Date
September 29 - October 1, 2022
Location
Fort Collins, Colorado
Participants
60+ in-person
20+ remote
Duration
2-day workshop
Workshop Overview
This foundational workshop established the framework for the SCAR-INSTANT "Probing the Solid Earth and its Interactions" (PSE) theme. The workshop brought together approximately 80 participants (60+ in-person, 20+ remote) from the US and international polar geophysics community to identify grand challenges for the next decade of polar geophysical research and establish priorities for observational network development.
Program Schedule
📋 Workshop Structure
- 6 Science Sessions - Comprehensive thematic discussions
- 21 Full-time Oral Presentations - In-depth research presentations
- 16 Lightning Talks - Quick highlights and updates
- 21 Poster Presentations - Interactive discussions
- 2 Breakout Sessions - Working group discussions
Session Topics
Session 1: Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA)
Understanding Earth's response to ice mass changes, mantle rheology, and implications for ice sheet stability predictions
Session 2: Solid Earth-Ice Sheet Interactions
Bedrock properties, heat flow variations, basal melting, and flexural response
Session 3: Tectonic Evolution & Structure
Deep structure, tectonic history, crustal thickness, lithospheric dynamics
Session 4: Cryoseismology
Seismic signals from ice dynamics, icequakes, calving events, basal processes
Session 5: Observational Network Design
Optimal network configurations, station placement, multi-sensor deployments
Session 6: International Collaboration
SCAR-INSTANT coordination, data sharing, resource pooling
Presentations & Materials
Access presentation slides, workshop reports, and related materials:
Participants
Participant Statistics
Key Participants
Workshop coordinators and key contributors:
Stony Brook University
Colorado State University
TU Dresden
Ohio State University
University of Alabama
Washington University in St. Louis
University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
Participating Institutions
- Colorado State University
- Stony Brook University
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Columbia University
- Penn State University
- UC Berkeley
- University of Washington
- UC San Diego
- Stanford University
- Ohio State University
- University of Alabama
- University of Colorado Boulder
- TU Dresden (Germany)
- University of Tasmania (Australia)
- British Antarctic Survey (UK)
- GNS Science (New Zealand)
- And many more...
Workshop Outcomes
This workshop produced several key deliverables:
- Workshop Report: Comprehensive documentation of discussions, scientific priorities, and recommendations
- Community Priorities: Ranked list of scientific questions developed through consensus-building
- Network Recommendations: Specific guidance for POLENET and network configurations
- SCAR-INSTANT PSE Framework: Established working group structure and coordination mechanisms
- IPY 2032-33 Planning: Initial discussions on long-term strategy and preparation
Key Scientific Priorities Identified
- Rigorous testing and modeling of realistic mantle rheology against unified, multi-sensor datasets
- Reduction of uncertainties in boundary conditions (geothermal heat flux, sub-ice properties)
- Development of coupled ice-sheet/gravity-rotation-deformation models
- Expansion of joint deployments (Seismology, MT, GNSS) for robust constraints
- Closing critical observational gaps in key regions
Questions about this workshop?
Contact the workshop coordinators for more information
Contact Coordinators