Standing Science Group on Geosciences ~72 members and participants 25 projects Place names Plate tectonics Chief Officer: Philip OBrien - Australia Deputy Chief Officer: Alessandro Capra - Italy Secretary: Bryan Storey - New Zealand

Identify geoscientific research and geospatial data problems and needs in the Antarctic. Promote international effort to solve such problems. To integrate and coordinate Antarctic geoscience research, mapping and GIS programs Contribute to global geodesy for the study of the physical processes of the earth and the maintenance of the precise terrestrial reference frame To make data (geographic, geodetic, geophysical) available to the Antarctic and global user communities to meet scientific research requirements. OBJECTIVES

Provide a common geographic reference system for all Antarctic scientists and operators as the basis for sound data management. To establish and maintain strong links with all Antarctic science research groups and Antarctic data management groups. Contribute to the information base for management of the Antarctic. Encourage the application of Antarctic research to global problems.

Geospatial Information Group of Experts Antarctic Neotectonics Scientific Research Programme (ANTEC) Scientific Program on Subglacial Antarctic Lake Exploration (SALE) Age, Growth and Evolution of Antarctica (AGEANT) Action Group Permafrost Action Group (PAG) (New) Antarctic Climate Evolution (ACE) Science Programme Planning Group (New) Communication and Outreach Action Group (New)

Funding Priorities Involving nations with limited resources and emerging programmes Involving new/younger scientists Ensuring completion of projects Science and technical innovation Leveraging other funds Value in Treaty issues/managment Priority activities Understanding priorities across all areas of activity Inter-sessional communication External communication and outreach

Discussion Groups for formulating future projects Continental Margin geology Geomorphology and Surface processes Basement Geology GIS for Antarctica Geophysical data management and integration Extending Gravity coverage Observatory Geophysics Digital elevation models of Antarctica

Amendment to the existing recommendation (SCAR XXVI-2) 1. Place Names The Scientific Standing Group on Geoscience recommends to SCAR that: National Committees, directly or through their national Antarctic naming authority: 1. refer to the CGA in considering all proposals for new place names; 2. avoid adding new place names to features already named; 3. submit all new approved place names to GIG for inclusion in the CGA; 4. provide existing data to the GIG for inclusion in the CGA.

Amending existing recommendation (SCAR XXVI-3) 2. Bathymetric Data The Scientific Standing Group on Geoscience recommends that: 1.SCAR supports the acquisition of echo-sounding data on all vessels operating in Antarctic waters and the delivery of the gathered measurements to the IHO DCDB for further use in bathymetric mapping; 2.wherever possible, vessel transits should be planned through oceanic regions where few bathymetric data exist in order to gather additional bathymetric information.

Amending existing recommendation (SCAR XXVI-11) 3. Geodetic and Geographic Information SCAR recommends that National Committees request National Programmes to provide continuing access for all SCAR members to fundamental geodetic and geographic information, including: geodetic observations and databases; geodetic control point and tide gauge records; remotely sensed data (including satellite imagery and aerial photography) topographic and bathymetric data; and place names data.

Amending existing recommendation (SCAR XXVI-12) 4. Airborne Gravity Data for Geoid Computation SCAR recommends that National Committees request National Programmes: support a scientific programme of airborne gravity to cover gaps in Antarctica gravity data; and encourage all researchers to coordinate their efforts in Antarctic gravity data acquisition, in particular airborne gravity data, and to provide such data to the SCAR Geoscience Standing Scientific Group for incorporation into a physical geodetic database of Antarctica.

New Recommendation 5. Geodetic observations at remote locations The Scientific Standing Group on Geosciences: Recommends that National Committees, where possible, place long-term GPS observatories on remote bedrock features (as identified by the SCAR ANTEC group – to provide information on the current tectonic motion of the Antarctic plate.

New Recommendation 6. King George Island Geographic Information System Recommends that countries with program activities on King George Island should make use of this integrated system for science activity, environmental planning and logistic operations. And further recommends that National Committees, through their National Programmes, continue providing spatially referenced data to the GIS for the mutual benefit of all National Programmes with activities on the island.

7. Permafrost Action Group The Geosciences SSG Recommends the establishment of an Action Group to assess (review) the state of permafrost science in Antarctica. To identify gaps and priorities in Antarctic permafrost science. To establish links with the broader permafrost community and put Antarctic permafrost into a global context. To assess the potential impact of climate change on Antarctic permafrost.

10. Antarctic Climate Evolution Program Planning Group The Geosciences SSG recommends the establishment of a Science Program Planning Group entitled Antarctic Climate Evolution (ACE) to develop a Program integrating climatic, oceanographic and glaciological modelling with geoscientific data.

11. Scientific Research Programme on Antarctic Neotectonics (ANTEC) Recognizing: the progress and ongoing activities of the (former) Antarctic Neotectonics (ANTEC) Group of Specialists in developing a Science and Implementation Plan, the high level of current multinational research activity on Antarctic neotectonics, and the interdisciplinary breadth of the research, the Geoscience Standing Scientific Group recommends that ANTEC be designated a Scientific Research Programme.