ACE (Antarctic Climate Evolution)
ACE is a new, international research initiative that has grown out of the ANTOSTRAT (ANTarctic Offshore STRATigraphy) project. ANTOSTRAT was sanctioned by SCAR (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research) in 1996, to reconstruct the Cenozoic paleoclimatic and glacial history of the Antarctic region from the study of the sedimentary record surrounding the continent. The ANTOSTRAT program officially comes to an end in July, 2002. The goal of ACE is to continue the study of Antarctic climate and glacial history, through paleoclimate and ice sheet modeling studies, purposefully integrated with geological investigations of the proxy record of ancient Antarctic climates and ice sheets. While ACE is not yet an official SCAR program, a proposal will be presented to SCAR XXVII in July 2002, with the hope of establishing ACE as a sanctioned, international research initiative, operating under the SCAR umbrella. Additional background related to the proposed ACE program can be found at http://www.geo.umass.edu/ace

Workshop Objectives
The ANTOSTRAT and ACE steering committees have identified the need for members of the international climate and ice sheet modeling community, with an interest in Antarctic climate and glacial history, to be identified and united with geologists working on the reconstruction of ancient Antarctic climates and ice sheets. In order to promote interaction between these groups, we are planning an ACE Paleoclimate and Ice Sheet Modeling Workshop to be held in Northampton Massachusetts, May 30-June 2, 2002. The emphasis of the workshop will be placed on evaluating the "state of the art" in modeling the climates and ice sheets of the Antarctic paleoenvironment and developing strategies for incorporating geologic data into paleoclimate, ocean, and ice sheet modeling studies. We will consider a wide range of timescales. However, emphasis will be placed on Paleogene glacial inception and long-term (>104 year) climate change and ice sheet behavior. By the end of this workshop, we hope that modeler's needs, from a geologic data perspective, will be better defined. In turn, Antarctic geologists will be asked to consider the types and quality of data they can provide as model boundary conditions, for validation, and for model development.

A proposed list of workshop topics (see below) covers two general categories: 1) climate and ice sheet models: assessment and applications, and 2) the geologic record: boundary conditions and model validation. Participants are expected to contribute to one of these categories, by submitting an abstract (see below) and giving a 15-minute oral presentation. There will be a roughly equal number of modelers and geologists at the workshop. We are expecting a lively discussion, focused on developing strategies to better incorporate geologic data into numerical modeling exercises and vice versa.

Proposed Themes for Discussion

I. Models and model applications

· Evaluation of Antarctic climate simulations in global (GCMs) and regional climate models (RCMs)
· Modeling the effect of Southern Ocean gateways on Antarctic climate evolution
· Recent advances in ice sheet models (including ice shelves)
· Basal processes: sediment/till/hydrology
· Geologic boundary conditions for paleo-Antarctic modeling (uncertainties and sensitivities)

II. Linkages between models and the geologic record (validation techniques)

· Direct evidence of Antarctic ice sheet history
· Proxy climate/ice sheet records
· Sediment modeling and comparisons with geologic data
· Paleovegetation modeling and comparisons with fossil records
· Atmosphere, ocean, and ice sheet isotope tracer models

A workshop summary document based on the proceedings of the meeting will be published. The summary report will include participant abstracts. It is our hope that the summary document will provide the foundation for ACE related research for years to come.

Workshop attendance will be limited to 30 people. Thanks to generous support from NSF and SCAR, a modest registration fee of $200.00 will cover most expenses. This includes breakfast and lunch during the two days of the workshop, an allowance for lodging in the historic Hotel Northampton (three nights), and partial travel support. Full travel support may be available for some participants on a need basis. Standard accommodation will be a shared room (two double beds). Single rooms are available. Participants can request a single room, but they will have to pay the balance of their lodging allowance and the cost of a single room, plus any related taxes and charges. Specifics related to maximum travel and lodging allowances will be provided shortly.

General Meeting Structure
The meeting will include keynote talks, topical technical sessions (15 minute oral presentations), discussion, and working breakout sessions followed by brief breakout session summaries. We encourage attendees to bring posters. Volunteered posters will be displayed throughout the workshop. Some participants will be asked to chair sessions, lead breakout sessions, and to work on summary documents.

What we need from you
Please inform us of your intent to participate in this workshop at your earliest possible convenience. If you cannot attend, let us know as soon as possible, so that your place can be given to an alternative participant. The workshop overlaps with the last weekend of Spring AGU. For those already traveling to AGU, Hartford, Connecticut, a short flight from Washington, D. C., provides easy access to Northampton, Massachusetts.

Registration deadline is April 1
A registration form will be provided in the next circular and on the meeting website (http://www.geo.umass.edu/ace) in a few weeks.

Abstract deadline is April 15
In order help us plan an effective workshop agenda, we are requesting that all participants submit an extended abstract of not more than two single spaced pages, including figures and references. The abstracts will be published as part of the workshop report, which we hope will help guide future investigations of Antarctic paleoclimates and ice sheets. Submitted abstracts will be posted on the ACE website several weeks prior to the workshop. We encourage all attending participants to read the abstracts prior to the meeting, in order to facilitate communication and discussion during the meeting.

Abstract Format
Details of abstract format will be provided in the next circular and will also appear on the meeting website (http://www.geo.umass.edu/ace) in a few weeks.

Meeting Logistics
General Meeting Schedule:
May 30 Arrival (check-in and meeting registration, opening reception 6 pm)
May 31 Workshop and evening poster session
June 1 Workshop and evening summary session
June 2 Checkout and departure

A more detailed schedule will be provided shortly.

Lodging
The meeting will be held at the historic Hotel Northampton (see http://www.hotelnorthampton.com/). Your lodging reservation will be handled by the meeting organizers once you have confirmed your intent to attend.

Northampton, Massachusetts (http://www.noho.com) is the home of Smith College, many fine restaurants, coffee houses, bookstores, art galleries, etc. Northampton is 7 miles from Amherst and the University of Massachusetts (your host institution).

Travel
You are responsible for handling your own air-travel. Bradley International Airport in Hartford Connecticut provides the best access to North Hampton. Bradley is strongly recommended over Logan International Airport in Boston. Once we know your travel itinerary, we will provide shuttle service from Bradley International Airport and Logan. Northampton is ~45 minutes from Bradley and ~2 hours from Logan. Participants are strongly encouraged to stay for the entire meeting (arrival on May 30th and departure on June 2).

Important Deadlines
April 1 Pre-registration (confirmation of intent to attend)
April 1 Lodging request (single or double room)
April 15 Abstract submittal
May 7 Receipt of travel itinerary

Workshop Conveners/Contacts
Robert DeConto
Department of Geosciences
University of Massachusetts
Amherst MA, 01003 USA
deconto@geo.umass.edu
Tel: (413) 545-3426
Fax: (413) 545-1200

Dave Pollard
Environment Institute
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16902
pollard@essc.psu.edu
Tel: (814) 865-2022
Fax: (814) 865-3191

Workshop Organizing Committee
Robert DeConto
Dave Pollard
Peter Barrett
Alan Cooper

Sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).