Sessions

S1. Critical zone, water resources and environmental pressures
S2. Open lab
S3. Learning from the past: traces and shapes related to water

 

S1. Critical zone, water resources and environmental pressures
(merged previous S1 and S2)

The critical zone represents the heterogeneous surface of the terrestrial earth in which complex interactions involving rock, soil, water, air, and living organisms regulate the environment. The study of the water exchange and partitioning in the critical zone is crucial for increasing our knowledge of water cycle dynamics and vulnerability of water resources. Understanding water storage and transfer within the critical zone is vital to address key environmental and social problems linked to ecosystem services in natural environments. Moreover, proper management of water resources is a key factor for the sustainability, resilience and development of human societies. Some of the main approaches in the study of water resources include, but are not limited to, the study of spatio-temporal hydrologic fluxes, tracing techniques, water mixing and storage dynamics. The ongoing modifications in climate and land cover, and the increasing human pressures are altering the structure of the critical zone and are affecting the quality and the partitioning of water in the hydrological cycle.
This session brings together multidisciplinary studies dealing with factors affecting water dynamics, balance and quality.

S2. Open lab
(previous S7)

As an empirical research field, the environmental disciplines deeply rely on the knowledge and application of practical investigation procedures. Such base techniques address the crucial task of collecting, handling, and processing the data and datasets necessary to describe all the natural systems. Practical investigation in the environmental sciences cover a broad range of techniques, such as field geological, geomorphological, and hydrogeological surveys, monitoring instrumentation, software, coding languages, analytical techniques. The Open-Lab session hosts contributions on investigation techniques for the environmental sciences, through direct example and practical training.

S3. Learning from the past: traces and shapes related to water
(merged previous S3 and S4)

Study the past is important to know how environment and organisms evolved over time. This is also important to understand current environments and natural processing and predict future scenarios. This session deals with studies on past traces from aquatic environments utilized to get information on i) geological and geomorphological mechanisms associated with water shaping capacity and aquatic geohazards and ii) paleoenvironmental conditions and evolutionary story of living organisms.
The first theme is important because water has a great landscape shaping capacity, often also potentially destructive. Floods, landslides, and avalanches represent some of the most important and frequent geohazards. Although significant progress has been made, the study of these hydrogeological events (e.g., monitoring, prediction and mapping) continues to be a major challenge for scientists and practitioners. In marine environments, the most frequent hazards are related to coastal erosion, submarine landslides, tsunamis, and earthquakes. Mapping and monitoring the seabed is crucial to understand these processes and dynamics, avoid disastrous impacts on coastal communities and contribute to shoreline management.
The second theme open the session to paleontological studies. Life on earth began in the water and fossils preserved in geological records are one of the best traces to learn about the evolutionary story, how organisms used to live and what the paleoecological conditions were.

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S1. Water resources and environmental pressures

Proper management of water resources is a key factor for the sustainability, resilience and development of human societies. The knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of water resources constitute a broad range of disciplines and techniques. Some of the main approaches include, but are not limited to, study of spatio-temporal hydrologic fluxes, tracing techniques, water mixing and storage dynamics. Moreover, human activities and naturally occurring conditions create pressures on water bodies and water resources.  Pollution from industrial, municipal and agricultural sources, and global climate changes are the main factors affecting water quality and quantity. This session is aimed at bringing together multidisciplinary studies dealing with factors affecting water dynamics, balance and quality.

 S2. Critical zone and water 

The critical zone represents the heterogeneous surface of the terrestrial earth in which complex interactions involving rock, soil, water, air, and living organisms regulate the environment. The study of the water exchange and partitioning in the critical zone is crucial for increasing our knowledge of water cycle dynamics and vulnerability of water resources. Understanding water storage and transfer within the critical zone is vital to address key environmental and social problems linked to ecosystem services in natural environments. Such an understanding is crucial to develop sustainable management that can ensure a reliable and consistent supply of clean surface water and groundwater. The ongoing modifications in climate and land cover are altering the structure of the critical zone and affect the partitioning of water in the hydrological cycle. This session will welcome contributions about the study of the key role of the critical zone in water fluxes and dynamics. 

 S3. Water as a georisk  

This session highlights the role of geological and geomorphological aspects for understanding hazards associated with water and aquatic environments. Floods, landslides, and avalanches represent some of the most important and frequent geohazards. Although significant progress has been made, the study of these hydrogeological events (e.g., monitoring, prediction and mapping) continues to be a major challenge for scientists and practitioners. In marine environments, the most frequent hazards are related to coastal erosion, submarine landslides, tsunamis, and earthquakes. Mapping and monitoring the seabed is crucial to understand these processes and dynamics, avoid disastrous impacts on coastal communities and contribute to shoreline management.

S4. Water: a sea of life  

Life on earth began in the water. Today we know how life evolved over millions of years thanks to fossils preserved in geological records. Fossils, found all over the world, can be read by scientists like pages from the book of the past. They tell not only an evolutionary story but also how organisms used to live and what the paleoecological conditions were.  
This session is open to all the contributions dealing with paleontological studies including the latest techniques and technologies on virtual 3D modelling. 

S5. Quaternary climate and sea level change   

Sea level rise triggered by human made climate change is a major issue for the global society. The direct effects of rising sea levels can be seen already today and will continue to threaten coastal communities in near future even further. Knowledge of the past climate changes is key to model short/medium term future scenarios. The coastal areas are those most affected by these environmental modifications and, here small changes eustatic, isostatic and/or anthropogenic potentially trigger significant environmental modifications. This session welcomes contributions presenting studies of drivers and magnitude of Quaternary sea-level variation at global and regional scales.  Works on past sea-level reconstructions with different proxies (e.g., sedimentary, geomorphic, archaeological etc.) and future sea-level predictions are welcomed. Finally, this session welcomes presentations on all aspects of observation, paleoclimate and innovative modelling aimed to reduce the uncertainty in the projections of future global sea level rise. 

S6. Marine resources and hydrothermalism 

Both past and active hydrothermal systems and mineral resources are emerging as research topics in the last years. Numerous studies have been published on connection between tectonic settings and magmatic-hydrothermal systems, hydrothermal contributions to total ocean budgets (e.g. heat, carbon, iron), biogeochemical cycling of elements, and others.  
Moreover, increasing demand for minerals and metals, particularly for the electronics related sectors, has led to a growing interest in mineral resources exploration on the sea and ocean bed, both from shallow locations to the deepest plains, often associated to active or past hydrothermal systems. This session will welcome contributions addressing the developing field of marine resources and connected hydrothermal systems.

S7. Open-Lab 

As an empirical research field, the environmental disciplines deeply rely on the knowledge and application of practical investigation procedures. Such base techniques address the crucial task of collecting, handling, and processing the data and datasets necessary to describe all the natural systems. Practical investigation in the environmental sciences cover a broad range of techniques, such as field geological, geomorphological, and hydrogeological surveys, monitoring instrumentation, software, coding languages, analytical techniques. The Open-Lab session is thought to host contributions on investigation techniques for the environmental sciences, through direct example and practical training. The presenter will have the opportunity to share their practical knowledge and the insights on various investigation strategies, which arises from the direct experience of application.