2 Volumes Final Proceedings - Washington 1984.pdf - IARC Research

8second, ice becows hard, and earth cracks; in thethird, freezing reaches its climax. And in theevents of spring, thawing is promoted by an easterlybreeze.Permafrost in China is estimated to underlieabout 2 million square kilometers, second only tothe USSR and Canada. If we include ground that isseasonally frozen to a depth greater than 1/2 meter,the frozen ground occupies two-thirds of theentire country. Such a wide area of frozen soilexerts a great influence on China's economy, butit also expedites the study of permafrost inChina. Since the founding of the People's Republicof China in 1949, 2000 kilometers of railroads,several thousand kilometers of highways,and many other types of construction, includingcoal mining, irrigation canals, oil pipelines, industry,and civil facilities, have been built inpermafrost areas. All these construction projectsencountered many difficulties; therefore, it wasnecessary for several study groups on frozenground to be successively established in the Departmentof Railways, the Department of Water Conservancy,the Department of Forestry, and the Departmentof Construction. In the 1960's, a specialpermafrost research institute was also establishedwithin the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Academia Sinica, and also in the Chinese Academyof Railway Sciences. During the 10 years of disturbanceof the so-called Cultural Revolution, in1966-1976, permafrost research in China was inactive.In 1978 the First National Conference on Permafrostwas held. Only 68 reports on permafrostwere presented. Three years later at the SecondNational Conference on Permafrost, held in 1981,185 papers were presented. Now the study of permafrostin China includes permafrost, physical andmechanical processes of frozen ground, perfectingand testing techniques, and engineering constructionproblems in frozen ground. Permafrost researchin China is still young, and we need tolearn much from other countries, so that we canattain a higher level for the benefit of China'smodernization. We welcome all types of cooperation,including the exchange of data and publications,and the exchange of scholars and graduatestudents to do such cooperation can be developedfurther. The Chinese delegation also supports theproposed International Permafrost Association, sothat international cooperation in research on permafrostcan more effectively be realized.The Chinese delegation wishes to expresswarmest congratulations on the successful openingof the Fourth International Conference on Permafrost.We wish all the members of this conferencea healthy and happy time.TROY L. P6W6 - Thank you, Professor Shi. Our nextspeaker is Dr. Hugh French, who chairs the delegationfrom Canada at this meeting.HUGH FRENCH - Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen:On behalf of the Canadian delegation, I wish tostate that we are very pleased to be here at theopening of the Fourth International Conference onPermafrost in Fairbanks, Alaska. As many of youmay remember, Canada was the host of the Third InternationalConference on Permafrost, held in Edmontonin 1978. As such, we are very well awareof the tremendous amount of planning, time, andenergy which must have gone into the preparationof this particular conference. We are sure thatit will be successful, and we look forward tolearning new things, renewing old acquaintances,and making new friends.Permafrost is particularly important to Canada,since it underlies approximately 50% of ourcountry. The permafrost regions are vast and extendwithin 1200 km of the North Pole. They includeextensive areas of polar desert, of tundra,and of boreal forest, with a wide diversity ofgeological and topographic conditions. Some ofthese areas are rich in renewable and non-renewableresources. Their development, to the nutualbenefit of northern indigenous people and of theCanadians, presents nunwow challenges, which aretechnological, scientific, and social in nature.In Canada, we are anxious to meet these challenges,and to learn through the experiences ofothers.For these reasons, Mr. Chairman, Canada isespecially glad to participate in this Fourth InternationalConference on Permafrost.I would now like to take this opportunity tobriefly highlight some of the recent events whichhave occurred in Canada since the Third InternationalConference in 1978.