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Greetings

"Sum, ergo cogito (I am, therefore I think)!"This 'human-in-ecosystem' perspective is a way to think about the relationship between nature and society and about the interfaces between the two. Linking ecological and social systems is a cross-scale problem. In Asia, reaching a serviceable understanding of the sustainability, dynamics, vulnerability and resilience of these complex socio-ecological systems will require a stronger push to advance focused cross-disciplinary scientific research with a clear vision.

AsiaFlux is a science community with a mission to bring Asia's key ecosystems under observation to ensure quality and sustainability of life in Asia. It is the Asian arm of FLUXNET, the worldwide flux research network and one of the potential components of Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). Our vision is to serve as the 'science frontier' in carbon, water, and energy cycles in Asia by developing and transferring scientific knowledge characterized by consilience, contextualization, and cultural diversity. By 2011, we aim to (1) provide a report on the Asian carbon (and water) budget with its global perspectives and (2) develop an infrastructure for Asian carbon (and water) tracking system (ACTS).

Our vision is processual, and it is an invitation to re-think global change science. In a beautiful city of Hokkaido in northern Japan, the local organizing committee has prepared an exciting program for the 8th AsiaFlux Workshop on "Integrating Cross-scale Ecosystem Knowledge: Bridges and Barriers." Science is currently going through a painful evolutionary process and a new concept of knowledge is emerging, based on the plurality of perspectives and awareness of complexity, uncertainty and values. So, here we invite you to our new community space in which science meets and interacts with others and where interests, values and decisions are discussed, fought over and perhaps settled. Welcome to the AsiaFlux agora!

Joon Kim, Guirui Yu, and Akira Miyata
Chair & Vice-Chairs of AsiaFlux

As the chair of the Local Organizing Committee, I am excited to host the 8th AsiaFlux Workshop at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan during 27-29 October 2009. With increasing interests in the global change issues, we scientists are compelled to expand our views to the global biogeochemical context through collaboration with other network of research under the framework of Earth observing system, and offer the right scientific knowledge to society to answer socio-economic questions. In this workshop, we will explore the advantages of collaborations between flux research community and various other research communities specializing particularly in long-term ecological research, remote-sensing, and social science to 1) deepen our knowledge about ecosystems, 2) extend our knowledge to broader regions, and 3) extend the knowledge to the society. For this purpose, we organized several special sessions that feature collaborations with other networks, such as FLUXNET, iLEAPS, ILTER, and Remote sensing fields; and the flagship studies will be presented by invited speakers from these networks.

We also organized a session to share the recent progresses in the flux synthesis studies in Asia under CarboEastAsia program. CarboEastAsia is one of the A3 Foresight Programs that has been implemented to support international collaborations among global change scientists particularly from China, Korea and Japan. CarboEastAsia partnership, through synthesizing measurement, theory, and modeling in quantifying and understanding of carbon fluxes and storages in East Asia to cope with climate change protocols, is a true test bed for accomplishing AsiaFlux’s vision to serve as the "Science Frontier" by developing and transferring scientific knowledge in carbon, water, and energy cycles in Asia.

The workshop is co-hosted by CarboEastAsia, and Hokkaido University Global COE Program "Establishment of Center for Integrated Field Environmental Science". This workshop will provide a great opportunity for scientists, students, policy-makers and the public to better understand the latest scientific achievements in the field of global change issues. We are looking forward to having you in Sapporo, sharing the latest knowledge, and discussing to cope with climate change protocols.

Takashi Hirano
Chair, AsiaFlux Workshop 2009 Local Organizing Committee

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Date and Venue

Date: October 27 - 29, 2009

Venue: Conference Hall, Hokkaido University (Web site),
(Address: N10 W8, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan) (Access and Map) (Campus Map)

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Important Dates

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Program

Sessions

1. Synthesizing flux studies in Asia (CarboEastAsia)

In this session, CarboEastAsia member scientists share their recent progresses in synthesis studies of carbon and water fluxes in Asia.

2. Global biogeochemical cycles

This session focuses on research on biogeochemical cycles conducted in collaboration with biogeochemical study programs such as iLEAPS. The session is open to scientists who are studying biogeochemical cycles linking carbon and water flux.

3. Bridges between ecosystem observation and remote sensing

This session discusses cutting-edge research techniques and potentials linking flux research, long-term ecological research, and remote sensing research using “Land use change” and "Phenology" as key words. This session is open to scientists who are interested in this research field, and studies related to carbon and water flux are welcome.

4. Barriers in flux measurements

This session will discuss the problems and their solutions for Open-path flux measurement. While Li-Cor, LI-7500 open-path gas analyzer is used world wide to measure CO2 flux, and has been the standard tool, some reports show difficulties in measuring the real flux with this instrument. This session aims to discuss the possible causes for the troubles and the solutions to them.

5. Interfaces between carbon science and society

This session also aims to share the recent achievements on regional carbon flux monitoring studies, with particular emphasis on developing systems to transfer the scientific knowledge to the society, or to develop socio-economic resolutions to prevent and mitigate the risk of human-induced climate change associated with carbon, water and energy cycles in Asia.

6. Regular session

We are going to have a regular session too. Many other studies on flux, remote sensing, and ecological studies related to carbon and water cycles are welcome.

Time Schedule

Ice-Breaker

There will be an Ice-Breaker Party from 17:00-19:00 at Centinial, Hokkaido University. The party is open and free to all AsaiFlux Workshop 2009 participants.

Oral and Poster Presentation Program

Program file (pdf, 120KB) is available for downloading HERE!

Instructions for presenters

Oral presentation

The allotted time for each oral presentation is 13 min. for presentation and 2 min. for discussion unless you are otherwisenotified by the Workshop Organizing Committee. Windows PC (installed with Microsoft PowerPoint 2007, Adobe Reader, and OpenOffice) and a projector is available for the presentations. Please copy your data to the PC at the registration desk before your session starts.

Poster Session

Poster presentations shall be given during the following two session periods:-

Poster Session I: 16:10 - 17:40, October 27
Poster Session II: 15:00 - 16:30, October 28

at the entrance hall (1F) of the venue.

The posters presented in Session I must be replaced with those for Session II. Please check your session. Posters can be put up from 8:30 and should be taken off by no later than 17:40 for each day. The size of the poster board is 90 (width) cm x 180 (height) cm. The recommended poster size is 90 (width) x 120 (height) cm.

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Registration and Abstract Submission

Workshop Registration

To participate in the Workshop 2009, please register at the online registration form on this site.

Those who require documents from workshop organizer to support their Japanese VISA application must complete registration by August 28. Indicate in the remark field of the registration form what kind of documents are required.

Early registration dealline is August 28, 2009, and late registration deadline is September 30, 2009.

• Online registration is HERE (this link will lead you to an outside site.)

Abstract Submission

1. Submit registration form

Complete the online registration form on this site. Make sure to specify the desired type of presentation (oral or poster), select the session you want to present it in, and provide its title and author(s). After sumitting the registration form, you will receive a confirmation e-mail.

2. Submit abstract

Simply reply to the registration confirmation e-mail with your abstract file attached to the reply e-mail. Do not modify the e-mail title.
Prepare your abstract in accordance with the sample abstract file. Your abstract file should be named "[Your registration number]_[Your last name].xxx". For example, If you name is John Doe, and your registration number is 0158, your abstract file in MS-Word format should be named "0158_Doe.doc".

• Abstract submission guideline and sample abstract file is HERE.
  
  

Deadline for abstract submission is August 28, 2009.

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Invited Speakers

• Dr. George G. Burba (LI-COR　Biosciences)
• Prof. John Grace (The University of Edinburgh, UK)
• Prof. Hironori Hamanaka (Keio University)
• Dr. John Hom (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
• Dr. Ray Leuning (CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Australia)
• Dr. William Massman (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
• Dr. Kenlo Nasahara (University of Tsukuba)
• Dr. Markus Reichstein (Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Germany)
• Dr. Lisa Wingate (The University of Edinburgh, UK)

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Fees

	AsiaFlux Member	Non-Member
Early Registration Fee (Until August 28)	6,000 8,000 yen	8,000 10,000 yen
Late Registration Fee	8,000 10,000 yen	9,000 11,000 yen
Banquet	6,000 yen
Field Excursion: Option A	4,000 yen*
Field Excursion: Option B	17,000 yen*

• To become an AsiaFlux member, visit the "Joining AsiaFlux" page under "About Us" menu of the AsiaFlux web site. Membership registration is open and free to anyone.
• Early and late registration fees do not include accomodation or meals.
• Fee payment is accepted only by cash at the venue during the Workshop period.
• * The field excursion fees are subject to changes.

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Accommodation

Hotels around Hokkaido University

Hotels around Hokkaido University (Japanese web page only)

Hotel reservation site

Hotel Location Map

Download Hotel location map (pdf, 175KB)

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Local Information

Climate and clothes

Main Workshop is held in Sapporo. Sapporo is located in Hokkaido Island, the northernmost large island of Japan. October is the time when the air cools down rapidly, especially getting chilly in nighttime. Monthly mean daily maximum and minimum temperatures of Sapporo are 16.9 and 9.6 deg. C, respectively (Fig.1). Climate in Sarobetsu Mire and Teshio Experimental Forest, the destinations of excursion course B, is cooler than those in Sapporo, with monthly mean daily maximum 14.3 and minimum 4.5 deg. C. Participants who attend excursions are recommended to bring rainwear and outdoor shoes for field walking.

Fig. 1 Monthly mean air temperature in Sapporo and Teshio in 2008.

Influenza A (H1N1)

There is no change in our plan against influenza A at this moment. To prevent the flu infection, participants are recommended to wear a mask in flights and at airports. Washing hands and gargling are also effective. Please check the latest information for influenza A provided by Japanese government:
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/topics/influenza_a/index.html

Access Between New Chitose Airport and Sapporo City

The "Rapid Airport" (Kaisoku-Airport) trains run every 15 minutes, arriving at Sapporo station in　36 minutes. Train fare is 1,040yen.
Timetable: http://www.new-chitose-airport.jp/en/access/jr/timejr/

Buying Ticket

You can buy the tickets from vending machines near ticket gates. Insert money first. Most machines　accept 10 to 500yen coins and 1,000yen bills, and some machines also accept 5,000 and 10,000yen　bills. Press the button showing the intended fare amount (in your case, 1040 yen). The ticket will　come out with the change (in some cases, you might have to press the "change" button to get the　change).

Boarding Trains

Insert your ticket in the ticket gate machine, with the dark side (= magnetic coated side) down. Don't forget to retrieve your ticket that pops out on the other end of the gate machine -- you'll need it　when getting off and on on-board ticket inspection. Getting out from the station is the same　procedure, except that this time the ticket does not come out.

Overhead electric signs show the track number, destination, and departure time of the trains. The signs alternate between Japanese and English. "Rapid Airport" has pre-recorded English announcements announcing the next station, destination, etc. Get off at your destination (in our case, Sapporo Station).

Walking to the Hokkaido University Campus

Exit from the West Ticket Gate, Turn right and proceed to the North Exit of the West Concourse. See the map below for the walking routes between Sapporo Station and the venues - Centennial Hall (Ice-Breaker party, Oct 26), Conference Hall (workshop, Oct 27-28), and Sapporo Aspen Hotel (banquet, Oct 27).

You can obtain a detailed map of the Hokkaido University Campus at the following web site of the University. http://www.hokudai.ac.jp/en/pickup/accesstocampus.html

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Supporting Organizations

Sponsors

• Japan Society for promotion of Science
• National Natural Science Foundation of China
• National Research Foundation of Korea
• Global COE Program (Establishment of Center for Integrated Field Environmental Science), MEXT, Japan
• Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
• National Institute for Environmental Studies (Japan)
• LI-COR Biosciences
• Meiwafosis Co., Ltd.
• Campbell Scientific, Inc.
• Sapporo International Communication Plaza Foundation

Cooperating Organizations

• Society of Agricultural Meteorology of Japan
• iLEAPS Japan
• Japan Long-Term Ecological Research Network

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Organizers

AsiaFlux Steering Committee

• Samakkee Boonyawat, Kasetsart University, Thailand
• Takashi Hirano, Hokkaido University, Japan
• Yue-Joe Hsia, (National Donghwa University, Taiwan
• Joon Kim (Chair), Yonsei University, Korea
• Hiroshi Koizumi, Waseda University, Japan
• Byonglyol Lee, Meteorological Research Institute, Korea
• Dongho Lee, Yonsei University, Korea
• Shenggong Li, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
• Akira Miyata (Vice-chair), National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, Japan
• Yoshikazu Ohtani, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Japan
• Nobuko Saigusa, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan
• Makoto Tani, Kyoto University, Japan
• Sandeep Tripathi, Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education, India
• Susumu Yamamoto, Okayama University, Japan
• Guirui Yu, (Vice-chair), Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
• Guangsheng Zhou, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Local Organizing Committee

• Chair: Takashi Hirano, Hokkaido University
• Akira Miyata, National Institute for Agro-environment Science
• Kentaro Takagi, Hokkaido University
• Tsutomu Watanabe, Hokkaido University
• Tatsuro, Nakaji, Hokkaido University
• Nobuko Saigusa National Institute for Environmental Studies
• Koji Tamai, Forest and Forest Products Research Institute
• Akiko Ogawa, National Institute for Environmental Studies

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