Joint BGRG/BSRG Conference: Drylands - Linking Landscape Processes To Sedimentary Environments

Date:
2nd - 4th February, 2005

Venue:
Geological Society, London.

Overview:
The aim of this international conference is to bring together researchers working in modern and ancient dryland environments, in order to improve our understanding of arid zone processes and landforms and the preservation potential of dryland sediment successions in the geological record. We anticipate that the meeting will not only promote interaction between geomorphologists and sedimentologists, but will also enhance our knowledge of contemporary dryland environments and the factors influencing subsurface sedimentary architecture. This conference will also be of considerable interest to practitioners working in the water and hydrocarbon industries.

Themes:
We specifically wish to attract oral and poster presentations on the following themes:
1. Factors influencing sediment mobilisation, transport and deposition in the range of earth surface process domains operating within dryland environments;
2. Impacts of external tectonic, climatic and base-level controls upon sedimentation patterns in drylands;
3. Interactions between process domains (e.g. weathering, fluvial, hillslope, playa lake and aeolian processes) and their impacts upon dryland sedimentary systems;
4. Preservation potential and sedimentary records produced by the various components of dryland landscapes;
5. Impacts of near-surface geochemical sedimentation upon preservation potential within dryland systems;
6. Modern analogues for dryland sediments in the geological record;
7. Predictive models for spatial and temporal lithofacies distribution in dryland settings;
8. Behaviour and sedimentary records of drylands that existed before the evolution of plant life on land.

Keynote Speakers:
Keynote speakers so far confirmed include:
Prof. Kevin Bohacs (Exxonmobil, Houston, USA - provisional);
Prof. Gary Kocurek (University of Texas, Austin, USA);
Prof. Jonathon Laronne (Ben Gurion University, Israel).

Registration and Submission of Abstracts:
All delegates planning to attend the conference should register before December 1st 2004. Details of how to register are available on the conference website (see below). Registrations received after this date are subject to a 20% surcharge. Abstracts of no more than 300 words should be submitted by 17th September. See the website for details.

Further Information:
For further information, visit: http://www.bton.ac.uk/environment/drylands/ To register your interest in the meeting and to receive regular updates, email your contact details to: drylands.2005@lboro.ac.uk

Convenors:
Dr David Nash (University of Brighton, UK)
Dr Joanna Bullard (Loughborough University, UK)
Dr Colin North (University of Aberdeen, UK)