INTERNATIONAL UNION OF GEODESY AND GEOPHYSICS UNION GEODESIQUE ET GEOPHYSIQUE INTERNATIONALE Annual Report 2017 INTERNATIONAL UNION OF GEODESY AND GEOPHYSICS UNION GEODESIQUE ET GEOPHYSIQUE INTERNATIONALE Published by Secretary General Alik Ismail‐Zadeh No ISSN: 1038‐3846 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 2 GENERAL INFORMATION ................................................................................................................. 5 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT ................................................................................................... 10 MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL ................................................................................... 12 IUGG ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................................................ 14 ACTIVITIES OF THE UNION ASSOCIATIONS ..................................................................................... 60 International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS) ..................................................................................... 61 International Association of Geodesy (IAG) .......................................................................................................... 66 International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) .................................................................... 70 International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) ................................................................................... 74 International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (IAMAS) ................................................... 78 International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans (IAPSO) .......................................................... 83 International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s Interior (IASPEI) .......................................... 89 International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI) .................................... 92 ACTIVITIES OF THE UNION COMMISSIONS ..................................................................................... 95 Union Commission on Climate and Environmental Change (CCEC) ...................................................................... 95 Union Commission on Mathematical Geophysics (CMG) ..................................................................................... 99 Union Commission on Geophysical Risk and Sustainability (GRC) ...................................................................... 100 Union Commission on the Study of the Earth’s Deep Interior (SEDI) ................................................................. 105 Union Commission on Data and Information (UCDI) .......................................................................................... 107 Union Commission on Planetary Sciences (UCPS) .............................................................................................. 111 THE INTER‐ASSOCIATION WORKING GROUP: ELECTRO‐MAGNETIC STUDIES OF EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES (EMSEV) .......................................................................................................... 113 THE INTER‐UNIONS COMMISSION: INTERNATIONAL LITHOSPHERE PROGRAMME (ILP) ............... 118 IUGG FINANCIAL REPORT ............................................................................................................ 122 ADDITIONAL UNION MATTERS .................................................................................................... 128 Awards and Honors ............................................................................................................................................. 128 Jubilees ................................................................................................................................................................ 130 Obituaries ............................................................................................................................................................ 132 LIST OF ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................................... 135 1 INTRODUCTION Established in 1919, the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) is the international, non‐governmental, non‐profit organization dedicated to advancing, promoting, and communicating knowledge of the Earth system, its space environment, and the dynamical processes causing change. Through its constituent associations, commissions, and services, IUGG convenes international assemblies and workshops, undertakes research, assembles observations, gains insights, coordinates activities, liaises with other scientific bodies, plays an advocacy role, contributes to education, and works to expand capabilities and participation worldwide. Data, information, and knowledge gained are made openly available for the benefit of society – to provide the information necessary for the discovery and responsible use of natural resources, sustainable management of the environment, reducing the impact of natural hazards, and to satisfy our need to understand the Earth’s natural environment and the consequences of human activities. IUGG Associations and Union Commissions encourage scientific investigation of Earth science and especially interdisciplinary aspects. Each Association establishes working groups and commissions that can be accessed by using the links on our website (see also the IUGG chart on the following page). IUGG is one of 30 scientific unions adhering to the International Council for Science (ICSU). ICSU provides a global forum for scientists to exchange ideas and information and to develop standard methods and procedures for all fields of research. IUGG brings expertise on Earth studies from researchers in its International and Inter‐Association Commissions. As a member of ICSU, IUGG strongly supports its policy of non‐discrimination by affirming the rights and freedom of scientists throughout the world to engage in international scientific activity without limitation by such factors as citizenship, religion, creed, political stance, ethnic origin, race, color, language, age or gender. IUGG has initiated and/or vigorously supported collaborative efforts that have led to highly productive world‐wide interdisciplinary programs and projects, such as the International Geophysical Year (1957‐ 58), the Upper Mantle Project (1964‐70), the International Hydrological Decade (1965‐74), the Geodynamics Project (1972‐79), the Global Atmospheric Research Program (1967‐80), the International Lithosphere Program, the World Climate Research Programme, the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, Integrated Research on Risk Disasters, the International Heliophysical Year (2007‐2009), the Electronic Geophysical Year (2007‐2008), the International Year of Planet Earth (2007‐2009), the International Polar Year (2007‐2008), Extreme Natural Hazards and Societal Implications (2010‐2014), International Year of Deltas (2013‐2014), and the International Geosphere‐ Biosphere Programme (1987‐2015). These programs have set a model for international, interdisciplinary cooperation. Representing all geophysical disciplines, IUGG is involved in the projects and programs related to climate change, global warming, and related environmental impacts. 2 IUGG Structure IUGG supported and supports initiatives by ICSU, especially those in which Earth sciences have a role to play. IUGG cooperates with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the study of hydrological (through IAHS) and oceanographic (through IAPSO) research; with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to promote studies in atmospheric sciences and 3 Programs and Projects initiated and/or supported by IUGG meteorology (through IAMAS) as well as in hydrology (through IAHS). Together with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and WMO, IUGG promotes the studies, the monitoring and the modelling of volcanic ashes (through IAMAS and IAVCEI). IUGG also cooperates with the Comprehensive Nuclear‐Test‐Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in the studies related to seismology (through IASPEI), hydroacoustics, atmospheric transport modelling, and meteorology. In addition, IUGG places particular emphasis on the scientific problems of economically less‐developed countries by sponsoring activities relevant to their scientific needs, e.g. Geosciences in Africa, eGY in Africa, Water Resources, Health and Well‐Being etc. The website, available in English and French, can be found at www.iugg.org. 4 GENERAL INFORMATION MEMBERSHIP & FINANCE By their very nature, geodetic and geophysical studies require a high degree of international co‐ operation. IUGG is critically dependent on the scientific and financial support of its member Adhering Bodies. The list of present and past IUGG Adhering Bodies is published in the IUGG Yearbook and posted on the website. Each Adhering Body establishes a National Committee for IUGG, and names Correspondents to each Association (as appropriate). As of 31 December 2017, IUGG has 69 National Members including 59 countries in paying status. The paying members are placed in categories