IWG7
Active Geosphere: A New Interdisciplinary Approach to Earth Science

Main Organiser
Yoden Shigeo
Dept. of Geophysics, Kyoto Univ.
Dept. of Geophysics, Kyoto Univ., Kyoto, 606-8502, JAPAN
yoden@kugi.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Co-Organiser(s)
Robert VINCENT
Dept. of Physics and Mathematical Physics, Univ. of Adelaide
rvincent@physics.adelaide.edu.au

XU Houze
Inst. of Geodesy and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
hsuh@asch.whigg.ac.cn

Brief Description
The concept of an "Active Geosphere" is new in interdisciplinary earth sciences as it emphasizes a fully integrated approach to our understanding of the many processes taking place throughout the region defined from the lithosphere to the upper atmosphere. Long-term observational records show that a variety of highly energetic variations occur in this region, many of which maximize in Asia and Oceania. For example, strong earthquakes and volcanic eruptions take place along the plate boundaries of the Pacific zone, while organized powerful cumulus convections drive the Asia-Monsoon and El Nino-Southern Oscillations through strong interactions with ocean circulations on seasonal to inter-annual time scales. Since such phenomena take place within the active geosphere and evolve and interact on a variety of space and time scales, a new interdisciplinary approach based on optimal inter-related areas of earth science to recent advances in observational and computational technol! ogies is required. This approach is central to our interpretation of the active geosphere and, in a wider sense, to the sustainable coexistence of human beings on earth. The challenge, therefore, is one of improving our understanding of the complex processes within the active geosphere and of obtaining new perspectives on the morphology of its component parts. With this theme as an introductory background, we will open the present session with several invited keynote speakers and contributors.