Support for a Workshop and Conference on Critical Zone Science, Sustainability, and Services in a Changing World

资金将部分用于支持“变化世界中的关键区域科学、可持续性和服务”会议，该会议将汇集来自美国关键区域天文台（CZO）网络和中国生态伙伴关系项目的社区，就与有机质动力学相关的关键区域科学主题进行有意义的对话。临界带（Critical Zone， CZ）是指从植被冠层顶部一直延伸到地下水底部的地球表层。此次会议将与由普渡大学和中国科学院于2015年10月21日至24日在普渡大学联合召开的中美环境可持续发展生态伙伴关系（USCEES）项目年度会议同时举行。美中绿色伙伴关系项目是由美国国务院和中国国家发展和改革委员会支持的一个网络，其重点是在不断变化的气候条件下可持续利用自然资源。除了进行科学思想交流外，这次会议也是加强学生培训和了解中美文化的机会。此外，中国科学院和USCEES内的中国大学科学领导将带来中国生态系统网络科学的重要视角，以及标准化指标和方法的可能性，以帮助确保未来中美相关研究的可转移和直接可比的关键区域科学成果。作为会议的一部分，将举行四项具体活动：1)关于“径流和侵蚀对土壤碳储量的作用：从土壤景观到景观”的工具培训短期课程；2)与有机质动态和预算相关的临界带功能科学会议；3)跨CZO工作组研讨会，讨论临界区有机质的通量、稳定性和反应性，目的是讨论科学发现、共同测量、共同方法、共同实验室、共同实验和共同问题，以支持跨美国CZO和国际CZO科学；4)对伊利诺伊州上Sangamon流域的CZO站点进行实地考察。

Funds will partially support a conference "Critical Zone Science, Sustainability, and Services in a Changing World" that will bring together communities from the U.S. Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) network and the Chinese EcoPartnerships program for meaningful dialogue on the topic of Critical Zone science related to organic matter dynamics. The Critical Zone (CZ)is the Earth's surface layer extending from the top of the vegetation canopy to the base of ground water. The conference will occur in conjunction with the annual meeting of US-China Ecopartnership for Environmental Sustainability (USCEES) program, which will be jointly convened by Purdue University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences at Purdue University during Oct. 21-24, 2015. The U.S.-China Ecopartnership program is a network supported by the US Department of State and China National Development and Reform Commission to focus on the sustainable use of natural resources in a changing climate. In addition to the scientific exchange of ideas, the conference is an opportunity for enhanced student training and U.S.-China cultural exposure. Also, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese university scientific leadership within the USCEES will bring an important perspective of ecosystem network science in China and the possibility of standardization of metrics and methods to help assure transferable and directly comparable Critical Zone science outcomes for future US-China linked research.Four specific activities will take place as part of the conference: 1) an instrument training short course on "The Role of Runoff and Erosion on Soil Carbon Stocks: From Soilscapes to Landscapes"; 2) scientific sessions on critical zone function related to organic matter dynamics and budget; 3) Cross-CZO Working Group workshop on flux, stabilization, and reactivity of organic matter in the Critical Zone with the goal of discussing scientific findings, common measurements, common methods, common laboratories, common experiments, and common questions to support cross- U.S. CZO and international CZ science; and 4) a field trip to the CZO site in the Upper Sangamon watershed in Illinois.