Linz 2015 - International Symposium on Isotope Hydrology: Revisiting Foundations and Exploring Frontiers

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has convened quadrennial symposia on isotope hydrology since 1963. For more than 50 years, these IAEA symposia have provided a unique opportunity to review the state-of-the-science, practical applications, and research trends and needs in isotope hydrology, leading to its recognition as a discipline in its own right within the science of hydrology. Isotope hydrology contributes to a better understanding of the water cycle and has applications in water resources assessment and management, the study of past and future changes in the Earth’s climate as well as of climate impacts on the water cycle, and in forensic areas such as ecological, wildlife and food source traceability.
This is the 14th symposium in the series and it will be held at the IAEA’s Headquarters in Vienna, Austria, from 11 to 15 May 2015. The symposium will aim to facilitate the exchange of information and knowledge among water and environment professionals from developed and developing countries.
B. Objectives
The objectives of the symposium are to: (a) review and revisit the foundational principles of isotope hydrology in the light of the current state of knowledge; (b) review recent developments in analytical instrumentation and applications of isotopes in water and climate studies; and (c) identify research, analytical and training requirements for a wider use of isotope hydrology.
C. List of Topics
? Isotopes in hydrosphere?atmosphere interactions and palaeoclimate reconstruction
? Groundwater dating and palaeohydrology
? Water balance and hydrological processes
? How laser spectroscopy is transforming isotope research
? New approaches and tools in isotope science
? Water scarcity, water quality, food security, climate change, and energy resources
D. Target Audience
The symposium is aimed at professionals involved in a broad spectrum of disciplines, including: water resources management, processes in the hydrosphere and atmosphere, climate change and its impact on the water cycle, environmental modelling, protection of the environment, geographical information systems, emergency response, and the development of isotopic techniques and tools. Government officials, including policymakers and individuals responsible for the assessment of environmental programmes, would also benefit from attending the symposium.