of natural and human-induced pedogenic processes. Conference organisers:International Union of Soil Science, Division 1. Soil in Space and Time, Commission 1.3 Soil Genesis; WG Paleopedology Sociedad Mexicana de la Ciencia del Suelo Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo; Instituto de Geologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM); Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD), France. Scientific ProgramThemes for the Conference may be expanded or modified depending on correspondence but they are currently expected to include: 1. Main concepts and indicators of soil systems behaviour in time 2. Time-scales, rates, characteristic times of natural pedogenic processes on different hierarchical levels of soil systems organization; 3. Trends, rates and characteristic times of modern and ancient human-induced pedogenic processes; 4. Chronosequences of soils and paleosols as tools for evaluation of time-scales and rates of pedogenic processes; irreversible and reversible soil changes 5. Time-scales of interactions between soil and other geo(eco)system constituents changes; 6. Laboratory experiments on soil processes and integrative modelling of natural and anthropogenic pedogenesis; The Conference organisers are planning a three-days program of oral and poster sessions and two (pre and post) conference tours. Conference tours:1. Pre-conference three or four-days field trip to Nevado de Toluca Volcano, Mexico state, Tuxpan and the area of Paricutin Volcano in the Michoacan state, to study soil diversity and chronosequences of soils and landscapes on volcanic sediments of different age. 2. Post- conference two-days field trip from Sierra Nevada to Texcoco ex-lake, to study the soil topo-chrono-clima-sequence on volcanic and lacustrine sediments, bearing effects of human impact of different age and duration (prehispanic, colonial, contemporary). Includes the visit to Teotihuacan archaeological zone. Tentative schedule of the ConferenceMarch 29(30) - April 1 Pre-Conference field trip April 2 - 4 Conference oral and poster sessions April 5 - 6 Post-Conference field trip Both oral and poster presentations are welcomed. The preliminary assessed registration fee of the Conference will be 200 euro, student fee - 100 euro. The total cost of pre-conference tour will be 280 euro, post-conference tour - 150 euro. Conference languages will be English and Spanish. Further information about more detail agenda, abstract preparation and submission, venue, accommodation, excursions as well as instructions for payment will be published in the 2nd announcement, which will be sent out on February 2004. All colleagues interested to participate in the Conference are asked to fill the registration form and send it back by fax or e-mail. ORGANISING COMMITTEEChairmenChairmen: Prof., Dr. Benjamin Figueroa Sandoval, Director Central, Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Texcoco, Mexico, e-mail: Benjamin@colpos.colpos.mx Co-Chairman: Prof. Victor Targulian, Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: targul@centro.ru Secretary: Dr. Elizabeth Solleiro Rebolledo, Instituto de Geologia, UNAM, Mexico, e-mail: solleiro@geologia.unam.mx Co-secretary: Angel Faz Cano, University Politecnica, Cartagena, Spain, e-mail: angel.fazcano@upct.es
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