Category: Parallel Session

July 24, 2025 admin

Atmospheric Sciences

The Atmospheric Sciences parallel session will address the most pressing challenges and exciting frontiers in our understanding of the Earth’s gaseous envelope. The initial focus is on phenomena with direct and significant societal impact, covering advances in the study of extreme weather events and the continuous improvement of weather forecasting. This segment invites contributions on the dynamics, predictability, and attribution of high-impact events such as tropical cyclones, floods, and heatwaves. We encourage presentations on cutting-edge numerical weather prediction (NWP) techniques, ensemble forecasting, data assimilation methods, and the development of robust early warning systems designed to enhance community resilience and inform effective disaster mitigation strategies.

Delving into the core principles that govern atmospheric behavior, the session will feature in-depth discussions on atmospheric physics and dynamics. This cornerstone of our field explores the fundamental thermodynamic processes, fluid motions, and radiative transfer that drive weather and climate systems across all scales. Expanding our view vertically, we will also explore the critical domains of the middle and upper atmosphere. We welcome research on topics such as stratospheric-tropospheric coupling, atmospheric waves, ozone chemistry, and the influence of solar and geomagnetic activity on atmospheric composition and circulation, highlighting the interconnectedness of our entire atmospheric column.

Finally, the session broadens its temporal and disciplinary scope to examine long-term patterns and ecosystem interactions. Presentations on climate variability will investigate the natural modes of the climate system, such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), and their profound influence on regional weather patterns and seasonal outlooks. In parallel, the session will explore biometeorology, a critical interdisciplinary frontier examining the complex interactions between atmospheric processes and living organisms. This includes studies on the effects of weather and climate on agriculture, forestry, human health, and the spread of vector-borne diseases, underscoring the vital role of atmospheric science in navigating our changing world.

To wrap up, the topics in Atmospheric Sciences are including but not limited to:

  • Extreme weather events​​
  • Weather forecast​
  • Atmospheric physics and dynamics​
  • Middle and upper atmosphere ​​
  • Climate variability​
  • Biometeorology
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July 24, 2025 admin

Ocean Sciences

The Ocean Sciences session will immerse participants in the study of the world’s largest, most vital ecosystem, which acts as the engine of our global climate. This session begins by exploring the fundamental mechanics of the marine environment through the lens of physical oceanography. We invite contributions examining the dynamics of ocean currents, waves, and tides, as well as the distribution of key physical properties like temperature and salinity. Building on this foundation, we will investigate the global ocean circulation and climate, focusing on large-scale processes such as the thermohaline circulation, basin-wide gyres, and critical ocean-atmosphere interactions that transport heat around the globe and govern long-term climate patterns and variability.

Bringing our focus from the vast open ocean to the critical interface between land and sea, the session will then navigate the complexities of coastal and marginal seas. This segment will address the unique physical and ecological processes in these highly productive and vulnerable regions, including sediment transport, estuarine dynamics, and coastal resilience in the face of sea-level rise. Complementing this, discussions on environmental oceanography will confront the pressing challenges of anthropogenic impacts on marine environments. We welcome research on the fate and effects of marine pollution—from microplastics to chemical contaminants—as well as studies on hypoxia, eutrophication, and the development of innovative strategies for the sustainable management and restoration of marine habitats.

Finally, this session delves into the intricate web of life that the ocean supports, examining it from molecules to entire ecosystems. Presentations on ocean biogeochemistry will trace the pathways of essential elements like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, exploring the critical role of the biological carbon pump and the growing threats of ocean acidification and deoxygenation. These chemical processes provide the stage for understanding the dynamics of the marine ecosystem. This segment invites contributions on food web structures, biodiversity, the health of coral reefs and other critical habitats, and the response of marine life to a changing ocean. Together, these topics will foster a holistic understanding of the ocean’s function and the urgent need to protect its integrity.

To wrap up, the topics in Ocean Sciences are but not limited to:

  • Physical oceanography​​
  • Global ocean circulation​ and climate​
  • Coastal and marginal seas​
  • Ocean biogeochemistry​​
  • Marine ecosystem​
  • Environmental oceanography​​
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July 24, 2025 admin

Solid Earth Sciences

This session ventures into the heart of our planet, exploring the powerful forces and intricate processes that have shaped the Earth’s surface and interior over millennia. We will begin by examining the planet’s fundamental engine through the integrated study of Geodynamics and Tectonic processes. This foundational theme invites research on the physical and chemical evolution of the Earth, from mantle convection and core dynamics to the crustal-scale manifestations of plate tectonics. We encourage contributions covering the full spectrum of tectonic activity, including structural geology, the mechanics of faulting and earthquakes, and the magmatic systems driving volcanology, to build a comprehensive picture of the dynamic Earth.

Flowing from these large-scale drivers, the session will zoom in on their tangible products: the rocks and minerals beneath our feet. This segment focuses on Petrologic processes and mineralization, investigating the formation and transformation of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. We welcome detailed studies on magma genesis, metamorphic pathways, and the geochemical conditions that lead to the concentration of valuable mineral resources. This exploration provides a critical link between deep Earth dynamics and the geological materials that underpin our economies and infrastructure, highlighting the importance of understanding ore-forming systems for sustainable resource exploration and management.

Finally, we turn our gaze to the geological archive to decipher the planet’s history and inform its future. This part of the session is dedicated to reconstructing the present and the past environments using the clues locked within the rock record. By analyzing sedimentary sequences, paleontological data, and geochemical proxies, we can unravel the story of past climates, ancient landscapes, and the evolution of life. This deep-time perspective is essential for contextualizing modern environmental changes and improving our ability to predict future trends. We invite contributions that use Earth’s history as a natural laboratory to better navigate the challenges of our changing world.

To wrap up, the topics in Solid Earth Sciences are but not limited to:

  • Geodynamics, covering the physical and chemical evolution of the Earth​​
  • Petrologic processes and mineralization​​
  • Present and the past environments​​
  • Tectonic processes that affect the crust and upper mantle, ranging from structural geology, volcanology, to plate tectonics​​
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July 24, 2025 admin

Interdisciplinary Earth Science and Technology

This session stands at the nexus of discovery and application, addressing the most complex challenges of our time through a holistic and integrated lens. We will confront the overarching issue of Climate Change by framing it not as an isolated problem, but as a system-level challenge deeply intertwined with our pursuit of Sustainable Development and the urgent need for Integrated Disaster Mitigation. The scientific bedrock of this session is the study of Air-Sea-Land Interaction, recognizing that the Earth’s climate, water cycles, and ecosystems are dynamically coupled. We invite contributions that break down traditional disciplinary silos to offer comprehensive insights into these interconnected systems and their response to anthropogenic pressures.

Powering this interdisciplinary synthesis is a revolution in methodology and instrumentation. This segment of the session is dedicated to the cutting-edge tools that allow us to monitor and model our planet with unprecedented detail. Presentations will highlight advances in Earth Observation Technology, from next-generation satellite missions to ground-based sensor networks that provide a constant stream of high-resolution data. We will then explore the critical field of Big Data for Earth Science, focusing on how artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-performance computing are being harnessed to process these massive datasets, identify complex patterns, and dramatically improve the predictive power of our environmental models.

Finally, the session will showcase specific, solution-oriented applications of this integrated approach. We will delve into Hydrometeorological Sciences, a field that exemplifies the fusion of atmospheric and hydrological knowledge to better manage water resources and forecast hazards like floods and droughts. In parallel, we will explore pathways to a sustainable future through discussions on Green, New, and Renewable Energy. This includes research on resource assessment for solar, wind, and geothermal power, and the role of earth science in optimizing energy systems and minimizing their environmental footprint. This session is designed to be a dynamic forum where science and technology converge to create actionable solutions for navigating our changing world.

The topics in this topic are but not limited to:

  • Climate change
  • Big data
  • Green, new, and renewable energy
  • Air-sea-land interaction
  • Hydrometeorological sciences
  • Integrated disaster mitigation
  • Sustainable development
  • Earth observation technology
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July 24, 2025 admin

Special Session: Blue Economy

This special session is dedicated to the Blue Economy, a transformative approach that seeks to reconcile ocean-based economic development with the long-term health and sustainability of marine ecosystems. The session will lay the groundwork by exploring the critical governance frameworks of marine conservation areas and marine spatial planning. These discussions will focus on strategic, science-based approaches to allocating ocean space for multiple uses while safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem services. Supporting this framework, we will delve into the technological and operational aspects of monitoring and surveillance of coastal areas and small islands, highlighting innovative methods to ensure compliance, protect sovereign rights, and maintain the integrity of our marine domains.

At the core of the Blue Economy lies the sustainable production of food and resources. This session will feature in-depth presentations on responsible and sustainable fisheries practices, addressing key challenges such as overfishing, bycatch, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing through improved stock assessments and community-based management. Complementing this, we will examine the growing field of sustainable aquaculture of marine, brackishwater, and inland waters. This segment will showcase advances in low-impact farming technologies, feed innovation, and biosecurity measures that aim to increase food production while minimizing environmental footprints and enhancing local livelihoods.

Finally, the session will address the balance between economic growth and environmental preservation in other key sectors, with a special focus on marine tourism and the handling of marine pollution, including marine debris. This theme explores strategies to foster a thriving tourism industry that actively contributes to conservation and tackles one of its greatest threats. Underpinning all these pillars is the crucial human element. Therefore, the session will conclude by emphasizing the importance of marine and fisheries extension, education, and training. We invite contributions on building human capital, empowering coastal communities, and fostering a new generation of ocean stewards equipped with the knowledge and skills to drive a truly sustainable Blue Economy.

The topics in Blue Economy are but not limited to:

  • Marine conservation areas and marine spatial planning
  • Responsible and sustainable fisheries practices
  • Sustainable aquaculture of marine, brackishwater, and inland waters
  • Monitoring and surveillance of coastal areas and small islands
  • Marine tourism and handling of marine pollution, including marine debris
    Marine and fisheries extension, education, and training
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July 24, 2025 admin

Special Session: Disaster Risk Financing

This special session confronts a critical challenge at the intersection of planetary science and global economics: the escalating financial cost of natural disasters. As the frequency and intensity of hydrometeorological and geophysical events increase, traditional post-disaster humanitarian aid and recovery loans are proving insufficient, slow, and unsustainable. This session introduces a paradigm shift from reactive response to proactive resilience, focusing on innovative Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance (DRFI) mechanisms. We will explore how sovereign nations, industries, and communities can build financial buffers and leverage capital markets to protect their economies and development gains before a catastrophe strikes, ensuring that capital is available precisely when and where it is needed most.

The engine of innovation in modern DRFI is the powerful synergy between financial engineering, earth observation, and data science. This session will showcase cutting-edge instruments that translate scientific risk assessments directly into financial protection. We will delve into the architecture of parametric insurance, where payouts are triggered by physical event parameters—such as hurricane wind speeds exceeding a certain threshold, specific earthquake magnitudes, or satellite-verified flood inundation levels—rather than slow, traditional loss adjustment. Discussions will also cover catastrophe bonds, risk pooling facilities, and the role of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data analytics in refining risk models, monitoring hazards in real-time, and enabling the transparent and rapid deployment of funds, thereby bridging the gap between a scientific measurement and an immediate financial intervention.

Looking to the future, this session will chart the course for the next generation of financial resilience. We will explore the development of integrated national risk platforms that provide governments with a dynamic dashboard of their physical and financial exposure to various hazards. We will also discuss the potential of blended finance models to mobilize private investment for pre-disaster mitigation and resilience-building infrastructure. The conversation will extend to scaling these solutions, from sovereign-level protection down to community and individual micro-insurance products that protect the most vulnerable. This forward-looking session invites experts in science, technology, finance, and policy to collaborate on building a global financial ecosystem that not only responds to disasters but actively incentivizes a safer, more resilient world.

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