This week the Landslide Research Group at TUM hosted the 7th annual meeting of the German working group on permafrost (AK Permafrost). The meeting brought together 50 researchers from across Europe (Switzerland, Austria, United Kingdom, Norway, and Germany) to discuss recent research, and the outlook for future change in permafrost-affected polar and alpine environments.
The pre-meeting excursion to the Zugspitze permafrost outdoor lab and landscapes produced by the retreat of the Isar-Loisach Glacier was led by Michael Krautblatter and Dr. Ulrich Haas. Along with Dr. Torsten Sachs, Michael also co-chaired the meting sessions on topics including: Novel observation and modelling techniques, time scales in permafrost system change and adaptation, linking bio- and geosphere, and new techniques in permafrost investigation. Members presenting from the Landslide Research Group included Markus Keuschnig, Kerry Leith, Philipp Marmot, and Anne Voigtländer.
The scientific program was supplemented with an excellent workshop organized by Josefine Lenz (PYRN), dedicated to helping young permafrost researchers publish their latest results, and a preparatory meeting for the 11th International conference on permafrost (ICOP) to be held in Potsdam Germany in 2016.