The Zen of Annual Meeting Attendance and Conferencing

I have attended and been involved in dozens of annual meetings and conferences across the United States over the past decade. My experiences at these events, I am certain, are likely to be very similar to those of most readers. At these conferences the basic format involves a large number of people coming together to presumably learn something new, to interact with colleagues, to network and meet new colleagues within the context of bringing what is learned back ones institution

Trading in One Set of Keys for Another: Suggestions for Success Self-Management of Senior Academic Job Changes and Transitions

This essay discusses the transition process for academic vice presidents from the perspective of an academic vice president. Given that many institutions do not adequately plan for the exit and entry of academic vice presidents, and the lack of literature on this topic, as well as the importance of this position at many institutions, this essay is offered as a beginning for further study. The movement of academic administrators from one institution to another is done with perhaps more regularity today than in past years and decades. It has been argued that while many academic vice presidents spend most of their careers at the same type of institution, it has is also been the case that many have moved among several institutions (Allen 1984, 9). This job change activity is apparently similar for academic leaders at many levels whether they are department chairs, coordinators or directors of programs, deans and with particular respect to vice presidents/provosts. It may be that job changing is the result of the challenges inherent in such positions given that some have argued that the position of academic vice president is “the toughest job in any college or university” (Allen 1984). Conversely, one can also make a case that senior academic leadership positions are the most rewarding and interesting as well as important administrative positions at colleges and universities. It is clear that successful transitions into and from such positions are critical to colleges and universities and that the senior academic leader is an important position in every academic institution (Miller and Pope 2002). Academic leaders often, and rightly should, feel a sense of obligation to both institutions involved in a job transition. Similarly, once one “crosses over to the dark side” (Dowdall and Dowdall 2005) to fully embrace an administrative career track the value system of those who are successful requires full dedication to the leadership role requiring one to take on both the responsibilities and trappings commensurate with such positions rather than hold onto a more faculty-centric approach and mind-set. This paper was written in part while the author was in an academic vice presidency at a previous institution and finished once the transition to a new vice presidency, at a new institution, was completed (e.g., after one year in the new position). While the perspective of this paper is decidedly from the perspective of an academic vice president at private institutions, one can argue that the issues of transition are similar for many academic administrative positions both in higher and secondary education. That is, leadership positions that work directly and broadly with faculty and staff across large multifaceted institutions have similarities in responsibilities, expectations and complexity. One can also reason that the basic job of academic leadership has consistent rhythms and routines that are known to the academic vice president in transition. Broscio and Scherer (2003) have suggested that transition advice that addresses confidence, mindset and emotions is more valuable than nuts-and-bolts topics. Certainly these suggestions have implications for academic administrative positions of many types and levels. The premise of the current article is to provide a set of illustrations of what may be important when one moves from a senior academic administrative position at one institution to a senior academic position at another institution. There is very little published research or conceptual articles on job change of academic administrators and much fewer on senior level positions. “It has been more common to ask current position holders whether they are considering a position change or whether they would again accept an administrative appointment” but more typically the questions are about a presidency (Cejda, McKenney and Fuller, 2001). There is even less literature on the position of vice president for academic affairs or provost and job change at that level. This lack of focus in the literature implies that there is a place for discussions on topics of interest concerning these positions such as is offered in the current paper. Moreover, and given the broadening role of vice president for academic affairs or provost at most institutions as the internal operating officer and the large range of responsibilities and personnel that they typically oversee for their institutions (Martin, Samels, & Associates 1997), it is important to support smooth transitions based on more consideration than the simple process of handing in one set of keys for another. Institutions are sometimes inattentive to the proper orientation of a new academic vice president to their culture and organization and perhaps also less than focused on the necessary transition work with a departing provost. Given this reality, it is incumbent upon these leaders to focus on their transition and to bring the necessary transition skills to their new institution and to close their time at the departing institution in a way that places it in the best position possible

Preliminary results from antarctic albedo from remote sensing observations

The aim of the study is to analyse the surface albedo of the Ant-arctica and investigate eventual signals of variations in space and time between summer 2000/2001 and 2011/2012 by means of the GLASS albedo product. We followed a step-by-step procedure from micro- to macro-scale. At first, we analysed 95 glaciers around the continent, and we found limited temporal variability. Then, looking at spatial varia-tions, we divided Antarctica based on oceanic basins and by continen-tality. We found spatial signals, since mean albedo values range between 0.79 (Pacific and Atlantic basins) and 0.82 (Indian basin) and between 0.76 (along the shore) and 0.81 (inner continent). An increasing vari-ability was found from the inner continent to the shore, and heteroge-neous patterns among the basins, most likely due to meteorological and environmental conditions (mainly: temperature, precipitation, katabatic winds). Finally, the general patterns observed (considering the specific gla-ciers, the three basins and the three continentality sectors) were verified by the analysis of the whole continent and we did not find a significant change of summer averages over time, as they range between 0.79 and 0.80

Distribution of the surface energy budget: Preliminary analysis on the incoming solar radiation. the case study of the Forni Glacier (Italy)

This study represents a contribution to distribution of the surface energy budget of the Forni Glacier (Ortles-Cevedale Group, Upper Valtellina, Italy). The analyses are based on data acquired at S. Caterina Valfurva (a village in the glacier valley at 1768 m ellipsoidal elevation WGS84) by an Automatic Weather Station (AWS) installed and managed by the Lombardy Agency for the Environment ("ARPA Lombardia"). We focus on the two most important meteorological parameters affecting surface energy budget: air temperature (T) and incoming shortwave radiation (SWin). Data collected from the ARPA AWS are used to evaluate these parameters at the glacier surface during the meteorological summer 2009 (from 1st June to 31st August 2009) and then the computations are validated through comparison with data recorded by an AWS installed at the surface of Forni Glacier tongue ("AWS1 Forni", 2669 m ellipsoidal elevation WGS84). The analysis of the distributed air temperature data enabled identification of the lowest value (-11.9 degrees C), found at the Mount S. Matteo peak (3669 m) on 22nd June at 8: 00 pm, and the highest value (+16.1 degrees C), recorded at the glacier terminus (2497 m) on 23 rd July at 2: 00 pm. The seasonal temperature amplitude (Tmax-Tmin) was 28 degrees C. The hottest week was 20th-26th July 2009 and the coldest was 1st-7th June 2009. Regarding daily SWin distribution, the maximum value (406.9 Wm(-2)) was recorded on 13th June and the minimum (28.5 Wm(-2)) on 6th June. From the analysis of hourly SWin values we could distinguish between days with clear sky conditions and days with intense cloud cover. Weekly mean SWin data showed the greatest value (327.1 Wm(-2)) from 20th-26th July 2009 and the lowest (207.8 Wm(-2)) from 22nd-28th June 2009. Furthermore, in analysing SWin it is critical to take into account the problem of shading. Using the Hillshade tool of ArcGIS, which takes into account only the slope and the aspect of each grid cell neglecting the surrounding topography effect, we compiled 66 shadow maps. Finally this study represents a first approach in modelling the distributed incoming solar radiation. In fact the considered driving factors are the elevation, the slope and the aspect of each grid cell. The next step will consist in taking into account the surrounding topography and the actual atmosphere conditions as well

Modelling hydrological components of the Rio Maipo of Chile, and their prospective evolution under climate change

We used the Poly-Hydro model to assess the main hydrological components of the snow-ice melt driven Maipo River in Chile, and glaciers' retreat under climate change therein until 2100. We used field data of ice ablation, ice thickness, weather and hydrological data, and precipitation from TRMM. Snow cover and temperature were taken from MODIS. We forced the model using weather projections until 2100 from three GCMs from the IPCC AR5, under three different radiative concentration pathways (RCPs 2.6, 4.5, 8.5). We investigated trends of precipitation, temperature, and hydrology until 2100 in the projection period (PR, 2014-2100) and the whole period (CM 1980-2100, composite), against historical trends in control period (CP, 1980-2013). We found potentially increasing temperature until 2100, except for Spring (OND). In the PR period, yearly flow decreases significantly under RCP85, on average -0.25 m 3 \ub7s -1 \ub7year -1 , and down to -0.48 m 3 \ub7s -1 \ub7year -1 , i.e., -0.4% year -1 against CP yearly average (120 m 3 s -1 ). In the long run (CM) significant flow decrease would, occur under almost all scenarios, confirming persistence of a historical decrease, down to -0.39 m 3 \ub7s -1 \ub7year -1 during CM. Large flow decreases are expected under all scenarios in Summer (JFM) during PR, down to -1.6 m 3 \ub7s -1 \ub7year -1 , or -1% year -1 against CP for RCP8.5, due to increase of evapotranspiration in response to higher temperatures. Fall (AMJ) flows would be mostly unchanged, whileWinter (JAS) flows would be projected to increase significantly, up to 0.7 m 3 \ub7s -1 \ub7year -1 during 2014-2100, i.e., +0.9% year -1 vs. CP under RCP8.5, due to large melting therein. Spring (OND) flows would decrease largely under RCP8.5, down to -0.67 m 3 s -1 \ub7year -1 , or -0.4% year -1 vs. CP, again due to evapotranspiration. Glacier down wasting is projected to speed up, and increasingly so with RCPs. Until 2100 ice loss would range from -13% to -49% (-9%, and -39% at 2050) of the estimated volume at 2012, which changed by -24% to -56% (-21%, and -39% at 2050) vs. ice volume in 1982, thus with rapider depletion in the first half of the century. Policy makers will have to cope with modified hydrological cycle in the Maipo River, and greatly decreasing ice cover in the area

High-resolution mapping of glacier surface features. The UAV survey of the Forni Glacier (Stelvio National Park, Italy)

Fast, reliable and accurate methods for glacier mapping are necessary for understanding glacier dynamics and evolution and assessing their response to climate change. Conventional semi-automatic approaches are based on medium-resolution satellite images, but their use can cause significant loss of accuracy when analyzing small glaciers, which are predominant in the Alps. In this paper, we present a semi-automatic segmentation approach based on very high-resolution visible RGB images acquired from a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) survey of the Fomi Glacier, in the Italian Alps, using an off-the-shelf digital camera. The method has the ability to map large-scale morphological features, i.e. bare ice and medial moraines, with better accuracy than methods relying on medium-resolution satellite imagery, with only slight misclassification at the margins. By using segmentation, we also mapped small-scale morphologies not discernible on satellite images, including epiglacial lakes and snow patches, in a semi-automatic way. On a small portion of the eastern ablation tongue, featuring homogeneous illumination conditions, we also investigated in finer detail the occurrence of fine and sparse debris and tested a texture filter technique for mapping crevasses, which showed promising results. Our analyses confirm that the glacier is undergoing intense dynamic processes, including darkening of the ablation tongue and increased surface instability, and show the potential of UAVs to revolutionize glaciological studies. We suggest that by using a combination of different payloads, mapping of glacier features via UAVs could reach high levels of accuracy and speed, making them useful tools for glacier inventories and geomorphological maps

Hydrology and potential climate changes in the Rio Maipo (Chile)

Glaciers of the central Andes have recently been retreating in response to global warming, with large consequences on the hydrological regime. We assessed here potential climate change impacts until 2100 upon the hydrologic regime of the largely snow-ice melt driven Maipo River basin (closed at El Manzano, ca. 4800 km2), watering 7 M people in the metropolitan region of Santiago de Chile. First, a weather-driven hydrological model including simplified glaciers\u2019 cover dynamics was set up and validated, to depict the hydrological regime of this area. In situ data from recent glaciological expeditions, ice thickness estimates, historical weather and hydrological data, and remote sensing data including precipitation from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), and snow cover and temperature from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) were used for model set up. We subsequently forced the model with projections of temperatures and precipitations (plus downscaling) until 2100 from the GCM model ECHAM6, according to 3 different radiative concentration pathways (RCPs 2.6, 4.5, 8.5) adopted by the IPCC in its AR5. We investigated yearly and seasonal trends of precipitation, temperature and hydrological fluxes until 2100 under the different scenarios, in projection period (PR, 2014-2100), and we compared them against historically observed trends in control period (CP, 1980-2013). The results show potential significant increasing trends in temperature until 2100, consistently with observed historical trends, unless for Spring (OND). Precipitation varies more uncertainly, with no historically significant changes, and only few scenarios projecting significant variations. In the PR period, yearly flow decreases, significantly under RCP8.5 (-0.31 m3s-1). Flow decrease is expected especially in Summer (JFM) under RCP8.5 (-0.55 m3s-1). Fall (AMJ) flows would decrease slightly, while winter (JAS) flows are projected to increase, and significantly under RCP4.5 (+0.22 m3s-1), as due to sustained melting therein. Spring (OND) flows also would decrease largely under RCP8.5, down to -0.67 m3s-1, due to increased evapotranspiration for high temperatures

The WMO SPICE snow-on-ground intercomparison: an overview of sensor assessment and recommendations on best practices

Comunicación presentada en: TECO-2016 (Technical Conference on Meteorological and Environmental Instruments and Methods of Observation) celebrada en Madrid, del 27 al 30 de septiembre de 2016.One of the objectives of the WMO Solid Precipitation Intercomparison Experiment (SPICE) was to assess the performance and capabilities of automated sensors for measuring snow on the ground (SoG), including sensors that measure snow depth and snow water equivalent (SWE). The intercomparison focused on five snow depth sensors (models SHM30, SL300, SR50A, FLS-CH 10 and USH-8) and two SWE sensors (models CS725 and SSG1000) over two winter seasons (2013/2014 and 2014/2015). A brief discussion of the measurement reference(s) and an example of the intercomparisons are included. Generally, each of the sensors under test operated according to the manufacturer’s specifications and compared well with the site references, exhibiting high correlations with both the manual and automated reference measurements. The use of natural and artificial surface targets under snow depth sensors were examined in the context of providing a stable and representative surface for snow depth measurements. An assessment of sensor derived measurement quality and sensor return signal strength, where available as an output option, were analysed to help explain measurement outliers and sources of uncertainty with the goal of improving data quality and maximizing the sensor capabilities. Finally, where possible, relationships are established between the gauge measurement of solid precipitation and the measurement of snow on the ground. This paper will provide a brief summary of these results with more detail included in the WMO SPICE Final Report