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Istanbul Technical University, Turkey,
Global warming is now generally agreed to be inevitable, though there many differing assessments as to how much temperatures will rise and at what speed. All countries are now urgently examining the potential impact of climate change on their water situation and on society as a whole. The Middle East, like other regions, needs to urgently examine the way in which potential change may affect its future water supply and this in turn means examining the inter-relationship between climate variations, water supply, land use, economic planning and demographic change. Such questions cannot be dealt with on the basis of national interest only but demand cross-border and cross-disciplinary cooperation. This symposium aims to achieve this goal by inviting researchers from a broad range of related disciplines and by encouraging those most directly concerned, decision makers and stakeholders, to work together on long term cooperative solutions to the problems which will have to be faced. New developments in technology, sharing of date effectively, facilitating cooperation between national and local authorities, all will have a part to play in helping to meet the challenge to be faced. Assessment of the present water scarcity of the Middle East leads to the question how long this problem exists, how it is related to climate and land use, how it was addressed by ancient societies, and what can be learned from this. Additionally, knowledge of the environmental history allows for better predictions of future developments and helps to clarify the interrelationship of climate, water systems and land use. The conference targets hydrologists, geologists, meteorologists, soil scientists and land use specialists, but also archaeologists and historians investigating landscape archaeology and the environmental history. Solutions for the problems which climate change may cause in relation to water can best be achieved by integrated management plans, focusing not only on technical matters but on the interrelationship of water systems with land use, climate and the environment. The conference invites researchers to contribute to an assessment of the likely impact of climate change on water supply and identify synergies in their approach to the problems to be faced. Significant decisions have to be taken which require well based interdisciplinary research, the results of which must be made available to decision makers in time for them to act effectively. Proceedings will be published by the State Meteorological Service of Turkey (DMI) Important dates:
NorthSouthEastWest Photo Exhibition will be displayed during the conference, between 20-23 November, 2006 Entrance Hall, Suleyman Demirel Cultural Center, ITU, Istanbul For detailed information please see |
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